Tending Their SECRET by Crystal Perkins Page B

It usually doesn’t take me long to find it—or
for it to find me.
    I’m near Dupont Circle when I see him. One
of the guys who said that shit to my mom outside of the bar.
Perfect. The reason for my rage is going to feel my rage. I look
around, trying to see if my shadow is with me tonight. I haven’t
been able to see him or her on the other nights I went out, and I’m
pretty sure whoever was messing with me has given up, but I still
look. Nothing appears out of the ordinary, so I keep moving. Time
to have some fun.
    This guy’s such a self-righteous idiot that
he doesn’t even bother to look around. If he did, he wouldn’t see
me, but I’d still like some sort of challenge. I don’t need it, but
it keeps things interesting. I occupy my time with thinking about
what I can do with him as we both leisurely stroll along.
    He finally stops at an apartment building
and I make my move. The baseball cap I threw on is low on my face,
so he can’t see me clearly, and neither can any of the cameras that
might be watching me as I move behind him. My gun is at his back,
as I throw my arm around him, acting like we’re old friends.
    “Make any sudden movements, and I’ll shoot
you.”
    “My wallet’s in my pants.”
    “I don’t want your money,” I tell him with a
laugh. “It’s time for you to pay for your sins, and I’m the judge,
jury, and if you’re lucky, maybe the executioner, too.”
    “Please, no.”
    “We’ll discuss this when we’re in your
apartment. Now move.”
    He finally gets the fact that I’m not going
to just walk away. By the time we’re inside his apartment, he’s
shaking. He should be. I slam him against the door while I pull my
mask down. There’s a good chance Ellie will invade my conscience,
and I’ll let him live, so I need to protect myself.
    I spin him around and start to stalk towards
him. There’s no other word for what I’m doing—it’s more than
walking. I’m literally stalking my prey. My lips curve up in a
smile as he tries to throw little things at me. Books, papers, even
a candlestick. This is going to be so much fun.
    I put my gloves on slowly as I continue to
dodge things, and then catch the remote for the TV when it comes my
way. He realizes too late that I’ve trapped him in a corner. I turn
on the TV, and find a horror movie, turning up the volume as far as
it will go. “Now it’s my turn to throw things,” I say as I pull a
knife from my pocket and open it. He puts his hand up, and that’s
exactly what I want. He lets out a blood-curling scream as my knife
lodges deep into his hand, and the wall.
    “Please. Whatever you want. I’ll do it.
Please.”
    “I want you to stop terrorizing women.”
    “I-I don’t.”
    “I saw you outside that bar earlier,” I tell
him as I pull out another knife and turn it back and forth in my
hand. “I heard the disgusting things you said.”
    “That woman—she deserved it.”
    This time he has no time to react as my
knife flies through the air, pinning the ear on his other side to
the wall. He’s probably going to pass out soon, so I need to work
fast. I’m done talking, anyway. I’m already fighting my urge to
kill him, and if he talks again, I will.
    I walk over and pull the last toy I brought
with me out of my other pocket. I had to travel light since I
didn’t bring a bag with me. This particular item is something I
bought for my mom. She always leaves it behind, and tonight is the
one night I’m actually happy about it.
    I power the mini Taser on as his eyes go
wide. I want to go for his crotch first, but I know he’ll pass out
if I do, and where’s the fun in that? He tries to put his other
hand up to stop me, so his palm gets to be first in line. His whole
body shudders, but it’s not nearly enough. I move on to his stomach
next, keeping it there a little longer. He isn’t even screaming
now, because his body is going into shock. My time’s almost up, so
I finally do what I want, and hold the Taser to