I sighed at the body, grinning slightly.
Blood trickled from the person's temple. I crouched down beside the body and pressed two fingers to the neck to check their pulse; it had slowed, but the heart was still beating. I trailed the blade down the torso. Tiny holes were made in the fabric.
I left the body in search of a roll of duct tape. I opened the drawers of Dexter's desk and found two rolls. I quickly got to work. The body I stripped of its clothes. The exposed flesh pimpled in the cold air. I pulled off a large piece of tape and covered the mouth, then worked my way down.
The wrists…
The legs…
And just to be safe, I wrapped the knees and thighs, to ensure that they would not be able to move.
My heart pumped faster as I worked. In a way, I almost felt…giddy. After not having killed in so long, it felt nice returning to my old routine, prepping the bodies for slaughter. But I could not kill here, no. This is Dexter's apartment; his girlfriend and her children have been here. Debra is aware of her brother and I, but Rita is not. God forbid she enters the apartment while I am lost in my own little world of blood and torture…she'll have me arrested.
And if that happens…well, that won't be good.
So, I suppose it's best then that I save the body for later until Dexter arrives home from work. At least if I know that he is here, I can finish this in peace.
I plopped down on the floor beside the body and watched his bare chest rise and fall with each shallow breath. His pale, naked flesh seemed to glisten in the light, and regrettably my thoughts wandered back to that loathsome vampire love story an old friend of mine had made me read.
What kind of vampires sparkle?
Just then, the handle on the door turned. With one swift movement, my body sprung to its feet, and flew backward, and pressed up against the wall. Once more I readied the knife. Adrenaline began kicking in. My heart pounded in excitement. The sheer thrill of having yet another target land right into my hands nearly caused me to laugh out loud. I contained that laughed, and crept toward the door, using it as cover. It opened.
As the figure set foot into the apartment, I lunged forward, grabbing them from behind, and delivered another almost fatal blow to the temple. This body fell just like the last. I flipped them over and examined their features.
Just like the last victim, this one had a shaven head as well. He seemed to be a young male; maybe in his late teens. His face had been hardened, compassion, emotion sucked out of him, leaving him with nothing but blank eyes and a snarled lip. I stripped this one as well, and secured his body with what was left of Dexter's tape.
I'd have to remember to purchase more for him later.
He was heavier than the last. His body was adorned with tattoos, and nothing of the professional kind; they were mediocre at best, the quality of the ink akin to what you would find a prisoner using to mark his body with gang related insignia. Across his stomach, a phrase was written. When he wakes, I shall ask what it means. I have no time to decipher his cheap markings. I placed him next to the other.
Footsteps sounded outside of the apartment. Light footfall on the concrete balcony came closer and closer until they poised outside of the apartment door.
Shit, another one? I groaned. Silence didn't concern me at this point. The next being to walk through the door will have this blade driven into the flesh of their neck.
A key inserted into the lock. I calmed slightly, but my tension was not fully relieved. What if it is Rita? Does she even had a key? I dropped to the floor, and allowed panic to consume me. I became fully distressed, my body began to shake uncontrollably, the tremors shaking the blade out of my hand. It dropped with a thud beside me. The door opened, and I hugged my knees to my body.
"What happened?" Dexter's voice said.
I calmed myself, and regained composure rather quickly. I spoke to Dexter in a matter-of-fact voice. "These two broke in while I was bathing. I incapacitated the both of them with a blow to the temple, then restrained them with the tape."
Holy shit, thank god it wasn't Rita, huh?
"Do you have any idea who they are?"
"I assume they work alongside the killer. Impressionable teens, looking to make a quick buck. So they aid the stranger and carry out a few jobs. That's how it goes with the little gang bangers. I mean, look at the tattoos." I pointed out the crude black and white ink drawings on their skin.
"You think they had anything to do with the murders?" he asked, kneeling on the floor beside me.
I shrugged. "With the one last night, yes. But the one a few weeks ago, no. These idiots couldn't have pulled off a stunt like that. No, there's a much larger, more skilled team working the big jobs."
"Big jobs?"
"The murders. The ones affiliated with the school slaughter; the principal, all that. Last night was just another homicide. Nothing bad…well, if you leave out the ritualistic aspect of the killing. And the message scrawled in blood…" I faced him. "Are they ever going to bring me in?"
"Uh, yes, actually. I informed Batista that I had taken you in."
My eyes widened. "You did?"
"Yes. And he is going to send another detective over to ask you a few questions." he turned away to study the two bodies. "They'll be over tomorrow. And I'll be here when it happens."
"Alright…but now, what do we do with these two?"
"You're the one the knocked them out and tied them up, you tell me."
"I'll just have to wait for them to wake, then. And then I'll question them." I stood up. "In the meantime, TV?"
"Sure." he gave a small smile and stood.
Bending down, I grabbed the ankle of one of the goons. "You just gonna stare at my ass, Dex, or are you going to help me drag that other bastard over?"
"Over where?" he asked, grabbed the kid's ankle.
"Preferably in front of the door. So that I can see them wake."
. . .
With a half hour gone by, only one had begun to stir. The other, the second boy that I had rendered unconscious, should wake soon. I tapped Dexter's thigh and pointed over toward them. The first intruder began wriggling, panicking as he realized he had been captured. The two of us walked over toward them and stood over the bodies. Upon hearing the first moan and thrash around, the second's eyes opened. He stayed calm, and stared at us both.
"Where the fuck are we?" the first asked. His pale green eyes flitted around the room, his chest heaved with each breath.
"You're still in the apartment you broke into." I smirked. "You underestimated me, didn't you?"
"Who are you?" the second said.
"I could ask you the same thing." I leaned down and picked the blade off the floor. "Now, I believe you know that this could end badly, correct?"
The two send nothing. Simply stared. The smaller boy shook.
"I'll take that as a yes. So, either you cooperate, or, I'll hack you to pieces right here on the floor." I smiled. "Who the hell are you two?"
"We were hired by s-some guy…he told us to break in here…and if we found you, to bring you back to h-him." the smaller one stammered. "He promised us that we could get into some group of h-his."
"Group?" I asked curiously. "What kind of group."
"He said it's made of a bunch of killers. He promised protection and…and that we'd never get caught." he sniffled. "Please don't hurt us…"
I looked at the other boy. "Do you have anything to say?"
"Fuck off." he spat.
"Ooh, we have a feisty one, here, Dexter." I grinned at him. I stepped over the kid's body, my legs on either side of his shoulders. I swung the cleaver from side to side, letting the handle slip slowly from my finger tips. "Now what did I tell you about cooperating?"
He glared. I made a tsk sound. "I guess you haven't learned yet." I dropped the heavy blade. It landed on the floor, the tip of the knife sunk into the carpet. It had cut the boy's ear on the way down, taking a nice chunk of skin off of the appendage. He hissed in pain.
"Do you boys have names?"
"A-Adam."
The other glowered at me. I laughed. "Let me guess, you're Adam's companion Eve? Don't try to act tough while you're naked an duct taped on the floor, kid. Just give me your name."
"Ivan."
"Ivan…you're being a little difficult. Maybe that's 'cause we're not on good terms with each other. Why not chill out and be nice, huh?" I said, reaching down and squeezing the injured ear. "What's that tattoo of yours say? The one on your stomach."
"Liberari de caelo auxilium suum a malo terrae." he hissed.
Ah, I smiled. The…motto of the Brotherhood.
Delivered from Heaven, protecting His earth from evil.
Yes, at one point we were soldiers of god. But now...now, we only rid the world of evil. Our connection with the lord himself has been eradicated and replaced by a need to rid the world of the pestilence that is mankind.
We will not extinguish it from this earth, but only improve it. We will kill, one by one, the malignancies that plague the human race, therefore bettering it, and creating a safer environment.
One that lives in fear.
And I will make sure of that.
Man will fear Death's hand.
And I, I am Death. If I have to drive fear into the hearts of these boys in order to get answers, I will. I will make them tell me just who sent them.
Once I find out, I will dispose of these two worthless children, and seek out the fuck who ordered them to find me.
"I see your boss has marked you already, hmm?" I snickered. "Unfortunately for you, that is only a cheap imitation of the true Brotherhood crest. Ours are seared into our flesh."
I pulled my shirt up to expose my scarred ribs. A large shield, embossed with a thorn covered inverted cross, with the Latin phrase burned underneath decorated my skin. On my twelfth birthday, I was given this marking. This was to show that I am a true killer, a true member of the Brotherhood. Not a goon like these boys.
"So were you recruited by him, too?" Ivan asked.
These boys were recruited by a Brother…hmm…but who? It's not like one of us to pick off people on the street.
"No. I was born into this."
"Really? You were born into a…gang?" Adam said. He seemed to be in disbelief.
"We're not a gang, and yes, I was born into this."
Ivan spoke. "We…so does that mean you know the guy who made us come here?"
"Supposedly I do know him. But, I have no idea who he is. Tell me about him, and maybe I'll let you go."
"Will you really?"
"Yes. Cooperate with me, and you won't leave here in a garbage bag." I said darkly. "What'd this guy look like?"
"He was kinda tall…like a little taller than him." Ivan nodded toward Dexter. "And he has a shaved head. Blue eyes. Kinda old lookin'. He don't look mean, though. Wouldn't think this guy would be in a gang." He chuckled. "Anyways, he's got some fucked up skin on his neck. A hawkish nose."
"Yeah, yeah." Adam agreed.
"Did you get a name?" Dexter asked.
"He said it was Ossie or some shit. There was another guy, too. They mentioned some chick, but she was never there. They'd only call her." I van said, his brow furrowing. "That other guy was a big, tall creepy dude. He had short, dark hair. Couldn't tell his eye color. Maybe green or blue, I don't remember. He was buff…ish."
"Ish?" I asked.
I pressed my lips into a firm line. Where had I heard that name before? It sound so familiar…
"Yeah, like he was toned and shit."
I nodded. "Did they ever talk about this…girl?"
"Nah. Not really. They always had to call, though. They always had to report back to her. She was like the head honcho. Heh. A bitch in control." he scoffed.
"Well, this bitch is in control, now. Anymore shit you can tell me?"
"All I can say is that there's a bunch of people in on whatever's going on. Cops an' shit, too."
"Cops?" I choked.
"Yeah, they got people on the inside. So watch your back. Cause you seem to be in deep shit, lady."
"What the fuck…?" I looked at Dexter. "How much shit is going on?"
He just shook his head. "I don't know…but we've gotta be extra careful."
"Hey, what's going on here, anyway?" Adam asked. He looked to have relaxed a bit since Ivan and I began talking. His stutter had ceased.
"Nothing. Just some people aren't liking me, lately." I exhaled. "Is this all you two have to offer? Meaning, is this all you can tell me?"
Ivan stared off, thinking. Adam chewed his lower lip. While these two thought, I pondered on the familiarity of the name. Where had I heard it? I swear the name has come up a few times during my life. Someone I know has used it…but who is it…
"We ain't got nothing more for ya, miss. Sorry."
"It's fine…" I muttered distantly.
Who used the name….
"Can we go now?"
God dammit, I know this…
"What are you thinking? Have you come up with anything?" Dexter asked quietly, yet urgently. I put a finger up.
Son of a bitch…who-
"Fuck! It's Nikolai's brother's name!"
My head could've exploded at the realization. My heart pounded, my senses flooded. My brain was now on overdrive, questions pouring in. I felt like tracking him down, but at the same time I wanted to wait for them to find me again…
Oh god…what's going on here?