187

A Hint of Joy

This is where I am. Alone, hiding from society. Nothing to do and nothing to say. I've been hiding from my problems and this is where it has led me. My girlfriend was killed by the infamous 187. It infuriated me and ended up with me killing him. Unfortunately, the role he carried has been passed to me. I refuse to continue his killing. "That lonely son of a bitch", I said to myself.

"Hello everyone across the world, this is the story of the evening. The killer known as '187' has been silent and hasn't killed anyone in over a month. Police are still trying to uncover this mystery and has found out that the role of 187 has been passed from person to person with each one mimicking his/her actions. When the police get their hands on more information, we'll be the first to report on it."

This wasn't good. The police are becoming aware that this dirty role is being passed down from one person to another. If they uncover more i'm screwed. I have to do something about this. But how? I can't just go out there into the public. The only time I would be going out is when Shannon's funeral comes around. So much to do yet so little time... I can't risk getting arrested. I need to stay here for now, but if I stay here then the police might find my location. Damn it! Why does this have to happen to me? What did I do that deserves this? That's when it came. That's where my other self was born. Born out of my own despair, my own sadness, my own evil. "Well, what did you do? Could you say that domestic violence is something that you've done? There's no going back and you know that. You can stay cocooned here for all you want or you can continue the path you have chosen. One way or another, you're going to die. So which one will you choose?" It gave me a choice. Stay here and do nothing or live up to the title forced onto me. "You've killed a man, a man deemed to be 187. You've done more than you've thought. So why stop here? Come on... Go outside and start killing. You will feel better about yourself and you wouldn't have to worry about your old, deadbeat life. You can start afresh as 187". It made a point, I've already committed grave sins, so why stop here? I can't get any redemption, I'm already past that point. It's time to resume my duties.

As I walked outside, I felt the cold, punishing air hit me. It was punishing me for showing my face to the public, but I couldn't care less what the world had to say. I am a new man, with new intentions and I won't hesitate to unleash the hell that has built up inside of me. My first destination was the pub on my road. I entered and heard something that confused me a little.

"Breaking news, 187 has struck again after his/hers long break. The victim was found dead in an alleyway with three stab wounds to the chest. Police haven't got much information yet. We will update you when we get more details"

I was stunned. How? And why? I'm 187, I didn't kill that person, unless someone else is pretending to be 187. That must be it, I need to find this person and confront him/her. Well, I don't know where to start. I was stuck for some time until I realised that the channel that was reporting this was the local news so this person had to be close. I walk out of the pub and start searching for this imposter.

I was walking, determined to find this person. Ready to ask questions, ready to find more knowledge, ready to steal their last breath. However, my lust for killing had only grew stronger as I thirst for the sight of blood. I needed to satisfy myself. As I was walking, I saw a man alone in front of a corner shop. His posture demands power and his strong face makes the strongest of men inferior. I'll need to come up with something but I couldn't think of anything, then it hit me. Maybe I could ask him to help me with something. He doesn't look busy so I guess that might work. I approach the man and already I felt his strong presence push me down but I didn't let that intimidate me. "Hey, sorry to disturb you but is it alright if you help me with something? I just thought you would be the right person to help me out". He looked at me, confused but bored. "Okay whatever". I was shocked, he didn't even question why I asked him. Is this how I catch prey into my trap? This job is too easy. "Okay, great. Follow me please". He follows me quietly, keeping his empowering posture in shape. I lead him to an alleyway. This is where it happens, death's sanctuary. The place was quiet, lonely and cold. "This is a very nice place isn't it? I'm guessing you need help with cleaning up your home", the man insults me, little does he know what his future holds. "You make me laugh, although you should shut up now", i said this out of annoyance and the man knew this also. The man was about to leave but I was too quick for him. I gave him a clean punch in the jaw, knocking him out instantly. "Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! You're definitely suitable for me". As I rejoiced, a problem arose. I didn't have anything to carry him in. "What to do..." I needed to think of something. I put his body in a massive sand bag that was on the side and carried him home.

"Where the fuck am I?" Were his first words after waking up. His body was strapped to a pole. I was the one in control, I was the predator and he was the prey. "You idiot, haven't your parents taught you not to follow strangers?" I tease him with a knife, looking down to him with disgust. "Look at yourself you pathetic piece of shit. You dress nicely, straighten your back to give you the best posture. However, it all just hides the fact that you're weak. You're nothing, you're just a pathetic waste of space on this damn earth. As I walked up to the man I felt something come over me. Slowly my sanity was enveloped by the loving arms of my other self. I was drawn in to its deceptive ways. "Well my good sir, this is what's gonna happen. First I'll stab your leg, then your chest and then your throat. How does that sound?" With a smile on my face, I penetrate his leg with my knife. I watch him scream in pain as blood flows out of his leg. Next was the chest. Slowly sliding teasing him with the knife, I stab him directly in the heart. "Damn, probably not such a good idea if I wanted to torture him..." there he laid, lifeless on the cold floor. Even though he was dead, I had to continue with the stabbing and stabbed him in the throat. It wasn't fun, it wasn't exciting. He died too quickly and I didn't get the chance to enjoy watching him suffer. I chopped his body into multiple pieces and placed them in a bag.

"Breaking news, 187 is back with five more killings. Three teenage students, a teacher and a businessman has been killed. Police has also made the assumption that there are multiple 187s and one of them must be a student. We will bring you updates shortly".

"Oh man! This person has clearly tainted your image. What are you going to do about it oh so gracious 187? Hahaha! You have no idea you worthless pile of shit. You have no leads." That's where my other self was wrong. I did have a lead. The other 187 is a student. However, I had nothing else to go on by. I needed to make an educated guess. "Let's see, this person can't be an infant. They wouldn't have the resources to start killing. However, someone that's in secondary school would be able to kill people freely because of the fact that they can be trusted by themselves. What if this person is a person with intelligence? Well it must be a person with intelligence otherwise they would get caught. Although, it could be a student from a university. Damn it... there's too many options." I needed to do something. I was sitting in my house and I was deep in thought. Then it hit me. "How about i apply for a job? In either a school or a university. It would help me narrow down my results and I would get access to details of students." That's when my other self decided to talk. "Yes! Finally a good idea! But I have a better idea, let me take over. It will be fun. I want to kill. I want to watch people suffer." I needed to think. Letting this thing take over is practically letting the devil into the world. However, there was no going back. So I agreed, letting go of my soul in the process.

"Excellent" my other self had taken over...