The Monster in Her Veins

The sound of the ball bearings running in their
metal tracks was driving her mad. She could
picture each and every tiny metal ball as it
rolled to take the place of the ball before it.
Precision, absolute scientific genius. She
then pictured the metal balls growing larger,
larger. They grew eyes. Great green eyes
with red centers. Gigantic gaping mouths with
razor sharp iron teeth.

"Stop it!" She screamed. "Stop it! I don't want
this anymore." She tore the drawer open the
rest of the way and reached in to grab her
father's Smith and Wesson. She smiled.

"All around the mulberry bush, the monkey
chased the weasel." She began to sing softly
to herself as she spun the chamber around
again and again. "The monkey thought twas
all in fun." She held the gun in front of her,
aimed at the wall, pulled the trigger. "Pop!
Goes the weasel."

In the next room she heard a key turn in the
lock of her front door and she screamed.
Footsteps, one by one, coming closer to her
parents' bedroom. One by one she heard him
turning on the lights in the kitchen, the
bathroom, the hallway, her bedroom. As his
form appeared in the doorway she screamed.

"Now, Baby Doll, is that anyway to greet me?
C'mon sweet thing, give Julien a kiss." He
grabbed the hair at the base of her neck and
pulled hard. As her head snapped back, he
clamped his mouth down on hers.

Disgusted by him she shoved the barrel of the
Smith and Wesson into his stomach. He
quickly backed away. "Hey, Baby, just take it
cool. No need to get harsh with me."

She pointed the gun at him with a shaking
hand. "That shit you gave me Julien, it wasn't
no good. I'm seeing stuff, man. Where's the
good shit?"

"Baby, you know how it goes. You don't pay
premium prices, you don't get premium
goods."

She began to cry softly. "Julien, I got fired. I…I
need the good stuff to get back on my feet,
please."

"No can do baby. Look, I gotta go. Get some
rest."

"Fuck you, Julien! Fuck you!" She screamed
as she pointed the gun at his back and pulled
the trigger. The shaking in her hands threw
the bullet off it's desired trajectory, and into the
wall inches from Julien's shoulder.

He spun around with the speed of a wildcat
racing across the Serengeti and knocked the
gun from her hand. "You little bitch!" He
hissed as he grabbed her by the neck, lifted
her from the ground, and smashed her
against the bedroom wall. "I don't do what you
say, you get that?" He forced her against the
wall again, her head making a disturbing
thumping noise as it connected with the
plaster. "Do you get that?" Again and again
he threw her body up against the wall until a
red spot began to grow on the white paint
behind her head. Julien loosened his grip on
her neck and her body slowly sank to the floor.
He shrugged his shoulders, straightened his
tie, and walked out the front door, making sure
to lock it behind him.