“Well, let’s get started.” Violetta sighed as they climbed out of the car.

“This place is huge!” Kerri exclaimed. “That old guy must have been loaded.”

“Hardly,” Violetta explained. “He was an experimental chemist. He had a few patents that gave him a regular income, but he wasn’t really rich. Still, the one thing he insisted on was a big house in a remote location.”

“How typically mad scientist.” Kerri chuckled. “Well, let’s get started, we’ve only got three days until the auction, and it looks like this guy’s got lots of stuff to pack up.”

As the ladies stepped inside, they quickly discovered that Kerri’s assessment had been wrong. Although the outside of the house gave every impression of grandeur and affluence, the inside was sparsely, one could even say spartanly furnished. For a minute, they thought that maybe some one else was clearing the house, perhaps a heretofore unknown relative. The thick layers of dust and cobwebs said otherwise though. Clearly, no one had entered this house since the old man had died.

The most crowded room seemed to be the library, so they decided to start there. As Violetta began boxing up the books on the shelves, Kerri investigated a cabinet near the room’s solitary chair. “Hey look at this!” Kerri called out excitedly, “A bottle of Ripple! I haven’t seen this stuff in years. You were right; this old guy didn’t have money coming out of his ears.” With that, she began twisting the cap on the bottle.

“You can’t do that!” Violetta admonished in her most appalled voice, “This stuff doesn’t belong to us! If you drink that you’ll be stealing”

“Oh come on,” Kerri retorted, “Quit being such a goody-good! It’s not like I’m breaking open a sealed flask. Whoever buys this stuff won’t miss one little swig!” With that, she put the bottle to her lips and took the aforementioned swig. “Hmm, different, not bad but different.” Ignoring Violetta’s stern headshakes, Kerri returned the bottle to the cabinet and glanced down the hall. “I think that’s the old guy’s lab down there. I’ll start there.”

Violetta sighed as her friend left the room. Kerri’s mischievous nature was cause for occasional exasperation, but it was apparently satisfied for now. With that in mind, she continued her work. The thick layers of dust on the books made packing them unpleasant, so much so that when she found one that was actually free of dust it caught her attention. Violetta couldn’t resist the urge to take a quick peak inside.

“It is done!” The page she opened to proclaimed. “After years of ceaseless work, at last I have isolated the formula that will someday save human civilization from the curse that is itself!”

“What a drama queen.” Violetta thought. Still, the enthusiasm of the text intrigued her and she read on. “My initial tests on formula J & H are completed! and the results are unequivocal. A mere taste of this elixir will cure even the most depraved psychopathic tendencies, turning a career criminal into a caring, hard-working citizen.”

Violetta stopped at this point. Her normally skeptical nature was overwhelmed by the implications of this discovery. She eagerly read on. “At this point, I know of only two drawbacks to formula J & H. First, the effects are sadly temporary.” At this, Violetta sighed. She knew it was too good to be true. Still, it didn’t mean that the formula couldn’t be made permanent with more work.

Then she remembered the second drawback. “The second drawback is this: as the formula reverses the nature of the imbiber, I shudder to think of what would happen if an otherwise honest and empathic individual should take it. The results could be horrific!” Violetta took a moment to consider this. It made her shudder too. Despite this, she read on. “In order to safeguard my invention from falling into the wrong hands, I have taken a page from Poe and decided to hide the remainder of the elixir in an easily accessible and otherwise inconspicuous location.” Violetta barely had time to read and consider those words before a chloroform soaked rag forced itself on her mouth and nose. A gasp of surprise, a weary tug at her assailant’s arm, and Violetta slipped unconscious to the floor.

When Violetta awoke, she found herself securely tied to a chair. Her bleary eyes soon identified Kerri standing over her. Her relief was short lived, however, when she saw the vicious, maniacal look in her friend’s eyes.

“Wakey wakey!” Kerri sneered. “Can’t have you sleeping your life away, can we?”

“Kerri?” Violetta stammered, “Kerri. What’s going on?” Kerri laughed maliciously in response. “Wrong? Nothing is wrong! On the contrary, everything is right! The sun is out, the birds are singing, and the world is about to lose one irritating goody-good!”

“What are you talking about?” Violetta asked, panic welling up inside her. Kerri seemed pleased at the opportunity to continue her gloating. “Oh nothing much. I just finally realized what a drag you can be with all your stupid, ‘you can’t do that’s.’ And quite by coincidence I found a bottle of chloroform in the old guy’s lab. I figured it must have been kismet, and well, you know the rest. Oh, and look what else I found.” With that, Kerri held up a small bottle labeled, “Acid.”

As Violetta realized what was going on, the terror she had been trying to contain came pouring out. “Kerri, listen to me, that wasn’t Ripple you drank, it was some kind of mind altering potion. This isn’t you Kerri; you don’t really want to do this!”

“You know what else really bugs me,” Kerri growled in response, “I mean besides your constant moralisms? It’s your inability to just shut up and listen sometimes!” With that, Kerri tore a piece of packing tape off her roll and placed it firmly on Violetta’s mouth. Kerri then stepped back and took a long moment to appreciate the helplessness of her bound and gagged prisoner. All the while her hands idly played with the menacing bottle of acid.

Tightly restrained and silenced, Violetta once again fought to keep her panic under control. Reasoning with Kerri was clearly impossible, even if her mouth hadn’t been taped up. No one would be coming to the house until the auction, so help from outside was unlikely. Violetta desperately tried to calm her racing mind and recall the details of the formula. It was only temporary, but what did that mean. Would it wear off in minutes? Hours? Days?

Then she remembered what the formula did; it reversed people’s natures. One of the things she liked about Kerri was her inherent soft heartedness. She hated to see people suffer. One thing about Kerri that really annoyed her though was Kerri’s lack of patience. Of those traits had been reversed, how could she use them to her advantage?

Violetta did not have much time to consider this question. “Well, that’s enough of that.” Kerri said, “It’s time we got down to business.” She opened the bottle of acid and held it over Violetta’s head. “This might sting a bit.” She snickered. Violetta pulled at the ropes, moaning pleas that the gag reduced to inarticulate ‘mmphhs.” Kerri stopped and observed this for a few minutes then put the bottle down.

“Oh, I get it; you don’t want your hair done.” Kerri put away the acid and picked up a large, menacing looking knife. “Then perhaps I should remove those blemishes from your skin instead, starting with your nose!” As frightened as she was, Violetta breathed an inward sigh of relief. Her displays of fear were making Kerri take her time. Kerri clearly wanted to savor her distress. If she could keep it going until the potion wore off, maybe she would live!

Kerri stroked Violetta’s soft skin with the knife in an almost playful manner. The blade was cold and clearly sharp, but Kerri made no overt attempts to cut her. She was taking her time, enjoying every torturous minute. Putting her plan into action, Violetta alternated between turning her head away in fear, and gazing at Kerri, pleading with her eyes and muffled voice to be set free.

“Now, where shall we start?” Kerri purred in a wicked voice. “I wonder if you shaved your legs today. If not, I could do it for you. Or maybe I should start with the soles of your feet. Of course, one good slash in the right place would end all of this quickly. But no, that would be tragic waste, wouldn’t it?”

“Nnn, plnn nnn!” Violetta shrieked. There was no need to act. Despite her plan her fear was genuine. Her main concern was that she was getting tired. If she was too tired to keep Kerri entertained, Kerri would get bored of playing with her, and then…

Kerri stepped back and looked over her prisoner again. “Oh but blades are so messy.” She said with a mock pout. “There must be a better way to get rid of you. Let’s see now…” Putting the knife aside, Kerri looked over the packing materials carefully. She returned with a rope in her hands. She gleefully dragged the rope across Violetta’s bound body, relishing the slight burning sensation it left on Violetta’s skin. She then grasped the ends and pulled the rope lightly across her captive’s throat.

“Have you ever seen the body of some one who’s been strangled?” She asked coldly. “It’s awful. The tongue hangs out. The eyes look like they jumped out of the sockets. The face turns blue. It’s really ugly.” At that, the rope around Violetta’s neck tightened slightly. “I feel sorry for the poor bastard who has to find your body.”

Violetta turned he head to face Kerri. As tired as she was, she knew her face was contorted in the shape of absolute fear. Would that be enough to make Kerri want to drag this out further? As her eyes met Kerri’s, she could see a hint of boredom with the malicious taint. Kerri was getting tired of this game. She was ready for action!

“Well, this is the end!” Kerri said casually, ignoring Violetta’s muffled screams. “I’ll be sure and say good bye to all or our mutual friends for you. You know, like Lisa Marie. Actually I’ll be seeing her soon. We’re going to lunch on Thursday. We’re going to that café on Wood Street. I know the coffee is terrible, but that really cute waiter works there, what was his name, Jean Luc? Naw, that wasn't it.”

Violetta blinked in surprise. What was she talking about? She was remembering her old self. The potion was wearing off! Violetta nodded fiercely and tried to offer encouraging “mmphhs.”

“Actually you could join us if you wanted.” Kerri continued absent-mindedly. “Except that’s not really a good day for you. You’re usually tied up on Thursdays. Hey, you’re tied up right now!”

“Mmm hmm! Mmm Hmm!” Violetta moaned with enthusiastic nods. Then she leaned her face forward. “Plnn tgg du gug uhf mmm mtth!” Kerri interpreted the muffled plea correctly and pealed the tape from her friend’s mouth. As soon as her mouth was free, Violetta began explaining. “Kerri, that stuff you thought was Ripple was actually some kind of formula that turned you into a psychopath! If it hadn’t worn off you would have tortured me to death.”

A look of horror and remorse spread across Kerri’s face. “Ohmigawd!” She exclaimed. “I don’t believe it! Oh Violetta I’m so sorry! Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?” Violetta sighed with relief at her friend’s return to her senses. “Just untie me please.”

Kerri knelt down and began furiously working on the knots. “Look,” She said apologetically, “There’s not much work to do here. We can finish it tomorrow. Right now let’s get out of here. I’ll…I’ll buy you a drink.’

“Kerri!”

“I mean, I’ll buy you lunch.”