Alyssa’s chest is stained with blood that’s slowly congealing on her skin, cracking as it dries and turns from vivid crimson to rich burgundy. Quickly checking to make sure no one is around, I carefully place her in the back of my truck and pull the covering over to hide her. I slide my phone from my pocket and send a quick text to Kit.
Me: Get everything ready. I’ll be there shortly, and don’t start on me with the ‘I called it’ bullshit.
Kit: Be there in 30
My phone vibrates again, and I shake my head when I see another message from Kit.
Kit: I still called it though. See you soon.
Smug bastard. I grin before stowing the phone back in my pocket and starting up my truck, enjoying the low rumble and the steady vibration as the engine comes to life. Looking over my shoulder, I stare out the rear window, making an effort not to look at the bed where the dead flower is hidden from view. Seeing that the way behind me is clear, I pull out of the space and head for Kit’s.
Like always, he’s already there when I arrive, signature grin in place and eyes lit up with dark glee, like it’s his birthday or something. I suppose flowers for special occasions are somewhat commonplace, although the ones I bring are far from the traditional gift. He tosses down the butt of his cigarette, stubbing it out with his boot as he approaches my truck. Kit eagerly tugs the cover off, and it’s like watching a child unwrap a birthday present. I can see the excitement on his face even in the faint glow from my tail lights.
“You’re spoiling me, Zach. But it might be wise to slow down. People may start to notice something’s up.”
I snort in derision. “I leave nothing behind, and every one of these girls has been a nobody or an outcast. They won’t be missed, and I’m not stupid enough to hunt in the exact same place, over and over. Besides, what evidence is left behind once you’re through with them?”
Kit nods, appeased by my response, and instead refocuses on Alyssa.
“What’s this one’s name?” he asks, stroking her face and peeling back her eyelids to gaze into her eyes.
I clear my throat, and he looks at me with dark eyes. “Alyssa. I found her through a dating, friendship app I recently downloaded.” His eyebrows shoot up and he appraises me, a perplexed expression on his face. I continue, “I have my reasons, and this was less conspicuous than prowling the streets.”
“Is there someone in particular you’re stalking on this app? What’s her name?” he asks slyly, a smile kissing the corners of his lips.
I roll my eyes and let out a breath. “Violet. And before you say anything else, this one is different. I need to take another approach.”
“You’ve never needed an app to get someone you want before, you’ve always just taken them.” he snorts before continuing, “I’ve never understood your obsession with flowers, Zach.”
“Well, I’ve never understood your obsession with them after I’ve killed them,” I fire back, more harshly than I intended. Kit’s a friend, but talking about Violet with him makes me antsy. I’m not sure I’d be able to let him have Violet when I’m done with her.
“Touché,” he laughs.
I can tell he’s realized he must have hit a nerve, but we’ve known each other long enough for me to tell he’s not upset by my response. This is the closest either of us have come to verbally acknowledging one another’s less than conventional interests.
“Come on, let’s get her inside.”
Chapter Seven
Zach
I feel calmer, less unsettled, now that Alyssa is with Kit. I refuse to let my imagination conjure up scenes of what he might be doing with her prior to the cremation. Killing the flowers so they may become an addition to my garden is the only thing that has brought me any sense of peace since my dad left.
Violet has my thoughts scattered, and she’s sent my wild desires out of control. Her face is woven through my mind like roots beneath the earth, and I am entirely consumed by my need to have her. Once a week, since my first visit, I have returned to her home, calmed by each fresh kill and the knowledge that no evidence will lead back to me. I watch her unhindered, and each time I see her, my need grows more violent...more deadly.
During the day, she messages me, and the loneliness bleeds through her typed words, like an unspoken plea to cure her solitude. She’s starting to cling to me, to my replies, and every day my impatience begins to make itself known. The shoots of desire are growing swiftly, and soon enough, she will blossom...then I will take her for myself.
My phone buzzes with a notification, and looking at it, I smile as I see the familiar username flash across the screen. Without opening the message, I read the short text. I smirk when I see she has mimicked my signature, only swapping out the letter ‘Z’ with her own initial.
ViBlackthorn1064: You’ve been very quiet the past few days. Did I say something wrong? V.
ShadowZ952: No, of course not. I’ve just been busy with work and stuff around the house.
ViBlackthorn1064: What do you do for a living? I’m an IT technician for a small local business.
ShadowZ952: Landscaping. I like to work with my hands.
It’s not a total lie, but it’s not entirely the truth either. I do take the odd landscaping job on occasion, but
