Copyright Shaktiki Sharma
She’s not sure why she’s done this.
Because she could? That convenient mantra inspires most of her transgressions, a glib response that unnerves even the most detached interrogator.
She presses her face into the pillow, inhaling his man-smell, and slides her legs across the cold side of the bed.
Does she wish she hadn’t? Possibly. But only because then there’d still be a treat in store, a prospect to cherish.
She lifts the pillow. Stares down, remembering the good times.
He won’t be hard to replace, she’s sure of that.
Difficult to remove though; maybe a shorter guy next time.
My second murder story in four days – my husband is giving me sidelong glances. I suspect this prompt probably depicts a multi-coloured grasshopper, but I saw a Preying Mantis – that’s the mood I’m in. After a couple of forays enjoying the luxury of 150 words and 200 words, I’m dipping into the stricter 100 word regime of Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers. And it’s tough!
castelsarrasin 
And you made every word count, Sandra
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LOL to the comment about your husband. I would be worried too. At least she didn’t bite his head off. I like how off-handish this sounds.
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All my murderers are super-cool. 🙂
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That is true. 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
I can understand those sidelong glances from your husband. He’d better be nice to you…very, very nice. 😉 Personally, I love where the prompt took you. Your MC is one cold woman. As always, you show the rest of us how it’s done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ll know I’ve gone too far when he employs a food-taster. Till then…. 🙂 Thanks Rochelle.
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She is definitely cold. I feel sorry for her next victim. And your comment on your husband’s sidelong glances! Makes me laugh out loud. Good story and characterisation.
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Thank you Fatima! 🙂
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Looking skeptically at the bathtub, wondering if he’ll fit or if she needs to spread trash bags on the floor, maybe? Nice use of the prompt. The human mantis!
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I don’t know whether it was a Mantis. Just looked like one to me…
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In your world, Sandra, men should be more wary!
Nicely structured story as always, beginning, middle, and a kicker.
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In my world, Kecia, most men are. 😉 Thanks for your comment.
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Hehe, you’re a vixen, Sandra. 🙂
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Thanks for the id on the insect. Thought it was a grasshopper, but they’re green here so it threw me. Love the story. 🙂 ❤
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Ooooh, don’t take my word for it being a Preying Mantis. I’m the girl who lost 20% of the available marks in the Biology GCSE for wrongly identifying a stickleback specimen as an earth-worm. Thanks for reading.
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Grasshopper of some sort. Someone actually id’d it, but that was this morning and it’s slipped my brain at the moment. Listening to a lecture for a Ham radio exam and checking my comments.
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Practical and cold-blooded. Your husband should be nervous. Great writing. 🙂
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Thanks Iain. 🙂
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Good one. Typically if I am on the lookout for a lover i don’t think about things like how easy it would be to dispose of the body… Not the first thing to cross my mind.
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Well women are more organised, you see….
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Besides a Biblical plague, that’s the other interpretation that immediately comes to mind. Yikes.
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Thanks for reading James.
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I love the opening line! Was she at a loose end? Wanted a challenge? Doing a bit of tidying up? The more I think about it, the more it makes me smile!
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It probably just seemed like a good idea at the time. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Grasshopper, praying manits…we’re going to get technical on FF? I think not!
And hubs better be on his best behaviour!
Loved this.
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I’ll tell him what you said, Dale. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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See, size does matter after all. 🙂
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🙂 🙂 Indeed it does.
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Ha! That last line is the perfect end.
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Thanks Esther.
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That story warrants a shiver!
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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That’s the most terrifying motivation – because you can. Horribly real feel inside the mind of a killer, Sandra – so well done
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Thanks Lynn. 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
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Oh, she’s so matter-of-fact. Hopefully she is not too tall herself. Shorter may not be as fun.
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Life’s a compromise. 😉 Thanks for visiting Alicia.
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Practicality was the first word that came to mind when I finished reading this gem. I love how the tone and mood of the story start to paint a picture, just to smack us in the face with the canvas when we get to the end. Very clever.
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Thank you Magaly. I enjoyed your story.
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This was a chilling story, especially with the matter of fact tone throughout.
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Thank you Rommy. 🙂
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Love this one. Dark and delightful. Thank you.
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Thank you!
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she’s not one to cross. most definitely.
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Indeed! 🙂
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Creepy and good!
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Thanks Rosemary!
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Oh my, Sandra. I hope your husband is giving you roses and chocolates. 🙂 Love that ending. It hits just the right spot.
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Thanks Amy. He’s not, but he will, I feel. 😉
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Oh gosh! Well told. I was worried about his head too
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Thanks for reading Laurie.
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Chilling, a real black widow and the only remorse she feels is that the deed is over – for this time. Your last line made me smile 🙂
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I expect you smiled because you’re a taller man? Thanks for reading.
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I smelled manslaughter. Excellently written.
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With undertones of murder, I think. 🙂 Thank you.
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So she ate the head? Great story.
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🙂
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I bet your husband is sleeping with one eye open!
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I’ll have a look under the pillow and see. 😉
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Haha!
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I love the matter of fact way she views things! Very practical!
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Years of experience have instilled practicality I think. 🙂
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Because she could… what a chilling reason… and the only reason for waiting is to build up anticipation… so cold blooded… but I guess you might get addicted to that.
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Thanks for reading, Bjorn.
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ah, love the linet: shorter man next time. lovely little serial killer?
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I think she has plans for a repeat performance, Sascha. 🙂
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…My suspicions of the opposite sex are finally confirmed! A great, macabre little story.
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Thank you, Martin. 🙂
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I’m 6′ tall so I should be safe! Excellent tale.
My story is called ‘THE DETECTIVE’
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I didn’t say how tall she was, Keith. 😉
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Sounds like an episode of Criminal Minds! What’s going on deep in her subconscious?
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Something we probably don’t want to know about…
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As long as your murderous mood stays on paper your husband needn’t worry. Great story.
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He’s safe,.. for now.
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Lol, my fiction has occasionally earned me those looks from my spouse too. Love the voice in this one. It was even more delightful on the second read through.
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🙂 They know we’re only joking. As yet…
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Whew, that takes me off her list. It would be a real job to move my carcass.
I guess you could have also titled this “MoreThan One Grasshopper in the Meadow.”
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🙂 Thank you Russell.
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Urk! Such a matter of fact tone in here. Maybe invest in a compactor/composter for the next time. Nice one.
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I love a practical response. 🙂
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I like how you got into the mind of a serial killer and made it look almost acceptable.
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My husband doesn’t though. 😉 Thanks for visiting.
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She’s deliciously cold and evil, I fear for the next ones
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I love it. It’s scary how cold and matter of fact she is, but you told it in such a darkly humourous way that it makes me grin despite the shiver.
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You’ve depicted a very cool killer; and in 100 words. Bravo!
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Very noir. The femme fatale with a murderous streak. I love where this prompt has taken you. Excellent writing.
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Word count doesn’t seem to matter when it comes to you, Sandra, you spin your web so well! But yes, I’m glad a “pond” divides us; you send chills down my spine. 😉
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I was sad for her until the end. Well done.
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