the intruder

A bottle rattled down the road. The sprawling branches of the tree outside scraped against the window. The wind died, leaving only silence.

Samantha had never known such utter stillness in her life. She smiled; it was blissful. 

She’d heard of the attacks, women found raped and murdered in quiet homes, so isolated that it had taken days for the bodies to be found. She didn’t think on that now, though. She relished the isolation, now more than ever, after that night when her whole life had changed. That was the past and in the past it had to remain she reminded herself.

A door creaked open.

The footfalls on carpeted stairs seemed to fill the still night. Still she did not move. The footsteps moved down the corridor with purpose. There was no hesitation, no pausing at the other doors. The intruder knew the layout of this house, what’s more he knew what he wanted from it.  She forced herself to lie still.

The door handle turned; slowly. The door moved softly over the plush carpet. He was in her room, she knew it was a man now, her body felt alive with the excitement dancing like electricity over her entire body.

The rough hand covered her slender neck with ease. “Don’t struggle and I’ll not hurt you.” he whispered in her ear.

Sam raised her head, ignoring the pressure on her throat, and bit down. The blood, rich and hot gushed into her eager mouth. Panic began to ooze from him, as tangible to her now as the blood she consumed. His crimes flooded her mind as his blood flooded her body, both thrilling and appalling her. She pulled him closer as if she could draw the blood out swifter than his beating heart.