“Are you telling me that the fucking chemist for the Sons of Hell distillery whips up a few gallons of sweet tea just for Bane and slaps a fucking Hell’s Breath label on it?”
Silver smirked, grabbing the bottle and the tumblers. “Yep, and you pay full price, too.”
“Those fucking crates cost five grand!”
Laughing, I gasped. “Oh God, that’s priceless. Five grand for sweet tea!”
F.I.R.E
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The city lights twinkled like stars scattered across the urban sky as I watched the oblivious couple stroll down the bustling streets. They laughed and whispered sweet nothings, their hands intertwined, unaware of the dark figure lurking in the shadows. It was a night of celebration, of joy and love and they had no idea that the shadows held a chilling presence.
I watched them from a distance, my gaze unwavering, my steps methodical and silent. I had been trailing them for hours, blending into the night, my patience unwavering. I knew the couple well. I had studied their routines, their habits and their sins. The life I lived was the result of their actions and tonight, I was determined to exact justice.
Dressed in dark clothing, I melded seamlessly with the night, my eyes fixed on the couple. They had ruined me, taken everything I held dear and now, they would pay. Revenge was a dish best served cold, and I had waited long enough.
The couple entered a shop, their laughter mingling with the music and chatter of the other patrons. I stayed outside, my presence unnoticed, and found a shadow where I could observe without being seen. As the couple looked around, I plotted, my mind racing with thoughts of retribution.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on me. The air was thick with anticipation and my heart pounded in my chest like a war drum. I wanted every detail of this night etched into my memory, a testament to my resolve and the justice I sought.
The couple, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around them, continued to peruse the shop’s offerings. I watched every movement, every smile, every touch, committing it all to memory. This was the night that everything would change—the night when the scales of justice would finally tip in my favor.
I wanted to savor this night. To remember everything in great detail. To remember this was the night justice prevailed.
Following the couple as they left the shop, their arms full of bags, their laughter ringing out into the night, I followed, never losing sight of them. Their joyous expressions stood in stark contrast to the darkness that enveloped my soul. The streets were alive with the hum of city life, yet I remained invisible, a ghost among the living.
They walked leisurely, basking in their happiness, completely unaware of the shadow trailing them. Streetlights cast long shadows and their path twisted and turned through narrow alleyways and bustling squares. Every step they took brought me closer to the moment I had been waiting for.
When they reached a quieter part of the city, where the streets were less crowded and the noise of nightlife faded into the background, I quickened my pace. The time was drawing near. My mind replayed the myriad injustices they had inflicted upon me, fueling the fire of my determination.
They paused at a small park, the dim glow of the lamps casting a romantic aura around them. The couple found a secluded bench and settled down, their laughter now soft murmurs. I lingered in the shadows, my breath steady, my resolve unwavering.
This was the moment of reckoning. The night air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. The couple’s voices were mere whispers, but to me, they were the echoes of my past suffering. I stepped forward, the night my ally and closed the distance between us.
Every second felt like an eternity, but I knew that soon, justice would be served. The couple’s fate was sealed and as I approached, the weight of my actions bore down upon me. Tonight, the scales of justice would finally balance and the darkness that had consumed me would be lifted.
The couple, lost in their world, didn’t notice my approach. Their smiles, their whispers—all of it fueled the fire within me. My hand trembled slightly as I neared them, but my resolve was steadfast. This was the moment I had been waiting for.
Reaching inside my jacket, I pulled my weapon and pointed it at the man. I didn’t think as I fired, the soft muted echo of the silencer concealed my actions. I watched while his head tilted forward, like he was looking at something on his jacket. The woman was unaware as she continued on with what she was saying. Moving closer, I placed the barrel of my gun at the back of her head and she stiffened.
I didn’t believe in small talk and wasted no time when I pulled the trigger, quickly ending her life. Like the man beside her, she was now dead. No longer would a child suffer at their hands.
Justice had been served.
Moving her slowly, I laid her head on his shoulder. To anyone walking by, they would look like a couple enjoying the night.
Reaching into my jacket, I quickly sent off a text.
Contract completed. Virginia Stone and Michael ‘Happy’ Hamilton are dead.
Walking away, I looked up into the night sky and smiled for the first time in my life and whispered, “Merry Christmas to me.”
December 24, 2024
Malice
Destiny, California.
