"We shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears at midnight.

H. P. Lovecraft


It's cold tonight he thought simply, putting his hands in the pockets of his jacket as he walked down the residential street. It was a walk he had been making frequently in the past week in area he knew well by now, fairly close to Kerry Park just northwest of Seattle. He nodded to a nice couple walking their dog down West Highland Street as he turned right onto 3rd Avenue West with a smirk. There was a nice house right in the middle of the block with a large tree in the back yard. That was his destination.

The street was dimly lit during the setting twilight, so it was incredibly easy for someone like him to access this tree. The house was dark, just as he knew it would be. He took a quick glance around him, smiling at his good fortune tonight. The neighbors weren't home either, and there was no one out taking a walk on the street due to the chill in the air. He veered right, slowly walking between the two houses. He took his time climbing the tree. The action wouldn't start for another half hour at least, and he could take his time getting settled in his spot. It was perfect, not too high or low with just enough cover that anyone looking into the backyard wouldn't see him. The tree was just close enough to the house. It gave him a perfect view of all the windows in the back half of the house, he noted again as he sat down in the little rook in the branches. It was like a little chair made just for his purpose, and he thanked his good fortune again. He was accustomed to uncomfortable situations in cases like these and was grateful for the change.

It took her a full hour to get home this time. Something must have held her up at work. She was wearing his favorite ensemble of hers; a little grey pencil skirt and white blouse with her best pair of fuck me heels. Absolutely delectable.

He found her in a coffee shop near his work in the city. She had dropped her blueberry muffin near his table, and he had reached to pick it up for her. She smiled flirtatiously and thanked him. Who wouldn't have? He smirked at his thought. He knew who he was, knew what he looked like. Nothing like the monster he knew was sitting in wait in his heart. He could have any woman he wanted, but there was something about them, this, that stirred something powerful in him. He loved it. The hunt. The power.

He refocused on the house. She was in the kitchen making dinner for herself. It looked like a microwaved shrimp scampi was in the cards for tonight. She hadn't changed out of her little outfit and he was grateful for that as she stood by the microwave. She was a beauty. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a soft bun, and her figure was accentuated by the outfit she wore. Oh the things he would do to her. Tonight felt exceptionally right to him, and if she stuck to her schedule, tonight would be his night to feast on her.

He sat in that tree for four more hours. She ate her dinner and watched some T.V. while going over files that he assumed were from work. She liked to put on those cheesy Y. A. based T.V. shows. Why anyone would want to watch a T.V. show about a bunch of sixteen year old boys with too much facial hair screw up everything they possibly can was a mystery to him. Just like clockwork though, at eleven o'clock she shut the T.V. and lights off and headed upstairs. It took exactly thirty seconds for her to make it up the stairs before her bedroom light turned on.

She looked beautiful in the dim light of her bedroom. As she slid off the skirt and unbuttoned her blouse he let out a little growl. She was a rare one, he thought as she slipped off her bra. The white of her breasts were illuminated by the light. Something in him stirred. He would be patient, for it was a sure fire way to not get caught, but the monster in him would enjoy playing with this one. As her light turned out he began to make his way out of the tree.

He had parked his SUV near the park, and went to retrieve it. It was late enough that no one would be out. He just had to watch out for patrols. As he made his way back he hummed to himself. He was quite fond of Adele's new album and hummed bits and pieces of songs on the album during the short ten minute walk. He climbed in and started the car, but as he made the turn onto 3rd Avenue he shut his lights off and slowly parked a little bit away from the house at the end of the street in a church parking lot. None of the lights were on in the lot and no one was around after dark, something he'd noted while examining the area. He got out and opened his trunk, swiping the duffel out of the back before closing the vehicle. He opened the duffel just to make sure everything he needed was in there. He double checked everything twice. He had yet to make a mistake and tonight would not be the night.

He began his slow walk to the house, again humming to himself. He approached the back stoop. The bag was set down on that stoop, and a flashlight was procured from his pocket. He held the light between his teeth as he opened the bag. Inside was everything he would need; rope, plastic wrap, etc. But he would first need the little kit in the back pouch of the bag, a rag that he had coated in Chloroform and placed into a ziplock bag, and his favorite latex gloves. He opened the baggie and placed the rag in his back pocket.

He used the little kit to open the door quietly. He left the duffel outside and crept silently into the house. He was careful not to make a sound as he climbed the stairs and approached her bedroom. The rag was removed quietly from his back pocket as he approached her thankfully open bedroom door. Again, he smirked at his luck. He approached the bed cautiously. She was illuminated by the glow from her clock, the blanket down around her hips, and her hair around her head. She had just barely fallen asleep, and that was when he pounced, pressing the rag to her mouth. He watched the fear in her eyes. He held her down as she struggled and finally went limp against his hands.