Chapter 6

I watch as she tumbles down the staircase, her head hitting pleasingly on the handrail on the way down. I am pleased to hear Julia’s shriek, this one is to teach her a lesson. I step carefully down the stairs, avoiding the slippery trail of blood left by the girl’s head. What was her name again? Paula? Pauline? Either way it was going to end up on a death certificate, like all of our names would. Eventually. I reach the bottom of the stairs, stamping on Paula or Pauline’s head for good measure. Now I come to think of it, it may have even been Patricia. I smile at my girls before turning to walk back up the stairs. Looking through the gap in the door before I close it, I see Julia sobbing violently over the dead girl’s body, practising feeble attempts at reviving her. Oh sweet, sweet Julia. This is the only way she will ever learn where disloyalty gets her. Hanging around with Henry, she should know better. Or is his name Harry? He should probably be bothered that he doesn’t know his own son’s name, but he isn’t. He was just the unfortunate product of an unfortunate affair. I feel my stomach growl. What should I cook for breakfast? But first, let’s wash this blood off my hands.

Two hours later, I am in my car, driving to my job as a cashier at the local asda. Low wages, but just about enough. On top of what I get paid to spend the night with some of the women out there. Carol is one of them, and I see her pushing trolleys outside. “You okay Daniel?” She says with a grotesque grin on her face. Ugh why did I let her pay me. I nod, plastering an equally revolting cheerful expression on my face. I have always much preferred straight faces. They take less effort to pull, and they look nicer. Some of the women irritate me, they expect us to actually have a relationship, which is why I tend to offer myself to women who live far away from me. Carol had just appeared, and with Julia being here, I had needed the extra money. Julia. Her family were worrying me with how much they were searching, but they’d never find her. Julia is mine now and I am determined to keep it that way.