Page 1 of The Moments You Miss
Prologue
The Past
October 21st, what a great fucking day for someone to die.
It’s colder than it should be for this time of year, making the night aircrispand just right. I slam the door shut and yell out for my apprentice to join me. I know that they’re young, but idle hands make for poor choices. I have a job: I rid the world of those who do the inexcusable, unforgivable, and deplorable.
I’m not a good person, nor have I ever fucking claimed to be.
We hop into the car, and I know that what we’re about to do will change the outcome for a lot of things in the future. I know that my apprentice is terrified, and they need to fucking learn that they’re growing up, and they can’t be this pathetic waste of space for much longer.
“Explain to me again exactly what we’re going to be doing.” I pull the pack of cigarettes, tapping the box on the palm of my hand,flicking my zippo, and lighting it with a deep inhale. The taste of cheap tobacco always brings me back to these moments, leading up to the kill. It’s almost nostalgic for me.
The voice of my apprentice echoes through the cab of my truck. “Richard Clarkson, predator, has…” their throat wobbles, knowing that this isn’t a conversation they want to be having but I don’t fucking care.
“Keep fucking going.” I growl, as the voice continues.
“Richard is a predator; kidnapped and tortured at least six women, suspected at least eight more, with not much evidence to go on.” They look up at me, wanting something that they won’t get; approval, acceptance, praise.Not from me. It’s a short drive to the little town where this monster lives; he lives off the beaten path which makes my fucking job that much easier. Their end is coming.
The mother is an unfortunate piece of collateral damage that I have no problem closing out, using their child as bait to kidnap these women. Richardis-was a monster of a man, and his life has to come to an end. This is a burden I happily bear. I turn to my accomplice–giving them a nod as they hand me my kit.
A wicked smile grows on my face as I watch as the two cower in the corner, whimpering and begging for mercy. The couple is frozen as I begin to tie the two of them up. Neither of them fights back, knowing that they truly don’t have a chance of getting out of here. I walk up to the wife, Sheila Clarkson, the mother who used their own child for personal gain. The fact that the child is nowhere to be found has left a nagging feeling of untied loose ends that could bite us in the ass.
His wife lets out a scream, I throw her a withering glare and her voice quiets. I see her looking to the side, trying to be inconspicuous. “Looking for someone?”
Sheila’s red hair is mussed and matted, she looks disheveled, and her face is streaked with tears. She whimpers and shakes her head.
“I don’t do well with liars.” My lips touch the shell of her ear; her body reacts with a whole-body shiver, knowing my threat is hitting the mark. I turn to my apprentice, urging them to watch carefully. “Like this,” I whisper with another grimace on my face as I grab the woman’s hair, pulling her hair back with force.
“Where is she?” I growl.
The woman stammers away, trying to talk through the gag we had placed in their mouths. “No-not– no– please,” Sheila Clarkson pleads as she attempts to wriggle out of my grasp. When she manages to get the gag out of her mouth just slightly, my eyes gleam as I see the fear settle into her. Acceptance hits her; and before she can come to terms with what is actually happening, I smirk as I look at my apprentice.
“Useless,” I tut before slashing the knife along her throat and the gurgles escape as she falls silent.
A quiet voice comes up behind me, and I turn to my apprentice. Their eyes bug out as they watch the blood pool beneath the corpse. The man tied up next to her, screams and thrashes unsuccessfully.
“Hallway.Now,” I order my apprentice; they follow behind.
“Kill him.“ I don’t even give a moment to respond. “I’m running to the car. That man better not be alive by the time I getback in here you understand me?” I grab them by the collar of their shirt, a soft whimper escapes them and I throw them off; they lose their balance but quickly set themself straight. Their hands are white knuckling the knife I gave them, and they head off to the room and I head out to the car.
Five minutes later, I walk back in the room, and find two dead bodies. One by me. One by them.
“Good kid,” I say, the first true morsel of praise I’ve ever given them. “Help me move them.” My head motioning to the two dead bodies. We position them up on the bed, as if they’re sleeping. This is my M.O., this is what I am training them to do.
The Whispering Killer has indeed struck again, cleansing the world of the darkness.
Part One
Chapter 1
Flashing Lights
Leyla - 10 years old, 12 years ago
The lights are really bright, and I don’t like it. My brain is really fuzzy right now and I can’t think straight. I’m not really sure what’s going on, but the lady with the green eyes said that my Mommy and Daddy aren’t coming back, but I already knew that. I saw them in bed last night. The man said they can’t hurt anyone anymore, so they’re sleeping forever. The police lady said that I’m gonna go with her to the station, then they’ll get me a new teddy bear or some other plushie. I really don’t know why I would need a teddy.
A few hours pass and I’m sitting in the station and they’re giving me some snacks. Mommy never let me eat them at home, so I’m really excited over the cookies and chips. They are even better than I imagined! Sweet, salty, crunchy,mmm.
