Serial Killer - Part 3

The prey had walked into the trap without a clue of what was coming to him. As he woke in his living room – strapped against his favourite armchair – Viktor’s eyes darted from side to side in terror. The lights were off and everything looked untouched, nothing looked out of the ordinary, but of course it was. He tried to move but the duct tape around his chest and wrists made it impossible. The tape dug into his skin as he tried desperately to wiggle himself free and if it weren’t for the tape over his mouth he would have cried out in pain.

“It won’t do you any good. You’ll just feel more pain than necessary.”

He tried to localise the voice, to see who his captor were. In a shady corner of the room he saw the silhouette of someone move. The man was standing by his stereo and seemed to be browsing through his CD:s. After a short while he heard the man mumble something and then he picked up a CD from Viktor’s large collection.

“Nice collection.” The man said and pressed play. Just got home from Illinois, locked the front door, oh boy. Got to sit down, take a rest, on the porch. John Fogerty sang through the speakers. “Creedence… can’t beat that.” For a while the man just stood there listening to the music. “Sounds even better with your fine equipment.” He said while thumping his hand against his thigh softly to the music. Then he seemed to wipe a tear away with the back of his hand. “I won’t hurt you, not yet anyway, all I want is to talk. Will you talk to me without raising your voice?” His voice somewhat muffled.

Viktor nodded timorously and watched the man walk up to him. The man had a worn black suit and a wrinkled white shirt, as their eyes met all thoughts of running away escaped his mind. His eyes were cold and apathetic as if Viktor’s life wasn’t worth more than the dirt under his shoes. Viktor didn’t think he’d ever met the man before, but still the man looked at him with such hatred which kept him quiet even after the man had removed the duct tape covering his mouth.

“My name is Walter Byrne. You don’t know me but I know you. At least one part of you”, the man called Walter said, now with a more calm and collected voice. Viktor remained quiet, too afraid to even breathe out loud. “Suzanne.” Walter said and sighed, and for a moment Viktor saw the grief Walter was bearing. Then his eyes grew cold again and the small piece of humanity Viktor had seen was gone. “Dead.” He glanced down at Viktor’s pants for a brief moment before he resumed his gaze. “Now isn’t that nice, it seems it’s not only dogs that need to be housebroken.”

Viktor didn’t need to look down; he could smell the foul stench of excrement. It was the least of his worry. “W-What do you want? I’ll give you anything...” Even though he knew that this guy wasn’t after any money he still felt that he needed to talk. Maybe he could buy time and keep Walter from doing what he dreaded he would do long enough for someone to see and hinder him. Walter put a finger to his mouth which hushed him and walked over to the stereo again and raised the volume. Viktor knew the song: Before you accuse me. Not one of his favourites but still a good song. 

“Could you give Suzanne her life back?” Walter asked when the song was at an end and he’d lowered the sound. Viktor struggled with words but couldn’t find any. “Didn’t think so”, Walter said and picked up a revolver that had been lying on the couch. “Does your throat hurt? Do you want some water?” Walter asked and began to load the revolver that Viktor recognized as his own. Viktor shook his head, his eyes locked in terror at the revolver.

“Please! I didn’t do anything, I was her husband goddamnit!”

“Ssscchhyy” Walter said with his finger to his lips. “No need for vile words.”

“Please, I beg you. I would do anything to have her back…” Viktor began but was hushed by Walter snapping the revolver shut.

“Now we both know that isn’t the truth, don’t we? Try to focus on telling the truth from now on and I might consider letting you go”, Walter said holding the revolver loose in his hand.

“Suzanne was cheating on me, I was her husband goddamnit!” Viktor pleaded.

“So you were…”   

The cushion dampened the sound from the revolver, leaving a cloud of feathers swirling around in the room. Before the feathers had stuck to the sticky pool in the living room the stranger had left the building.

I’ve done your bidding Suzanne, he thought to himself.  

Reviews

[Jamie Fantasy]

Ahhh, yes. The beginning of a serial killer. I love that we now have a back story on this man. So many times when looking at people like Walter, we don't think about how they feel or how they became a person who could do horrible things. But, like all of us, they are human too and they have their reasons. Granted, they might not always be good reasons...Lol!

I liked the way you wrote this. I liked his stealth in getting ahold of Viktor and his anger. I would have liked to see more passion from Walter, since he is avenging his wife's death. I would think he would be a little more emotion. Maybe some angry tears. A little bit more drawn out conversation.

Anyway, great work! Will there be more to this story?

[Sara Muschweck]

Another great write. You have described his calculated coldness so well. Doing the bidding of "Suzanne" and ending the life of the murdering husband. Is he hearing the victims in his head? This was another great chapter in the series. Loved it.