Song: Dead in the Water by Pop Evil

"I just liked to kill, I wanted to kill."-Ted Bundy

The voices from the television echoed in the basement as I watched while waiting for her to wake up. Once again, the newscaster talked about "The Midnight Killer," telling women to be careful. People who wanted to listen would listen while others would ignore the warnings.

The sound of a deep moan dragged my attention from the television to her. Finally, she had awakened. She stirred. In an attempt to rub her eyes, she lifted her hands; but, instead, the chains rattled. The unexpected sound jerked her out of her oblivion.

"Shit! Where did that sound come from?" she exclaimed. Her eyes danced around the room. Her gaze narrowed into a squint. "Where am I?"

I stayed quiet. She could hear the voices from the television, but she wouldn't have seen me because of the corner I sat. However, I had a clear view of her.

"Why am I chained? Is anyone here?" she asked as she tugged at the chain.

"Yes, I am here," I said and stood.

She jumped. "Jesus! You scared me."

"That was my intention." I approached her and stopped in front of her with my hands akimbo.

After about two minutes of silence, she asked, "I'm not stupid, so I know that I have been kidnapped, but why?"

As I was about to answer her, she hushed me. Wait! What! Did she really hush me? But I kept quiet. I was curious to hear what she had to say.

She smiled with a gleam of deviltry in her eyes. "I have a proposal for you. My husband is rich...like really rich. Although we always fight, he would pay any amount of money to get me back."

"Are you implying what I think you are implying?" My fists clenched, but I quickly released it. The woman intrigued me.

With a smug look, she nodded. "Yes. Whatever money you wanted to ask for, increase it. I suggest three million dollars. You take 50% while I take 50%. Do we have a deal?"

My body vibrated as I laughed. "Why on earth would your husband pay three million dollars to get you back?"

"Because my father owns 60% of his company, and he wouldn't want to hurt daddy's girl."

My nose wrinkled in disgust. "I don't know anything about your family, but my guess is if anything were to happen to you, your father will leave his share of the company to your children."

Her eyes widened.

"You are not as wise as you thought," I said. "Moreover, this is not a kidnap for ransom situation."

She pursed her lips. "What do you mean? Why would you kidnap me if you don't want money?"

I assumed a regal pose. "I am The Midnight Killer."

She burst into a fit of laughter. "Oh God. That is so funny," she said between laughs. However, she stopped when she realized that I wasn't also laughing.

"You are joking, right?" she asked.

My frame hovered over her like a threatening storm, and I curled my lips with icy contempt. "I do not joke."

Her pupils dilated. A gaped mouth stare appeared on her face. She backed into the wall. The smell of urine wafted into my nostrils, and I gagged.

"Did you just pee on yourself," I asked.

The way she shook her head reminded me of someone having a seizure. I gave my inner self a pat on the back. Daddy's princess was scared of me, but who wouldn't be?

"It doesn't matter if you say the truth or not. You are going to die covered in your urine," I said.

"Please don't kill me." She sobbed.

"You gave me no choice. If you were a good mother, you wouldn't be in my basement," I said.

"I'm sorry, I will change."

"It's too late for that."

"How old are you?" I carried a chair over to her and sat down. "I like knowing my victims before I kill them."

Her face paled. "Thirty-five years." Her lips quivered.

My lips pulled back in a frown. "And you are still behaving like a brat?"

"That's the way I was raised."

I waved my fingers at her. "Don't blame your parents for how you turned out. There is a certain age you get to that you have to mature on your own. My mother was like you, always blaming other people for her predicament. Never for once did she agree that she was at fault. Maybe if she did, I wouldn't have become the killer I am today."

She stayed quiet while staring at the floor.

"Anyway, let's continue. Time to get personal. What do you enjoy doing?"

Her brows furrowed and she stared at me for what felt like eternity before answering. "I like shopping, baking, and reading."

I rolled my eyes as she spoke. Typical spoiled brat.

"Why were you staring at me like I have an extra head on my shoulder?" I asked.

She shook her head and said, "Nothing."

"Whatever. Anyway, what are the things you hate? For example, your fears."

"I don't have a lot of phobias, just aquaphobia."

Perfect! The best way to kill her just came to my mind. I did the jig dance in my head.

"How did it start? And when?" I asked with a grin.

"It started after my mother died. I watched her drown and I couldn't help her. I was too scared," she said with a fragile voice.

"Sorry about your mother's death," I said, but my voice held no form of sympathy.

She nodded. "What happens now?"

"I kill you."

She didn't even flinch. Her face was without emotion.

"I have accepted my fate. My reason for living is gone. When she died, my heart died with her. Some people might judge me for loving my mother more than my children, but she was always there for me," she said with a sniff as tears rolled down her face. "Moreover, I know my husband will take care of them. And they will grow up in a home where their parents aren't always fighting."

"Just because you have accepted your fate doesn't mean your death will be merciful," I said.

She nodded. "How will you do it?"

"Have you ever heard of waterboarding?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No."

"It's a form of water torture."

The color of life drained from her face. Her breathing became shallow and her heart rate increased. For about three minutes, she was as still as death.

Then suddenly, she began trembling. Her loud cries would be able to wake the dead. The day kept getting better. Note the sarcasm.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Did you see a ghost or what?" I said at the top of my voice, so she could hear me.

"I'm... I'm aqua... aquaphobic," she said between gasps and wheezes.

"You already mentioned it. That's why I chose this method of death. It will be so much fun watching you. But I doubt it would be for you-"

"Please-"

"I don't care about your feelings." I smirked.

Thank God I had bottles of water in the kitchen. So, I went upstairs and carried them down to the basement.

When she saw me with the bottles of water in my arms, she made an effort to move away, but with her back already pressed against the wall and her legs and hands chained, she couldn't.

I removed a cloth from my pocket that I got with the water and wrapped it around her face then tied it at the back of her head. She struggled as I tied it, but I was stronger. She screamed, however, the cloth confined the sound.

As soon as I made sure the cloth wouldn't come loose, I emptied two bottles on the cloth in a controlled manner. Once the cloth was soaked, I knew the cloth would restrict her airflow.

She began to gasp for air. Beneath the cloth, her mouth opened and closed like a stranded fish on land gasping for breath.

With my hands about fifteen inches above her head, I continuously poured more water. She struggled to free herself, but that proved futile.

She made a choking sound, yet I didn't stop. Her body convulsed while her chest rose and fell rapidly.

It went on for about twenty minutes. I would have removed the cloth for her to breathe, but the essence of killing her would not be achieved. She had to suffer. Her death would be gradual and painful.

As I continued pouring more water, the sounds she made became less and less audible. Her head drooped, then her body slumped to the floor.

I used what she was scared of to kill her. Now, she could finally join her mother. After all, water killed them both.

"We've all got the power in our hands to kill, but most people are afraid to use it. The ones who aren't afraid, control life itself."-Richard Ramirez

Thank you for reading THE SERIAL KILLER IN ME. Please do not forget to vote, comment, critique and share if you liked it. I appreciate the effort.