Page 5 of Taking Me

Now, I eagerly hop on my bike, my black beauty who has been patiently waiting for me. As I zoom down the road, the wind whipping through my hair, a sense of relief washes over me. “A fun and much-needed night,” I think to myself. Still, there’s a part of me that wishes for more. One killing is enough to subside the blood thirst that I crave so desperately, but my mind drifts back to the first time I ever killed someone. The memory is vivid, every detail etched into my mind, and it fuels the dark desire that lingers within me.

* * *

Iraq, three years prior

“Tormenta! Get your ass over here and swap with Price,” my CPT yelled over all the chaos in the village. “Moving Sir!” I yelled loud enough to make sure he heard me. We were patrolling in a village where therewere high levels of drugs and illegal weapons that were being transported and used to kill our people. And tonight was infiltration night. “I want you to take point if anything goes south when we split up. I need you to ensure your team is ready and on go when the time comes.” He let out. This place looks like a shit show. People are screaming, and children are being taken away from their parents before mercilessly being killed right in front of them.

We watched monsters and the next villains being made right before us. It is now night time, so it’s hard to tell where all of this is happening. You can only tell by the direction of the screaming and gunshots that are spraying damn near everywhere. “Alright, up this tree line and about ten clicks to the right is where we’re going to be infiltrating, so let’s try to keep the dumb fuckery to a minimum if we can. We don’t need any fucking casualties today.” the CPT let out. I agree. I have my Assult Rifle tightly gripped in my hands and ready for whatever–whenever.

We have been planning this infiltration for weeks to prepare for a smooth and clean transition and get a better visual of everything that has been happening here. We’re now awaiting to move positions and to get the all-clear from comms. “What a fucking shit show, am I right?” My buddy Ghost said to me while we were in a prone position, patiently waiting. “Please shut the fuck up and wait until we’re no longer sitting ducks in this blood bath,” I said in a serious but somewhat joking way.

Ghost and I have been close since we were in training together. We always watched out for one another, and luckily, we were stationed together. I’dbe lost without him here with me. Ghost is a big teddy bear. He likes to act tough around others, but behind those thick, muscular walls he puts up is a big six-foot-two, brown-eyed, tanned-skinned man with a heart full of love. We bonded over our traumas and the fact we couldn’t deny that we had chemistry for one another. We chose not to pursue it because the Military was our only priority, and the possibility of getting split up weighed heavily in our minds. It was a case of “Right person, wrong time.” and that shit fucked with me some days.

“All clear, move out.” Comms clears us. Let’s move. Now, it is time for us to go. We had to blend in with the shadows and the tree line, not making any noticeable movements or sounds that would give away our positions. I gave out the hand signal that indicated, “On me,” letting the soldiers behind me know what was happening and that we were heading out.

We move about 12 clicks away from a path the enemy is known to take. It is a dirt trail near the tree line, and from the looks of it, there was heavy foot traffic. Everything is going perfectly. We are getting so close to approaching our infiltration site. As I scanned the area I saw a figure running towards us from a distance. “Oh shit!” I let out in a panicked voice. “We got fast movement approaching us, two o’clock,” I whispered so as not to give our position away. I quickly signal my team to get down and hope that none of them will make any sudden movements. You would think they would learn that in training, but every platoon, squad, and unit has at least one Private who learns absolutely fuckin’ nothing, risking their comrades.

My team is now hiding in piles of brush or covering themselves behind fallen trees, and they are doing exactly as they should. We are scattered about, and the guy that is quickly approaching us tripped over something, causing him to eat shit. That gives me a short window to climb the tree next to me. Giving me a better visual of my men. Ghost was not too far from me. I saw exactly where he went. The tightness in my chest constricts my breathing for a moment. It was just a guy needing to take a piss. Of course, the tree he chose to piss on was near Ghost, and I hope that the guy doesn’t spot him or anyone else for that matter. I drop down out of the tree, landing perfectly on a piece of an abandoned trail. I drop down to low crawl towards Ghost’s position. Making sure I am out of sight, pausing myself behind a bush near where the man is pissing on the tree. He has his AK-47 leaned up while doing so. Fuckin’ amateur, I can see him looking out and scanning the area for any possible threats. Oh buddy, if you only knew what demon was out here lurking around, ready to pounce on you like a bear on a little fish. I could not wait to get me some damn action.

He began to lean forward, squinting his eyes to see if his eyes were deceiving him. Shit, he spotted someone. Fuck, here we go. My adrenaline starts coursing through my veins, and I have no time to panic. This is my first time ever experiencing something like this firsthand, and I know what I need to do. It was time for me to use my training skills honed deep within me, imprinted on every fiber of my body.

I have to end this fucker before he does any damage or spots another one of my squad members. All we needed was for him to cause some unwanted attention and call for his buddies, and we would be fucked. He put his cock away in a panic, rushing and stumbling to fix himself. I jump up quickly, covering his mouth with my hand, pulling my bayonet out, and slicing straight through his throat. I held him there until I saw the life drain entirely from his eyes. I let his limp body hang in my arms, taking in what I just did. Ghost approaches me, making me jump and point my knife at him next. “Ah ah, easy, it’s just me. You’re okay, mi Tormenta.” His voice immediately calms me down and brings me back to reality. He reminds me that we have a mission to do.”

* * *

That was the first time I had ever shed blood, and I would do it again any day if that meant protecting my people. There is nothing quite like the thrill of your first taste of death. Ever since that night, I hungered for it. I had awakened something deep inside myself that had been yearning to break free.

Once I started, I could not bring myself to stop. After being in Iraq for those years, I grew wiser and more potent. Thanks to my quick thinking, my squad made it through that night, and everything went perfectly. Most importantly, Ghost was safe. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost him.

Six

Happy Halloween

“Happy fuckin’ Halloween, you beautiful bitch,”I say to my reflection in the mirror. Something about this morning makes me feel on top of the world. My hair is a wild mess of waves, and my body craves a deep tissue massage to ease the tension from the week. The crisp autumn air seeps through the window, invigorating my senses. I decide to head to my favorite coffee shop a couple of blocks away, where I like to go to start my day off right. The tone is always dark, none of that bright shit that will cause me to have a headache.

Before heading out, I grab my keys, phone, and pocket knife because, let’s be honest, you should always be prepared for whatever, especially since you never know when something inconvenient might pop up. “La Rosa’s Cafe.” A small sign hanging from the doorway sways back and forth in the cool autumn breeze. The air has a mix of the sweet scent of pastries and the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

Swinging open the door, a bell rings, letting whoever is working know someone has just entered. The atmosphere is asbeautiful as ever, with ghosts hanging from the ceiling and a black bar with a touch of marble mixed into it, displaying all of the fancy coffee machines. The dining area is so comfortable, with its cushioned chairs and tables, that you can choose from a smaller area to sit or larger. The workers there are always so amazing and freakishly kind. I have a favorite. Her name is Angelicia. She is younger than me and usually pulls any shift she can. She is here almost every time I come in.

We occasionally talk to one another, typically short and sweet. She knows my order by heart. Sometimes, she talks about her future, plans, and why she works so much. But mostly, it is about why she hates the pricks who come in here flirting and making nasty jokes towards her. If I had it my way, I’d kill any man who even took a breath wrong in her direction. She is always so kind, and I have not got to see the shit happen first hand or I would probably end up banned from ever coming here again.

They are not as busy as I expected they would be on a holiday. But that’s perfectly fine with me. I need to sit and plan what I will have going on tonight because I have no idea. I know that parties are happening everywhere in town, but seeing as last night was pretty eventful, I think I owe myself a night full of treats and not just tricks. The dim lighting and soft jazz playing in the background create the perfect atmosphere for me to gather my thoughts. “Beunas días Hermosa, the regular?” Angelicias voice greeted me as I stood there staring at the menu. “Yes, please! I am dying for something sweet as well. What are my options for this morning? Any conchas?” I smirked up at her. “Actually, we just finished up some in the back. They are freshly baked with little pumpkin designs! They are super cute! This one is on the house!” She sure knows how to make someone get my day going well.

She quickly made my drink, adding extra drizzle just how I like, and placed it with the concha on the bar for me to take. I have a favorite spot that I like to sit in, and it is in the corner where books align on the wall. I sit, sip on my frappuccino, feeling the coolness spread through me, and pull out my phone. I need to hunt. I need to try something new, something that will keep me on my toes and make the night unforgettable. The excitement builds as I think about the possibilities, each one more enticing than the last.

As I am scrolling through the town event list for today, a text message pops up:

Unknown: Hey, Little Stranger, it’s been a while. I would like to see you.

Me: Who the fuck is this?

Unknown: It will make things much easier if you don’t know who I am. I’ll make sure it’s a surprise you’ll never forget.

Unknown: I’ve been watching you for some time now. I miss my Little Sinister more than words can say. I always knew there was darkness in you, but the way you fought those guys last night ignited something within me. The brutality, the sheer force—it was mesmerizing. And when you ended that guy’s life, it was like a dark symphony, each note more intoxicating than the last. I could have come a thousand times over, lost in the thrill of your darkness.

I stare out the window, zoning out and running through every possibility in my mind of who this stranger could be. Holy fuckin’ shit. Who was watching me to know what I had done? How long have they been watching me? I don’t talk to anyone other than the locals who know me. I moved to this small, remote town to escape my past, to find solace in the anonymity in a place where no one knew me, no one knew of my darkness, and no one even bothered to care. But something about this justfeels off. I am usually the one hunting, and now… wait, am I being hunted?

My hands trembled, and the melting frappuccino rippled with the tremors. Being concerned about my surroundings wasn’t like me; usually, nothing could get me worked up. But something inside was telling me to run, to get as far away from this place as possible. No, I won’t run. Whoever this is must just be pulling a prank or something. It is Halloween, after all. I just don’t know how they would have gotten my number.

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