Sadist, An Anthology: Gift

I know it doesn't seem like it to you, but each killer has their ideal setting for a kill. For me, tonight is just nearly perfect.

My surrounds are painted with an inky blackness, punctured by small dots of electronic light. This would normally be a hindrance to other larger predators looking for prey. However, they aren't me and I perform well in this darkness. It's a comfort to me, like a blanket or a warm night in front of the fire; the prime conditions for me to hunt down my target. The air is cool against my body as I walk along the wall, making out the faintest of shadows of my form on the floor, accentuated by the moonlight.

Footsteps. Not mine. Smaller, like they can already sense my presence. The target is here. 

I can feel my pupils narrow in excitement as I put one foot in front of the other, ears tweaked for any sound that may resonate throughout the place. Skitters bounce off of timber, tile, concrete... they may as well be a homing beacon or a neon sign.

The target darts out on the ground underneath me and I can feel my pupils dilating with abject pleasure. I already know that this is going to be a good kill, but right now I need to focus.

I hear them turning right, heading for the door. They're still following the wall and I can't help but feel like there's something in the back of their mind that can feel that something is amiss; there's a crack forming in their world and yet, no sign of where it might have come from. It's not me that they feel because at this stage in my life, I know so much better than to give myself away and scare them into the shadows. However, there's a feeling that they can't shake, that something is wrong and yet nothing looks out of place. And yet, the anxiety that is setting in is only getting louder and there is no way they can switch off the white noise. Not until something breaks the deafening silence around them.

I'm looming over them now, standing above them from a reasonable height. Enough at least so that they can't hear me breathe like I can hear them; of course, I've trained myself to listen out specifically for it while they are hopefully still oblivious to my presence. If I time my landing just right, this'll all be over in seconds. I have this down to a fine art now.

Not even a squeak fills the air as it happens.

I carry the body back to my charge's room; the moon is still out and I can hear his breathing radiating throughout. It's a comforting sound, something to counteract my intense focus from before. There has to be a balance to all things and it's this balance that reminds me of why I do what I do.

I sit beside him on the bed, finding a nice downy spot on it. The change in his breathing that I hear shows that I've woken him up. As his eyes open however, all I can see is that kind, sleepy face that gets me up in the morning. 

He smiles as he reaches behind my ear. "Hey beautiful; you wanna sleep with me tonight, huh?"

He scratches my ear. I lean into it, emitting a contented purr indicating my approval at that offer. It's moments like these that remind me of why I hunt each night. Why I look after him like I do. He is so lucky to have me.

The body is still on the floor as I curl up in his arms, cleaning my paw before I drift off to sleep. He'll be so proud of me in the morning.