I laughed as the hydrochloric acid dripped onto our latest victim’s forehead. Don’t ask how we had gotten it. Gerard knew a guy who knew a guy. The screams were musical and melodic, singing a sweet tune of pain and fear. The acid dissolved the skin to the bone, dripping down his face and burning as it went. The drops came painfully slow, torturing the boy even further. His acidic tears streaked down his cheeks like razor blades. He was helping me forget what I had felt last night. Emotion. It sickens me how it can take hold of everything you’ve ever know and throw it away. This, killing, is much more my style. His screams had stopped when his eyes rolled back in his head, giving way to seizures. That set off the rig I had made. Whenever he moved just a little bit too much, the acid would drip faster. It was pouring onto him now, a steady stream melting off what was left of his face, spilling onto his body, and wrecking it to the point where no one would be able to tell if it was human. It was so beautiful. Every shade of red spilling out danced in the cold, moonlit house. It used to belong to my mother, but she’s unable to use it at the moment, due to the fact that she’s decaying in the corner. This shall be our new place. Slightly isolated, known to be home to an insane old woman. Perfect. His final scream echoed as his liquified inners spilled onto the floor. We won’t be able to make him smile now. Or can we? I took a piece of paper from an underused notebook and two pens, one red, one black. Careful not to get anything that would lead people to me on it, I made a pretty picture. Two eyes, one nose, one bloody mouth, smiling right from ear to ear. Red poured out of it. I grabbed a safety pin and stuck my drawing to what was left of his skull.

“Consider the job finished.” I said, walking towards the door. Gerard and Frank followed me. We had to go back home, which meant I would be spending another night with Mikey, only this time, I dread it.

“About what happened last night...” Mikey whispered after I crawled under the covers.

“We’re never going to speak of it.” I said. “We both know what happened. We both know it was an accident. We both know that it will never happen again. There’s no need to discuss it. Goodnight.”

“But I want to talk about it with you. I want to know if you... if you...” He paused. “God, what was that word...”

“Liked it?

“Yes.” Even in the dim light, I could see his cheeks turn bright pink.

“As far as kisses go, yes. It wasn’t bad.” I replied. He let out a breath I didn’t know he was holding in.

“Okay, then. Goodnight.” He said, sounding much more cheerful. This reaction confuses me.

Notes

Oh, emotions. Why do you always seem to edge your way in?