All An Act

        "I knew it was you all along," I said to the pale, white faced man on his knees. "I

knew it was you who would betray me; you who would take pride in watching me fail."

        The man swallowed hard, and a trickle of perspiration ran down the side of his cheek

and landed upon his trembling lips.

        "Well, son, you should know by now that I am not one to fail, nor do I fear failure.

On the contrary, I look fear in the eyes, and it runs from my glare," I said. I chuckled. A

chuckle that I have chuckled many times before. A chuckle that sent chills down one's

spine, and brought goose bumps to the skin.

        "So," I said, "what should I do with you?" I looked the man straight in the eye.

        "S-sir, p-please. I b-beg of you! P-p-please let me go!" pleaded the man, his big,

round puppy-dog eyes staring right back at me.

        "But what fun would that be? Oh no, no. I can't let you go." I brought my hand to my

hip and grasped a handle. I pulled the sword out of the scabbard and held it up so it

glistened in the bright light.

        The man in front of me began to breathe deeply. "A s-s-sword? W-what on Earth are

y-you going to d-do with a s-s-sword?"

        I smiled. "I'm going to have a little bit of fun."

        "S-sir! Please! I'll d-do anything! Anything! Please! I'll do anything!"

        "Anything?" I asked, even though I heard the sincerity in his voice, and even though

I couldn't care less.

        He nodded very slowly, causing his auburn ringlets to fall into his dark, round eyes.

        "Well, son, you should have thought of that before."

        I gave him one last conniving smirk, and, with no guilt at all, quickly pushed the

blade into the chest of the nervous man. I pulled the sword out, and a dark, crimson

substance dripped off the tip and onto the floor, making a small tap as soon as it had

reached its destination.

        I brought the sword to my lips and slowly stuck out my long tongue and curled it

around the tip of the blade.

        "Yum," I said as I smiled. I continued licking the blade until all the juice had

been consumed and sat inside my stomach.

        "Needs a little salt though," I said as I laughed to myself.

        The red curtains fell, applause broke out, and I could still taste the watery

ketchup.