Another Monday Morning

You strike with the precision of want and hit her in the back of the head. She stands, for a minute, as if stunned such a thing could happen, before she slumps like a rag doll back against your chest. The number in the phone is half-dialed. You place the phone back on its hook, and lead the lady away as if she's simply drunk, letting the quarter hit the floor.

The alley you choose is close and dark. Doorways loom up, painted into the brick of their buildings and disused, piled with refuse. SOmething skitters, stops, and runs away. There is little light - the fading evening sunlight is dim and listless here, as if it's unwilling to witness what you're about to do.

You tie her up with discarded nylon rope, and gag her with a men's tie. The act is quick and dirty, and you wait for her to be awake before you start.

When you finish, the night around you is protean and quiet. People going home, their shadows flickering over the mouth of the alley, muted laughter, footsteps. The smell of Chinese food, the slap of something liquid hitting the sidewalk. A beautiful day has ended and a beautiful night has begun, and you've only started your celebrations.

You turn to your new companion, ready for Round 2, when the light darkens even more and you're forced to look up. There's a shadow, a silhouette at the mouth of the alley, a black man-shape. You can't see any details; you don't know if he's seen you... but he's just lingering there, as if waiting to come in.

Then you hear the first muted crunch of his footstep in the alley...