Page 9 of Unhinged Cain

A scream ripped from my mouth as I stood and saw someone with a hood standing behind me. Spinning around, I was ready to fight off whoever it was, but the person backed up and put their arms up.

“Jesus Christ, Kirby! You just gave me a heart attack. Why the hell are you screaming like a bloody banshee?” I recognized Peter’s voice right away and slumped against my car, the initial fear passing, but the adrenaline was still pumping hard in my veins.

“Me? What the hell were you doing?”

“I came to see if you wanted to come to my place tonight, and I can drop you off in the morning?”

“And you couldn’t call? I mean, look around. No one is here, and you snuck up behind me with a hood pulled up. What did you think I was going to think,” I asked, angry with his stupidity and his assumption that I was going to his house for the night. The worst part was that was exactly where I most likely would’ve ended up.

I was so predictable.

Staying in the dorm on a regular basis was not my thing, and my roommate tapped her pen on the desk as she studied. More than once, I’d imagined stealing the pen out of her hand and stabbing her with it. Peter’s face looked confused, like he had no idea why I would be upset. How could someone be so smart in school and the rest of the time a complete moron? I looked around and then back up at Peter.

“Where is your car anyway?”

“I didn’t want to pay the parking fee, so I left the car out there.” Peter pointed to the exit, and I shook my head.

It was only ten dollars. Was he really serious? I shivered, realizing I was officially soaked to the bone from standing in the rain. I didn’t want to stay with him tonight, but I didn’t want to go to my dorm room and spend the rest of the night with my odd-ass roommate or see my mother again so soon. Besides, Peter always had great food. Was I using him? Why yes, I fucking was. If he could use me for sex, I figured it was fair I could use him for food. Besides, it had been a couple of days since I’d gotten any. Since returning from our camping trip, I’d been ignoring Peter, but I could use a good orgasm. Well, the word ‘good’ set too high of a bar for Peter’s skill in the bedroom, but it was better than using my fingers.

“Alright, let’s go,” I said and followed him to his parking spot.

I really needed to get rid of this guy. He didn’t bother to ask how I was or offer me his jacket, and my blouse was completely see-through. Of course, he proceeded to tell me every aspect of his day in painstaking detail and mentioned just how chilly it was. I looked back at my car, wondering if an orgasm and a hot meal was really worth this hassle.

CAIN

It had cost me a pretty penny to get a hold of this information. I hadn’t much to go on, just a partial plate, make, model, and color of vehicle, so it was more expensive than normal. But I needed to get my hands on the name of the Mercedes owner. The only issue was the information given was still a list of ten vehicles. I was currently sitting outside the home of number four. Stalking my prey wasn’t an issue for me. In fact, I enjoyed the process, but I didn’t like wasting my time. So far, I’d wasted my time.

The sun was beginning to rise, so I figured I’d get myself some breakfast at the diner around the corner. The couple that owned the one I liked to frequent would be perfect character witnesses if ever the need should arise. I’d been going into the same location and eating the same trucker’s breakfast with a side of waffles for seven years, three months, and two days.

It was important to keep track of information like that. At a young age, I learned that information was power, and power yielded what you wanted. I’d also made sure to be nice to the owners and leave a generous tip.

Movement caught my eye, and I sat up a little straighter in the nondescript, black minivan that smelled like cat piss from the previous owner. The garage door slowly opened and the silver vehicle backed out onto the street. Lady Luck was on my side as the vehicle turned in my direction. I held the little remote in my hand for the camera set up in the back seat area, but as the vehicle drove past, I slumped back into my seat and put a line through the name.

The man I was looking for was around my age. The silver-haired businessman that drove past was way too old to be the guy. Based on this list and the general information, he didn’t have a son either.

My stomach growled, and I decided I’d eat and then continue my search. Eating was never that high on my priority list unless my body reminded me that it was required or I needed to for my cover. Besides, it was never wise to hunt on an empty stomach. It made me hangry, and hangry led to carelessness. Zipping around the corner, I pulled into the mostly empty parking lot and hopped out.

As soon as my foot touched the pavement, I put my mask in place, the one that everyone fell for, the one I’d learned to show the world. It was the one that proved most people were stupid.

“Welcome. Have you been here before?” The new upbeat woman behind the little wooden stand asked as I stepped through the doors.

I smiled wide and made sure that it reached my eyes. Abel was far better at this, but I’d practiced enough to get by. “Yes, many times. How are Lenny and Alice doing?”

“You must be a regular. That’s what I like to hear. Follow me. I will show you to your seat. Do you have a preference for a booth or table,” she said as she pulled out a menu.

My eyes slid over her features and listed them off in my head.

Hair: reddish brown, shoulder length with a touch of curl.

Complexion: fair with a dash of freckles.

Height: around five feet.

Eyes: green.

But her eyes were not an unusual color of green. They were a cross between green and hazel. I had many of those already.

“Booth, please, and I’d love a corner looking out the window,” I smiled wider and gave her a wink.