Page 1 of The Player
Prologue
THE TASKMASTER
“You can leave work early, Isaiah. I’ll lock up tonight,” he says, but his thoughtful words are in stark contrast to the evil haze that’s misting over his eyes as he stares intently across the dusty, quaint little bookstore.
He doesn’t want him to leave.
Not really.
He thinks he’s being nice, letting him go a few minutes early.
Buttering him up for the future, perhaps?
But what goes on in his mind is anything but nice. There’s always an ulterior motive, and it’s usually as dark as the autumn night sky I can see outside the shop window.
He wants Isaiah to stay.
He wants to act out the filth that plays over in his mind on a daily basis like the dirty fucker he is. He thinks no one knows, but I do. I know exactly what goes on in his head.
But that’s not happening.
Not tonight.
Not ever.
Iwould never allow it.
“Are you sure, Mr Wilson? I don’t mind staying if you need me.” The voice replying is sweet and innocent, placing trust where it doesn’t deserve to be placed. It’s the kind of voice he feeds off, like a virus bleeding its host dry.
I’m glad I chose tonight. Time might’ve aged him, but it hasn’t changed him. The devil wears many disguises, and it seems plain and dull, elderly bookstore owner is one of them. He’s so boring he couldn’t possibly lead a double life, right?
Wrong.
“No, Isaiah. It’s fine,” he says, though reluctance burns in his eyes. “There’s only one customer left. You get off. I can manage.”
The way he squirms, adjusting himself in his trousers, thinking no one is watching, shows what sort of a man he is. Depraved, perverted and immoral in every way he can possibly be. Vermin that needs to be taken care of.
Standing in the corner of the bookshop, I can’t help smiling to myself at how he’s playing into my hands. He has no idea what lies in store for him tonight, and that’s just the way I like it. Ignorance is bliss, for me, anyway. I don’t thinkhe’sgoing to find it quite so blissful when his ignorance catches up with him.
I slide the hardback copy of Frankenstein back in its place on the shelf, tapping my finger on my chin, pretending to be lost in thought. But I’m not thinking; my mind is an empty cavern, a darkness waiting to be filled with his screams. My body might look calm, but every atom of my being is screeching, wailing like a banshee, begging for the beast to be released from his cage. I’ve waited a long time for this. That beast won’t stay caged for much longer, but a few more minutes to bide my time won’t hurt. And oh, what sweet torture it is, being this close to getting everything I’ve always wanted.
The tinkle of the bell above the door as it opens and closes for the final time tonight sends shivers down my spine. Sinisterly satisfying images of what I have in store play over in my head. The buzz from that alone makes me tremble with excitement.
Everything is coming together perfectly.
I’ve covered every base; no stone has gone unturned.
Earlier today, I disabled the CCTV both inside and outside the store. All the phone lines have been cut, and unbeknown to him, his mobile phone is currently sitting in my pocket on silent mode, but I’ll dispose of that later. Mr. Wilson, the store owner, is well and truly fucked. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
Say your goodbyes, Wilson. Not that anyone will miss you when you’re gone.
I stand back, skulking in the shadows for a while longer, watching him tidy around the checkout as he fills the last few minutes of his shift before it’s time for him to lock up. I’ve watched him do this sad old routine more times than I care to mention. I’ve spied on him as he acted out his life like a normal, everyday, upstanding guy. He was a good actor, I’d give him that, but the cracks were beginning to show. It wouldn’t be long before he was up to his old tricks again, and I couldn’t,wouldn’tlet that happen. It was time to take back power.
He turns his back to me, busying himself with some boxes that are stacked up behind the counter. So, I choose that moment to stalk forward with purpose, heading for the door.
Three…
Two…
