John Peters wasn't what one would call an anxious man. Usually, he was able to keep a cool head and an open mind under stressful situations; at least, that was what his manager would say about him in his quarterly evaluations. But there was something about this night in his Oregon town that put him more than a bit on edge.
He didn't want to walk home tonight. In fact, he had asked practically everyone in the office if they could give him a lift home; hell, he'd even asked his supervisor for a ride. But they all had something else to do, whether it was staying later to finish that last report or going home early to see their family.
John managed to convince himself that it was probably the fog that made him nervous. The fact that he couldn't see anything that was happening around him was enough to make anyone anxious, he figured. At the back of his mind, however, he knew that there was another reason that could be the cause of his edginess. It had been one that was gnawing at this brain for weeks, ever since his girlfriend had shown up at his place with a wild look in her eyes, telling him that she didn't want to be with him any more. He didn't know why she had called it off so soon; he was going to propose to her in a week. But she was obviously scared, and as much as he offered to help her out of whatever jam she was in she insisted that she didn't want to get him involved.
She said didn't want him to get hurt.
John heard the sound of footsteps from behind him; the distinct sound of heels against concrete that sent chills down his spine.
"Hey, Baby," a familiar voice cooed in a foreign tone, "Did ya miss me?"
John jumped and spun around, facing the source of the voice.
"L-L-Linda?" he sputtered, "What the hell?"
"'L-L-Linda?'" the woman mimicked, stepping out from the shadows into the streetlight, "Sorry to burst your bubble, sport, but she's gone. Has been for some time. Since about...oh, I dunno...three months ago? It was about the time she cut ties with your sorry ass, that's for sure."
"Get OUT OF HER," he shouted, running towards the woman he still loved. She laughed, and in one swift motion stepped out of the way and pinned him against the lamppost.
"Tsk tsk tsk," the woman said, her eyes turning black, "That's no way to treat a lady."
"You'll never be her! Whatever the hell you are, you'll never get away with this."
"That's why I came to you, dummy. You're the only one that gives two shits about her. And I can't have you running around telling my little secret," she said, her voice saccharinely sweet as she pulled a knife from seemingly nowhere, "Now, if you excuse me, I have to make a phone call."