Woke Up This Morning

Enkai smirked.

“What makes a person snap? There are many reasons. I have one. A sad tale, if you will.” He twirled around.

“My sister was my favorite person. I idolized her. My mother… well, she favored her over me. I wasn’t mad. I mean, I didn’t blame her. Ayame. I wanted to be her.” His eyes looked bright for a second, but then they dimmed.

“But?” Vince asked. Enkai shook his head.

“Perceptive, aren’t you?” He sighed.

“Yes. My beloved sister fell in love. Thought she found a prince. What she found was the devil.” He waved his hand in the air.

“He had us all fooled. Not me. I saw him for the demon he was. My sister had dreams. She had a future. But she threw it all away. And she paid dearly for it.” Enkai looked hurt.

“It was me! I found her body! I found her tied to that fence shot to death! They said it was suicide, but I didn’t believe it! He killed her! Killed her and staged it like a suicide! She would never do that! Ayame-chan had her whole life planned out! She showed me what she wanted to do in ten years! He stole it from her!” His voice was shaking. His body shook. Enkai lifted his chin.

“That devil. He played the grieving boyfriend well. Had everyone fooled. I tried to tell them the truth. Nobody believed me.” He looked ready to cry. Enkai wiped a tear from his eye.

“So… What? Why do all of this? Some twisted act of revenge?” Vince asked. Enkai held up a finger.

“Do not interrupt again! Just listen, detective!” He glared at the PI. Vince closed his mouth. Enkai cleared his throat.

“I couldn’t let that devil get away with what he did. He needed to pay. And so the ritual began. But first…” He held out his arms.

“The boy had to become a butterfly. I couldn’t complete the ritual as a scrawny little boy. I needed to become a butterfly. I grew out my hair. I started wearing dresses and skirts. Heels, make-up, jewelry, and the works. I worked to beautiful.” Enkai raised his eyebrow.

“Hm?” he asked. Vince blinked.

“So… what… are you?” he asked. The killer giggled.

“I am me.” He did a little dance. Enkai held out his arms again. The smile on his face unnerved Vince.

“Why those girls? Why them?” he asked. Enkai chuckled.

“Their birthdays,” he said.

“Huh?”

“Detective, have you read the police reports?”

“No.”

Enkai pouted. “You should. All sad, really. But full of lies. Anyway, August 10th, 2000. That was when she was murdered. Can you picture anything more fitting?” He threw back his head and laughed. Vince reached for his gun.

“You’re insane!” he yelled. The killer eyed him, bemused.

“Am I? Maybe I am. Maybe you are. Maybe we all are. Hell, the whole world is crazy for all I know! That being said, I have one question for you.” He leaned in close to the detective’s face. Vince shuddered as he stared deep into his eyes. Enkai broke into a huge grin.

“What’s your next move, detective?” he asked. The man was about to laugh.