BOB
Alexis posted again. Beautiful as always.
I zoom in on the photo and recognize the park behind her. Willow Park. A sign, obviously. I double tap to send her a DM.
Hi Alexis. You don’t know me, but I’ve been following you for a while. I can’t help being drawn to you and your posts. I know that’s what you wanted. Someone who sees you. I can be that man. Dinner tonight? Meet at Willow Park at nine?
—Bob
Send.
She reads it but doesn’t reply. That’s fine. She’s playing hard to get. I check her feed again; she goes to all the same places I do. It’s fate.
By seven I’m parked outside her favorite restaurant. I see her car pull in and panic hits. I’m not ready yet. I duck behind the dumpster and wait until she drives off. Then I follow.
She pulls into her driveway. I park down the block and watch the house. An hour later she steps out, barefoot, in a white silk nightgown, to water her front lawn. The porch light glows around her like a halo. She wants me to see her.
I step out of the car, heart hammering.
“Hi, Alexis. It’s me, Bob. Hope it’s okay that I—”
She presses a finger to my lips. “Shh. Of course it’s okay. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Her hand slides up my neck. She leans in, inhales, and smiles. “You smell good.”
She pulls me into the backyard. The air feels colder here. She pushes me against the house and kisses my neck. Then pain. Sudden and sharp.
“Ow,” I laugh. “I see you like it rough.”
The sensor light flicks on as she lifts her head. She smiles wide, revealing sharp, elongated canines. Blood coats her mouth like lipstick. She wipes a drop from the corner with her finger and licks it clean before burying her face back into my neck.
I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes.
Then everything goes black.
ALEXIS
Pathetic excuse of a man.
Those are the best tasting ones though.
Dinner was an easy catch tonight.
Back to gardening. Those roses aren’t going to prune themselves.