Reciprocation [Chapter II]

It must be my lucky day... And obviously not yours…” Jessie licked her lips when she spotted Joey walking down the street. He was a good ways down the block but she knew it was him. Joey trudged along in the cool autumn breeze looking down at the sidewalk, he seemed to have a lot on his mind.1

Jessie’s bangs covered her eyes as she began to speed walk in his direction. It turned soon turned into a sprint, then full speed as she ran towards him. Joey looked up and before he realized what was happening, Jessie unsheathed the sword and slashed him from his left shoulder to the bottom of his chest. The blade easily cut through his shirt and skin, nearly slicing to the bone. The blood lay still in his body as Joey head flew backwards. She quickly reversed the blade within her fingers and slashed again from right shoulder down, before he could even scream in pain. 2

Joey fell to the ground on his back in excruciating pain. He yelled as hard as he could. He clenched his chest and tried to deaden the agony. His eyes stretched in pain and his breaths came out in short chokes. Joey’s vision rolled into view of Jessie, her bangs covering her impassive face. She crouched down as he squirmed on the concrete and rested on her sword. The blood dripped slowly on the ground from the metal assassin as if not wanting to let go of the red fluid.  3

“X marks the spot.” Jessie said and grinned maliciously as looked down at him, her eyes unblinking. "It’s a stainless steel Jakyro sword, ya like? Perfect of killing with none of the mess." She looked at the sword as if casual conversation. "Oh... but you seemed to have made one, too bad." Jessie locked eyes with him one more time. "Remember how you fucked me over? Of course you do, that was the day you turned me from an innocent girl to women who feared the world. But you weren’t the only one, there was someone before, but I never trusted her anyway. You know what the difference is? Huh?" She smiled and tilted her head like a child. 4

Joey's face was twisted with anguish, pain and fear. His lips were bloody and his eyes bulging."5

"Can’t tell me eh? The difference was that I trusted you, you promised you would never hurt me. But then again, why would you tell me when you’re gonna? But you did hurt me Joseph.... you hurt me badly... And everyone knows you don’t double-cross a psychotic chick, because they have a mean way of getting back at you... Now you will pay, with your very life.”6

Jessie closed her eyes as she rose to her feet. She directed the blade to the exact point where the two slashes met. Joey spat blood and pleaded for his life. “Jess… please… I’m sorry…” His words were drawn out, taking pauses from the pain. “Your voice sickens me Joey. This is the end for you. YOU THOUGHT I WOULD LOVE YOU IF YOU RAPED ME???” Jessie’s words shot out of her mouth in a scream. Her face changed from completely blank to enraged anger. Her hands slightly shook and so did the sword. She waited for him as if she wanted him to answer. The blood was everywhere, it poured out unto the sidewalk like a car leaking transmission fluid.7

“No… I'm sorry…” 8

"I'M DONE CRYING OVER YOU! DONE CRYING OVER WHAT YOU DID TO ME!" Then her voice softened, as if she was about to cry. "Do you know how it is to lie in your bed at night? Sleepless because the memories keep haunting you? Do you know how it is to be startled and flinch when people SAY HELLO TO YOU ON THE STREET??? TO NEVER TAKE THAT WAY HOME AGAIN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN ALLEY?" Her voice rose again, a deranged look plated on her face. “No Joey, I’m sorry. I'm sorry that your pathetic life had to end like this.” And with that, Jessie grabbed the hilt with both hands and plunged it into the intersection of the crimson stained marks. She fell to the ground on one knee and watched as Joey took his last breaths. The blood spattered from his chest and fell unto his body.9

“I could have loved you, we could have had a good time together. But you didn’t want to give me time, you wanted things to happen all on your watch. But the world doesn’t revolve around you… it just doesn’t…”10

Jessie stood and sheathed the sword. “I'm keeping your blood on it. That way my next victim can share the blood of someone they have something in common with them… The blood of a traitor…” 11

She looked at Joey’s body one last time, but there was a slight hint of sorrow in her expression. She turned with her back to him and spoke with her eyes closed. “I don’t care if anyone finds your body, for all I can hope, they better not come after me.” 12

Jessie walked along the sidewalk and contemplated her next move. But the anger and hatred was raging beneath her soul. Control yourself… if you lose your temper you know what can happen…13

The wind blew at her hair, as she set out for victim number two…14