1

“Imagine if you died right now. I would be highly disappointed.”

The man in the plum shoes, paced across the floor, shaking his head in disgust.

“Just as you took my breath away. From the moment I saw you, I just knew I needed to take yours. The Damsel clawed at her neck, asphyxiating with the lack of oxygen and the colorless cloud holding her further down.

“I’m urging you to let out some noise. Scream for help. Cry,” he exclaims, taunting the Damsel as she opens her muted airways in confusion. Tears sting her eyes as the smoke pushes further down.

Such duality of red and blue, violet.

“When I saw you, I was intrigued, for I never knew a person could possess two colors,” he giggled.

“I know what you’re thinking. Why me? Oh, I should have stayed home. Someone I love will worry about me. Do they know I am missing? How can I get out of this?

Blah, Blah, Blah.”

Turning on his heels he pulled his mask up a little to get a quick whiff of the substance plaguing the victim.

Coughing, “ Whew! That’s some strong stuff, I’d hate to have to breathe that in, Am I right?”

Am I a monster? Sorry, no. My darling Wisdom, monsters act on impulse, but me. This is art. I am rectifying the world because we shouldn’t be confused. People waste their color. So I decided I should clean it up a little. Strip them of their soiled talents for something taciturn and right.

“Don’t worry my damsel. Or should I say damsels, it will be over soon.”

I know it is wrong to pick a victim that holds more than one life force, but I am greedy, sue me.

“Before your royal end arrives, can you humor me a little?”

He grabs the chair of the tied woman and pulls her in the direction of a broken window.

“Now I know one shouldn’t mix business with pleasure and for that, I brought you near this window for some fresh air, as a penalty to me.

But Violet, oh regal Violet, you called that cab, you see, you requested me. Is it my fault that I was the one who feasted upon your hue, and knew that destiny was favoring my hand instead of yours?”

He pushed the chair further glass inches from scratching her face.

“You see them, those people outside minding their business, unaware of the danger you and your little one are in.

How selfish of them, right?

Such wasps busily coasting along without a care for justice. Only when it hits them do they feel the sting of life.”

In my opinion, that is lower than low, Wisdom.

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“What rodents, so happy, so ignorant.”

He scoots the chair closer to the bubbling beaker, smoke hitting the woman in the face.

“Anyway, where were we? I can’t forget you and your bundle of joy,” he mocks as he rubs the stomach of the Damsel.

“What was their name going to be.”

She gurgles, trying to say something, but nothing comes out.

“Fine, don’t say anything, how rude to ignore others.”

Mr. Q saunters in his lilac hat, tipping it towards the victim.

“Do I look nice? I tried to dress for the occasion. Right, no talking, sorry,” he laughs.

“Don’t worry it will all be over soon, then, I will have to deal with cleaning you up too.”

The world is selfish, but my job is like how all janitors live. Thanklessly.

The woman slumps and alarms Mr. Q towards her.

“What a pity.”

Wisdom, I guess even I can make mistakes. The dosage was too high. She died before I could finish my monologue.

So selfish.

2

Wisdom.

“What was that, E?” inquires Hope.

“Nothing, nothing. This is some freaky stuff. Even I don’t want to touch it.”

Eli gets up and grabs a paint can from a corner to sit on. Daniel and Hope grab one as well sitting near him.

“So what are we doing here, Daniel?” Eli asks.

“Well, I thought we could look for hideouts, a place for us to hang.”

“And an abandoned warehouse full of paint supplies, that was once a crime scene for an unknown serial killer mind you, was your first idea?” Questions Hope.

“No I’m not dumb, I was going to choose the beach but Eli told me they closed it for renovations or something.”

Elijah shifts in his makeshift seat, not quite looking at the two, but sticking on the word renovation.

Is it okay that I lied to them?

“Also some history or stats guy said that a killer isn’t willing to go back to the place they kill people at since the police have searched there, for precautions against getting caught.”

“Obviously,” chimes E.

“Still dumb, what if they wanted the police to come, or are waiting for idiots like us to do the easy part and they can kill us now, while we sit and dissect the actions of a weirdo?

Also, this place is creepy, let’s just go,” pleads Hope.

The trio decides that it is for the best to leave, wondering about the world of crime and the motives of modern villains.

3

“Yeah Daniel, we shouldn’t go to the beach. They are fixing it up and stuff, community clean-up project,” Eli mutters into the phone.

Hanging up he stares down at the puddle of images on the floor. A pool of red, blood unbeknownst to him, splattered strangely, surrounded by a circle of yellow paint.

“I don’t know what it is.” He speaks into his device.

“This is why I told you to go to the library with your friends. Don’t touch anything or leave anything behind. Good job on calling me first, stresses Eli’s Dad on the phone.”

“I will pick you up and when I get there, we’ll think about what to do and who to call. Maybe a lawyer. Again Elijah, don’t touch anything. I mean it.”

“Alright, thanks, Dad.”

Eli backs away slowly, erasing his footsteps to cover his tracks. He sits on the curb waiting for his Dad, as a black car, with no license plate drives off in the distance.