Hell’s Kitchen by Carolyn Eichhorn

Imperceptible recitation by Blossom-Lullabies on DeviantArt.com

Anise, black peppercorns, cinnamon, dill.

Beth whispered as her dirty fingers nudged the bottles wedged in the narrow cabinet.

Extract of … something.

Tears salted her lips.

Allspice, basil, coriander, fennel, foxglove, garlic, hellebore.

“Elizabeth, bring me those spices!” Her stepmother’s voice stabbed at her from the kitchen above. Beth bit her lip, glancing at her brothers confined to the dank cellar. “This stew won’t season itself!”

Arsenic, bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, ginger, hemlock, mustard, oleander, thyme, turmeric.

“Now, you useless stupid girl!”

Cyanide, strychnine.

Beth clutched six vials at random and trudged up the steps. Now sounded about right.

Whiplash by Sharlenne Rivera-Vélez

Whip by louten on DeviantArt.com

Her whip snapped against his back. “Did you really think I would’ve let you leave with my most prized possession?”

The old man fell on all fours. “Not willingly. The poison—,” he said as he reached for the necklace.

Her whip lashed out, grabbing it before the old man could take it.

She walked closer, “You mean this.“ She held a half-filled vial.

“How?” he said.

“A girl has her ways,” she smiled.

The old man followed her gaze, where a young man bled on the floor.

“Now,” she said as she raised her whip, “Say bye-bye.”

Rapid Descent by The Despot

.sniper wolf by ml-11mk on DeviantArt.com

Menendez’s head vaporized in a pink puff.

Just like the movies, thought Trio, shouldering her .300 Winchester Magnum. She crossed the Parque Central Tower roof, grabbed the zipline handles, and launched off the ledge.

Ten yards from Banco Mercantil, the line pinged like a guitar string. Her peripherals caught the shooter, two roofs over, ducking out. The cartel wrapping up loose ends.

Then she was plummeting, glass windows flashing by – fortieth floor, thirtieth, twentieth.

Trio contemplated a death-defying acrobatic feat, crashing through mirrored glass in slow motion, landing ninja-style. Alas, this was no movie. She painted the sidewalk red.

Fun and Games by Jeanelle Nicole Driver

With gun loaded by fantasmica on DeviantArt.com

She spun the barrel. “Who’s up for a game of Russian Roulette?”

The men before her cowered. Their hope for pleasure evaporating.

“You wouldn’t dare!” the man in red said.

“Oh wouldn’t I?” she purred.

The man shook his head. “I meant something fun, Sweetheart.”

“I know what you meant,” she said. “This is fun!”

The man in red tried to run. “You’re crazy!” he said. “I’m out!”

“What a pity.”

He dropped to the ground clutching his chest.

“Russian Roulette?” the man in blue asked.

“I lied,” she said. “You’re next!”

Random Axe of Kindness by The Despot

Enraged by TheBoyofCheese on DeviantArt.com

Marva ran her rough thumb down the axe blade, blood droplets bulging on the pad. She sucked it clean, then stomped outside, her breath billowing in the brisk air.

Tom stood beside the barn, watching a pig wallow, oblivious. Creeping up, Marva grabbed his scrawny neck with farm-strong hands. He squawked. She slammed him across a stump and swung her axe. His skinny legs jerked. Blood spurted sprinkler-like from his neck. His severed head shot to the ground. One eye stared at Marva, saying betrayal.

“Big thanks, Tom,” said Marva. “Whole family’s coming for Thanksgiving. Couldn’t feed them without you.”

Shot in the Dark by Jeanelle Nicole Driver

Gun Girl II by DanielaUhlig on DeviantArt.com

I checked my makeup in the hall mirror. A girl’s gotta look good, right?
I raised my gun. Months of work came down to this moment.
Two distinct snores came from the bedroom. That slime ball. He knew he was being hunted but still thought of pleasure over purpose.
No matter, what was one more mark?
Revenge was mine.
I slammed the door against the wall.
“Who’s there?”
Two heads popped up in the darkened room.
“Payback, my dear!”
Two shots rang out.
They didn’t even have time to scream.

Perfect!

Sanguine Tango by The Despot

Dance of Death by LuxDani on DeviantArt.com

With razor talons, Demonica caresses her latest lover’s scalp. She overwhelms her mate with mantid reflexes, surgically precise. Like Salome dancing the Seven Veils, she bewitches and butchers, twirling under, around, over her partner, seductive fingers slicing parallel love lines on exposed skin, back, neck, shoulders, thighs. Her partner reaches to grasp her, to crush her seduction, but brutes make clumsy lovers. Her thumb hook, needle fine, snags the nipple. She pirouettes. Her adversary unpeels like a ripe apple, fleshy strips spinning off like streamers, a confetti twirl of scarlet. She loves her lovers fully exposed. Bliss.

 

 

 

Teamwork by Jeanelle Nicole Driver

Knife Kiss by GLeitzke on DeviantArt.com

The dance hall was buzzing. I led the brutes to Maddy, and she took care of the rest.

“She’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

Our current mark laughed.

“Man, she’s way outta your league!”

“You have no idea,” I said.

He pushed past me and brought his fingers to his lips.

I grabbed his shoulders. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“You’re no fun,” he said and whistled.

My lady rushed over, crimson hair streaming. He was dead before he even felt the knife.

“They never listen, do they?”

“Nope.”

Respect Your Elders by The Despot

Old lady by Doctor-Frog on DeviantArt.com

The doorbell rang. Betsy shuffled to the door. As she opened it, rank smoke billowed inward. On her doorstep, a paper bag burned.

“Oh dear.” She stomped on it. The bag burst, smearing her Dr. Scholl’s in dog poo.

Laughter erupted from behind some bushes.

“Darned neighborhood boys,” said Betsy, wiping her shoes with a tea towel.

The next day, the doorbell rang. Betsy shuffled to the door and opened it. An open pit had replaced the doormat. She peered down the hole. Two boys wailed as spears penetrated their intestines.

“Respect your elders, bitches!” said Betsy, closing the trapdoor.

 

Crack Shot by Jeanelle Nicole Driver

gun by ashleykband

“I’m trusting you not to miss,” he said.

He placed the dapper, felt fedora on his head and smiled nervously.

She pulled the hammer back and giggled.

“Don’t be silly, Sam,” she said. “I never miss.

“Whatever you say, Darling,” he said. “This’ll mean big bucks if you get it right.”

She sighted down the barrel and waved away his concerns with a delicate hand.

A shot rang out, and blood seeped from the wound ruining his perfectly starched shirt.

“You missed…”

“I told you I never miss.” she said. “We’re under new management!”