“Goddamn it Kat! Where did you learn to fucking drive?!” David shouted, hand pounding on the dashboard with a closed fist and a map clutched in the other. “We were supposed to be there 3 fucking hours ago!”
“It’s not my fault you can’t give directions! We missed the exit because you were too busy complaining about the fucking heat to pay attention to the map David!”
My voice was shaky, hands sweating as I could see him in my peripherals clearer now. Leaned in closer to my face, hissing through gritted teeth, breath reeking of booze he insisted on having before we left the house. “I’d watch that whore mouth if I was you, you got that?”
I kept my eyes on the road, ignoring him. He had finally decided to break the silence by switching on the radio, drunkenly humming along to whatever was playing. And that’s when I noticed someone, a woman? Walking on the side of the road, blonde. About 5’6, black dress. What was she doing all the way out here?
I unfortunately catch his attention as the car comes to a slow stop. “What the hell are you doing?? You gonna let some rando in the fucking car with us, miles away from anything?” Once again, I ignore him. Rolling down my window to greet her
“You need a ride? It’s awful hot out, and it doesn’t look like you’ve got any water or.. shoes. So I figured I’d ask.”
“Well, aren’t ya jus’ sweet as pie. Thank ya kindly, I live right up the road here. Just ‘round the corner.” Sissy smiled brightly with her buck tooth grin, swaying slightly on her bare feet before obliging. Hopping in the back with a huff and then a giggle. Making me smile faintly though David glared at me from the passenger seat as we began to pull off and continue on.
He then turned his attention towards her. Arm stretched over the length of the seat, an odd expression on his face I couldn’t quite decipher yet still tried too. “So, what makes you think hitching rides with total strangers is a good idea? You crazy or something?”
Sissy glanced at him, idly tapping her fingers along the arm rest. A disturbing smile stretching her lips thin as she spoke.
“Ya don’t seem quite right yourself sugar, talkin’ ta people like that ‘round these parts ain’t real bright. Ya ever heard curiosity killed the cat?” Oh okay, maybe picking her up wasn’t such a good idea after all. David cackled, and I peered at her through the rear view mirror. She looked slightly unnerved now, but something more sinister seemed to lurk beneath.
“David, please..” I said softly, shifting to look at him as tension grew thick between him and the blonde now. “Shut up bitch! I’m not fucking talking to you.” Sissy tilted her head, brows furrowed, that smile that was previously there vanished. Replaced by a gnash of teeth and a sadistic gleam in her eye as she abruptly lunged at David. Grabbing him by his dark hair.
I swerved and barely missed the ditch as we drifted onto a dirt road, straightening it out the best I could as the tires squealed and fear surged through me. David had slung himself into the dash and the woman who I hadn’t even gotten a name from was hopping out of the backseat before I could say anything.
“David?! Are you o- AHH!” A loud smack echoed in my ears, the ringing hazing my vision, tears filling my waterline. “Stupid cunt! I fucking told you not to pull over! You. Never. Fucking. LISTEN!!!” The emphasis in his words were loud and raucous as he hit me not once, not twice, but three more times. Hard and fast.
“DAVID!? Stop, please STOP!!” I sobbed loudly, tears streaming down my visibly swollen and already bruising face. Barely able to mutter a sentence other than pleas for him to stop, that I was sorry for what I did. Not noticing that the mysterious blonde that had exited moments prior is now circling to the passenger side door.
“Not today Sunshine!” Sissy shouted, throwing the door open. Straight razor in hand, aiming for the man’s face but instead catching his bicep. Slicing him down to the white meat as she laughed maniacally. “You’ve been touched by the Devil, darlin’. Let me help you!”
I was stunned. Shimmied against the driver side door as close as possible, trying to avoid her arm is it came down fast with each swing. Battering David as he’d battered me. Clean cuts and bloodied flesh split open, it was a gruesome sight. But then, something changed. Like a switch had been flipped inside me, growing stronger and stronger.
Anger burned brighter than it ever had before deep in my chest. I pictured myself in this woman’s place as she held his head back by his hair with one hand and the blade to his jugular with the other. But before I knew it I’d leaped over the center seat and on top of David. Knocking him down and the blonde along with him, somehow her very bloodied straight razor in my hand, held right back to his throat.
I wasted no time as his expression changed, noticing who had the high ground now. “Fuck you.” I muttered. Slitting his throat with ease, blood spraying over my chest and part of my face, the faint gurgling of his last breath made me sigh when his skin turned cold not to long after. Relief somehow washed over me rather than guilt or regret, not even sadness overcame me as I stood up. Wiping my cheeks, then my hands on my already soiled shirt.
And then I remembered.. her. My gaze shifts to the woman who’d just tried to kill him herself standing mere inches away from me with the warmest looking smile on her face.
“Well well well, you got ‘im good.”
Panic settles into my chest as I back away from her and David’s lifeless body. Contemplating jumping back into the car and driving off, but there’s no way I’d get away with this. Where would I go? What would I do? I’d rot in a Prison cell sooner rather than later if I even tried.
“M’not gonna hurt ya, Hell I’m rather impressed. Quick, easy, not even a tear shed. Damn good work fer someone such as yourself. All dainty and shy.” Sissy spoke as clear as she could, though the excitement that she was so desperately trying to contain was seeping out.
“Oooh hoo hoo, Johnny’s gonna like you!” She cooed. I swallowed hard as my back met the car, hands shaky and body buzzing with adrenaline. I couldn’t speak. So instead I slowly slipped into the passenger seat. The old tattered material sticky with blood and some viscera painted against my pale skin. The back of my head thumping against the headrest.
Sissy skipped back to the car, happily hopping in next to me. Turning the key over and driving off, leaving my estranged boyfriend lying in a pool of blood on the side of the road. And though I wanted to talk, scream, cry I just couldn’t. Not even when we drove down a long, gravel, driveway where a beautiful farmhouse sat at the end of. I still stayed silent.
Sunflower fields, old junk cars, and chickens were scattered along both sides of the house. It was old and rundown but lively at the same time as we parked right out front. “Come on Sunshine! Don’t play coy with me now.”
Sissy hopped out first and I quickly followed, my door slamming shut as I awaited what was to come. Already accepting my fate as I stood idly beside her, knowing this would be where I’d eventually meet my untimely demise.
Sitting outside on the weathered old swing chair just out front of the house slowly rocking back and forth was Nancy having a cigarette, her head craning back to see who was coming up the drive with eyes narrowed behind cat eye glasses. She pulled the cigarette from her lips to blow out a puff of smoke before slowly moving to stand up, brushing off her apron and flicking away the butt then coming around with a crotchety look on her face. Though as soon as she saw Sissy, her expression softened faintly but then turned slightly sour at seeing another person step out from the vehicle.
She waited for the two of them to approach before kindly asking, feigning concern, "Oh my, what have we here? Are you alright sugar?"
Her mismatched eyes looked the young woman up and down, noticing her beaten and bruised state covered in blood. Yet not a cut on her. Clearly not Sissy's work, almost looked like Johnny had gotten to her first since there was no way Sissy could have done something like this on her own. Not while they were still conscious at least. And the poor girl looked petrified, clearly something had gone down before their arrival.
Just had to play it off like a normal visit until Sissy gave the go ahead that this was dinner. Or maybe another plaything for Johnny. The blonde always did like bringing him a gift after being away for too long. Still, she would pretend to be a good, concerned, mother figure for this new comer.