What is it about psychopaths we like so much? Well, this week’s winner sure is one. I mean, his character, not redshirt6, @redshirt6 himself. 😉

Congrats redshirt! Enjoy his winning entry again, below.

Thanks again to guest judge, who’s donated a copy of both Gabriel’s Redemption and Gabriel’s Return for our winner!

And congratulations to Alana Garrigues who random.org has chosen as the winner of a copy of Gabriel’s Return!

See you all next week!

Pale light, broken apart into individual beams by the thick diamondglass of the skylight, cast stark shadows on the faces of the four men seated around a small table.

“So what’ll it cost me?” he asked. Ashton Palmente was not one who was used to asking such things. He flicked ashes towards the ashtray not even trying to hit it. The ashes spread out on the table.

“What do you think it should cost you?” Simon replied. His skin looked rough but solid like bleached concrete.

“Look,” the first speaker came back, “I’ll throw in the girl and we’ll call it even, okay? I don’t want any trouble over this, you understand? I can get you all the young women you need. Boys? You want boys? I can get those for you as well. So how’s that?”

Simon surveyed the other three men without moving his eyes. Two guerillas and Ashton Palmente. Ashton was the kind of scum Simon hunted with glee.

Some would say that Simon was a psychopath. In fact, several had said just that. He actually thought it sounded rather cool. He’d let the psychologist live for that very reason. Not so the guards. But that was long ago. Simon was much more refined now.

“I’ll tell you what it will cost you. Your life, the life of your two goons here, and anything else I decide it will. Okay?”

Ashton Palmente froze. The two goons at his side were clearly uncomfortable. Neither had ever heard anyone speak to the boss that way. After a moment of staring with disbelief, Ashton Palmente laughed. It started as a low rumble and then burst out into a full blown belly laugh. And then he was laughing so hard he was having trouble breathing. And then the two goons at his side were on their knees, their hands at their throats.

Simon watched as the three men succumbed to the biological agent. He watched without moving as their bodies twitched. He crossed his legs, placing his hands on his knees while he waited for their bodies to stop moving.

Simon liked this part best. He place the opened cylinder on the table in front of him.