Heartbeats And Homicide

Is murder justifiable? What if you're a good person committing these crimes for reasons that are pure? I thought, as I flicked the hypodermic needle, it glistened in the flickering red lights. I need to do this for Jacob, I reminded myself. Taking the place of medicine was thick ivory blood. I let the needle glide across my arm as I tussled a hand through my hair. Just as I did, I pricked the needle into my upper forearm.

I slumped into the wall immediately as I choked down vomit. I could feel the blood pulsing through my veins as I started coughing. Blood splattered on the dimly lit hallway floor. My nails scratched into skin till it bled as I found myself on my knees gripping my throat. I felt unhinged, no longer restricted by emotion.

The next instances were a blur as I found myself inside the very room Lime was working in. Stationed at security.

After months aboard the ship with him, I somehow forgot his name. It was as if he was an animal—something destined to death.

I attempted to remind myself what he looked like without his suit. Did he have brown or red hair? I couldn't recall a single memory. Though I knew him, I'd seen him before—hundreds of times before. Nor could I recall a name. More often than not, we weren't fully suited. So why is it so hard to remember anything about his appearance? As I scanned for any potential weapons he might have. 

I remembered a faint unsettling memory. He was getting kicked by other crew members. His nose was running with a thick trail of blood. I had watched as they smashed his glasses, breaking the lenses. Later that day I had found him sobbing in the stairwell his hands shaking uncontrollably as he tried to fix the lenses. I couldent recall what he had said other then how he couldent afford new ones. He didn't have much. His only living relative was his grandfather.

Sweat dripped down my cheeks and onto my neck. Suddenly my forehead burned. I can't do this, I thought. Voices started whispering into my ears as if there were people around me, all yelling out the same thing "kill him." I tried to step back but the pain in my limbs became unbearable. I can’t do this, I thought. Dread washed over my body. I couldn't move. Suddenly it felt like I had blacked out. Things around me blurred intll there was only darkness's. when I woke up I was standing in the same spot as before. I grinned as I cracked my neck. Who cares if I kill him? It’s not like anyone would care. 

Lime stood with his back turned to me. He has yet to know the grave danger he will be put in. I could feel it in my throat, a stinging feeling like none other. Just as I did, I felt a sharp lurch in my stomach. I gripped the knife in my hands and gently stroked the metal blade.

I stepped forward into the light; no longer was I hidden behind shadows. Lime whipped around. His helmet on a reflective visor obscures his face.

Just as he did, I jolted forward, stabbing the knife into his stomach. As I pulled the blade out, blood splattered across the security console. I watched as he fell back, smashing the protective glass over his face into a table. I kneeled over him, pushing the now-bloody knife into his neck. The thick air was stiffening with the undeniable smell of iron. Lime's breath was heavy as he gagged helplessly. His hands attempted to push me off him."Please don't. I need to help my grandpa—he's really sick." Lime whined; I lifted the knife into the air before slashing it into his body. Killing him.