A Splash of Red

[ahria]

Title:  A Splash of Red
Themes:
+ Death
+ Color
+ Smiles
+ photos
+ novel
+ cashmere sweaters
+ lost
+ twilight
+ pears
Word Count: 333

You’ll know her when you see her. You’ve studied the pictures for days, memorizing her face, her smile. You think you could recognize that smile alone. There’s something about the sun’s rays that makes it hard to concentrate on your task and you’re glad that it’s finally twilight. It’s so much easier in the dark.

A beam of light filters in from the window and you see her in the doorway; the bright red lipstick she’s painted on is the only color in the room. Something about that color makes you hate her, and suddenly the job seems easier. You keep telling yourself that she brought this on herself anyway.

You put away the novel you’ve been pretending to read and take position. She comes into the room slowly, feelings of unease clear on her face, but you’re not worried. You’ve set up everything perfectly. No, this one will be easy. The room suddenly smells like pears and for a moment, you’re distracted. After realizing that it’s her perfume, it makes you hate her more.

She locks the door and watches it for a moment as if expecting that lock to be put to the test. She sighs when nothing happens and shakes her head, clearly annoyed with her own paranoia. It’s alright, you want to tell her, she should be paranoid.

You wait for a while longer. You wait for that perfect moment. Then it comes in such an innocent way. She pulls the cashmere sweater over her head and you move in, slipping the blade into her side. You know the spot well. Quickly, you cover her mouth through the sweater and hold her as she dies. It doesn’t take long.

Once she’s gone, you set her down and fix her cloths. You watch her face for a little while, feeling lost. So much effort expended and it was over so fast. She disappoints you, even in death. Oh well, you think, she’s gone now. The next one should be better.