Song: Used to Love Her by Guns N' Roses

"I like killing people because it is so much fun. It is more fun than killing wild game in the forest because man is the most dangerous animal of them all."-Zodiac Killer

March 1st, 2014

Every year on this day, I always wake up feeling gloomy. Of course, I knew the reason why, but I don't understand why I let it affect me so much.

The good part about this year was that it fell on a weekend. Although, my boss knew that if it fell on a weekday, I wouldn't make it to work. However, he never knew the real reason. I gave him a cock-and-bull story of how my fiancée died in an accident on this day and I had to visit her in the cemetery.

In previous years, I stayed at home drowning my sorrows in sad movies and junk food. This year, I decided to put on my big boy pants and go hunting for my next victim. Although, this was still after my dose of sad movies and junk food.

But before I went hunting, I decided pay the woman that made my childhood bearable a visit. It had been a while since I had gone to visit her. So, I got into my car and drove to the neighborhood I grew up in.

The neighborhood had definitely changed from the last time I was there. It was worse than before. The buildings looked ready to collapse, yet people still lived in them.

People gave me strange looks as I passed by them, probably wondering what a decent-looking man was doing in their environs.

No familiar face jumped at me, so, I didn't bother greeting anyone. Most likely, the people I knew growing up were out going about their daily activities.

The stairs leading to different floors was surprisingly not in as much a deplorable state as the whole building. Although, the stair rails had long fallen off.

I cautiously climbed the stairs to the all familiar third floor. When I got to the beginning of the corridor that led to different apartments, I stopped and took in a deep breath. The sight brought back painful memories and my heart clenched. But, I forged ahead.

'Apartment 221B' the sign above the door read. The sign dangled as only one screw held it fastened to the wall. I carefully knocked on the door. It looked ready to break.

"You better be someone important to disturb my nap," a voice from inside the apartment said. Then the door swung open. "Oh Gosh! Chico? Is this really you?" The person leaned into me and held my face, studying it.

I smiled. "Good to see you again, Miss Diamond." Age had been good to her. But, one could still notice wrinkles around her eyes.

"It's really you. Come in." She opened the door to let me in.

"Yes, it is I, Miss Diamond," I said as I entered. She pointed at my favorite couch and I sat.

"Call me Simora. I am out of that line of work. Apparently, a long distance relative left some money for me when he died. So, I receive a monthly allowance." She offered me a bottle of beer and sat opposite me.

"Really? That's nice of him. So, why haven't you left this place? It's about to come down."

She laughed and then smiled. "I like it here, but I plan to move soon. I don't plan on dying because the building collapsed on me... Chico, don't play smart with me. I know it is you that's sending me the money."

I blushed and bowed my head. Oops. "How did you know?" I whispered, but I knew she heard me.

"When you were seven you told me that the moment you started making money, you would be sending me allowance."

I raised my head and smiled. "I remember. I just didn't think you would."

She scoffed. "You think you are the only smart one?"

I shook my head.

She laughed and moved over to sit beside me. "Tell me, why are you here?"

"Can't I come and visit the woman that took care of me, even though it was not her duty?" A thin smile formed on my lips.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah right. You haven't been here in six years. The moment you turned eighteen, you hightailed out of here. But, I don't blame you. Even when your mother went missing, you didn't come back. So, I know that what brought you back must be really important."

"I'm sorry," I whispered and hung my head in shame.

She hugged me. "Don't be sorry. I would have done the same thing. So, tell me why you are here."

I squeezed my eyes as tears threatened to fall. "You know why I'm here."

"Of course, I do. But, you need to say it for you to be free."

I swallowed. Then opened my mouth to talk, but closed it. This is harder than I thought it would be. Miss Diamond, or should I say Simora, held my hands and gave it a gentle squeeze.

I took in a deep breath. "Today is her birthday. After all these years, I don't know why it still affects me. I want to hate her for the way she treated me-for not loving me-but I can't." Tears trickeld down my face. "A mother is supposed to love her child. Why couldn't she love me? Was it so hard? I tried to be a good son to her."

By this time, I was sobbing. Miss Diamond drew me into her bosom as I wept, drenching her blouse in the process.

"Shhhh, it's going to be okay. You will learn to let it go. Just give it time. I know she was worse to you on her birthdays. Her blood runs in your veins, whether you like it or not. So, hating her will be hard," Miss Diamond whispered into my ear while patting my back.

I nodded and sniffed, trying to control myself.

She released me and placed her hands on each side of face. "Are you okay?"

I nodded again, wiping my face with the back of my hands. I glanced at my wristwatch. "Wow! I have been here for over thirty minutes."

She looked at the clock on the wall. "Dios mio! It is true. I'm guessing you have to go."

I nodded as I stood up. She followed me to the door and bade me goodbye. As I stepped out into the corridor, I put my game face on. Time to hunt.

As I descended the stairs that led to the second floor, loud voices caught my attention. So, I walked towards the sound and it led to an apartment.

I leaned into the door. Thank God, no one was around because I looked like a creep at that moment.

"You stupid child. I gave you money to buy me drugs and you used it to buy food to eat," a woman screamed. Smack! The sound of slap made my ears ring. Smack! Smack! Silent cries could be heard from inside the apartment.

I wanted to kick down the door and save the child from the beatings, but I knew that would only anger the woman. I knew I had to kill her. She really struck a nerve. She was just like my mother.

"I'm going out to get my drugs. I don't want to see you when I get back," the woman said.

I quickly left the door and headed outside to my car to wait for her. The moment she started walking, I followed her. She got to a corner and stopped. About two minutes later, a car stopped and she got in.

I successfully tailed the car to an area that was popular with gang members. She got out of the car once it stopped and entered a house. I drove past because I didn't need any gang member seeing me or approaching me or even shooting at me. Those guys are damn paranoid.

Luckily for me, the area had no street cameras. I parked waiting for her to come out. For five hours, I sat in my car before she graced me with her presence.

She stumbled as she walked, clearly high or inebriated. I followed her, waiting for her to get to a street with no one present.

Ten minutes later, she walked into a lonely street. No cameras, no street lights. The perfect area for predators to hunt.

As she stumbled, she whistled. I don't know if she noticed my car following because she didn't react when I pulled over. Maybe, she was in her own world.

I came out of my car with the syringe in my hand. She continued stumbling because I wouldn't call what she was doing walking as I approached her.

I quickly used my hands to cover her mouth to hold in her scream as I injected the sodium thiopental into her bloodstream. She took no time in passing out on me. I dragged her body into my car and drove off.

"If the blue meanies (police) are going to get me, they'd better get off their asses and do something."-Zodiac Killer

Hi! I decided to bring Miss Diamond back in this chapter. I love that woman. Lol. So who noticed the Sherlock reference in this chapter? Anyway, I know some of you might have questions about the killer's mother. Don't worry, all will be answered in due season.

Chico: Boy

Dios mio: My God

Thank you for reading THE SERIAL KILLER IN ME. Please don't forget to vote, comment, critique and share. Your effort is much appreciated.