The darkened shadows of the night covered the entire city road, hiding much of the buildings from seventeen year old Rebecca's sight and shrouding many of the alleyways with its inky darkness. She hurried quickly through the dark streets, intent on returning sooner than later to her home. She knew she shouldn't be out this late, her mother had warned her about it many times before - and yet, she often found herself drawn to the pale moon in the sky and the flickering shadows that danced upon the cobblestone beneath from the candlelight street lamps. This particular night she had decided to take a walk outside when midnight reared its head, to visit the park on the other side of the town. But tonight was extremely cold, drawing her back home like a moth to a flame. She walked quickly upon the ground beneath, the clicking of her heels upon the cobblestone beneath riccocheting in the silent air and providing miserable company to the teen. A sudden, sharp intake of breath was heard from behind her, causing Rebecca to stop quickly and look backwards with eyes darting around to find the source of the noise. Nothing. Lips tightened into a thin line as she continued to walk, albeit with a faster pace now, wanting nothing more than to lay in the warmth of her sheets and fall asleep until dawn.
A noise shattered night's silence once again, this time the whisper of footsteps against the ground beneath that were not her own. Once again the teen stopped in her tracks to look back, and - again - she would see nothing but shadows. Taking a sharp intake of breath into her lungs, glove-covered hands reached downwards to grasp at the bottom of her dress, bunching it within palms so that she may lift it upwards and begin to run forwards through the darkness. She did not know what it was she heard, perhaps it was simply her imagination from lack of sleep, but she refused to take any chances. She ran down the street and swore she could now hear footsteps racing along the ground behind her, but now she did not waste time stopping to look: she simply continued running. A dark alleyway stretched to the side of her, beckoning to her - and without giving another thought, young Rebecca would dart down its hallowed halls in hopes to lose her pursuer. She stopped running once she was sure she was hidden well in the darkness, looking out into the light clad street in hopes of seeing who the mystery person was that was so intent on keeping pace with her - but saw nothing. Typical. She scoffed, releasing her dress and straightening the hat on her head that had fallen lopsided in her short jog.
'You're just imagining things again, Rebecca.' She convinced herself of it, turning around now to head even deeper into the shadows - she knew this alleyway, knew it was a shortcut back home. But just as soon as she turned around to head back she found herself colliding with a solid object, hands quickly flying upwards to shove against it as to prevent herself from running face first into it. Rebecca quickly begin to back up, whatever she had walked into hidden in the darkness of the alleyway. It was only a second longer before the answer would come to her, as she now suddenly backed up into the same solid object, this time recognizing it as a large chest - chest of a fullgrown man. The slippery feeling of a hand wrapping around her waist was felt, his hand gripping at her stomach and pulling her backwards into him so that she was unable to run. Another hand slipped across her mouth so that she was unable to scream for help: the skin felt cold and leathery. Panic coursed through her and made fast the beating of her heart, arms and legs starting to flail now as she hoped to hit him enough to make him let her go. But whoever he was, whatever he was, he was much too strong for her: no matter how much she kicked or punched backwards at him, he simply stood solid as a rock.
"My, my, aren't we a feisty one?" A silky smooth purr rolled out from the mystery man's lips, the delicious crackle of a pleased laugh mirroring his words as they were spoken. Rebecca suddenly felt cold air whispering against the smooth expanse of her neck, the soft pout of his lips kissing against her skin and sending shivers down her spine.
'No!' The voice in her head screamed as she opened her mouth ever so slightly before snapping it shut upon one of his fingers that still encased her jaw. An almost animal snarl came from the man as she tasted foreign, metallic blood entering her mouth, her teeth refusing to break free of their hold. The hand around her waist suddenly loosened its grip before slamming against her back, sending her flying forwards to the ground beneath upon knees and now extended hands. She gasped as the rough stone beneath cut the flesh of her palms and scrapped her knees, but she had no time now to coddle her wounds. Instinct took over now as her right hand flew towards her right boot, palm connecting with the cold handle of the dagger she carried. Wandering so late at night so often, it was only natural for her to feel the need to carry such a weapon close: and now it seemed it would most certainly come in handy.
"Foolish girl!" The same silky voice as before suddenly thundered in her ear from somewhere very close behind her, rage clearly expressed in his words as it punctuated each syllable that he spoke. Grinding her teeth, Rebecca drew the dagger from its sheath just in time. The harsh grip of fingers against her shoulders were felt, and without hesitation the teen would twist around wildly with dagger in hand. Shock widened her eyes and a squeal escaped her lips at the sight of the dagger hilt now sticking out the side of the man's neck, darkened liquid spilling from where the metallic blade met flesh.
There was no chance for her to look at the man more closely, merely heard an undignified roar escape his lips as the blade hit home in the side of his neck. She watched only for a brief second as his hand lifted to grab at the dagger, before she would turn back to the dark alley, shoving herself upwards and take off running once again. She tripped several times over her long dress, labored breathing coming in ragged strokes in her throat as she would continuously whip her head backwards in fear of seeing the man following her. He never came. She slowed her pace only once her hand met the cool exterior of her home's door, fingers gratefully twisting the knob and body shoving inwards before slamming it back once she was safetly inside. Heart still raced as she leaned back against the door now, eyes still wild and a lump settling in her throat.
"Fuck, I just killed a man!" She whispered in a hoarse voice to herself, eyes trailing down her body now to look at the satin gloves still upon her hands: dark and damp, soaked through with the strangers blood. Disgust came across her features as she quickly pulled the gloves from her hands, bunching them within sweaty palms before walking over to the fireplace and throwing them in.
'It was him or you.' The voice spoke again in her mind, seeking for her to draw peace in her heart with what had just happened. And yet... She could not accept it. Not yet. Biting her lips so hard blood leaked out, she headed up the creaky steps of her home to her bedroom. The door to her parent's room was left slightly agape, allowing Rebecca a chance to slip her head inside - her parents slept peacefully upon their bed, wrapped up together in a loving embrace. A smile drifting across her lips for only a brief moment before disappearing once more, she would slip her head back out before heading to where her room was. Quietly and quickly she undressed, taking off her heavy dress and replacing it with a sheen, silk nightgown. Slipping into the covers of her bed, she lay her head upon the pillow and closed her eyes, quickly finding sleep.
But not before she could hear a voice whispering in her mind, a silky smooth purr: 'Don't think you're safe. I'm coming for you, pet.'