“Kate, I should explain, but I think that you are a smart enough of a detective to figure it out. However, seeing is that you can’t talk, I will explain anyway. You see I am a serial killer, which is kind of ironic. You are probably thinking…What the FUCK!!!! How can you, my brother, the geek, be a killer. Well, it is quite simple. Cause I can get away with it. And women are my target. They are easy to lure and easier to kill with a knife than a burly man. Anyway, I am going to kill you. You are tied down with duct tape, if you are wondering, and I will be chopping you up into several parts. Then, it is to the cemetery with you,” I explained.

Her eyes grew wide and she started to scream under the silver duct tape. What a thrill!!! She is putting up a good fight with the duct tape, struggling against it and causing the tape to make that annoying rip sound. I am elated that she understood. She cries and the tears roll down her cheeks. I put my gloved finger under the tear and caught it. I moved the tear laden finger toward me to have a closer look. I stare at it, amazed. I never shed a tear and I find it fascinating that she is crying. I don’t cry and I don’t really feel. Killing made me feel momentarily, but it never cured me. I flick the tear off the glove and turn to my tools. I grab the five inch blade, which is next to the hatchet. I grab the smooth handle, made of ivory from an African Elephant, I pet it a little and turned to my sister. She struggles more when she sees the knife. I put my hand on her shoulder to make her stop. She froze and pleaded me to stop. Not in words, but with her eyes. I pay no attention to her, just the knife, sharp and my companion. I flip the blade, pointing down towards her naked chest. Both of my hands are on the tusk and I inhaled a breath. She screams and stops with the squish of blade and flesh meeting together. Her eyes, wide again, frozen in place. Then, the pupils of her brown eyes fade under the glaze. I exhaled and shiver with pleasure. Blood runs down her shoulders turning her blonde hair red.

I hear an annoying beeping and notice that there is a message. I push the blinking red light and walk off towards my office. I set my bags down and take my heels off. Air strike my hot feet and I wiggle my toes, cracking them in the process. Then, I walk back to the kitchen. I hear the last word of the message. “Belongings” whose belongings? Jim’s? Mine? I rush over to the message machine and hit the replay button. I stood and listen, intently this time.

“This is Virginia Highway Patrolman Bill Jenkins.  There has been an accident and your husband…I am sorry to inform you that your husband has passed. Please come to St. Mary’s Hospital to identify and release his belongings,” the authoritative voice said shaking.

I grab the edge of the kitchen’s island. I can’t believe it.

“It isn’t true…no,no,no…they have the wrong person,” I hyperventilated.

My grip on the counter was shaky and my hands were sweating. My heart pumps faster and I was breathing in short bursts. I can’t believe that Jim is gone. He left me alone. He is not dead.

“He is not dead. There was a mistake. I will go to the Police Station and say they made a mistake,” I said sobbing.

I rush to the office, grab my keys and ran out the door. I feel the cool concrete on the soles of my feet. I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to run back and get shoes. I made it to the door of the Mercedes and try to open it. I pull the handle but the door won’t open. I try several times, but the same result. I remember the lock and push the unlock button on the key. The lock clicked and three seconds later I was swerving down the road.

I arrive at the Police Station in less than ten minutes. I park my car and walk up the steps. I feel the grime on my feet, but I don’t care. I open the door and the clerk looks at me. I look around and when no one notices me or says anything. I started to shout.

“Where in the hell is Officer Jenkins?” I shouted.

A million eyes look at me like I am crazy. I am not and will never be. I want Officer Jenkins and I want him now. A man in his blues comes up to me at a run. I speed walk toward him and he puts his hands out in front of him. When he was close enough, I slap him across the face. Someone behind me grabs my arm and I fight with everything I had.

“Hey, it’s alright, Officer Burns. I am fine,” Officer Jenkins said rubbing his reddened cheek. Good I hope it hurts like hell.

Officer Burns let me go and I brush off the dirt on my skirt. I stare at Jenkins and began to shake.

“You made a mistake. My husband isn’t dead. He wouldn’t leave me,” I said choking on sobs.

“Mrs. Smith, I know it is hard to comprehend the loss of a spouse. But, I am afraid that James in not here anymore. Why don’t we go to the hospital and you can see for yourself,” Officer Jenkins said calmly.

I stood there not breathing. I am terrified that he is right. Jim might be gone and I don’t want to go to the hospital. He is right of course. The only way I am sure that I am right is to see the body. He grabs my hand and pulls me to the entrance. I walk blind. I saw nothing. He drives me to the hospital. We get out of the patrol car and walk to the entrance. Death is here every day but, life is also. I walk, glaze over my eyes. We go down a hall to an elevator. We went down to the morgue. I walk still blind. Officer Jenkins held my hand and places me in front of a window. A slab with a cover is seen through the window. I stare, waiting. The corpse under that cover would release me or destroy me. A female doctor with surgical gloves stands next to the slab. She looks at me, waiting for me to be ready. I nod and she slowly slips the cover off. Officer Jenkins tightens his grip on my hand and the cover slid off the corpse’s face. I stare at the hair. Then, the forehead, the eyebrows, the closed eyes, the nose and finally down to the chin. I buckle and my voice gasps. I fall, blind by agony. It was him. My Jim, my Jim…my husband. Gone, gone forever.

About a year ago, for a graduation present, my aunt, my mother’s sister, gave me a round trip ticket to come to Germany. I was so excited to see the country that I was born in. I had to go on a plane, naturally. I had to go to Richmond airport and had a plane change in Newark Airport. The plane in Richmond was a little two propeller plane that took about an hour. The ride into Newark was smooth and the landing was great. I got into the airport and to see that the airport was gigantic. I was lost as to where my gate was and I had to ask several people to find out where my terminal was. When I got to my gate and terminal I bought a milkshake, the first thing that I had eaten all day. I was alone and was sort of scared that something was going to happen, like miss my flight or get caught up in security. But, my worried were just childish. I got onto my flight, Continental Airlines, and was on my way to Germany.

On the plane, I was seated next to the emergency hatch and had plenty of leg room. My companion next to me would give me the evil eye every time I want to get up to the bathroom. I also received the eye because I had the window shade to open see the plane go over Iceland where the sun light never fully set. As I went into a different time zone, the sun was still out and I felt like sleeping. The shoes I was wearing were not fit for walking, which I realized at that moment. The man beside me gave me the evil eye again as I went up to go to the bathroom once more before landing. As I got to my seat, the flight attendant went around asking us if we preferred chicken or beef. I said chicken and was given the tray of lukewarm food. It was awful but, I ate it because I will not eat for another 5 hours. After I ate I went to sleep.

I woke up to the sound of the flight attendant talking in German and English that our landing time was eight minutes away. We landed and I left the airplane confused as to where to go. I followed the crowd and noticed that I was going through another security booth. They wanted our passports and asked why we were visiting the country. When I got up the booth, I put on my best smile and gave him my passport. He was sullen German but, spoke fluent English. He asked why I was in the country, business or pleasure? I told him  pleasure and he scrutinized my face and the picture on the passport. Then, a couple of tense minutes, I given back my passport, a cordial ’I hope you enjoy Germany.’ and a wave off. I breathed a sigh of relief and walked past. I went to the baggage claim next to the security booth and grabbed my bags. I left baggage claim and went into the main part of the airport and saw Aunt Wanda.

From there on, I had the best time of my life. I spent about three weeks in Berlin and went everywhere in the capital. I went to some of the famous museums and art galleries but, the best part of the experience in Berlin was the food. The food was from many different cultures like Vietnam, Turkey, and not surprisingly American food. Some of the other cities that we went to was Dresden, Munich, and the region of Bavaria. I went to the Alps in southern Germany and we went all the way to the top of Zugspitz, the tallest point in Germany.

The final city that we went to before I had to go to Berlin again to catch my flight was Wartzberg, which were I was born. The military hospital was there and we were near the Residence, which is the military building for American. I never wanted to leave Germany. I felt at home there and the enchantment was so get that I was crying on the plane ride home. My visit to Germany changed my life because I finally realized that I can be proud of where I was born. I remember the time in high school when my friends teased me about being born in the Nazis country. Now, I get mad when people say that all Germany is remembered for is WW2 and the Nazis’. I don’t believe that. I cherish Germany and would always remember my experiences there.

As I hit the sidewalk on the other side, I turned to the office building and in the corner of my eye I saw him crossing the street as well. I sighed in agitation but, didn’t stop walking and waited for him. I rushed ahead to the doorman. He opened the door for me and tipped his hat. I gave him a “Thank you” in return. I walked through a highly polished lobby with granite floors and black leather couches and chairs. I made a b-line to the reception desk but, there was a gentleman in front of me.

“Are you sure that you don’t have a Mark Freedman working here?” The old man said in a low whining whisper.

“I am sorry, sir, but we don’t have a Freedman working here. Are you sure that you have the right building?” The receptionist said with concern for the man.

“I might have got the numbers mixed up. I will go home and call my son to make sure. But thank you so much for your help.” The old man said grabbing his slip of paper.

He turned and walked out the door. I stared at the door for a few seconds then, he was there.

“Can I help you, ma’am?” The receptionist asked looking at him, curious.

I turned and smiled at the petite brown haired woman. She wore a uniform, a clean blue vest with a white dress shirt underneath, with her name tag; Maggie.

“Yes, Maggie. I have a corporate meeting on the twelfth floor.” I said smiling, trying to hide my distress of him being here.

“Oh…you must be the CEO of BeGone, Miss Kirkpatrick. I have your ID.”

She hands me the flimsy plastic card with my name and picture on it. I had forgotten that I have given my picture to security before I came here. I grab the card and clipped it to my drench coat. I nodded to the receptionist and head toward the elevators.

Before I got about ten feet away I heard the receptionist talk to someone else. Merely out of curiosity I slowed my pace to eavesdrop.

“Well…hello Mr. Neil. How are you this morning?” She asked in a little bit of a high pitched voice.

“I am fine, thank you. The meeting is on the twelfth floor, right?” He asked with a silky voice.

I didn’t stay long enough to continue to snoop. It was him alright and I wanted to get away from him as soon as possible. I made it to the elevator door and I pushed the up bottom to the side. I waited for a few seconds and the door opened. I walked in and pushed the number twelve button. As the doors were closing the sound of running dress shoes and a hand reached in between the doors. I was started a little bit and waited for the person to come into the elevator. Mr. Neil appeared before the doors. I looked at him and he looked at me. He smiled and I frowned. I was fortified. We are going to ride the elevator together to the twelfth floor.

“Well, it has been a long time Haley.” He said with that extra silky voice.

Ugh…I hate that voice to no end, but at the same time I was glad to hear it again. I didn’t respond, but kept my grimace. He entered the elevator with a sigh and took the opposite corner from me. We didn’t speak. That is until the elevator got stuck about halfway up, in-between the six and seven floor.

“You got to be kidding me.” I said with disbelief.

I rammed the number twelve button with my thumb, faintly hoping that it would start up again. Once I gave up on that little hope, I returned to my corner. He chuckled and stole a glance at me. I scowled. He would always do that to me, especially in a very serious situation. He hadn’t changed one bit. After a few seconds, he got up and from his corner and pushed the emergency bottom. It made that annoying siren sound and once he released it, it stopped.

“Well, it looks like we will be here a while.” He said smiling as if to say that he wanted us to be cooped up together.

“Well, that is just great. I have a meeting and they are going to wonder where I am.” I said as I pulled out my Blackberry. I looked at the bars and there is no reception.

He chuckled again and went back to his corner. After a few minutes, he began to talk and would not shut up until. I didn’t respond to him until he made a ludicrous statement.

“I can’t believe that you are so childish to play the silent treatment.”

That made me angry and wanted to rip his head off.

“No, you want to know what is childish, cheating on a girlfriend that you’ve had a three year relationship with now that is childish.” I said spitting as much venom as I could into the statement.

“I told you a thousand times that I was sorry and you wouldn’t listen. I understood that you should be angry with me, but to hold it against me this long, after two years of not seeing each other. Now, that is childish. You need to learn how to forgive and forget, Haley.” He preached to me with a whisper. He would always do that when he got angry with me.

“Victor, you are such a bastard. You have no idea what I have been through after our break up. I could not bring myself to date again because you hurt me. I will never fall in love again as I did with you.” I said with a catch in my throat, trying not to cry in front of him.

He said nothing but his scowl softened. Black stained tears rolled down my cheeks. He fucked up my mascara. However, I longed for him to touch me, to kiss me again. But the hurt in my heart was too much to bear. I wiped my tears away and didn’t look at him. He stood there frowning, thinking. Then suddenly the elevator started to move again.

He snapped his head toward me and I didn’t want to look at him. I was done talking with him, but I still listened.

“Look, Haley. I am so sorry that I have hurt you. Don’t give up on love all because of me. I betrayed you and your trust. I will never get that back, but at least have some other guy have a chance.” He said sighing.

A few minutes after he said that the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. I checked the clock on my Blackberry. We had only been in the elevator for ten minutes, but it was the worst ten minutes of my life. I exit the elevator without looking at Victor and went to the conference room. I felt him follow behind me. I turned and looked at Victor.

“What are you doing?” I asked angry again.

“This is the meeting that I am going to.” He said confused as well.

“Wait a minute. You, Victor Neil, are the CEO of the biggest pharmaceutical company in the world, VicMed? I should have known.” I asked in disbelief.

“Well it looks like we will be working together as well. I hope the ride in the elevator doesn’t change how we conduct business.” He said smiling.

“No, of course it will not affect anything with the deal.” I said as I turned into the cold businesslike demeanor.

“Alright…Ladies first.” He said while opening the door.

I waited scowling. He stood there smiling. After a few seconds, I gestured toward the conference room.

“Well aren’t you going in?”

“Well, it has been a long time Haley.” He said with that extra silky voice.

Ugh…I hate that voice to no end, but at the same time I was glad to hear it again. I didn’t respond, but kept my grimace. He entered the elevator with a sigh and took the opposite corner from me. We didn’t speak. That is until the elevator got stuck about halfway up, in-between the six and seven floor.

“You got to be kidding me.” I said with disbelief.

I rammed the number twelve button with my thumb, faintly hoping that it would start up again. Once I gave up on that little hope, I returned to my corner. He chuckled and stole a glance at me. I scowled. He would always do that to me, especially in a very serious situation. He hadn’t changed one bit. After a few seconds, he got up and from his corner and pushed the emergency bottom. It made that annoying siren sound and once he released it, it stopped.

“Well, it looks like we will be here a while.” He said smiling as if to say that he wanted us to be cooped up together.

“Well, that is just great. I have a meeting and they are going to wonder where I am.” I said as I pulled out my Blackberry. I looked at the bars and there is no reception.

He chuckled again and went back to his corner. After a few minutes, he began to talk and would not shut up until. I didn’t respond to him until he made a ludicrous statement.

“I can’t believe that you are so childish to play the silent treatment.”

That made me angry and wanted to rip his head off.

“No, you want to know what is childish, cheating on a girlfriend that you’ve had a three year relationship with now that is childish.” I said spitting as much venom as I could into the statement.

“I told you a thousand times that I was sorry and you wouldn’t listen. I understood that you should be angry with me, but to hold it against me this long, after two years of not seeing each other. Now, that is childish. You need to learn how to forgive and forget, Haley.” He preached to me with a whisper. He would always do that when he got angry with me.

“Victor, you are such a bastard. You have no idea what I have been through after our break up. I could not bring myself to date again because you hurt me. I will never fall in love again as I did with you.” I said with a catch in my throat, trying not to cry in front of him.

He said nothing but his scowl softened. Black stained tears rolled down my cheeks. He fucked up my mascara. However, I longed for him to touch me, to kiss me again. But the hurt in my heart was too much to bear. I wiped my tears away and didn’t look at him. He stood there frowning, thinking. Then suddenly the elevator started to move again.

He snapped his head toward me and I didn’t want to look at him. I was done talking with him, but I still listened.

“Look, Haley. I am so sorry that I have hurt you. Don’t give up on love all because of me. I betrayed you and your trust. I will never get that back, but at least have some other guy have a chance.” He said sighing.

A few minutes after he said that the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened.

She walks with a strut like she is coming off the runway in Paris but, she lacks the height of a supermodel. Done with shopping for the day, they all strut out of the mall like hens to their silver Lexus. It was her dad’s car but, daddy always gives her what she wants. She and her friends drive off from Potomac Mills Mall and go north towards Washington D.C. The traffic was easy going for a Saturday afternoon so; they made it to suburbia just outside of Crystal City.

She drops off her friends at their respective homes near her house. Both of her friends’ families are well off. With big houses and lots of shopping money they live at ease. The neighborhood that she lives in is far from downtown D.C. Her parents didn’t want to live in the rural area with all of the crime that is going on especially that killer that got loose from the state prison in New York and made his way to D.C. However, the thought never entered her mind as she turned into the drive way that was occupied with her mother’s BMW. She exits the car, grabbed her shopping bags and locked the car behind her. She looked toward the front door and notices it is wide open.

“Great…Tommy left the door opened on his way out to God knows where.” She thought sighing as she walked to the front porch and put her right hand on the door knob. She walked into the hallway of the house and looked at the floor. Red marks were on the floor. They sort of looked like paint. She follows the trail of red to the kitchen where it suddenly stops in a pool of deep red liquid. She slowly approached the pool of liquid and after a few seconds a bead of red substance falls into the middle of the pool. She quickly looked up and saw her mother hanging from the pot rack. Blood was gushing out of her mother and dripping down her mother’s feet to the floor.

“Oh my god…” She screamed and backed away.

As she backed away she bumped into what felt like a person. She turned and sighed with relief.  It was her dad. He didn’t say anything but, he was smiling at her bloody mother.

“I thought that the escaped prisoner did it. But I guess I was wrong.” She said looking back at her mother.

“Oh no, he would not have done it this way.” Her dad said with confidence.

“Well, I didn’t consider that. Where is Tommy?” She asked nonchalant .

“He is upstairs cleaning up from all the blood he got on his shirt and pants.” He said moving around her to get a closer look at the hanging corpse.

“Okay. I wish I was here when you did it. Why didn’t you wait for me? You know I enjoy watching.” She asked pouting.

He looks away from his former wife and looks at the ground as if he was thinking of something else.

“I wanted to have a bonding moment with Tommy’s first viewing. He is going to have to get used to it. And guess what he took it like a champ. I am proud of him.” He finished walking away from the corpse and hugging his daughter.

They both looked at the hanging woman in fascination until they heard the sound of little feet hitting the carpet stairs.

Katherine Henion

The great hunt begins, with the leader’s ravenous croon
for the bony pack to assemble to the brass.
The hungry wolves howled, for the caribou.

Down the mountain, the smell of sweet perfume
of their next sublime, carnivorous task
under the glow of the full harvest moon.

With ever step constant, growling grew
for prey.  Down below the winter mass,
the hungry wolves howled, for the caribou.

At the frosted lake, the wolves resumed
sniffing, trying to catch the hearty gas,
under the glow of the full harvest moon.

Alas, the wolves tear at their warm due.
The great migration thundered passed,
The hungry wolves howled for the caribou
under the glow of the full harvest moon.

Katherine Henion

A girl, hair as black as night,
her lips as red as the rose
and skin as white as snow.
Nothing changed this fact.

She scowled every time.
Being a mirror that
answers all questions,
I set in motion their destiny.

Snow white has a destiny
with her Prince charming.
And the witch met hers at
the edge of a cliff.

Every time I see a face
it reveals to me their
souls true image, for you
cannot lie to a mirror.

The Witch Queen’s soul
was infested with the most
evil of spirits. She could not
hide what the mirror could find.

Katherine Henion

The carpet, once brown,
Stained black from ash.
Cigar and cigarette smoke
Blasts into your face.

The leather felt smooth and
The carpet, stiff.
The klang of Scotch bottles
Rang when gears shifted.

The pull of seat belts
Zipped, but not fast enough.
Out of the drive and
On to the beeping street.

Uncle John driving,
Some times with no hands.
Screams were caught in the wind,
But a deep laugh

Over threw everything.

Katherine Henion