Page 59 of Mayhem and Minnie

My therapist was right. I need to meet new people, for they’re the only way I can grow and learn. And in a way, I took her advice.

I met her. Killing Minnie is not going to be anywhere near my usual modus operandi. It’s going to be a glorious new start, and I’ll relish every single moment of it.

I’ve never personally known my victims before.

With the exception of Mr. Rhodes, my old neighbor, though I’m not sure he counts. He was only someone within my proximity, not someone with whom I interacted. Then there was also… No, he doesn’t count either.

Minnie is different. She’ll change everything.

“Why is your heart beating so fast, Marlowe?” Minnie’s voice puts a stop to my train of thought.

A slow, insidious smile spreads across my lips.

“I was thinking about something exciting, pet,” I murmur.

She leans back to look at me, blinking curiously.

“What?”

“You,” I answer.

“Me?”

“Yes. You, pet.”

I smile then. A smile to lure the prey. A smile to get her comfortable.

And she smiles back.

Ah, my little heathen, I have grand plans for you. So grand, I cannot help the giddiness bubbling inside of me.

This is a foreign feeling for me.

Excitement.

Yet as I look at her, so small, so trusting, I can’t help but picture the future.

Her, unmoving. Her, on display.

All for me.

“Sir, your order is ready,” the sales assistant calls out.

I sigh when that exhilarating image dissipates.

If I killed women, I’d kill that annoying sales assistant in a heartbeat.

But I don’t.

Except for Minnie.

She’ll be the only one. My only one.

Because she’s special. The mostest special.

I chuckle to myself as I lead Minnie to the counter and pay for the shoes.

As long as I disguise myself as her protector, she’ll never know what truly awaits her.

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