Intraspecies

By Maddie Cincala  

May 16th
9:27 PM
Kimberly Addams made her way to the bathroom, pointed stilettos clacking on the hardwood floor, and then on the polished white tile. She leaned over the sink to examine herself, making sure her makeup looked fine and that her green contacts were aligned to hide her natural brown irises. Perfect. It was almost time to go. She pulled her thick sienna hair into a tight bun, making sure there were no stray curls escaping her grasp before slipping it all under a nylon wig cap. Pins, hairspray, and prayers. Then the wig, a platinum blonde, stark straight. It would be done up in a loose bun, held in place by Kim’s favorite hairpins, two sleek long tines adorned with a gaudy faux emerald on each pommel. More pins, more hairspray, and more prayers. Those seemed to be what was holding her together tonight. Prayers for the wig staying together, prayers that she wouldn’t break an ankle in these uncomfortably high stilettos, and prayers that she wouldn’t fall out of this impossibly low cut, skintight dress. It was a miracle this red tube of fabric could even be called a dress. Despite the complaints, it’s what brought in the men.  

With her look complete, Kim grabbed her purse and started out to her car. 

9:34 PM
Cameron Fuller stepped out of the shower, the last bits of chocolate brown hair dye washing down the drain. She hastily dried off, nearly knocking over the boxes of bleach off of the bathroom sink. She let out an exasperated huff, cursing the close quarters bathroom as she grabbed up the boxes and threw them away. Rather than grabbing her glasses, Cameron opened the medicine cabinet and fished out a box of contacts, putting a pair in. Next came covering the tattoos. Concealer, powder, repeat, covering the more obvious tattoos on her forearms and the one that would poke out along her collarbone. Among some hastily strewn about clothes, she pulled out a plain t-shirt and jeans. The jeans would cover her coveted blade and holster as they lay snugly pressed to her hip for fast and easy access. She topped off the look with worn Doc Martins and a leather jacket, formerly owned by the last person who she brought home.  

With her look complete, Cam started her walk to the club. 

10:38 PM
Cam entered the Midnight Rendezvous night club, embracing the chest-rattling boom of the bass and the smell of cigarettes and alcohol. Bodies packed the club, some moving and grinding on the dance floor, others intertwining on the plush purple sofas in the lounge. The bar was where Cam was interested in, a goldmine for finding lonely people looking for hookups or just trying to endure the night. The bar was lit by the dazzling display of all the hard liquor, neatly lined up to showcase their product. Two bartenders darted back and forth behind the counter, expertly crafting cocktails like it was second nature. Among the lonely patrons, Cam spotted a delicious splash of red in the corner, polishing off a whiskey sour. She was perfect. The way she was sitting was just asking for the eye of someone like her to come along and grab her up, back slightly arched as she leaned over the bar, accentuating the curve of her ass and threatening to spill her breasts from that teasingly small dress for all to see. Cam just had to have her.  

10:49 PM
Kim sat alone at the bar, polishing off her whiskey sour. She felt eyes on her, but no one was biting just yet. She sighed deeply, playing the part of “lonely miss” very well; she cast forlorn glances over her shoulder, frequently checking her phone for texts and the time. Telltale signs of being stood up. She knew soon enough the temptation of her body would poison the mind of someone here, male or female. It didn’t really matter to her as long as someone ended up taking her home.  Just as she checked her phone once more, her patience paid off. She couldn’t help but smile as she looked in her peripherals as another whiskey sour was slid her way.  

“Don’t tell me you came here alone,” Cam teased, taking the seat next to Kim with a smile.  

Kim put her phone aside and looked Cam up and down. She didn’t look too bad, a little leaner than she usually preferred, but she knew better than to go off of first impressions. 

“That wasn’t the plan… my date stood me up.” She shrugged, resting her chin in her palm, teasing the rim of her new whiskey sour with her finger. “We were supposed to be meeting up for the first time in person tonight.” 

10:51 PM
“Well shit- I may as well kill myself before missing a date with someone like you.” Cam joked, stuffing a hand into her pocket, and finding the GHB tablet she’d brought with her. 

“That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?” Kim teased. 

“I’m just saying… you’re one helluva woman. I don’t suppose you hear that all too often though, right?” She laughed, fingering a little tablet between her fingers. Waiting. 

“I do, but sometimes it’s a little more welcome than others.” She grinned, displaying a set of perfectly straight teeth. “I’m Lexi” Kim lied. 

“I’m Max,” Cam lied back, holding her hand out to shake, and while doing so, slipping the tablet from between her fingers into Kim’s drink. 

11:43 PM
It had been almost an hour since Kim and Cam begun chatting. They exchanged lies, fabricating jobs, interests, and personal information. What Kim learned was that Max is heir to a family-run real estate company and studied abroad for two years in Europe. She met her now ex there who turned out to be a little sick in the head; she stole money from Max and nearly got her arrested with false rape accusations. They split soon after the charges were dropped, and Max then went back to the states to take on a more managerial role in the family business. What Kim didn’t know was that there was some truth in the lies; yes, Cam did study abroad, and yes, she did have a crazy ex. Said crazy ex, however, did not leave after the rape allegations. She was dealt with swiftly and accordingly. But Kim didn’t need to know that. As for the family business, that was true too. However, Cam was no longer associated with that after a long-standing bad rep she’d built up over her high school and college years.  

As far as Cam knew, Lexi was in between jobs, currently picking up temp work in the city. She had just gotten out of a long-term relationship and was looking for every excuse to get her mind off things. Lexi’s parents weren’t too keen on finding out their daughter was a lesbian, so going back to live with them wasn’t an option. So, she now lived in a shitty little apartment downtown in a questionable area. Unlike Cam’s lies, Kim’s were completely fabricated. There was no temp work, no long-term romance, no unaccepting parents, and no shitty downtown apartment. All of it added to her pitiable persona she worked very hard to make. Little miss ‘my life is so hard, but I’m too pretty for hardship’ was one of her favorite roles to play. In truth, Kim had no parents to speak of and was raised by an incompetent aunt who never planned on having children. While her actual job was no better than temp work, she was not one to settle for dingy downtown living.  

Together, they created a cherry-picked melody of lies, tailoring each sentence to try and cater to the other’s false interests and values. 

12:02 AM 
This whole time, Kim hadn’t touched her spiked drink. She knew better. And she also knew that she wasn’t about to take this woman back to her apartment. She never brought people back to her place. It was much too risky with those paper-thin walls, and it certainly didn’t help that Cam was easily twice her weight with her height and more muscular build. She was waiting for her to bring it up. They usually did by now; most were more than desperate to fuck her and have their way with her, but this one was just talking about her utterly boring life while she smiled and nodded and pretended to be interested. She started to think she had half the mind to blow her off and try getting another person to take her home. There were plenty of people looking to get laid tonight anyways. But there was something keeping her invested. Something about Cam. The way she shifted in her seat every now and then, and the way her voice seemed unnaturally strained when emphasizing points of her stories. Subtle nuances that a normal person wouldn’t pick up on. Cam was hiding something, and Kim had a feeling she knew what it was. They were in an unspoken standoff, and Kim was determined to come out on top.  

12:03 AM
Cam was running out of lies to tell. She’d used up most of her canned lies and this whole time, Kim hadn’t even touched her drink. Each time Kim tented her fingers over the rim of her glass, she could feel her impatience pulling at her. It felt like Kim was knowingly teasing her. She didn’t want to take her back sober, though. Not because she was worried about being able to overpower her, but because there was something about Kim that felt different than the others. She had this knowing look about her that kept Cam planted in her seat. While most conversations felt like an elementary game of tic-tac-toe, this one felt more like a game of chess. A game Cam intended on winning.  Each word from Kim sounded calculated and carefully selected, as if masking something just beyond the surface.  

“Lexi, you’ve barely touched your drink. It won’t taste any good if the ice is all melted.” she pointed out, pressing Kim on the matter to see if she’d squirm. 

“Oh? Jeez I didn’t even notice!” Kimberly laughed, teasing the rim of the untouched drink once more with her finger. “I guess I just got caught up in your stories from work. It’s so sweet you work with your family you know.” 

“I spent ten bucks on the damned drink. The least you could do was drink it.” Cam muttered, cursing herself. She knew he shouldn’t be pushy with these things, but she wanted to break that seemingly naïve exterior. 

Kim scoffed. “Seriously? You’re the one who bought the drink. I didn’t ask you for shit.” She pushed the drink back over to Cam and in that moment, she could’ve sworn Kim was silently challenging her. Rather than the discomfort or the furrowed brow that came with being pressed into drinking, Kim looked focused. Testing.  

“I was trying to be nice. But I guess I should’ve known better.” She sighed, attention piqued.  

12:05AM
“It’s a dangerous world out there. My caution doesn’t discriminate you know.” Kim grinned, seeing that ever so subtle give in Cam’s façade. It was brief, but it was there, and she drank it all up, reveling in the thought of breaking through it completely. 

“Well, it’s good to know a bombshell of a woman such as yourself has some common sense. Sorry about that. Really- it’s just that money’s a bit tight if I’m being honest. You know how it is.” Cam sighed, seeming to switch gears. But Kim knew better. If Cam really was part of a large family business and had the expense to live abroad, money was most likely not an issue. But she’d humor her. At this point of the night, Cam was probably her best bet anyways. Besides, she liked the rush she got in this little dance the two were beginning to perform. 

12:07 AM
“Tell me about it- I save up for weeks for a nice date and get blown off.” She conceded, wanting to carry out her plan tonight. “Tell you what, why don’t I make it up to you.” She leaned in a little, running her hand up Cam’s arm. “Why don’t you take me to your place? I’ll give you something worth a lot more than ten dollars in drinks,” she whispered in a sultry tone, bringing a slender leg against hers. 

“What the hell. I did say I may as well die before turning someone like you down.” Cam laughed, wanting to raise the stakes. She thought it quite naïve of Kimberly to invite herself to her home. After all, home was where she did her job best.  

“You said you may as well kill yourself, actually.” Kimberly corrected jokingly. “And now that I think about it, I kinda like the sound of someone dying for me.”  

Cam laughed, waving the bartender over to pick up the tab. “You really are something else, Lexi.”  

12:27 AM 
“Why don’t we take my car? It’ll be quicker. Besides, these heels are killing me.” Kim suggested, not very happy when she found out that Cam walked here.  

“Aw come on now, it’s not that far- just a couple blocks. I promise.” Cam grinned, a warm, reassuring grin; one that Kim noticed was thin-veiled and most definitely false.  

“Try walking that in stilettos. Then come talk to me,” she muttered with a scowl. “Seriously, my car’s just up that way.” She pointed up the road to an old Subaru Impreza with a cherry scented pine tree tag hanging from the rearview mirror.  

“But it’s so nice out. We can walk and talk. Unless you wanted this to be a one-night stand sort of situation- no feelings attached. Though, I can’t promise I won’t feel anything after this.” Cam mocked. Kimberly rolled her eyes again, hesitantly giving in. In the moment, the two of them had made the exact same reasoning: a car provides too much evidence.  

“Fine. But don’t expect me to fall head over heels over one walk.” She half joked, starting down the walk with Cam. 

To the average passerby, the two of them looked like any other blossoming couple, chatting away as they walked through lamplight. Their voices echoed down the streets, off storefronts and through the alleyways. Someone watching might have even come to the conclusion that they were truly in love with each other.  

12:39 AM 
“Hold on a moment- I need to take these shoes off.” Kimberly sighed a little over halfway into the walk back. She leaned over and slid off her stilettos with a sigh of relief.  

“You want me to hold them?” Cam asked, offering her hand. 

“No need- I’d like to think I’m fairly capable of carrying my own shoes,” she said. 

Cam playfully raised her hands up in defense. “Just trying to be nice- I promise it’s not much farther.” She hummed, continuing on down the empty sidewalk.  

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask-” Kim started, following Cam, being more cautious with her steps now, and trying not to step on anything sharp or questionable along the sidewalk. “Do you work out?” 

Cam laughed a bit. “I do. Not religiously, but I work out when I can. Why?” she grinned.  

“Just wondering- usually I go for people with a little more meat on their bones.” She baited, figuring that she could find some way to use Cam. Beggars couldn’t be choosers after all. She was given Cam and intended to use every part of her just like the rest.  

“You’re saying you’re into dad bods?” Cam laughed.  

“More or less. I like a good balance of fat and muscle. A golden ratio you know?” Kim smiled, letting a hint of cynicism flash in her eyes. 

12:56 AM
The two arrived at Cameron’s place in good spirits. The house was modest, but enough: a single-story building with crumbling siding and faded blue shutters. The door matched the shutters in color with a cheap plaster frame hugging it. A few plants resided in brown, brittle heaps in old terracotta pots lining the porch steps and a heavily used doormat lay at their feet. However, instead of the traditional “WELCOME”, it read more like “WE—-ME”, the brown turf-like material worn down by years of foot traffic.  

“Nice “we me” mat.” Kim teased. “You get a lot of guests?”  

Cam laughed weakly, seeking out her house key from the small keyring. “No actually. It’s just left over from previous renters, I guess. Landlord isn’t too keen on updates.” she mumbled, gesturing to the house next door as she located the house key and slotted it into the door. 

“At least you don’t need to share walls with anyone.”  

“It’s tolerable. I try and keep it nice.” She shoulder-checked the door to get it open and cussed under her breath as a small shower of splinters rained down on her as it cracked open. “Voila!” she hummed, making a grand gesture to the inside as she stepped aside to let Kim in. 

The inside of the house was much nicer than the outside. While it had some structural wear and tear, the furniture was relatively new and well kept. Everything seemed to be in its place, almost to a compulsive level. Shelves were dusted, floors were scrubbed clean, and the furniture and décor were arranged with scrutinizing precision. Despite the noticeable effort put into the house, remnants of tenants past still made themselves present in old dents, chips in the paint, and embedded mold and mildew stains in the creases and corners.  

Cam led Kim through the open living and dining area and down the hall to her room; a small room with bare walls and a window that was nailed shut. The bed was positioned in the far-left corner with one side purposely pressed to the wall, which if asked, Cam would explain how it was the most space efficient. The dresser and desk were smushed together against the opposite wall, and the door to the bathroom was along the same wall as the bed. The door did not lock. In fact, none of the doors except the front door locked. And any other exits, were nailed shut. 

“This is cute- why don’t you get yourself ready while I use the bathroom?” Kim suggested, giving Cam a wink over her shoulder as she made her way to the bathroom.  

“Wait!” Cam grasped her by the arm roughly, remembering the boxes of hair dye in the bathroom and temporarily forgetting her charming persona. 

“That bathroom is kinda backed up. I’m waiting for repairs. There’s one down the hall to the right you can use.” She put on a grin, sliding that charming mask back on. 

 12:59 AM
Kim had been scanning her surroundings this whole time and despite never meeting someone quite like Cam before, she knew better than to let her guard down. Ever. She followed Cam’s instructions to the bathroom, shutting herself into a small half bath with yellowing tile and the remnants of mildew stains in the corners. One look around confirmed her suspicions: even the smallest windows had been nailed shut. She pulled out her hairpins, letting her hair fall over her shoulders. She twisted each of the gaudy emerald pommels, releasing the plunger to the hollowed chamber drilled into each pin and then promptly redid her messy bun.  

1:01 AM
While Kim primped and prepped, Cam was analyzing her own next steps. She deduced that Kim couldn’t possibly be hiding a weapon in what little clothes she was wearing. If it was a game she was playing, Cam had confidence that she was sure to win. All she had to do was let it play out. 

1:04 AM 
“Are you just gonna sit there? Or are we gonna have some real fun?” Kim smiled from the doorway, knowing now that Cam wasn’t just looking to gawk.  Cam had sorely underestimated her, and it showed through those subtle nuances of unbridled cockiness: the way she carried herself, her tone, even going so far as to leave Kim unattended in the bathroom told her that she had thought she already won.  

“Depends- you’re the one making it up to me remember?” Cam teased, pulling off her jacket and tossing it aside, sitting back on the bed. “Unless you’re not used to being the one in charge- I get it.” She sat back, waiting to see what Kim was planning. 

“I was just assuming you were the ‘taking charge’ type of woman is all. Though you really shouldn’t underestimate me. It may not look like it, but I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.” She purred, sauntering over to the edge of the bed right between Cam’s legs. She brought a hand up to Cam’s chest, easing her onto her back as she crawled up, straddling her hips.  

Cam’s hands explored Kim’s soft thighs, sliding under the tight fabric of the dress as it rode up her straddling hips. There was no denying Kim was hot, but she didn’t intend on letting that distract her from the task at hand.  

Kim continued, letting the dress ride up, teasing black lace lingerie that hugged her curves and left little more to the imagination. She pressed her full chest into Cam’s, slipping her own hand under her shirt and teasing the silhouette of her shallow breast, drawing deeper breaths from her. Her other hand skimmed down Cam’s other side, drifting dangerously close to her concealed holster where the knife hid.  

Cam grabbed Kim’s wrist tight, drawing a hitched gasp from her glossy lips, face lighting up in an intoxicating twist of ecstasy and a knowing exhilaration.  

“What’s the rush Lexi? I know you’re keen on exploring me. So why not do it right?” Cam whispered, pulling Kim down closer, teasing her lips over hers as she brought that pesky wandering hand elsewhere.  

“If that’s what you’d like,” Kim smiled, accepting the unspoken challenge. She pulled her hand from Cam’s grasp, plunging it up under her shirt and working it off, tossing it aside. She dipped down, teasing her tongue along the contour of Cam’s collarbone, drawing out an aroused breath from her. Kim smiled to herself as the unmistakable taste of concealer and setting powder graced her tongue, alluding to something hidden. She knew the texture of human skin too well to conclude that Cam was just hiding a blemish. The powdery texture had covered most of her collarbone. She was hiding a tattoo. Clever bitch.  

“It’s such a shame you felt the need to hide your tattoos, Max.” she whispered, pressing her hips into Cam’s, and nipping at her neck, practically feeling the blood rushing under the tender skin.  

“Mistakes were made. What can I say?” Cam replied, keeping her composure as her hand danced up Kim’s back. She teased the zipper of her dress, threatening to shed that single layer keeping her in a state of decency.  

 “What are we if not our mistakes?” said Kim, pulling Cam into a deep kiss.  

In an explosion of what could be mistaken as passion, the dance between the two reached its climax. Hands groped and scratched and savored the fruits of supple skin as clothes were pulled and thrown aside. Deep breaths intertwined with hitched moans and all at once there was everything. Pleasure before pain. The precipice of the moment was executed in a deadly synchronicity. With a swift motion, Kim pulled away one of her hairpins, setting synthetic platinum locks free of their updo. Another swift motion from Cam and a sharpened blade was being unleashed from its snug leather harness. Kim sunk the pin deep into Cam’s neck, tearing through the carotid artery with a deadly accuracy. The push of its plunger forced its full capacity of air into the artery, causing an immediate air embolism through her bloodstream. Cam’s blade found its way deep into the flesh of Kim’s shoulder, severing skin, connective tissue, fat, and the axillary artery in a brilliant spurt of crimson blood. Hands groped and scratched clawed supple skin, now slick with blood. Choked breaths intertwined with strained cries and all at once there was nothing. All that was left were two corpses intertwined on the blood-soaked sheets, bloodied weapons lying in loosened grips. Kim’s wig hung loosely from its cap in sticky clumps, revealing a sliver of her natural sienna hair. Streaks of Cam’s tattoos breached the skin where the foundation was soaked in blood and scratched away in the struggle. It was a morbidly beautiful picture for the headlining news article; Spat Between Killers Ends in a Draw.