Queen

     I heard him gulp audibly before letting off the brake and pulling off to the side of the road. "Great," I said. "Now park the car and turn off the engine. I'd like to have a conversation. I'll make it quick."

The man did as I instructed, his hands shaking as he turned the key and took it out. He held it in his lap, his eyes firmly on the wheel and avoiding looking in my direction. He looked like he was a child being scolded. Then his hand closest to the door slowly shifted off his lap and disappeared to the side of his seat.

"I've already told you that you can take out your weapon." I took a sip of the drink, my mind getting a little fuzzy as a buzz ran through my body. "No need to be secretive about it. What's your name?"

He pulled a gun out and removed the safety before holding it toward me. He looked around, making sure to keep his hand lowered enough that if anyone were to pass by, they wouldn't see it. Satisfied, he settled his eyes on me and a sinister smile overtook the warmth he was displaying earlier.

"I think I'll be the one in charge now," he said lowly, pushing the gun into my side.

"Ah, I see." I glanced down at the gun and ignored the pain at my waist. "You have a gun so you make the rules now. Is that it?"

"I will kill you if you don't do exactly what I say--"

I gasped. "I was going to say the exact same thing to you. Isn't that crazy?" I laughed.

The pressure at my side only doubled and he leaned closer to me, taking a long sniff of my hair. "If I had known you'd be this damn talkative...I would've picked up someone else. But I guess I'll just have to make do." He dragged the barrel of the gun down to my thigh before trying to move it up and I snapped.

I grabbed his throat and his eyes widened in shock. I squeezed, my nails digging into his skin and he clawed at my arm-- his gun being used as an object to hit me with instead of shoot.

"You're a fucking idiot," I said to him before looking straight into his eyes. I let my gaze dive into his orbs until his frightened eyes connected with mine and I spoke, "Give me the gun."

"Are you fucking...crazy?" His voice was strained and filled with resistance but the gun was in my lap before he could even register what he had done. "What did you---" I squeezed his throat tighter, silencing him.

With my free hand, I picked up the gun. Heavier than I remember. I balanced it in my hand before placing my finger around the trigger and holding it toward him. It was only then that I let go of his neck and sat back.

His hand moved to his neck as he stared between me and the gun, eyes almost bulging out of his head. "What are you?" He asked, fear painting his voice.

I giggled and waved the gun. "I thought the person who has the gun asks the questions."

He swallowed a breath before speaking up and saying, "I-I wasn't going to kill you, I swear. I would never do--"

I snickered. "Put your hands on the wheel and start the car," I told him. "Drive me to the hotel I actually showed you." I held up my phone and showed him the directions. "If you so much as veer an inch from the path or take your hands off the wheel, I'll have you step out into oncoming traffic while your mind begs you to move out of the way. Do we have an understanding?"

He nodded quickly and did exactly what I said. When he made a U-turn and was back on the road, I let myself relax into the seat. I held the gun in my hand and eyed it carefully. "You know...there's always something I've wanted to try."

He remained silent, eyes still focused on the road and I tilted my head at him. I pulled the small knife he used on the tires out of my pocket and plunged it into his thigh. He screamed out, the car swerving and I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Easy, buddy. What did I say about veering off course?"

He groaned, biting his tongue as blood gushed around the knife firmly lodged in his leg. "Yikes...I might've hit an artery." I clicked my tongue. "Anyway, from here on out, I'd like a reply when I speak. I don't like being ignored. Got it?"

"Y-yes," he stuttered, his jaw clenched from the pain.

"So...I said there was something I've always wanted to try." I held up his revolver and opened the cylinder, just as I'd seen it in the movies.

"W-what?"

I removed all but one bullet from the gun and let it spin before holding the gun out at him. "Russian roulette. Do you want to play?"

He shook his head slowly, tears pouring down his cheeks. "No, n-not particularly."

"Do you know how it goes?" I held the gun up to his head, finger on the trigger.

"Of course." He nodded. "Dealer always goes first."

"Hm?" I raised a brow.

He nodded quickly, sniffling loudly as he glanced at me. "You didn't know?" he asked me. "The leader of the game is supposed to go first."

I let out a laugh. "Is that right?" I moved the gun and held it up to my head. I pulled the trigger and when I heard a click, I blew out a breath and looked down at the gun. Shock that I had just done that was the first thing that passed through my mind. That's where drinking over half a bottle of alcohol gets you.

A laugh boiled in the pit of my stomach and ended up spilling out of my mouth as I realized what I had just done. "I'm fucking insane." I ran a hand through my hair. "Shit."

Did I want to die? Maybe. But this shit wasn't going to kill me even if I wanted it to. It'd hurt like fuck though.

I let that reminder settle in me before lifting the gun back at him. "Your turn then. What's your name?"

"Charles."

"Hm. Fitting," I noted. "Have you done this before?"

He shook his head. "No. Never."

Lie. I pulled the trigger and he jumped at the sound of the click!

"This car fucking reeks of blood, Charles. I smelled it the second I got in and I have a good feeling it's not yours. Am I right in that assumption?"

"I..." He started before pausing and I pushed the barrel of the gun against his head.

"You only get to keep this head of yours intact if you tell the truth," I said. "I already want to kill you so your answers are just a formality, really."

He nodded. "You're right."

"About?"

He gripped the steering wheel tight, his knuckles turning a pale white. Then he looked at me, letting the gun press into his skin. "You're not the first."

"How many have there been?"

"Two others," he admitted.

"Did they make it out alive?"

He waited a beat, and then another before replying, "No."

"What did you do to them?"

"Why does it matter?" He whispered.

"I'm trying to figure out what type of monster you are."

A streetlight passed over us, casting a quick light over his hollow face. He seemed to be warring with my words and an answer became evident in his silence.

"The worst kind then..." I answered for him and he shifted in the seat. "Two women, you said?"

He gave a single nod. "Yes."

I pulled the trigger once. Another click. "Are you fucking crazy?!" He screamed. "If you kill me we'll both crash."

"I can survive a car crash," I dismissed him and then pulled the trigger one more time. Click again. "Damn." I sighed. "I really thought that one was going to be it. Disappointing." I sighed. "Well, all that means is our time together will be over soon enough."

"Please. I'm begging you," he said. "I will turn myself in. I'll never hurt anyone ever again--"

"Shut up," I demanded. "Your begging won't change anything. I'm sure you ignored the two women you murdered. Why would I listen to you?"

"I-I didn't mean to."

"Twice?" I asked.

"I just..." He broke down. "I couldn't help myself."

"What were their names, Charles?" A wrinkle formed in the center of his forehead as he thought. "Don't tell me you don't remember..." I eyed him. "Did you ever know at all?"

He didn't reply.

"Come to think of it..." I started. "You never even asked me for my name. Were you planning on killing me without ever finding out what it is?"

"I wasn't going to kill--"

"That's a shame, Charles. Truly." My voice softened. "You should at least know the name of the person you're about to kill. It's the least you can do."

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"It's why I asked you for your name. You get it?"

He turned to look at me, his eyes red and puffy. "Please."

"Eyes on the road."

He did as I said. "I'll do whatever you want, I promise."

I laughed and picked up the bottle of vodka. "What could I possibly want from a man like you?" I asked him before taking a swig. "Give me an offer I can't refuse."

"I-I can give you every penny I have."

"I'll pass. Money isn't something I need."

"I can..." He searched for the words. "If you need anyone dead..."

"A hitman?" I laughed. "I was able to figure you out in two seconds and the people I need dead are infinitely smarter than you. You're of no use to me."

"No, please. There has to be something. I'll do anything."

I looked at the buildings coming into view as we drove into the city. In less than five minutes, we'd be at the hotel. This little interaction and his meaningless existence were close to coming to an end.

"I have one more question for you before we're done here, Charles." I sat back.

"What is it?"

"Something I'm a bit curious about," I admitted. "If it wasn't me tonight...would it have been someone else?" I asked him, looking out ahead. "Pull into the alley over there. I can walk the rest of the way."

"Does this mean you're letting me go?" His voice chirped up and he looked at me, surprised. Someone behind us honked and I cleared my throat.

"Mind the traffic." I gestured toward the alley and he slowly pulled in. Darkness pooled around us as the car pulled in between the two buildings and when we were deep enough, I instructed him to park.

When he shut the engine off I leaned my head back and eyed him. "So, would it?"

"W-what?" He stuttered.

"Have been someone else if I didn't get in the car..."

"No, of course not. I don't know what came over me."

"Right." I scoffed. I removed my seatbelt and grabbed my purse along with the bag of alcohol. "Well, thanks for the ride and the drinks." I held the bag up.

He nodded slowly, sweat soaking his neck as he placed a hand around the knife in his thigh. "Yes." He nodded quickly. "N-no problem at all..you're very welcome."

I moved to open the door and his sigh of relief made the hair on the back of my neck stand still. I was sick, truly. But there was nothing like letting people think they were going to live and then...

I turned back and gave him a large smile. "We should do one more round for all time's sake, don't you think?" I held the gun up, the steel heavy in my hand.

His breathing was staggered as he looked between me and the gun wide-eyed. "You first again."

I let out a small laugh. "There's one bullet in here...and, two more shots to fire. You're asking me to go first when it's a fifty-fifty chance?"

He simply looked between me and the gun again and I raised a brow. I pointed it at myself, and then at him...and then back at myself. "What to do..." I sang.

"Let me leave," he offered.

"Ah, I know!" I sat up and faced him. "I'll give you a choice."

"What choice?"

"I can...point this gun at your head and fire twice or I'll shoot at the dashboard once. If I draw a blank, I'll give you a chance to run--"

"Yes."

"But..." I added, brows raised. "If it fires, we'll do things my way."

"Your way?"

"Mhmm." I nodded enthusiastically. "It'll be a lot more painful than a shot to the head, I can promise you that."

"Just kill me."

"No." I pointed the gun at the dash. "I already heard a yes."

I pulled the trigger and the deafening sound of a gunshot fired throughout the entire car. The bullet barreled its way straight into the black dashboard and my mouth dropped. Tingles floated throughout my arm from the recoil of the gun.

And I almost let him tell me to go first.

I whistled and slowly looked at him. "Wow, would you look at that...you could've been dead by now."

I set the gun down and he backed up, shaking his head profusely. "No." His hand moved toward the door handle, fidgeting with it until he managed to get a grip on it.

I grabbed his collar and turned him to me. "We made a deal. Where do you think you're going?"

He fought against me and annoyance bubbled within me. Most times I preferred not using my powers, but there were just some people who needed some influence. "Don't move," I told him.

His body suddenly went still, his still panicked eyes the last thing to catch up. "Wh-what are you doing to me?"

"You did this to yourself." I let go of his shirt and sat back, studying him. "All the possibilities..."

"What are y-you?" He begged again as if an answer would save him. His body shook as he sat in place- he was trying his hardest to fight it.

"Our conversation is over," I told him. "Just as you know you're about to die, I know it was more than two girls. You don't have to explain it to me anymore though." I pulled the knife from his thigh and he screamed out.

"Hold your hand out." He did as I said, tears streaming down his red face and I placed the handle of the knife in his palm. "For every woman-- person...you've ever killed, harmed, or touched without their consent...you'll stab yourself. And you will not dare die until they are all repented for. Got it?"

"No, no." He was resistant but nodded in compliance. "Please no."

"Go," I whispered, letting go of his hand and he immediately stabbed into his other thigh. He screamed out, pulling it back up before diving into another spot and I watched him for a few seconds.

Two...right?

He kept going and when his blood began splattering on me, I knew that was my cue to leave. He was already on ten and I didn't see him stopping any time soon. "You're obviously going to be here a while." I turned on his car and blasted the radio. The last thing I needed was someone out there to hear his screaming and come help him.

I gave him one more look as I grabbed all my things. A part of me hesitated as the scent of his blood filled my senses, tempting me to just wait. Any minute now he'd be dead and I could take his soul. I was starving. Everything in me just craved it...but I was hesitating. I had never done this on my own and he was a horrible person. His soul would be as disgusting and putrid as he was. Could I do it?

I thought for a moment.

If I couldn't, what did that mean? What souls would I allow myself to be okay with feeding on? Because if it wasn't the evil ones...which ones would it be?

꧁꧂