My name is Zachary. I'm a twenty-two year old enrolled in Whim University. My animal is an Owl, the quiet and nocturnal animal. Which is funny- I have insomnia.
And because of my insomnia, I'm sitting up late-- it's about three in the morning. I'm scrolling through memes, and I open a new tab. I type in Flickr, which is a chatting app made years ago.
Unknown: I want her dead. Dead, dead, dead.
This line stands out to me. Out of curiosity, I click on the username. I add them as a friend.
Unknown: Hello there!
The two bold words stare back at me. I blink at the bright screen.
Hello.
I answer, fingers flying across the keyboard.
I saw you said 'I wanna kill her' in the chat. Do you really want to kill her?
Unknown: Mmm, I do.
They answer. I examine the rabbit picture they use as their profile picture, smiling at that familiar prey.
Is she a real person?
I ask, the clicking of the keys echoing through my room.
Unknown: She's my father's mistress. She always beats my mother when I'm not around. My mother doesn't want me to worry, so she's been hiding from me until I saw the bruises on her arms.
Oh? Does your father know about this?
My eyebrows knit with concern for this stranger.
Unkown: It would be useless if I told him. He doesn't trust me. She tried the seduce me, too! She's disgusting.
Unkown: I want to chop her to bits. Do you understand how I feel?
I smile unconsciously. I've killed before. I know how good it feels to watch someone you despise drown with their own blood. How satisfying it is when your blade enters their body.
Yes, I know how you feel. There is a man I hate. I want to kill him.
Unkown: Who would that be?
My mother's former colleague. After her divorce, he stalked and harassed her. He even violated her after she told him off. I was twelve at that time; I couldn't do anything. Then, a couple years ago, she got remarried. However, that asshole threatened her and said if she didn't give him money, he would send those pictures to her current husband.
Unkown: How much was he asking for?
Ten grand. Last time he wanted five, and we gave it to him. Now he wants more. I wanted to call the police, but if I did that, this whole thing would be exposed. My mother would rather die than let anyone know. I've always thought the world would be a better place without that bastard.
Unkown: So you want to kill him?
Absolutely. I wish I could.
I really want to, but I told myself to change. About six years ago, I decided to stop murdering those who've wronged me and focus on school.
Unkown: I'll kill him for you.
I laugh- a sharp, bitter sound that exits my throat.
Why would you do that for me? We don't know each other.
Unkown: Exchange murdering- have you heard of it?
I have, but I've buried the person I was deep inside. So, I pretend to not know.
No, what is it?
Unkown: It pretty much means the two parties kill the person that the other party loathes, so the police won't be able to find the motives of the murders. That way we'll be more likely to get away with it.
Unkown: Let's say I kill to kill your target for you. If I have nothing to do with the target, the only thing I have to make sure is that I don't leave any DNA behind, then the police won't be able to find me.
Unkown: Even if you became a suspect, but since you didn't kill the person, they won't have any evidence on you.
Hmm. I'll do it.
Unkown: Really. Just like that?
You have no idea how fucked up my life is. It might not be the worst thing if I get locked up. This'll be easy. But you have to kill my guy first, and give me evidence.
Unkown: Alright. That's a deal! Give me the target's info. And can we exchange numbers? And if anything happens, I won't harass you.
I hold my breath as I type. Tonight, I'm reviving the part of me I locked away years ago- Owl.
Call me Owl. What about you?
Unkown: You can call me Hare.
So this is how it starts. It's like a thin spider web that lures people to climb up and explore. But at the second time, they have no idea what's waiting for them on the other side. But what they don't know? It's a bottomless pit.
