The Hand that Feeds

by K.M. Mixon

haunches. He frees himself from his sweats. “Open up, stupid girl. It’s breakfast time.”

“You’ll be staying with me tonight, stupid girl. You and I have some things to discuss.” I swallow. “I’m not clocked out yet.” That admission hits me right in the gut. Not only had I abandoned my post only an hour into my shift, but I fucked a patient while on the clock. “Yes, you are. I made sure of it before I came in here.”

“It would ruin me to kill you, Lyla.” That startles me, and I silently wipe the tears away as I approach him. “Why would you have to kill me?” He doesn’t say a thing, only turns his back to me.

“If I have to kill us both, you’ll be mine forever, Lyla. So don’t get any other ideas in your stupid little head, do you understand me.”

The song changes as Ellise sings I Feel Pretty in the Dark through the speakers, my little killer’s favorite music, and she slows her dancing.