Page 1 of First Blood

Prologue

‘Are you scared yet?’ I ask, peering down into your soulless eyes.

You are prostrate and trapped. This time it’s you that is helpless.

If not for the gag in your mouth what would your last words be? I wonder. Would you beg for forgiveness? Would you plead for your life? Would you make promises? Would you apologise?

I bend down and remove the gag to satisfy my curiosity.

‘Let me go you fucking…’

I shove the gag back in. You are not in charge. You have absolutely nothing of interest to say to me. Of course there’s no remorse. That’s okay. It doesn’t change a thing if you’re sorry or not. Your fate remains the same. Your failure to feel anything other than for yourself makes my task so much sweeter.

Your expression mixes anger with fear.

‘Not so much fun on the other end, is it?’ I ask, enjoying myself. But I want to be sure I’m clear; that you understand.

‘Make no mistake, you are going to die,’ I say, waving the knife in front of your face to make my point. ‘And I’m going to make it hurt.’

I read your expression again and now there is only fear. Finally you believe me. Your eyes shift from side to side as your brain turns towards desperate self-preservation.

‘There’s nothing you can do. It’s too late,’ I say to put you out of this misery. I want your eyes full of fear. I don’t want you to have any hope for your own life. There is none.

‘It’s all about you, isn’t it? You care for no one but yourself and your own sick perversions. Well, now’s the time to pay for everything you’ve done and I know it all, my King. I know every bad thing you’ve ever done.’

The urine stain that appears at your crotch gives me pleasure.

‘You’ve pissed yourself,’ I laugh, waving the knife around your cock. Your weakness gives me strength. I am now satisfied that you have suffered. You’ve tasted the fear you’ve inflicted on others.

For me, that will have to do. It is time to end this.

I stand above you. I have taken all your power. Now I am bigger, stronger and in control.

‘Do you feel my power now?’ I ask.

You nod vigorously as though that will make a difference. You think you can appease me, identify with me, befriend me to save your own life.

‘Now you’re going to die.’

My fist tightens around the handle of the blade I’ve been holding. It is itching, almost to the point of a spasm, to carry out the wishes of my brain.

I bend down. My hate-filled face will be the last thing you ever see before you leave this earth for your final judgement.

I savour this triumph for just a second before I slice the knife across your throat.

There is horror. There is fear as the blood spurts from your body taking with it the light from your eyes.

I watch as the last signs of life depart. I feel peace as you gurgle your last breath. I feel cleansed.

You are dead. And that should be enough, but it isn’t.

What I’ve done already is for others, to save them pain and suffering, but the rest is just for me.

I grip the bloody knife with all my strength.

It’s time to get to work.

Chapter One