Resolutions End

"Happy New Year" The crowd yelled in merriment, as another decade came to a close. A drunk girl I didn't know came up to me and gave me a big hug and a sloppy kiss on the cheek. Lighting a cigarette, she grinned at me and pronounced "Last cigarette I ever smoke!" I returned her grin, knowing this was one resolution that was doomed to failure. No drunk person can give up the death sticks I thought to myself. I could think of one way I could help her quit, but then I would be breaking my New Years Resolution, and I was adamant this year I'd stick to it.

I walked away from her as she fumbled through her bag in search of a lighter. The thought of never killing anyone ever again was weighing down on me, and I wanted to be alone. Like the smoking girl, I had chosen to give up something I loved, knowing that ultimately it was bad for me. No doubt the pressure from non smokers was influencing her decision to quit, just as society's perception of my hobby was influencing mine. I was approaching 30, and it was time to give it up, while the going was good.

"Hey, wait the fuck up!" the smoking girl slurred from behind me. She'd found her lighter and was puffing away on her smoke aggressively.

"If it were me, and that was my last smoke, I'd be slowing down and savoring every last puff" I said, turning back to face her, flashing my pearly whites at her merrily. Despite being the drunkest person at the party, she was quite striking, with short brown hair, perky breasts and a nice tight body.

"What? Oh," she replied, in her drunken state temporarily forgetting our conversation from one minute ago. "Well it doesn't have to be my last cigarette. Not if I don't want it to be. Everyone knows New Years Resolutions start after the party, once you wake up to a brand new day," she said throwing her arms in the air and doing a little spin, spilling her champagne and stumbling in her heels.

"Is that so?" I asked her, taking her by the shoulder to steady her. "We can continue our nasty habits till the break of dawn?"

"Of course. It makes farkin' sense. It's a party. You can't give up what you love at a party! Till the break of dawn!"

I took my eyes away from her and looked around at the other revelers. There were about fifty of them, still hugging and slapping each other on the back to bring in the new year. No one was paying any attention to us.

"Wanna get out of here?" I turned and whispered in her ear.

She smiled and grabbed me by the arm and led me away from the back yard and into the hosts house. She seemed to know her way around, as she headed straight for an empty bedroom. My heart raced, my loins burned, and even though she was wasted, I think she saw the desire in my eyes. Little did she know what I had planned for her.

We stripped naked and she lay down on the bed, inviting me with her eyes to join her. The look she gave me soon turned to one of horror as I pulled out the blade I'd been holding behind my back and started towards her, slapping my hand over her mouth just in time to muffle her screams.

I plunged the knife into her once, twice and then a third time, collapsing on top of her when I was certain I'd taken her life from her. All anxiety fled me as I gazed upon her lifeless face. "Last cigarette ever," I whispered as I stroked her hair back from her face.

I started to doze, a sloppy mistake for someone who was as experienced in my hobby as I was. The thought of not killing again had been a burden on my soul every since my last kill a week ago. I was still adamant I would stick to my New Years Resolution, but the smell of fresh blood and thrill of the moment had put me at peace. My last thought as sleep took me was that I didn't even know the drunk girl's name.

I awoke to knocking at the bedroom door. Initially I ignored it, but as the memories of what had transpired flooded back to me, I jumped up with a start and made for the door in case someone tried to open it.

"Rooms taken!" I yelled as I put my weight behind the door. I looked out the window. Dawn was coming. Drunk Girl was now a pale white, the sheets turned crimson by her blood.

"Well it's my fuckin' room!" The knocker replied angrily. The guy must have been drinking all night. He went to open the door and I pushed it shut.

"Naked in here!" I called out.

"I don't give a fuc...." he fired back, trying the door again.

I opened the door just a foot, revealing myself to the knocker, hoping he'd go away.

"Oh. You're naked." he slurred.

"Yes."

"Why are you in my room anyway, who've you got in there?" he asked the questions in quick succession, trying to peer around me to the bed. Something must have caught his eye, because he pushed on the door to get into the room. I wasn't prepared for it and it gave way, letting the knocker enter.

"What the fuck!" he yelled, looking at Drunk Girl's body and then at me. As his drunk mind grasped what must have happened, fear entered his eyes and he turned and ran out the room.

I looked out the window. Dawn had arrived. I removed my knife from Drunk Girl and turned towards the door. I ran out of the room in search of my prey. I'd try again next year.

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