Collected Kill: Volume 1 Read Free

treatment.  You were so good,” she pleaded.
    James knew she would be disappointed to learn that he wasn’t responsible for the vaginal tongue-lashing previously, but he knelt just the same and started lapping away.
    “Oh yeah, baby, give it to me good!”
    James lapped harder.
    “And say hello to the kids while you’re down there.”
    Before it registered, a tiny head poked out of her vaginal lips.  James almost licked it, before he pulled away and screamed.
    As he stared, several more tiny heads poked through the darkness, their tongues flitting toward James.
    “They’re almost ready to come out now.  They hatched last week. Isn’t it wonderful?”
    James stared in disbelief.  The only thought that went through his head other than fleeing was that he needed a drink.  A light  drink.

BETHLEHEM: 9 MONTHS B.C.

    Little Solomon looked across the field full of tiny lights glowing in the twilight.  Lightning bugs drifted in the wind, signaling in flight.  In the distance, he saw Jonas smiling and waving.
    “Come here, Solomon.  I have something to show you.”
    Solomon stopped petting the tiny mouse he had found in a rotted limb which had fallen during the last storm.  He placed the mouse back into its burrow and met Jonas at the center of the field.
    Jonas slipped off his sandals and motioned for Solomon to follow him.  They ran, chasing fireflies, laughing and dancing to the sound of the wind through the trees.
    After tiring they sat next to a large rock in the tall grass and stared at the darkening sky.
    “Do you want to see something neat?” Jonas asked.
    Solomon shook his head, noticing the palm of Jonas’ hand illuminated by a single firefly.  The insect climbed atop Jonas’ knuckle, preparing to take flight until Jonas cupped his other hand over its body.
    “Let it go,” Solomon said.
    A dark glare washed over Jonas’ face as he pinched the bug between his thumb and index finger.  A white bead of liquid bubbled from behind the insect’s wing.
    “You’re killing it,” Solomon yelled, “Stop it!”
    “No,” Jonas returned.
    Solomon grabbed at his palm as Jonas squeezed harder.
    “Watch,” Jonas said as he raked the bug’s body over the face of the rock.  A trail of yellow light fell behind the insect’s deteriorating body.  Jonas hooked the illuminated trail until a “J” appeared on the rock.
    “Only four more to complete my name.”
    Little Solomon felt like smacking Jonas, but instead turned and walked away.
    Suddenly the wind gusted and howled and Jonas screamed.
    Solomon whirled to see Jonas’ feet taken out from under him as his body was lifted into the air.  Solomon focused on the expression of fear on Jonas’ face.  His thin, wiry body rose then suddenly stopped.  His head snapped back.  His eyes bulged from some unseen force of pressure  
    The invisible force lowered him, scraping his head across the earth next to the rock.  Face down, Jonas’ neck went limp, his mouth gaped until streaks of blood and brains steadily spewed atop the grass, like permanent ink from a marker.  The trail of blood twisted and looped until it spelled something.
    Solomon watched as Jonas’ lifeless body was then discarded into the tall grass as the wind settled to a slight breeze.
    Solomon looked to the sky, but saw nothing but moon and stars.

    *   *   *   *   *   *

    A little boy looked down at Solomon from beyond the clouds as a booming voice suddenly interrupted his amusement.
    “Are you playing with humans again?”
    The boy tucked his chin against his chest and shied away from the unseen voice overhead.
    “What did I tell you about that?”
    The boy looked up, cringing.  “I’m sorry, Father.  It won’t happen again.”
    “How would you like it if I sent you down there as one of them?”
    The little boy’s eyes widened as he lowered his head.  “Oh no, Father.  I wouldn’t.”
    The voice returned, echoing around him.  “Next time you disobey me, Jesus, I’m