I awoke to the tinkling laughter of my younger sister. She was outside my window playing with the lambs again. She is simply infatuated with the animals at our farm. Mother yells at her from out the window. I think Mary should be allowed to play. God knows when she gets older she won’t be able to. I dress myself and pull on my boots. I slept late. I was supposed to milk the cows. Mother will be furious with me. I prepare myself for a good scolding and when I get to the kitchen, I sheepishly apologize. She gives me a swift smack and throws some money at me.
“If you can’t be bothered to do your chores, then you will prepare supper tonight. Go into town and fetch what you need. Jack will be here.” Jack is courting my older sister Winifred. We all hope he will propose soon. He is fairly wealthy and is kind to Mary and I. Winnifred is Mother’s favorite. She knows it and I know it. Winnifred is the eldest and has a bountiful marriage in sight, one that will do the family well. Mother is always complaining that I haven’t caught eye of anyone yet. It’s not my fault. I would like nothing more than to have a nice husband, I’m just not very attractive. With my luck, I’ll end up an old maid.
I grab a bit of bread for the walk and head towards the market. Even though we have our own crops and livestock, there is this woman who makes the most splendid pastries and I want to buy some for tonight. After I purchase them, I have a little bit of money left over. I pocket it. It’s not like I’m buying frivolous things, but if I don’t wed soon, I will need money of my own. I tuck it into the secret pouch I sewed on the inside of my dress. I walk back to my cottage, enjoying the sunlight.
When I get back to my home, I traipse around our garden a little. If I see a crop that I want to use for later, I grab it. Mostly though, I’m enjoying one of our last summer days. Soon, the chill of winter will be upon us, and that’s always the most difficult time of year for us. Our food doesn’t grow in the winter, so on Harvest Month, we gather everything we have. We submerge the meat of our fragile animals in salt so that they will be preserved. Mary hates this, I can hear her shaking sobs through my wall. Sometimes Mother will come in and yell at her for getting too attached. My father died seven years ago, Mary was too little too remember. It turned Mother harsh and cold. I know she cares for us, but it still stings how distant she is. Especially for Mary, she doesn’t remember how Mother used to be. I best not dwell on it. That’s one thing I do agree with her on- obsessing over memories just makes them hurt more.
At dinner, everyone reluctantly glances at me. They are afraid I’m going to serve them some horrible concoction that they will end up pretending to enjoy. To be fair, I haven’t created the best dishes in the past. There was one incident when I burned the cake, and I have replaced sugar with sea salt in the past, but that’s all behind us now.  Now to think about it, I haven’t always been the best at cleaning the meat before I cook it, but I was sure to be thorough this time. I made some lamb chops and potatoes. I guess I shouldn’t have told Mary what we were eating though, because she ran out of the room crying.
“Mary, get back here! If you ever want to make it in this world, you are going to need to toughen up!” Mother said. I felt awful. I should have thought about what I was saying. Poor girl. She was so kind, so gentle. I really did worry about her. What was to come of her when she aged? She was getting older. When I was her age, I was already snapping chicken’s necks. A large part of me wanted to run after her, but I had made dinner and it was my responsibility to serve it. I could apologize later.
“I am truly sorry about that, but I still think we have a lovely meal.” I said, trying to stay positive. Jack smiled at me and put his arm around Winifred’s shoulder. Mother glared at him, disapproving of his table manners.
“I am sure that whatever you made it is scrumptious. And boy, am I starving, I could eat your whole farm!” he joked. “Even the fence!” No one laughed, they just stared.
Jack’s reassurance made me feel more confident. I plated everything up and served it. I watched for their reactions before finally sitting down myself. There were no obvious signs of dislike, it was all going smoothly. I took a bite myself.
“Hey, this isn’t half bad!” I exclaimed. Everyone just kind of stared at me, Jack chuckled. My cheeks turned pink as I quietly thought of how embarrassing that was. I didn’t say any noise for a moment, not wanting to draw anymore attention to myself. The room was silent until Jack cleared his throat. 
“I had hoped Mary would be here when I did this, but I think it will work all the same. Winifred, your beauty and kindness has proven strong, time and time again. With this lovely meal that your sister made, with your family around us, will you be my bride?” he asked. He kneeled and pulled out a ring. Winifred gasped.
“Why, of course I will! You are a good man, a strong man, I will not pass up this offer! We shall be wed in five days time!” she proclaimed.
Mother frowned. “I am ecstatic about your engagement Winifred, no one is more pleased than I, but don’t you think that’s a little soon?” she questioned.
“Nonsense. It doesn’t have to be a large event, we shall go down to the church and have our own private arrangement. You all can come with your own partners, and Jack’s family will be there, but it won’t be anything garish. I can borrow your dress, Mother.”
Mother soured at the reminder of her own wedding day, but said nothing.  Winifred whispered something to Jack and he brushed away her hair. Mother looked positively rancorous. It was the cavalier way Winifred mentioned her dress, a token she never looked at anymore, an idol of our departed father she avoided best she could. Still, I was pleased about their engagement. It would be like I had a brother, I have always thought about him that way anyway. Mary is too delicate to talk to about most things and Winifred couldn’t care less about me. Jack could be someone I could actually have conversations with. Well, he probably thinks I’m just a stupid girl anyway.
Mother has been tormenting me about how I can’t get a date for the wedding. She has brought home three different men in hopes I would catch one’s eye. The first one was alright. He seemed a little pretentious and was pretty old. He must have been at least five or ten years my senior. Still, at least he was fairly polite. The second man kept staring at my chest. The third man just plain old didn’t like me. Either I really repulsed him or he just smelled something awful because he was making a face the entire night. I can say without a doubt in my mind that the best part of his night was when he finally left. All I have to say is that I reciprocate his feelings wholeheartedly. I don’t think I will ever find a suitable husband. Perhaps I can purchase a cat.
Thursday morning, I had to go back to the market. It was a crisp day, but all I needed was a sweater. I was just strolling along when I saw the most attractive man I have ever seen. His skin was summer kissed, his hair a rippling breeze. His eyes were pits I would willingly fall into. There was something different about him. I assumed he had recently acquired residence here, I would have certainly noticed him otherwise. He turned and we made eye contact. He smiled at me. I awkwardly waved an arm at him. After that, he had a funny expression on his face and turned away. Oh, Jesus! What if he wasn’t smiling at me? I glanced behind me but no one was there. Well, was there something on my face? Or did something gastly happen to my hair? Maybe he thought I was just pathetic in general. No matter what the cause, I made an awful fool of myself. I left in a storm of confusion and ended up forgetting half of the things I was supposed to purchase. This time, I got a whack with a broom for it.
A terrible thing has occurred. This is catastrophic, I could never have foreseen this. The man I met at the market, the very same that noticed some obvious, horrid flaw of mine within the two seconds of seeing me, the man that I humiliated myself in front of the moment I saw him, is coming to my house. Turns out he did move here and Mother saw opportunity where I saw shame. She invited him for dinner tonight. If he found something so humorous or absurd with me in under thirty seconds, who knows what mortifying incident will take place this evening. Well, no matter how monstrous he finds my face, I shall still do my best to look nice this evening. I owe it to Mother. She may do things that I strongly dislike, but she always has honorable intentions which is what counts. I put on my nicest frock and framed my hair around myself the way Mary likes. She tells me that I look like a princess. I do not mask my face with powder or rouge like Mother suggests. I don’t care if I’m not as good-looking as the other girls are, I refuse to hide something I’m not ashamed of.
Dinner is just as I expected it to be- uncomfortable. The man’s name is Delbert. Though I’ve never heard it before, it feels natural, familiar on my tongue. We eat in silence for a while. I can see him out of the corner of my eye. He stares at me. I feel self conscious eating. I glance up at him a few times, but I don’t like maintaining eye contact for very long. It feels too intrusive, like he can see inside my thoughts. I’ve been cooking most of the dinners lately so that I can make sure Mary doesn’t get upset again. It’s difficult because most of our food comes from our farm animals. Still, it’s worth it to see her eat. Mary is actually the first one to speak.
“Why are you here?” she asked. She looked wary. Delbert turned his focus to her and for some reason, I immediately noticed how tiny Mary is. Delbert chortled.
“Well, because your mother invited me, of course! I’m new here, so it’s nice to meet other residents of this area. Your mother is a generous woman to serve me.”
“Actually, it was Annie here that made the meal. She’s quite the cook, is she not?” my mother told him.
“Annie.” The sound of my name on his foreign tongue gave me shivers, neither pleasant nor uncomfortable.
“This is truly wonderful, an excellent meal from an excellent lady. Superior cooking is a                                                  skill I look for in a wife.” Delbert winked at me.
The way he spoke, the way he casually reference marriage, the sly wink at the end, it all seemed very derived. Planned. Natural, yet unnatural. Calculated perfection. All the same, the thought of this beautiful human being my husband was intriguing. Based on his clothes, he did well for himself, so I could finally make my mother proud. And I had to admit it, I was drawn to him. I was unsure of whether or not he recognized me. I decided not to bring it up. If he did forget the whole scenario, I didn’t want to remind him.
After dinner, Delbert invited me to the porch. I agreed, curious to what he had to say. We seated ourselves outside and he focused his eyes on me again.
“I wish you would cease staring at me. It’s a tad alarming.” I boldly stated. Delbert just laughed at me again. I didn’t like this.
“Ever since I first saw you, you have been disrespectful. You keep smirking or laughing or staring at me and it is downright uncomfortable. You saw me at the market and made some odd expression which meant God knows what, and you are still treating me awfully now. I am not a joke for your amusement, I am not a stupid thing you can make fun of. I am a person. You pretend to enjoy my company just so you can taunt me when I believe you. This ends now. Good night.” I shouted at him. I would not put up with this ridicule. It didn’t matter if he didn’t say anything directly offensive, he insulted me and I would not stand for it. I briskly got up and walked towards the door when Delbert grabbed my arm.
“I do not make fun of you. I just find your nervous attitude endearing. Why, you act as if I’m a predator about to snatch you up. It’s quite charming, really. And I just stare because your beauty is one the other girls couldn’t dream of possessing. It is natural, organic, like a river. I haven’t been pretending to enjoy your company, I really do like being around you. You have a wonderful presence.” he said.
I had before been hurt, I believed he was mocking me. Now though, I didn’t know what to believe. Sure, was Delbert a bit unnerving, yes. But we all have something. My instincts told me not to trust this man, especially since he was saying such sugar sweet things. What was it that Aesop said? Something like, “Beware flatterers.” What did Delbert even want, if he wished to court me? What could he possibly get out of this relationship? I was neither wealthy, graceful, intelligent, nor comely. And Delbert was . . . all of those things. But maybe, just maybe, he was being honest. Maybe he really considered me wife material. That would be quite lovely. Perhaps I was being a little cynical. I should give Delbert a chance, I think he really would be quite a suitable husband. He was being so nice! I assumed the worst in him, I let my imagination run amuck, that’s all. He was clearly trying, that counted for a lot with me. I was overthinking all of this. I need to just enjoy this, forget stupid theories. I should just see where this goes, throw caution to the wind!
“Please forgive my language and my tone. It was most unnecessary. I think you are a simply fascinating person and would like to get to know you more. My sister has a wedding in a few days. Do you wish to accompany me?” I asked. I was surprised at my audacious attitude! To my utter delight, he agreed. We bid adieu and I was simply ecstatic that night.
It was the morning of Winifred’s wedding. She was running around like a chicken without a head. She was convinced that she had some blemish on her face. My sister was a sea of complaints. First her dress was too loose, then it was too tight. Her hair had to be exactly perfect. I wish I was related to Jack, not her. Even though we certainly don’t come from money, she acts so darn spoiled. All the same, I’ve been an angel to her since she is getting married. I have my own thing to worry about- Delbert. I want to look best I can. I wish I had a really great dress for this, but I just have the same mildly attractive, slightly ill-fitting outfits I’ve had for a few years. Winifred had a beautiful wedding gown and I just had an ugly black pinafore over a cotton blouse. I didn’t have many formal clothes. Speaking of Winifred’s dress, Mother was not in the most charitable mood. I did my very best to avoid her because even a wrong glance could earn you a swat and her berating you with aggressive comments. I was about to start painting my face since it was a wedding, but then I remembered how Delbert thought I looked nice natural, and I halted.
The ceremony was pretty banal, our priest uttering meaningless words in a monotone. The only thing that kept me going was the promise of a dance with Delbert at the celebration later. Winifred was loving it for the entire time, she was smiling as if she was a marionette, like someone was pulling strings on the corners of her lips. I couldn’t possibly imagine why Jack would marry her. The amount of this wedding was not as cheap as she promised and we could just barely afford it. Since the father of the bride isn’t around, it was left up to Mother and I to gather up anything we could find. Winifred was just plain selfish and it bothered me to the highest degree. Didn’t Jack realize he’d be stuck with her forever? I guess that’s his problem.
Just as I imagined, Delbert approached me at the reception.
“Care to dance?” he offered and he put one hand on my waist, the other met my own. He smelled like pine, a clean smell, not clogged with perfume or cologne. His skin looked considerably paler than it had before. Why, he had been downright tan just a few days ago! Perhaps he caught some sort of illness. I hoped that if he did, it would be neither fatal nor contagious. Apart from the fear of becoming ill, the dance was nice. It was pleasant, I could see myself marrying this man. I remind myself not to count my chickens before they are hatched, another word of wisdom Aesop taught me. We danced for a while. Time just seemed so trivial, what was important wasn’t how long we danced, it was my thoughts and the moments we shared. It could have been two seconds or two years, it didn’t really matter. I was drunk with the idea of someone truly loving me, especially someone as perfect as Delbert. It wasn’t until I heard the announcement that the dinner would be served that I really came to my senses. I was hungrier than I thought, so I gobbled it up. It was delicious, although I regretted eating it later for fear that I was acting uncouth in front of my gentleman caller.
After the cake, people exchanged goodbyes and went on their merry little ways. Winifred and Jack headed down to a cottage he had purchased for the two of them. Mary was asleep in Mother’s arms, and I think deep down, Mother secretly enjoyed doing affectionate things. Delbert kissed my hand and promised to make arrangements between us in the future. I was gleeful at the prospect. As soon as I arrived home, I rested my head on my pillow and drifted off to sleep.
I had been seeing Delbert for about a month after the wedding. He still frightened me at times, and he still had a bit of an odd energy about him, but he was really kind. He said all of these nice things to me that made me feel special and wanted. It was a Sunday afternoon when he came to my house and invited me for a walk. I wasn’t surprised. He had unexpectedly visited me before.
“If you are busy, I can come back, but I was wondering if you would like to take a walk through the woods with me.” Delbert asked.
“I would love to.” I responded. I retrieved my coat and stepped out with him. It was bitter outside, I really did hate the cold. Delbert didn’t seem to be affected by it, though. I noticed again, he changed like the weather. He used to be golden all over, sun drenched. Now he looked as if snow and ice had coated every part of his body. His hair was white blond, skin alabaster. He was still stunningly beautiful, just lighter. We had gone pretty deep into the woods, and he hadn’t said a thing.
“You didn’t drag me here to kill me, did you?” I said in a futile attempt at humor. Delbert just sort of stared at me, not saying anything. Then he grinned. He slowly got down on one knee. I froze. Was this what I thought it was? Of course not. But what if . . .?
“Annie, you are amusing and one of a kind. I normally dislike women. I didn’t mean it that way, it’s just that there are many generic women who are just clichés of the damsel in distress. You are unique and I wish for you to be not just my wife, but my partner. I may be a little distant at times, but I feel as if we were to be wed, I could be more open with you. Will you marry me?” Delbert proposed.
I was bursting with all sorts of emotions I didn’t even know I had. If I had any doubts about Delbert before, they were immediately erased with his heartfelt speech. I would be a bride! Me, Annie Sutton, a bride! Couldn’t you picture it? I was rapturous at this offer!
“Why, of course I will, Delbert! Absolutely!” I said immediately. I wrapped my arms around him, not caring how unladylike it may have seemed. He was taken by surprise at my gesture, but awkwardly patted my back. I couldn’t wait to run home and tell Mother.
As I had foreseen, Mother was overjoyed at my news.
“A husband! You have found a husband! My dear girl, I was worried about you! Thank the lord! And not just any husband, a kind one, an affluent one, a handsome one! You have arguably the most suitable husband for miles and miles around! My darling girl, you will be wed!” Mother pulled me into an embrace. I could even see tears running down her face. It was in moments like these that proved how much she cared for us. Mary was bouncing up and down too, shouting.
“You’re going to have a wedding! You will look like a perfect princess, you’re going to be so pretty!” she excitedly yelped.
It was clear the difference in enthusiasm from when Winifred was engaged to when I was. I think it was because Mother always knew Winifred was going to get married. With her fair looks, she was greatly admired. With me though, nobody had ever really shown any interest, and me staying at the farm my entire life was a plausible outcome. Even though Delbert was seeing me, he may not have had honorable intentions. He also could have gotten sick of me, my “charming” attitude easily migrates towards obnoxious. So, when an opportunity for me to be permanently in a relationship and to have someone to take care of me arose, it meant Mother wouldn’t have to worry about me anymore. And Mary was more excited than she was for Winifred just because I was nicer to her. Winifred didn’t really pay attention to or care about Mary. She hadn’t visited us once since the wedding. I realized that I would have to confer with Delbert on the dates. I decided that I would not have a wedding as extravagant as Winifred’s. It would be intimate and inexpensive.
We decided on a wedding in nine days. Mother offered me her dress.
“That’s alright.” I told her. “I think I would like to make my own.” I knew that it would upset her and saw no reason for introducing unnecessary pain. Plus, I did enjoy sewing and it would give me a sense of accomplishment. I finished it just in time. In the days leading up to the wedding, it wasn’t as hectic as I thought. I was just ardent about the event.
On the day of my wedding, I had a sugar bun for breakfast. I figured that I deserved something sweet based on the occasion. The dress I had made was actually quite beautiful, I suppose that was one thing I was good at. Mother came into my room carrying small metal pots.
“Now I know you aren’t a fan of any sort of maquillage, but-” I cut my mother off.
“ I know that you mean the best by this, but all makeup does is show that I have something that needs to be fixed. Delbert fell in love with my naturality, he doesn’t care that I am not unblemished, that I’m not perfect. To me, showing your true self is honesty which makes hiding it lying. I am not a liar and I certainly won’t become one on my wedding day. No, thank you.” I said indignantly.
Mother came closer, put her hand on my shoulder, and said, “I love you.” She then turned and walked away. It was the first time she had said that since Father had died. It meant a lot to me, especially today.
For once in my life, Winifred and I had something in common. I enjoyed the ceremony just as much as she did. I was surrounded by family and friends, solidifying a bond between Delbert and I. Nothing was more perfect.
We decided not to do vows, we already knew what we thought of each other. When the time came to say “I do,” I looked deep into his eyes. It had been awhile since I had really stared into them. I remember how I was scared of them before.  I thought he could see my thoughts. Now I didn’t really mind if he did. They were very dark, almost black, but still very beautiful. I heard his deep, warm voice pledging to love me forever. I made my promise as well and in that moment, I knew we were tied together until the day we died.
The bride and groom dance brought back memories of when we started seeing each other. It represented a full circle, and was really wonderful. I was now a Mrs. I had a husband. I was married. I could not believe it! This was really wonderful!
After we danced, we had cake. I decided on a simple yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Was it a tad unorthodox? Yes. But I had actually made it myself and I thought it was much tastier than my alternative options would be. It was also less expensive than buying a fancy white cake. Winifred scorned at my gown and cake. She thought all of it was awful. I didn’t care. My wedding was still better than hers. Mary loved the cake, and she gave me a wedding gift. She had seen me sew and gave it a try herself. She made a little lamb toy. Mary is just the sweetest girl, she was so cute when she gave it to me. I will treasure it. I also got a nice knife, the sturdy kind you can use for many things. Winifred didn’t give me anything. I was perfectly fine with that. She had bad taste anyway.
Delbert had his own home, so I had my possessions brought there. We lived there happily for many months, but Delbert seemed apprehensive. I waited, gave him time to share why he was treating me so differently, so delicately. The truth never came out, but I continued living as normal. One day though, I found something horrid in one of our cabinets.
I had starting cooking Delbert supper, he was still at work. I was making pork chops and they were roasting quite nicely. Delbert’s behavior had gotten considerably worse. He wasn't being aggressive or anything of that sort, but had grown distant. One of the reasons I married him was because he promised to be more open about his thoughts and feelings, but he hasn't been true to his word. Even more strange, he had a cabinet he kept locked. He never mentioned it, never said anything, so I didn't make a fuss about it. I wasn't a nosy person, everyone was entitled their privacy. However on that day, I felt I needed to know.
I spent about an hour searching for the key without results. But eventually I found a small silver one that fit into the hole. When I opened, I found something terrible. It was several jars of teeth, all labeled with names. Next to each jar was a small vial of dark, clotted liquid which I could assume with very little doubt was blood. I blanched, frozen to the spot. It was all so organized. These vile items with such carefully written labels, if it wasn't so atrocious I’d find it humorous. At that moment, I heard the door open. I didn't move. He came in. He gasped. I still didn't move. He approached me and I kept still. He breathed in, about to say something when I stopped him.
“What have you done? How did you get these?” I whispered in a quiet yet strong voice.
“Honey I can explain-”
“Don't you 'honey’ me!” I interrupted. Delbert sighed.
“Fine. Listen. I know what you are thinking. But it’s not as sinister as it looks. My friends, they were unforgiving. If someone disrespected them, they would not stand for it. They wanted tokens of their . . . deeds, but they were concerned about the authorities. I took no part in the deaths, but I was aware of what they did. I stored their, souvenirs, if you will. I still have them now because I don't know how to get rid of them. Those people were the whole reason I moved here. It was just to get away from them. I am sorry that I haven't told you. My past is a little tainted, and there is nothing I can do to fix that. But I should have trusted you, I'm sorry.”
The news hit me like a ton of bricks. How could I be with a man who stood by while countless people were brutally murdered. Each of those jars represented a person with lives and a family. I thought of all the little girls hearing that their mother or father was dead. I thought about how I felt when I discovered that I would never see Father’s smile again, that he was gone forever. This man I promised to stand by through and through had allowed so much violence to occur. It was just plain wrong. I didn't think I could stand for it. But what other options did I have. I married him. I promised. There were no other choices, there were no Plan B's. There was nothing else I could do. I would continue to be married to this man. I would be married to him, but I would no longer respect him, and I don't think I could ever love him again.
I felt dead inside for the past few weeks since I had seen that cabinet. Food repulsed me. Delbert repulsed me. I stayed in the bathroom, sleeping in the bathtub so I could avoid him. I only went out to eat a minimal amount of food. I didn't know how Delbert bathed or used the toilet, but it wasn’t in the one I was in. He begged, pleaded, knocked on the door. He wanted forgiveness. I will never forgive him until the day I die. I knew that eventually, I would have to emerge from my haven but  I wasn’t ready yet. I needed more time without him near me.
It was a Sunday morning and Delbert was knocking on the door again. I didn’t say anything.
“Listen, I know you abhor me, and that is perfectly fine, but this is Winifred. It’s really urgent, trust me, you need to talk to her, she sounds frantic.” he told me.
Winifred coming here to talk to me? She never wanted to talk to me, it was strange. I thought Delbert may have been tricking me, but I couldn’t take a chance. Something important could have been happening. I opened the bathroom door and saw his eyes. I remembered when he came over for dinner. I was scared of him. He was frightening and his eyes were alarming. I should have trusted my instincts. I was filled to the brim with pure hatred. I walked to the front door and saw her standing there. Winifred wore mascara and it was running down her face making black streaks.
“Mary, she, she, she . . .”  Winifred collapsed into a sobbing mess. I slapped her face.
“Pull it together, Winifred! What happened to Mary? Is she ok?” I asked her frantically.
“Dead! Mary died! She’s gone! Someone killed her, they stabbed her! Who would do that? She never hurt nobody!” Winifred shouted at me, sniffling.
“What are you talking about, Winifred? She can’t be dead! That’s crazy! Mary is not dead!” I said trying to convince myself more than anyone else. Winifred gasped, trying to get air.
“Yes she is! Someone stabbed her in her chest! Mother was staying at Muriel’s house last night, I was the one who found her this morning. The worst part is that they, they, they, they took her . . . her teeth!” Winifred choked out. She looked deranged, unhinged. I retched.
After I had stopped being sick, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Delbert. I pounded my fists furiously against his chest and pelted him with everything in sight. Vases, plates, silverware, lamps, anything.
“You,” smash “evil,” clunk “wicked,”crack “spiteful,” boom “bastard!” I screamed at him. There was a cut on his forehead from where something landed.
“How could you? How you could you do this?” I asked incredulously. Delbert backed away slowly with his hands in the air.
“Annie, this wasn’t me! I could never do something so terrible! How can you even think I killed your sister?”
I laughed. “Let’s take a little looksy, shall we?” I said sarcastically. “Then you will see why.”  I walked over to the cabinet. Just as I expected, there was a jar and a vial, both labeled ‘Mary’ in that same neat handwriting. I threw both at Delbert’s head and they shattered. His face was bloodied from Mary and from the wounds I gave him. Some of her teeth were caught in his hair, the others surrounded him on the floor. He no longer looked like the beautiful, perfect man I had gotten used to. His appearance now reflected who he really was inside- a despicable cutthroat.
“What do you have to say now? You didn’t kill her, huh? Just like you didn’t kill any of these people. Just “friends” of yours did. Don’t lie to me, Delbert. Not only have you slaughtered all of these people, you hurt Mary! She was a little girl! A sensitive one, a kind one! And she was nothing but pleasant to you! Why, I don’t think she has done anything intentionally nasty to anyone in her whole life? Do you enjoy killing me? Because everything that you have done is worse than if you had just slit my throat. Why even marry me if you hated me so much? Just so you could torture me? You are not even man, you are pure monster.” I hissed.
Delbert knelt to the ground. Tears leaked from his eyes mixing with the blood.
“Please . . .”  he begged. I turned around, loathing his pathetic face. I grabbed Winifred who was weeping in the corner and stormed out.
“Go home. Comfort Mother.” I instructed. I ran to the edge of the woods to Jack’s shed. I grabbed a rifle. I walked back to Delbert’s home with it over my shoulder, head held high. Delbert was still on the ground where I left him.
“Look at me.” I demanded. I stared at him dead in the abyss of his eyes when I fired the shot. It went off with a bang and hit its mark. I was a superior shooter, a skill I acquired from Father. When I was done, I walked over to Delbert and watched the life drain from his eyes in satisfaction. I stood there until the authorities came. I pleaded guilty, though I feel no remorse for what I’ve done. I didn’t kill a person, I slayed a demon. I am proud of what I did, it was what was necessary. And I don’t have to live knowing that precious Mary’s death was not avenged.