THE KILLER WATCHED MARK sleeping in the dark place. The little boy had been sleeping constantly. It was getting harder and harder to wake him, and then he wouldn’t eat or drink much when he was awake.
The killer knew that a decision had to be made. The world now knew of the killer’s power and beauty. The newspapers were filled with interviews with the mother and father of Justin Summers, the first murder victim. Justin’s parents wept, and the killer loved their pain. Mark’s parents were subdued, in shock, too numb to show much emotion.
I just want the person who kidnapped Mark to know this, said Mrs. Jones in the largest article. Mark is a very special boy. He’s got a mother and a father who love him very much. He’s got a grandmother and two aunts. His nanny, Sarah, loves him like a son. He’s just a little boy. Please give Mark back to us.
The killer looked at the sleeping boy, dirty, smudged with dust from the dark room. His face was stained with juice and food. The killer sat in the dark and thought about the future, the ceremony. The killer left the dark place, filled a bucket with warm, soapy water, grabbed a hand towel from the bathroom, and went back inside to clean Mark. The killer was gentle. Mark didn’t wake as the killer carefully undressed him, removing the filthy Daredevil pajamas. Mark didn’t wake as the killer washed his face and body, his arms and genitals, his legs and feet. Mark didn’t wake as the killer dressed him in a large T-shirt.
The killer took the special knife down from the wall, slid it into the handmade sheath, and looked down at the sleeping boy. The killer picked up Mark Jones and, holding the boy as a parent would hold a child, left that dark place, and went out to finish the ceremony.