The Night Walker

She tugged at a lock of hair absent mindedly, silently running over the shopping list in her mind.
Eggs
Cheese
Toilet paper
Soap
Onions
Flour
Those cool lolly things
The Professor was still talking dully, a paper plane settled itself on a desk in front of her, and was promptly launched into the air.
Chips
Chicken
Cheese
Margarine
She turned her head and stared out the window at golden clad trees. What she would give to be out there right now. Her shopping-list deteriorated as she contemplated selling her soul to escape the room. Did the devil accept IOU’s? She’d already sold her soul to Darrin for a couple of Cds. Thinking of Darrin she scanned the room. And where was the blighter? Skipping lecture wouldn’t bode well for his report card, nor would standing her up last night. She glared at his empty seat. The bastard had left her waiting in the cold. She’d waited two hours before giving up and going home.
“Have a good week.” Yes, it was over for an entire week! Grabbing her bag she made her way through bustling hallways and out into the sunshine.

The mall was quiet still, mothers were still picking up their children from school, and the older kids preferred to go to the other centre. Walking through the rusting doors her footsteps echoed against white tiles. The supermarket was devoid of life. She couldn’t see a checkout chick or a shelf stacker anywhere. She walked through every aisle in consternation. That was stupid, someone could come in here and take what ever they wanted. Feeling guilty of this thought, she moved towards the loading docks, sticking her head through the plastic doors. But it was quiet in here too.
Mayonnaise
Lettuce
Chives
Tissues
Cake Mix
Cocoa
Coffee
Lemonade
The list ran through her head as she strove to take her mind off the stillness. How hadn’t she noticed its oppressive silence earlier?
And then she noticed the speck. A splatter of red on the ground, dark red really, she realised as she crouched beside it, investigating. It was probably just tomato soup, but she wasn’t going to touch it.
Tomato Soup
She added to her list. Damnit this was freaky. She probably should’ve called out, or even have used the intercom? And why had she forgotten her phone today? She was an idiot. The biggest one around. Rising slowly she continued moving further into the loading docks. A truck was parked in the centre, half unloaded. The driver’s door was hanging open, and a faint trickle of music dribbled from the radio, which made her wonder, why hadn’t the store radio been playing? There was another speck on the ground next to the massive trailer doors of the truck. Curious she peeked in and almost retched.
The stench was horrendous; something had gone off in the hot trailer. Wrinkling her nose in disgust she turned away.


If she didn’t leave soon … The thought trailed through its twisted brain, hunger and fury curling its claws into abnormal limbs of twisted flesh and nail. It struggled to hold in its savage growl, saliva dripping from extended fangs as its wet tongue moistened its lips as eyes watched her every move like the predator it was.
Deep inside it found a flicker of desire for her, a lust that it knew would magnify until it engulfed its being and drove it to attack her. But it wouldn’t close its eyes, it had to keep watching her. It was trapped here, and if she found it …
She was stooping over another blood spot, her fingers resting so delicately against the cement. And now she was humming, off tune and nothing it recognised. She was truly frightened. It could hear her heart beat, smell her fear, and there it was again, that small pang, a feeling that always overrode its murderous instinct. Withdrawing further into the shadows it dugs sharp talons into its chest, grunting softly as it slowly tore away its flesh, revealing red muscle and white tissue. Drops of blood pattered against the crate as its fingers delved into a small hole, withdrawing a tiny vial filled with an amber liquid. Using its teeth, it pulled out the stopper, and watched her as it swallowed the contents.
Unintentionally it yelled as every limb froze into a cramp, pain burning its brain. Thankfully its distress was masked by her shrill scream, tens of bodies destroying her mind and momentary sanity. She screamed and screamed. And finally she was silent, a crumpled heap on the floor.
The creature crouched down, its limbs relaxed now, as it slid emotionlessly down the food crates and over to her. It turned her body over, dragged a finger over her smooth flesh, her neck, until her shirt stopped its progress. With a guttural noise it inhaled her scent deeply, imprinting it on his brain before withdrawing to his high vantage point to wait the coming of night.