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T he voice seethes with anger, watching him, its words a constant stream of disgust. “He’s a pig, Nova. He’s got no respect for his own wife, let alone other women.”

My focus is on the woman and her child and the dynamics that play out before me. The woman tries to keep up a cheerful facade, but I can see the fear lurking behind her eyes. The little boy clings to her leg, sensing her distress.

That poor child. I was once that child and if my brother would have been alive, it would have been him too. I lived in constant fear of being beaten. I see myself looking back at me.

The bathrooms are a small building on the outskirts of the property. The woman takes the little boy with her on the woman’s side. I follow them inside, my eyes scanning the crowded stalls. I spot them entering the largest stall at the end, and I rush over, pushing open the door before she can latch it and step inside.

The woman looks up, startled, as I push her and the little boy deeper into the stall, then turn to lock it. My voice is a driving force, pushing me to confront them. “Ask her, Nova. Ask her if she’s okay.”

“Are you okay?” I demand, my voice low and urgent. "That man, your husband... does he hurt you? Does he hurt your boy?”

The woman’s eyes well with tears, and she nods, a sob bursting from her lips as she grips her child’s hand and the other balled into a fist. A gut-wrenching sob, you can feel that she has been keeping inside for who knows how long. “Y-yes,” she stammers, her voice the faintest whisper. “He does.”

The woman hesitates, then slowly lifts her shirt, revealing a mass of bruises and scars. I feel a fresh wave of rage wash over me, the voice echoing my fury. “He’s a monster, Nova. He’s a motherfucking monster, and he needs to be stopped.”

I pull the woman into a hug—something I don’t typically do—holding her tightly as she breaks down in a fit of sobs. The little boy clings to her leg, looking up at me with wide, frightened eyes. My voice is a soothing whisper inside my head, its words a gentle reassurance to the swirling emotions threatening to consume me. “Tell her it will be over soon. Tell her she’ll be safe and that the child will be safe. She needs to know she no longer has to be afraid.”

Like how I’m safe now.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper, soothing the woman with gentle pats on her back. “Soon, it will all be over. You’ll be safe, and he’ll never hurt you again.”

The woman looks up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. “W-what do you mean?” she stammers.

The voice urges me to give her instructions. “Tell her, Nova. Tell her what to do.”

“When you go home tonight, your husband will leave again,” I say. “And when he does, I want you to take your son to the neighbors’ house or if you have family nearby, go there. Can you do that for me?”

The woman looks at me, confusion etched on her face. “W-why?” she asks, her eyes dropping to the child on her leg.

My voice is a firm whisper, its words a reassuring promise. “Just trust me,” I say, holding her gaze. “Do this and everything will be okay.”

The woman hesitates but nods, a small smile on her face. “O-okay,” she stammers.

Tomorrow the sun will rise and she will be free.

I hug her tightly, holding her and the little boy close. “She’s going to be safe, and he’s going to pay for what he’s done.”

As I pull back, the woman looks up at me, her eyes shining with tears. “T-thank you,” she whispers. “I don’t have any money... or anything like that.”

I smile, a cold, calculated smile. “You don’t have to give me money or even thank me,” My voice low and deadly. “You just have to trust me. And soon, it will all be over.” I crouch down and look at the little boy. “I’ll expect you to be a good boy and grow into a decent man. Don’t ever be like him.”

The boy nods and holds out his hand for mine.

“A promise; the child is making a promise.”

What do I do?

“Shake his hand, duh.”

I look up at his mother and she has a smile on her face. Okay. I take the boy's hand in mine and he whispers. “Make him disappear. Please.”

“You got it." I release his hand and I step back out, allowing the woman and her son to do their business and exit the stall. As they walk out, I catch a glimpse of the man standing outside the bathroom, looking impatient and annoyed. The voice seethes with anger, its words a dark promise. “He does not know what’s coming for him, Nova. He has no idea what you’re capable of.”

That he doesn't, and that makes this all the more delicious.

I follow their family at a distance, watching as they continue through the carnival. The woman and her son seem more at ease, and I can sense a glimmer of hope in their eyes. They know that something is going to change and that someone is going to help them. Even I feel a little better as I follow them. My head is brimming with all the ways I can torture him and make him suffer. I bet she isn’t the first woman he’s hurt. She was just the one that fell in too deep and couldn’t escape.

Family night wears on, and I keep a close eye on the three of them, making sure that the man doesn’t suspect anything. “Be careful, Nova. You have to make sure that he doesn’t hurt them again.”

Shut up for a fucking second, would you? I know. I need to draw him away so I can get him to come back later tonight to have some fun with me.

“Cunt.”

I know you are but what am I?

“You can be such a child.”

The carnival starts to wind down and while it doesn’t close until eleven, the family heads back towards the exit. I follow, keeping a safe distance, as they walk out into the cool night air. The man is still making passes at other women, still completely unaware of the danger that’s following him. Somehow, I manage to get in front of them without the man noticing. I’ve got on a black skirt with a slit up the thigh. I spin and my skirt opens just enough for him to glimpse my thong and bare ass cheek.

"Well, that’s a way to get his attention.”

I make eye contact with him and watch as he bites his lip and I know I’ve now caught his attention. He’s on the lure and all I need to do now is reel him in. While he looks me up and down, I make eye contact with his wife and give her a sly wink.

“Roy, we really need to go. Anthony’s tired and if you want dinner at a decent time... " His hand flits toward her, motioning for her to shut up. I do everything in my power to keep my composure. What kind of man does that to his wife? Hold it together, Nova.

“Soon, Nova. Soon, he’ll be alone, and you’ll be able to take care of him. Don't fuck this up.”

“Here are the keys; go get him in the car.” He hands her a set of keys and keeps his eyes on mine. “I want to see about the show tomorrow night.”

“Oh, I bet you do, you sick son of a bitch.”

The woman and her son walk away from the carnival toward the parking lot, and I watch as the emotions inside of me that are bottled up get ready to explode. I know what’s going to happen, and I know that it’s going to be soon.

I turn and walk back to the man, Roy , my eyes scanning the crowds. The other performers are still engaging with patrons, and the crew is dismantling the rides and booths.

“Draw him in.”

“So, what do you want to know about tomorrow night’s show, baby?” I ask sweetly, biting my lip. “Something caught your eye?”

“Baby? Ugh barf.”

“I was just wondering if it's true that some performers... well, you know?”

“Fuck people from the audience?” I reach out and trail a finger up his forearm. “Why, you looking to have a little fun?”

“Well, I mean... who wouldn’t be interested in that?”

“Someone who has a good woman and a child at home waiting for them. That’s who wouldn’t.”

Let me handle this, you mean bitch. I know what I’m doing.

"Oh, do you now?”

“Why wait for tomorrow night? Maybe I can help ease some of that need you have brewing inside." I slide my hand over his chest and down his stomach, grabbing him by his belt. “You could come back tonight after the carnival’s all closed down. I’ll be all alone in my trailer.”

“All alone, is that so? What do you think we’d do?”

“God, he’s pathetic.”

“Whatever. You. Want.” I step into him and while I’m shorter than him, I know I can take him. “I’ve got three holes, just aching to be filled.”

“Goddamn.” He whispers. “You’ve got me so hard right now. Too bad you can’t take care of it right now for me.”

“Sorry, baby. It’s family night. Too many little kids around for that kind of fun. Plus, wouldn’t your wife be jealous?”

“Fuck my wife. She does whatever I say anyway.” The snide smirk on his face makes me want to peel the skin back and shove it in his mouth, watching him choke. “If I told her to fuck you while I watched, she would. But I’d much rather it be just us.”

“We’d prefer if it was just us too. No need to scare the poor woman.”

“Meet me here, say at midnight.”

“You’ve got it.” He grips the wrist of the hand that plays with his belt. “Don’t stand me up. I’ll come looking for you.”

Don’t worry, you piece of shit. I won’t.

“Don’t worry, baby. I don’t stand people up. I’m going to give you a night you’ll never forget.” I look up at him through my lashes, playing the seductress so well. And he just eats that shit up.

“See you later, kitten.” He taps me on the nose and walks around me, heading for the parking lot. I turn around and watch, the smile now drained from my face and, in its place, a ferocious scowl.

“Barf. We need to cut out his tongue for that one.”

I was thinking the same thing.

I make my way back to my trailer, my mind racing with thoughts of all the ways I’m going to make him hurt. Climbing up the steps, I’m greeted by the familiar smell of smoke, sweat, and the metallic stench of blood. I smile, a cold, calculated one, unsheathing my knife to sharpen it. The man has no idea what’s waiting for him, no idea what I’m capable of. But soon he’ll find out, and soon he’ll be sorry.

“Let’s go check the woods for somewhere to take care of this little problem.”

Oh, good plan.

A short walk through the heavily wooded area leads me to an abandoned house. Well, more like a shack. It’s probably only a big open space inside, but it honestly looks perfect. I don’t need a fancy space to end this sorry mother fucker’s life. A dark and dirty one is actually quite fitting; someone like him should die in the worst place possible. What do you think?

“This could do. It’s not too far from the carnival and would make for a fun little chase. Ya know to get the adrenaline pumping. It’s always so much more fun when they're scared.”

I’ll leave the door cracked so that when he finds it, he’s bound to think that this is the place to be. Knowing him, he’ll be thinking with his dick so an abandoned house will be the best place to fuck in his mind.

“Just promise we won’t fuck him.”

His cock isn’t going anywhere near my cunt. I can’t say that my knife won’t fuck him though.

“I can live with that.”