Final moments

          “Let’s play a game."

          “Let’s," Megan returned, because Alturis wanted her to say no.  She refused to do anything he wanted her to, at least within reason.  If she had to die, it wasn't just going to be on his terms.

         “We’ll ask each other questions," he said.

         “Great.”

         “I’ll start."  Alturis set the gun on the table, as if daring her to reach for it.  When she just looked at him, he leaned forward, his eyes glittering with amusement.  “So tell me, Megan Cooper," he purred.  "What part of yourself would you most like to kill?”

         Megan had the feeling Alturis asked all of his victims this before he murdered them.  A part of her wanted to reply "athlete's foot," or "gonorrhoea," just to show him she wasn't afraid.  Instead she answered honestly, “My memory.”

         Alturis frowned and tut-tutted, like a teacher disappointed with his pupil.  “That would be too bad,” he said.  “Your memory is the only thing in life you own.”

         "If you want it, it's yours," Megan retorted.  "My turn now to ask you a question."

         He made a slight bow.

         "What's it like being a psychopath?"

         Alturis stared at her for a long, fraught moment.  His hand twitched over the gun before he burst out laughing.