A Necessary Evil
Christina Kaye
Chapter 1
Collin
She was the prettiest one yet. By far. Collin had gotten extremely lucky. Her long, corn silk blonde hair fell just above her waistline and called attention to her hips, which swayed from side to side as she walked a few feet ahead of him. Each time she looked to the left or right to admire the window displays as she passed them, Collin could make out more and more of her delicate features—the straight slope of her nose that ended in a tiny button, and the long, black lashes that batted against high, pink cheekbones. He couldn’t make out the color of her eyes from this distance, but it didn’t matter. Not really. He’d find out soon enough. She was just the right age too—nineteen. The same as all the other girls—Collin’s “practice” girls.
He could have attracted any woman, anywhere, anytime. With his athletic physique, towering stature, and movie-star good looks, Collin could have any girl he set his sights upon. When he smiled, revealing perfectly white teeth and matching dimples, his eyes glimmered like polished emeralds. He kept his hair chin-length, which girls loved these days, and made a habit of running his hands through his blond, glossy locks from time to time when he spoke, giving him a casual, humble air. But where was the fun in doing things “the right way?” It was like shooting fish in a barrel. No excitement, no challenge.
Collin watched as she stopped to talk to a friend. She seemed so happy and full of life as she talked animatedly and tossed her head back in laughter. Seeing her this way made his pulse quicken. Knowing he was watching the last happy moment of her life reminded him what it had felt like as a young boy, hunting in the woods with his grandfather. The first time he’d spotted a deer, it was standing in a thicket, calmly grazing on the lush, green grass, oblivious to the predators slowly creeping closer and closer. Collin could still see that deer and the look in its eye when it realized it was not alone…right before his grandfather had forced him to pull the trigger. It didn’t make a noise, didn’t try to run. It just froze, allowing him that nanosecond it took to gather the nerve to shoot. That look had become his addiction. That split-second moment when the target of the hunt realized their life was over. It was that look that he’d become obsessed with, and it was what drove him to continue hunting.
When she said goodbye to her friend and started walking again, Collin picked up his pace. She was nearing the exit, and he knew his moment was quickly approaching. He’d never grown tired of that feeling—the anticipation he felt in those last few seconds before approaching a new girl. The way his mouth went dry and his senses went on high-alert. Collin often wondered what his girls were thinking during those final few moments of obliviousness. Whatever it was, he took extreme pleasure in knowing these would be her last pleasant thoughts. That these were the last few minutes she would feel normal, happy, and safe. She probably thought she was going to get in her car, drive home, and climb into her comfortable bed. That she would sleep peacefully and wake up tomorrow to a bright new day, full of possibilities. Little did she know, there would be no tomorrow for her.
Collin followed her out into the parking lot and was struck by the cold breeze that whipped across his face and forced him to pull his jacket tighter around himself. She’d noticed it too. He watched as she wrapped her arms around her waist and walked briskly toward her little red car, which he’d observed earlier was parked near the very back. His heart pounded, and he felt those familiar flutters in his stomach as the moment rapidly approached. This was it. This was the high he was always chasing. That elusive dragon.
Just as she arrived at her car, she dropped her keys. A familiar tingling coursed through his body as he took two large steps toward her. His left hand slapped over her mouth as his right hand shoved the barrel of the gun into her ribcage.
“Don’t make a sound or I’ll shoot you right here, right now.”
She struggled against his body and tried to wriggle herself free from his grasp. He shoved the barrel of the gun harder into her side, and she went rigid. With eyes wet and full of fear, she nodded vigorously.
“Good girl,” Collin said. “Now, I want you to give me your keys and get in the back seat. Lay down and stay quiet. If you do exactly what I tell you to do, I won’t hurt you.”
He always wondered if his girls truly believed him when he said that, or if they were simply nodding because they realized they had no other option. Of course, he was lying. Collin had every intention of hurting her, but he didn’t want to kill her in the parking lot. Not only was it too risky, but he had plans for her, and that was the real goal tonight.
Killing the first several girls had just been a means to an end. He didn’t really enjoy doing it, but if he’d let them go, eventually one of them would’ve gone to the police. And since he wanted them to see his face, they’d be able to describe him and lead the cops right to him. That wasn’t an option. Collin had no desire to rot away in a jail cell while awaiting lethal injection. At least not until he finished what he started. So, he killed them when he was done with them. It was a necessary evil.
The girl bent over, picked up the keys, handed them to him, and climbed into the back seat of her own car. She was quiet at first, but soon she whimpered and sniveled like a frightened child. They all did that, though, and he was willing to let it slide. In fact, in some small way, he enjoyed the sound. It meant they knew he was in control, and they recognized these might be their final moments on earth, which made the whole experience a bit more exhilarating for him.