MURDERERS

A very short horror story. . .

   

 Ripley looked at his large, powerful hands, almost in bewilderment. “Did I do that?” he asked. “Did I strangle her?”

 

Becker laughed.  “Of course you did. That’s how it works, remember? I pick them and you kill them.”

 

“Oh…” Ripley bent over the girl, grieved by the sight of her blonde curls soaking in a rank puddle  Such beauty to be blotted out. Once she had walked, danced, run. Now she was only a corpse in a dark alley.

 

“Come on,” Becker urged. “Let’s get out of here before anybody comes.”

 

 Back in the shabby room they shared Ripley was sunk in depression while Becker was filled with elation. “Our tenth! Let’s have a drink to celebrate.”

 

“I don’t feel like it,” Ripley muttered.

 

“Oh get over yourself.” Becker sounded annoyed. “This is a sweet deal for both of us. I have the fun of picking them out and you have the fun of killing them.”

 

“It’s not fun…” Ripley whispered. And then, more firmly, “It’s not fun. It’s not fun!”

 

Becker was startled into silence. Ripley continued, his voice growing louder. “I hate killing! I’ve always hated killing. And you made me do it. But not again. Not ever again!” His hands closed around Becker’s throat.

 

It should be physiologically impossible for a man to strangle himself to death. But Ripley did it.

Reviews

[Taylor]

Oh, my God, Marie, I wasn't ready to have my bones chilled to sub zero so early in the morning. I can't help but think that your neighbors have no idea what lurks in that brain beneath those sweet curls of yours! Another masterful shocker of a tale, executed with the precision of a neurosurgeon. I may not be able to sleep tonight!

[Marie]

Thank you...I think. I probably should not have written this. It's not what I'm about at all...

[Taylor]

I absolutely think you SHOULD have written this. And of course it's not what you're about. It's just amusing to think you were able to write it. It's so diabolical and with such a delicious twist at the end that it's fun. Thx for sharing it.

[Pax]

they all die in the end right?? after killing Becker he kills himself by strangling himself, i don't know if its possible, he must really gone crazy... or someone push him or i mean kill him in the process- an unknown entity that helps me strangled himself... shocking end, Marie... a short story well told.

[Marie]

Actually, the point I was trying to make is that Becker and Ripley are the same man, a split personality. But I really do not believe it's possible for a man to strangle himself.