Zeth moved too quickly. Claws dug into my throat and I felt as each one punctured the skin around my neck. Razor-sharp teeth filled the jaw that opened wide enough to engulf my entire face. When Zeth bit down I heard a crunch then everything went black.
ZETH
My rat friends surrounded what was left of Montey’s body, waiting for me to command them. “Save the torso, but take the rest. This final piece should complete my little project.” They squeaked and swarmed the corpse, feasting away.
Such wonderful little vermin.
Static rippled behind me from the large, green-hued monitors, catching my attention. “Hmm.” I walked near and observed the screens. They were live pictures, viewing the entire pizzeria from various viewpoints. “William had such a nice setup, didn’t he?” I chuckled to myself, tapping the keyboard with my claw. “Now, let’s see if we can’t find our flowery friend.” The images along the screens flipped as I scanned them, searching for the woman.
Where did you run off too now?
One of the screens flickered, revealing the hall where I murdered the sensitive twin in. The pleasant memory made me smile as I reminisced about young Ryder’s taste. Though truthfully, I wished I had more of his brother, Token.
Movement on the screen pulled my focus as I witnessed Lavender slowly stepping into the hall. “Oh?” My eyes followed the cameras, seeing the opened exit. “Ahh, I see.” I turned my head to find a rat standing next to me on the desk. “Go to her. Wait for methere.” I tapped the monitor. “And as for the rest—” I turned to speak to my little army. “Bring all my pieces to the dining room here.” I pointed to a different monitor. “We shall complete everything there once I finish what I started.”
The rats squeaked and scurried about as I turned back and smiled at the monitor. “Oh this is going to be so fun!” I shot from the security office and into the hall, swiftly sprinting my way through to the kitchen. “Do you feel that, Crissa?! The adrenaline pumping through your veins and into your human heart! Oh, it is a sign that your revenge is nearly complete!” I shot through the kitchen doors and into the pizzeria, taking a large whiff. “Mmm. We are so close!” More laughter filled my lungs and rolled from my mouth as I made my way through Big Top and towards the old party rooms.
Is it true?
Crissa’s meek voice graced my thoughts.
Is it almost done?
“Yes.” I grinned. “Soon, all of those who harmed you will get exactly what they deserve.” Excitement filled my body, soaring through it. I wasn’t sure if it was mine or Crissa’s but I didn’t care. I was so close to serving her vengeance, and that was all that mattered to me.
My pace slowed as I inched closer to the party room hallway. “Oh, Lav–en–der,” I sang out into the pizzeria, stepping to the end of it blocking her escape. The woman was standing in the middle, surrounded by a few of my rats. Her head spun to face me, her eyes burning blue as tears flowed from them. And in her hands was a flashlight, its beam aimed down at a giant pile of blood, the very spot I had murdered Ryder.
Oh, how interesting.
“Crissa,” she whispered. “Where’s Montey? Or Sybil?” I didn’t answer. “Where’s Ryder and Token? What did you do to them?” My head tilted. “Where is everybody?!” I refused to answer her, too swept up in the smell of her immense fear and regret. “Where are they?” she shouted.
I took a step, growling as I slowly approached my prey. “Your friends are all dead. I picked them off one by one and ate them.” My lips curled high as I smiled, exposing my teeth. “First, I started with the thick and juicy Token. Oh, he tasted absolutely marvelous! Then, his sensitive brother, Ryder. Though, his taste wasn’t nearly as good, not that I’m complaining. I then had myself a nice cheesy slice of Sybil Supreme, which I also fed to dear Montey…before devouring him as well.” I stopped inches away from her. “And now, I shall finish my meal with the taste of you, sweet Lavender. The one who betrayed my dear Crissa most.” Tears rolled from her vibrant blue eyes as I reached out and gently played with a coil of her hair. “From first glance, you’d think Sybil would be the one she hated most, taking her friends and pretty boy from her. But alas, she was third on her list. Even Montey came in second only to you.” I dropped her hair and wiped away her tears. She shuddered at my touch, her breathing frantic and uncontrollable. “Her dear, sweet childhood friend who she cared for most in this wretched world. The one who turned her back on her and never looked back.”
“Please,” she cried. “Crissa.”
“Crissa isn’t here, my flowery friend. It is only me, her demon. And my name is Zeth.” The woman tried to run, but I gripped her neck and lifted her off her feet, raising her to my face. “You might as well learn it, for I am the one who will erase you from this world.”
“Cr-is-sa,” she wheezed. “Please!”
Her nails clawed my wrist as she kicked her feet, squirming as she tried to break free. I dragged my claw faintly along her face before whispering along her ear. “Begging will do you no good, human. Your fate is sealed. And I am here to deliver it.” I licked a fresh tear, savoring the salty taste.
“You-re—wrong,” she wheezed loudly.
Hmm?
The woman swung her arm out as I noticed something metallic in her hand. “What is—” She pierced my eye with a fork. I shouted, stumbling back and screaming out as I released her neck and touched my eye. “You bitch! You fucking bitch!” My claws wrapped around the handle, ripping it and my eye from the socket. Blood spewed all down my face and out into the air. “Ahh!”
Lavender rolled to her feet, gasping as she aimed for the exit.
“Fool!” I raised my other arm and used my power to slam the door shut, locking it. “You cannot escape me! Ahh!”
“No!” She pounded her fists against the door, screaming and crying at her doom. “Please! Somebody—anybody! Help me! Help me!”
I ran after her, bleeding from my hollow socket. Before she could even open her mouth, I swung my arm and hit her across the face, knocking her to the ground with a loud groan. She coughed and rolled, feeling every bit of my rage. “I’m going to relish in eating you,” I growled, pinning her down as I straddled her. “Every little bit!”
“Crissa! Please!” her screams pierced my ears. “Please! I swear—I never meant to hurt you! I swear!” Her face nearly burned red from how intense she was yelling. I shoved my claws into her side in the hopes of silencing her. She coughed, spitting blood on my face. “Crissa,” she whispered. “Please. Please!” She sobbed, choking on her blood. “I swear, I never meant to hurt you!” She wheezed loudly. “I tried to stop her! I tried so many times, but she wouldn’t listen! None of them would!”
“Lies!” I growled at her, piercing her eye with my claw. She screamed and cried out, blood oozing from it as I pierced the squishy eye further, laughing. “Fucking stings, doesn’t it?” Her legs kicked uncontrollably as I pressed even deeper until I felt the tip of it hit her skull. I then yanked my arm back, taking her eye with me. “An eye for an eye!” My head flung back as I cackled, thunder booming above, shadowing my glee.
