Taking Control

ACT I

TAKING CONTROL
ACT I.

Waking beside a dead body quickly became the new normal── my new normal.

At first it was scary, more so than any horror fantasy written in books or played on scene. A reality Boogeyman, except it was scary in a different way, it didn't try jumping out of the darkness and screamed in your face── in fact it was the darkness, a silent darkness. It was terrifying. However, what was more terrifying, was finally becoming comfortable enough to accept it all── I guess in other words, it was still scary. As much as it was normal, and had become my new reality, it was scary.

Death and I became partners, I guess one could say, we were good friends, pals, buddies. He didn't scare me anymore. I wasn't sure when our relationship had begun, but I could remember some of our more recent actions of teamwork.

For instance, two weeks ago where a male, probably in his early twenties or could still be in his late teen, laid face down a float inside a pool. A pool which turned out to be in my neighbour's── the Hiltons── backyard. He was sporting only a pair of red swimming trunks and I awoke finding myself only in a bikini, laying on a beach chair which stood beside the pool. It wasn't exactly waking next to him, but it somewhat was.

I had killed him. Why?

If only I knew. I guess Death told me to, but I couldn't, somehow, remembered.

This week, however, was a different story.

X x X x

I braced myself as my eyes reluctantly pulled open. Blinking away all essence of sleep, my vision went through a series of colour; white, gray white again, as it steadily focused on an unfamiliar white ceiling── a contrast to my own dull gray ceiling. My breath hitched as new found courage recuperated in order to face the new tragedy of the moment. With a slight twist of the neck, I faced my right and noticed the body laying there.

Female, I noted.

Could I address her as a female anymore?

There weren't any signs of breathing, which meant all which remained of her was an empty shell. The lifeless brunette, who looked no more than sixteen, laid slant across the normal sized bed. Her left knee arched reaching the height of her waist and had completely fallen from the white blanket which poorly covered her. Her right cheek pushed flushed against the pillow and her dull brown eyes opened, staring back into my life-filled dark brown ones. A white t-shirt tightly wrapped around her neck and her right hand which carried five bloody fingernails── proving she had put up a fight with her attacker── laid limped at her side.

Groaning, I ran my hands down my face.

Another death. Which was it, the 10th, the 11th, the 12th── I had completely lost count.

Beginning to feel distured with her penetrating gaze, I leaned over and hesitantly ran my hand down her face closing her dull brown eyes.

Rest in peace, I thought as I looked away.

Kicking the sheets off my feet, I was greeted by my own nudity. My stomach turned at the thought of the possible events that had probably taken place during the night. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together after noticing the both of our nakedness. Something tugged again in my stomach, and I leaned over and hurled but nothing came. However, my chest burned as if it held an untameable fire.

I hate when this happened.

Straightened and standing to my full height, I winced as I felt a burning pain on my back. I glanced around the large room and noticed two piles of clothing laying messily at the foot of the bed. Quickly reaching for the set closest to me, I dressed myself and moved towards the slightly ajar door thinking it was the exit. Unfortunately, it led to a small Loo. The washbasin was covered in makeup and towels, which I had to brush aside in order to properly use the tap. I glanced at myself in the mirror, and groaned as I saw the black tangled mess sitting on my head, as well as my swollen lips. Hastily, I did my business and returned to the bedroom.

I needed to get rid of the body. I needed to follow my normal procedures.

Suddenly the ringing of a mobile phone echoed in the room making my heart pound heavily against my chest. For some reason, I followed the sound of the ringing, moving the pillow which I had laid my head earlier, to find the small device. The name 'Cheryl' with a heart, displayed as the caller's ID. I hesitantly swipe the answer button.

"Lass, I've been ringing all morning. Where in arse-crack, are you?" The voice on the other side greeted. Series of laughter followed in the background, along with the low sound of music. "Don't bail now, Ty has bet a lot of cash that you'll be a no show and honestly I wanna see him choke on bollocks when I get his tenner-"

"You ain't getting a nickel," Another voice, definitely male, cuts in from the background.

"Suck a cactus," The previous voice, Cheryl, retorted.

"Ladies first," Ty, I presumed, snapped back, which led into a heated back and forth between the two, and for some reason, I continued to listen.

"Can you two stop?" Another voice finally intervened, putting an end to the commotion.

"See Bella," Cherly sighed. "Now get your skinny white buttocks here, and you better not keep me waiting."

The call ended, and I hesitantly pulled the device from my ear.

I sighed looking over to the naked girl.

So her name was Bella. I noted, adding her name to the list of innocents murdered by me.