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DEADLY WEAPONS

Max had just moved back to his mother's home in Meridian, a ranch-style house on a quiet street a block from his old high school. He met Amy at the door, and after reassuring her that he wouldn't do anything crazy, she followed him to his bedroom at the back of his house. His mother was out, and his fourteen-year-old sister was watching TV.

His bed was still disassembled, so they sat together on the mattress on the floor and began discussing their feelings. Amy admitted that she'd met another boy in TinyMUD. His name was Chad, and he lived in North Carolina. The relationship had moved beyond the keyboard; they'd sent each other photos in the mail, and she'd been calling him on the phone.

Max struggled to control his feelings, holding back tears. He felt betrayed, he said. At the same time, he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. He asked her for Chad's phone number, produced a calling card, and dialed his online rival.

A strained three-way conversation followed; Max introduced himself to Chad and then let Amy take over. She told Chad how she felt. Then Chad asked Amy for her phone number. She gave it to him, and the conversation drifted into an idle banter that only added to Max's agitation. He grabbed at the phone and hung it up.

Amy watched Max carefully as his breathing intensified and his eyes darted around the room.

"I'm going to kill you," he finally said. "I'm going to—you're going to die now."

She told Max that she didn't feel like she'd betrayed him, and she wouldn't apologize. Max began trembling. Then his hands were around her throat and he was pushing her down onto the mattress.

"Fine," she said. "Why don't you just kill me then?"

Once Max regained his self-control, he wanted Amy out of his sight. He pulled her from the mattress, pushed her out of his bedroom, and shuffled her through the house and out the front door.

"Go, now," he said. "Just get out, because I don't want to kill you. But I might change my mind." Amy jumped into her car and took off fast.