Page 14 of Praying Mantis

After receiving the most relaxing acupuncture session in years, Matthew and I went out into Lake Conroe to do some sightseeing and shopping. We ate at a nice little restaurant, and he couldn’t stop talking about the latest Amy Briggs book he downloaded last night. Something about an inheritance. I don’t know, it’s got a cute dog on the cover though. She’s one of his favorite authors and he finally gets to meet her.

Back at the hotel, we separate so we can get ready for tonight. I pull out my clothes for tonight and set them aside. I know it will disappoint Matthew, but I’ll make it up to him somehow. I prepare the room for my migraine; I close all the curtains, shut off the lights, get a washcloth, and wet it in cold water to lie across my head. Matthew and I planned a lot for this trip and I hate that my alter ego must ruin it. Maybe I can meet up with him later.

I check the clock and Matthew should be here in about ten minutes. I make sure I mess my hair up like I was sleeping, tossing and turning on the bed to really play it up. There’s a knock and I sigh. I wait for two more knocks, then stagger to the door. I crack the door, staring at the back of my best friend.

“You look like hell,” Matthew’s voice cracks.

“Migraine,” I whisper.

“We can go another time and I’ll come take care of you.” His mouth turns down to a frown. He runs a finger alongside my cheek. It’s so comforting for me because he knows I had no one to care for me growing up. We joke that he’s my fairy godmother. I know he has a concern for me.

“No. Go out. Find a hottie to dance with tonight.” I sigh. “I took a migraine pill just before you knocked. I’ll call you in a few hours if the prescription works. I’ll meet up with you.” I smile at him.

“Are you sure?” I nod wincing at the pain really playing up the migraine. “I hate leaving you.”

“Babe, I’m going to be sleeping, so you want to watch me drool?” He chuckles. “Go have fun. Do you want my card, so drinks are on me?” I tease. If he uses my card, it helps with the alibi too.

“No.” He Kisses my forehead lightly. “But if you want to pay for my drinks, I won’t say no.” I grab my wallet and give it to him. He leaves and tells me to call if I need him. The guilt eats at me, but this is my life.

I wait thirty minutes before checking my phone to see where Matthew is because I don’t trust that he won’t come back to watch me sleep, making sure I’m okay.

Grabbing my red wig, I place it on my head and put a ton of make-up on so I’m not recognized. My clothes make me feel too exposed with the black mini-skirt and white crop top. I sigh before leaving. I grab my burner phone, which I’ve forwarded all my calls and location to. It’ll show Matthew I’m still at the hotel if he uses the shared location.

The cab I set up was waiting for me to take me to the bar where the woman, Robyn, frequents.

Her drinking never stopped, not even when she went to rehab. She killed her grandchild and destroyed her daughter. It may have been an accident, but it’s the lack of remorse that makes my blood boil. The bar is about an hour from the hotel. I wonder if the bars in her town don’t serve her anymore and she’s in a different one. I walk into the bar, and I see her at the bar. How the fuck am I going to do this?

Walking into the bar I look around to check out the scenery and it’s a nice dive bar better than the one in Vermont with Darren. The bar is clean, full of people who are dancing, smiling, and laughing. I do a quick scan for Robyn and spot her at the bar, so I make my way there and sit down on the bar stool about three away from her. She’s going on about having no money for bills but she keeps buying drinks and shots for herself at the bar. That is my way in. It’s been about an hour and the bar is busy and she’s almost out of money.

“Excuse me. I couldn’t help but overhear you earlier about needing money for rent.” I use a meek voice.

“Eavesdropping, are you?” She sneers at me.

“No ma’am. I sat down and heard you talking. Would you happen to have a room to rent for a couple of days?” I look around the room, not making eye contact with anyone. I’m trying to seem afraid of someone. “My boyfriend hurts me. I’m heading home to my brother, but he can’t get here for three days. I have no ID for a hotel. I’ll pay rent for a month. I’m desperate,” I rush out, grabbing her arm for full effect.

“I don’t need the drama of your ex crawling up at my place.”

“I hitchhiked for three hours. He shouldn’t find me. Please. I have money. More when my brother gets here. He’s a tech wizard in Silicon Valley. He sold an app for a couple million dollars. So, he can pay you.” Robyn’s eyes remind me of the cartoon where the eyes pop out at the sound of a million dollars. She can’t turn down money for her alcohol and who knows if she’s into drugs.

“Okay. I’ll do it. My rent is two thousand dollars. Let’s go.” She throws back her beer and a shot before standing. She stumbles before straightening herself. “Did you drink?”

“No. I didn’t have my ID,” I remind her. Robyn throws me the keys. When we get to the car, I throw on some gloves so my prints aren’t in the car. She mutters as her head lags on the window. I drive to her house, following the GPS directions she put in. I pull into the driveway of Robyn’s trailer. Shutting off the car, I tell her to stay put. I rush to her side of the car to help her get out. Robyn is so drunk, I doubt she’ll truly feel her punishment.

Louisa

The trailer is a one-bedroom. The smell of stale cigarettes makes my nose wrinkle in disgust. Empty beer cans, liquor bottles, and full ashtrays cover the floor, end tables, and coffee table. The way she lives makes me wonder if she always lived like this or if this is because of the death of her grandson.

“The couch pulls out. You can stay there. Money?” Robyn holds out her hand to me. I take out the envelope. I did my research about her and know she can’t hold a job and money is something she needs. Robyn doesn’t even count it; she goes into the kitchen grabs more alcohol from my spot in the living room it’s a clear bottle. If my research is correct, then she’ll grab the tequila. I already spiked it. Robyn holds the bottle like it’s a baby.

“Are you okay?” I ask her. Robyn’s eyes are glazed over like she’s not even present in this trailer. She stumbles and face-plants. I smile at her. I grab my box from the post office which someone dropped off earlier. This one is going to be different. I added some new toys to my bag of tricks, so to speak. The hunting knife I packed I detach from the sheath and remove the clothes she is wearing from her body.

Robyn moans as I nick her back with the blade. She doesn’t move.

“You know, I don’t understand how a mother can hurt a daughter so much.” I grab the black handheld whip from the box. After reading the file and knowing her daughter wanted this so badly, I thought about my relationship with my mother. If I could get to my mother, this is something I’d do to her. I dump the rest of the tequila on her back soaking it into her skin. Gripping the handle of the black whip. I strike her back. She moans again, “Mothers are supposed to protect their children.” Whip again. The sound of the crack bounces off the walls.

The pink and red colors her skin from the welts form. It sucks knowing she can’t feel any of this torture but it’s therapeutic for me and I hope for Robyn’s daughter. I drop the whip and grab the new play toy I picked up online. The whip I’m using now is what Dominants use with their Submissive. It’s a spiked Chain whip. The blood will flow now. Striking her multiple times. I cry out in frustration. Robyn inflicts pain on everyone she meets and destroys all relationships because of her selfish desires. She can’t feel a fucking thing. But when her daughter gets the report of what I did to her mother’s body, she’ll know that she was tortured.

“I know you can hear me. When I manufactured this drug. I made sure my victims would be awake when I removed their heads. But I wanted them to know why someone paid me so much money to kill. Do you want to know why?” Robyn’s eyes are wide but she says nothing.

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