My First<>by Wendy Satin Blaze<>I claimed my first victim on a cool windless night in late autumn.<>This wasn’t planned. It was a mere coincidence that both of us happened to be traveling the same rural road so late that night. Although a coincidence, I took it as a message, or rather, a gift. It was to shape who I would be come.<>As I rounded a corner I saw the car. “Shit,” I screamed, slamming on the brakes. I stopped, luckily a few feet from his upturned car. I sat there, breathing heavily, my heart thumping loudly in my chest. After a few minutes, I found I was able to control my nerves and stepped out of my car.<>He was laying on the pavement, clearly dead, from where I stood. So when he moved and hollered for help, I screamed again.<>I cautiously approached. I was frazzled, my nerves on end. His car was upside-down and I had a dreaded fear of it suddenly exploding. He was trying to sit up, yelping in pain. As I drew closer, I could see his right ankle trapped beneath the roof of his car. A small stream of blood crept slowly out from the same area, and I knew immediately that his ankle and foot were destroyed, smashed beyond repair.<>He was a cute kid with sandy blond hair and dark eyes. His face was unscathed, but his gray sweatshirt was torn and I could see a few dark patches that I knew were bleeding wounds. He had on jeans and they too had rips and tears. “Please, help me,” he cried as he saw me.<>I knelt beside him and told him everything would be okay. That I was going to help. I let his head fall in my lap as I dug the cell phone out of my purse. “It really hurts,” he said softly. “I feel asleep. . “<>I began to dial 911. And then, I stopped. I closed my flip phone and he looked up at me, a look of confusion on his pained face. Bending down I kissed him lightly on the mouth. He accepted my kiss, but broke first and asked why I wasn’t calling for help.<>“I will,” I replied, trying to kiss him once more.<>“Please,” he whined. “I’m in terrible pain.”