Turnabout’s Fair Play

Jefferson held his warm coffee cup, inhaling the aroma of the beverage along with the smell of blood.

He placed his coffee on the gray work counter. Jefferson recalled how tired he’d been last night. Hence the messiness of the room. He cleaned his utensils and hung them on the pegboard. He ran his finger across the sparkling metal tools. They make a pretty tinkling sound. The spotlight shining on them adds just the right touch. He could stay down here forever.

Jefferson refused to look at the full tied trash bags. The drain on the floor took care of the blood with help from the water hose wrapped around its reel. He decided to dispose of the trash later. If his plans went well this evening, he would have double the number of bags.

Tilting his head back, he saw that the soundproof ceiling was still wet from rinsing the spatters off last night. At least his clothes were already in the dryer.

Times like the pain he witnessed last night were the only thing that mattered to him, and he couldn’t share it with anyone. He only felt alive when working on his helpless victims. As he mounted the stairs, he turned his head and looked at his darkening eyes in a mirror. A demonic belly laugh erupted from his grimace.

Jefferson went upstairs to spend the day planning how to kidnap his next victim. The anticipation made his heart beat faster. Smiling, he left the house at dusk.

***

At 2:30 am, Jefferson stumbled down the stairs to the basement. Wild-eyed, he ran his stained hands through his dark hair. I still don’t know how Alexis escaped. Jefferson glanced at the empty, blood-stained table. He’d searched the neighborhood as long as he’d dared in the darkness. She knew how to bring the police to his home. Jefferson began rinsing the blood from his stained hands with the cold water from the hose. He knew the chase would be hot and heavy if the police saw the evidence and the waste bags in the corner, but there was no time to clean up. Jefferson had little time to change. He turned when he heard a step behind him. Jefferson saw Alexis.

“Uhhhh,” he felt a heavy object crash down on his head. Jefferson grunted as hard blows struck his face when he crumpled to the ground. He threw his arms up, but the blows beat them down. He heard another crunching sound as a blow hit his skull. He saw black and felt no more. When Jefferson came to, he was lying naked in Alexis’s cold blood, fastened to the smooth metal table in the dark, chilly basement. 

“Help! Helllp! Somebody, please help me!” Jefferson turned his head toward Alexis’ steps coming down the stairs. She turned on the blinding light shining on his face.

“Your ceiling is soundproof, remember?” Jefferson heard her steps slow as she viewed his sharp tools. He’d used some of them on her. Alexis turned to him.

“Hi honey,” she said in a kind tone. Jefferson looked away from the blood crusted on Alexis’ face.

Despite the falseness of her endearment, Jefferson responded to it. The fear he’d kept inside came blubbering out in wet sobs and incoherent begging. Jefferson looked into her cold eyes when she stroked his brow.

“You picked the wrong lady when you chose me. I enjoy seeing people’s limits,” Alexis said. “My basement isn’t as sophisticated as yours, but it serves the same purpose.”

His heart freezing, Jefferson began breathing hard. He looked at the sharp tools on the pegboard. Alexis followed his gaze.

Alexis gave a sigh and turned to the implements. Jefferson’s screams turned high-pitched when she experimented with each of the metal tools. He saw the excitement in her eyes and knew Alexis shared his obsession with causing pain.

After what seemed like hours, Alexis said, “I’ll leave you here to your pain.” She bagged up Jefferson’s bloody tools to keep. Alexis limped to the stairs and looked in the mirror, laughing. Jefferson shuddered.

***

When Alexis returned to Jefferson’s private hell, he felt an icy sweat pop out on his skin. Alexis pulled out a trash bag and shook it open. The rattling of the plastic dominated the room.

Good. It’s over. His muscles relaxed. Jefferson looked forward to his escape through death, though he felt the wet warmth of his bladder releasing. He watched as Alexis picked up a small chainsaw.

Alexis’ eyes sparkled. “I have one of these at home! Your other tools will be a great addition.”

“Wait! Kill me first! Please kill me!” Even he’d ended his captives’ lives before dismemberment.

Jefferson felt Alexis slide the rustling garbage bag over his bare foot and up his leg. Goose pimples raised on his skin from the cool plastic, and he raised his head to watch Alexis position the dark bag. She started the chain saw with ease, smiling at its roar. As Alexis lowered the chain saw, no one heard Jefferson’s screams.