Carmen

This began as a point of view task in University last year.

‘Fear and religion. Religion and fear. The two are historically entwined. The catalysts for most of the atrocities committed by man. Fear of evil fuels religion, religion fuels hatred, hatred fuels evil, and evil fuels fear among the masses. It is a diabolical cycle, and we have played into the Devil’s hand’.

I arrived on the platform, the time board indicated nine minutes of waiting. A boy took a seat three down from me; his sigh was as long as the day before him. He rubbed his eyes intensely, trying to take some of his night out of his head with it. He didn’t see me, not yet. That threw me, just a touch. I’d dressed to impress, strapless and red. Heels, lippy and lashes, yet the boy wouldn’t want to know, like he had a choice. The tart thinks he owns the platform. I liked that.

I got up and took a walk, like I was anxious or something. Glancing at the clock, ‘argh-ing’ and ‘come on-ing’. The boy’s eyes shifted to me and then to the track; nervous, uneasy. I liked that. On an ideal Monday he’d like to keep to himself, but there was nothing ‘ideal’ about it.  I caught him looking. I had eight minutes.

I know what he was thinking: Hurrah! I’m here again. Train’s delayed and this b*****d wind isn’t helping… and I think that girl’s looking at me. He liked that.

The silence between us was beautifully deafening. He swallowed hard as I took the seat to his left, harder when I put my lips to his ear. I guessed a girl had never got this close, the freak was shaking.

‘Where’re you heading?’

‘College’ he retorted more arrogantly than I expected. I’d underestimated him. I liked that. This was going to be easier than I thought.

‘F**k College, wouldn’t you rather go to a party?’

‘Depends, what’s the occasion?’ shifty eyes, he was intrigued.

‘It’s my birthday’.

‘Oh, well erm, happy birthday’. He smirked. I liked that.

I smiled back, and moved away from his cheek, being sure to blow cold breath down his neck as I retreated. He crossed his legs. I liked that.

‘You were saying about… about a party? Where and when? I could text some friends and…’

‘What’s your name?’

‘Benjamin’.

‘Carmen… Well, Benjamin, we’re leaving right now… and where? Let’s just say I’ll take you to hell and back’.

I lied about the ‘back’ part.

 

He didn’t speak as I took him around the place, hand in hand obviously. His fell colder with every yard. I think he knew he wasn’t going back. I had my way with him of course. He went with the flow, who wouldn’t? His performance was pathetic, they always were. I had him panting and holding in tears. Biting his neck, dragging my nails through his flesh. Squealing he was, hilarious. I dressed and Father knocked on my door just after, I put my finger to the boy’s lips and told him I’d be right back. He had to be waiting for me, naked and ready for another round. He had to do whatever I wanted. I think he wanted that. I locked the door behind me and took the key. I knew where we were going. I loved this part.

Father nudged over some of His excitement to me as we crossed the bridge to the holding area. The smile on His face seemed to tell me to enjoy all of this, it will be mine someday. The screams got louder as we approached the pit and then collided with a heavenly hush as they saw us. The whipping ceased. The silence of the souls was awesomely erotic. Fear, regret, I even saw a prayer or two being muttered. Too late for that guys, they won’t save you now. The butterfish build-up of ash on faces melted away with the tears, running down into open wounds; crippled over on knees, crumbling lower. Yes, even the dead can bleed. Father rubbed His chin and carved a smile onto his lips.

‘You scum know why you’re here’.

My mind wondered as He began his little show, I’d seen it all before and just wanted Him to skip to the good part. He hadn’t even said happy birthday yet, never mind given me a gift. Eighteen. How could I celebrate? I considered how I’d add to my tattoo collection, sleeves and flames, covering my back and breasts and anywhere they’d go. I’d like that.

‘…Now since I’m going to treat my wonderful Carmen to the day she deserves, I expect you all to wait here patiently until we return, then my friends, the real fun begins’. Father finished. He took me by the shoulder and led me away, we shared a giggle, and I was a happy girl. We were going to the ‘real world’ for a special birthday lunch, a world I knew all too well.

‘I’ve left my purse in my room, Father, could you fetch it for me while I go to the bathroom? Here’s the key, I’ll be right back’.