Killing For Qualities

Paige Kaster

Paige knew she was unusual ever since she was six. When her house was broken into and young Paige was left with only a passed out baby sitter, her fear of death and human instinct to survive kicked in.

Paige cowered, shaking, in the corner. Her head buried in her knees. She could hear someone rummaging through drawers in the room next door; Paige's heart bounced around her body whilst her brain paced her head.

What do I do? What do I do? I don't want to die. I don't want to...

Paige looked up as she remembered the tool box that was in her wardrobe because of the work being done to her room. She carefully unlatched the box and reached for the hammer. The hammer slipped from her clammy hands and clattered against the metal box.

Shit, someone's still here!

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no!

"Hi," spoke the intruder as she crept around the corner. "Who...who are you?" She questioned with a nervous crack in her voice.

Paige's heart was echoing through her entire body. Paige trod silently over the carpet and into a small space beside the wardrobe.

"So? What's your name?" She asked again as she entered the room.

Don't move. Don't say anything. It's going to be fine. You're going to survive!

The burglar moved to the other side of the room, knife at the ready, and stared out the open window to check no one was watching.

Now!

Paige charged at the woman and wacked her on the spine with the point of the hammer. Her body crippled as she whimpered and flopped out the window.

Those few seconds played out like a video in slow motion. Paige watched in disbelief at what she had done.

Crowds swarmed the young girl offering her blankets, food, medical checkups and tea.
"Oh my gosh, Paige! Are you hurt? What happened? Where wa-" Paige's mother was cut off by her daughter wrapping her arms around her.

"Excuse me, excuse me! Paige! Over here sweety!" Shouted a tall woman with a camera crew. "How did you defend yourself from the bloodthirsty burglar?"
Paige's mother quickly scooped her up and snuggled her up inside.

Paige peeked through the curtains at the cameras, police men and even uniforms she couldn't recognise busying themselves. Later that evening, after the people packed up, Paige and May would too pack up and head off to her grandmother's house.

Paige perched on some drawers and looked into the mirror and smiled like she always did.

What?

She stared at her reflection, bemused at why it had changed. Ever since she fell and hit her teeth at the park, the four teeth at the front stuck out in unusual directions but now, they were at least as perfect as they were before.

"Mummy! Mummy!" She called with excitement.
"Yes dear?"
"Look!" Paige cracked a huge smile as she bounced up and down.
"Your teeth? There...perfect! What do you do to them?"
"Guess!"
"Umm...you went to the dentist by yourself?" May giggled.
"Nooooooope!"
"What did you do?"
"Nothing!"

Of course "nothing" wasn't really true. Paige had killed someone. That's what she'd done.