Chapter 1
The air is cold around me as I wait for her, the morning dew on the grass soaking into the bottom of my jogging bottoms but I don't care. I must wait. Any minute now...
Her front door opens and she steps out, putting in the ear buds of her headphones. Good, I think, she won't hear it coming. She starts to run as soon as she hits the pavement. I wait a moment longer and then set off, keeping a steady pace behind her.
She doesn't turn, doesn't suspect anything as she runs. I watch her as I have done for weeks, the way her body moves, the long shapely legs tensing as she runs.
We continue along the same route, pace matched exactly, feet pounding on the pavement in perfect synchronicity. I have watched her do this route every day for the last two weeks so it is no surprise as she turns into the local park.
The sun is coming up as I turn with her, replacing the hard concrete for springy grass, adjusting my pace as she increases hers. Ahead, the copse of trees appears. I slow down for a moment as I reach into my pockets and pull out the thin piece of wire, a garden flower-tie, nothing more, but so useful to me.
The trees close in around us and I see my chance. There is nobody around, I've already checked. There never is at this time.
One burst of speed, that's all it takes to catch up to her. She can't hear me though, can't tell I'm there until it's too late.
The wire fits nicely around her throat. She tries to struggle, tries to hit me and pull me off, but I'm too strong. I can feel my pulse through my hands as hers slows. Her movements slow.
I pull her head back and look into her face. I want to see it, to see the light go out of her eyes. I want mine to be the last thing she sees. Every inch of my body is racing with the joy of it, the pure power that I have over this fragile creature.
She drops to the floor, face red, eyes bulging and I straddle her, pinning her arms down, not caring if they break. She is past caring now, so I should be. My hands wrap around her throat and I squeeze.
Her feet kick and she struggles a little more, but then she stops. A small voice in my head tells me to bury her, it always tells me to bury them, but I can't. I won't. She doesn't deserve the dignity of a burial, not her.
I stand up and fold her arms over her chest. Let some bloody dog walker find her for all I care.
I pick up her iPod and put the buds in my ears. The Killers blast out at me and I smile. Not my favourite, but it will do. I turn my back on her, there's no point in looking at that thing any more. I'm done with her. I just need to run, to get home. I might even walk the dog.
Laughing at my own humour I run.
