Itch

Josie's mouth opened wide as her barking laugh roamed the room. She glanced down at her collection, stroking the edge of the box as gently as a mother would her child. To a critical eye, the objects in the box would be insignificant, things that could be found in any high school student's pencil case, but to Josie they were the most important things in the world.

There were seven paper clips, each a unique colour and size, each taken from a different person. There was an eyeliner pencil she had slipped into her bag when she was shopping with her grandmother, an unbroken set of chopsticks from the Chinese restaurant three blocks from her house, and two roles of sticky tape taken from her school's administration office. A small stuffed bear also lay in the box; this Josie had possessed the longest, after stealing it from her best friend on their first day of high school. It had been the girl's good luck charm, something she held onto when she felt nervous or scared. Josie had known this but she felt the itch and when she experienced the twitching sensation just beneath her skin, nothing could stop her.

Tonight there was a new addition to the box. Carefully, Josie settled her newest treasure, making sure it had enough room. The object was long and shiny; beautiful in Josie's eyes. When held in light it glinted like the stars, though tonight it had several smudges across the surface. They were evidence of Josie's crimson regret, her biggest mistake yet as her compulsion had grown to new heights.

Earlier that evening, Josie had felt the prickling feeling she always experienced prior to an acquisition and affectionately referred to as 'the itch'.

'What do you think you're doing?' snarled a voice from behind. Josie jumped, dropping the knife she had been attempting to conceal in her jacket. A small, slim man stood in front of her, his head balding and front teeth missing.

'N-nothing. I was just coming up to the counter to pay for this,' she lied. It should have been as easy as breathing for Josie to lie.

'I don't think you were and that ones not for sale anyways.'

'Oh, okay. Never mind then.' Josie started to walk out of the shop, but stopped. A tremendous longing took hold, as if the knife were a magnet and Josie, the cold hard iron. 'Are you sure it's not for sale?'

'Are you deaf girly? I said, no!' Standing only a couple of feet away, Josie could smell his rancid breath and the putrid thoughts run through his mind.

She stared down at the knife which lay at her feet. Bending down she smiled, it was sharp. She hadn't noticed before but one swipe of it could do remarkable damage.

'If you say so' Josie stepped toward him, as if to hand the knife back but instead thrust the blade into the man's abdomen. He groaned harshly, his eyes opened widely and disbelief spread across the shop keeper's face.

'Why?' He breathed as a dark red stain quickly devoured his previously light blue shirt.

Josie removed the knife slowly and deliberately. She felt as though she were flying, a feeling of immense satisfaction extinguished any preliminary misgivings. A demented smirk stretched her face, she drove the blade into the small man again; this time the soft section under his ribs was the target. More blood spurted from him, through his mouth as he choked on thick crimson liquid.

Josie frantically looked around, the store was empty. Hiding her prize in her jacket, she ran out of the store, past the Chinese restaurant and the play ground where she had innocently played as a child. She flew up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door behind her. Slowly she sank to the ground with her back resting against one of the four walls that kept her secrets. With her heart pounding and a feeling of exhilaration, she drew out the knife, marveling once more at its glorious power.

Josie crawled over to her bed and from underneath she extracted the shoe box. She placed the knife inside and exhaled with a sense of fulfillment; the itch was gone.