Unwelcome Introspection

He had places to go, people to be. Every kink, dream, and trauma everyone had ever wanted to forget, swirled like an expertly mixed drink in his eyes; a psychological strata to baffle the best of psychologists.

Girls and boys, come out to play…

A nursery rhyme turned fixation, a pathology picked up from the daycare down the street.

Red rover, red rover…

“Let Schuldig come over.”

Blue eyes narrowed with a smile containing too much tooth for comfort, something darker than mirth but no less enthusiastic.

Leave your supper, and leave your sleep.

“And come with your playfellows into the street.”

Schuldig was a jaunty predator, decked out in jacket and slacks, smile on his face and bright bandanna in his hair. He made sure to lock the door on his way out.

After all, you couldn’t be too careful, what with all the psychos out and about these days.