I walk home from my school dark at night, ready to be home and done with school for the day. Then a person walks out of the shadows from behind and stalks closer toward where I’m walking.

“Hello...?” I ask to the person, taking a small step back.

The person—he looks around 18-21 years old,brown hair,dark pants, and a red and black jacket.He says nothing in response and just keeps walking toward me.

“W-who are you?.” I ask him, stumbling a little to step back from him.

He grins-grins at me with an evil smile.

Emotions swirl inside me—fear,shock, and nervousness.

Then he takes out a timer and sets it to five minutes. “You have exactly 5 minutes to convince me why I shouldn’t kill you.” He says to me, grinning, then starts the timer.

I rack through my brain, trying to think of the right words to say. Just five minutes to convince this psychopath why he shouldn’t kill me??

I take a deep breath an just go for it.

“Ok so....why would you even want to kill someone?

I didn’t do anything to you and....”

I take a deep breath before I say this because I don’t want to inconvenience my parents...I’m sorry mom and dad.

“I’ll pay you 5,000 dollars if you let me live.”

I make a straight face at him, staring him in the eye. I’m not exactly lying about this, I have that much money at least in my bank account. But if I can, I’ll call the police before he gets the chance to collect it of course..

“I don’t need money—heck I’m a free man now. I’m not chained by the laws and I don’t have to work,don’t have to abide by stupid laws, I’M A FREE MAN, YOU HEAR THAT?!!” He practically screamed the last part out.

My arms trembled, I had to force my arms to my sides so they wouldn’t show that I was scared.

“B-but...if you’re free, why kill people? If I was as free as you, I’d probably watch movies,hang out with friends, and go to my favorite restaurants. Killing is a bit over the top...you have all the free time so why kill?

Isn’t it horrifying seeing the blood and screams?

I think you’re not as free as you think...I think you’re hiding from your responsibilities and your mind has gone onto space, but...you can fight your mind and face your actions. If you’ve already killed, go to prison or jail. At least you’ll feel satisfied you had done the right thing. Wouldn’t keeping that guilt and madness in your mind be like being in your own prison already?

Even if it would mean you wouldn’t be able to go back to your own home again...turn yourself in and redeem your mind and yourself or at least try.Face all those deaths you’ve caused. Then, and only then you can feel satisfied you’ve at least tried to make amends. Your mind may not be able to see it now but your already in a prison so just...don’t kill more people. Stop yourself and realize what you’ve done....please.” My hands are still shaking but I manage to meet his gaze, and look at him with seriousness, and....a question.

He looks at me again, and this time...I see real, genuine emotions swirling on his face. I see sorrow for everything he did,anger at himself, and a broken, lost person.

“I won’t kill you.” Is all he says, then he walks away.

I don’t know if he turned himself in or is still killing, or is somewhere, living by himself but...I feel satisfied that I at least told him that message.