“Aren’t you tired of being tired?” Rebecca’s breath came out with a shaking start, a quick suck of the cigarette masking the unease. “It’s exhausting. It’s endless. It’s incessant.” She looked up, the hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Let’s be awake together.”

“All work and no play, I bet that’s what you think of me. I get it. The truth is, I like the work. It feels good to build up to something special.” Rebecca leaned closer. She smiled. “Playtime is better once you put in the effort. I should show you. You’d make an excellent project.”

“What’s a girl to do, I wonder. I can’t let you go, but you don’t deserve to have me. I know it isn’t fair but that doesn’t concern me.” Rebecca felt her skin blush. This was rare. It was pleasant. “Maybe just once. And then at least we’ll know what it feels like to be loved.”

The heat was unbearable. Rebecca noticed others watching her as she melted in the unforgiving swelter. “You could fan me if you wanted. Or get me a drink, something overflowing with ice.” Her smile faltered, sweat smudging her makeup. “Just imagine how warm our night will be…”

“It has a habit of creeping up on you, the temptation.” Rebecca lounged, her back arched, staring up at the ceiling. She knew eye contact wasn’t needed. This one was all hers. “It’s like your mind trying to persuade your body. Or the other way around. Both lose in the end.”

Heat only served to fuel her hunger. It sped up her metabolism, making one meal less filling and another always necessary. She’d hold back her drooling, ravenous nature. She displayed nothing of the fire within. Rebecca watched and waited. “Hey, stranger. Going my way?”

“Just another face…” Rebecca swirled her glass and watched the liquid churn and slosh against the rim. Her eyes floated across the room and saw nothing but future conquests. She thought some of these pretty features would look good on a missing person poster. “Who’s next?”

“It takes me a few days to settle in I think. Got to see the sights and meet the people.” Rebecca flashed her practiced smile. It was always too easy after first moving in. All the neighbours thought they had a chance with her. “Care to stop by tonight for a drink?” It was a meal she was after…

Rebecca had grand ideas. Thoughts of change, of renewal, of becoming something more than she was. Escaping wasn’t always a bad thing after all. But she knew it wouldn’t last. “I’m not broken. Why fix me?” She couldn’t deny the taste of flesh and souls. It gave her purpose.

Things fell apart in her last place. Too many missing, too much frenzy. Rebecca had let herself go. “I can’t help it. It just sort of sneaks up on me, you know?” She’d cut back. A fresh start. Hunger remained constant. Her eyes darted from meat to meat, lips wet and quivering.

Rumour spread of a new tenant, a surprising development given how expensive the apartment was listed. After the moving van departed, and the scent of fresh flat pack furniture settled, Rebecca watched the city from her window. “Guess who’s back?” She smiled.

“It’s tricky, trying to capture you all at once. Everything you do conflicts with the other. There’s no way I’ll have all of you, is there? So maybe a targeted approach. One at a time. Souls are much nicer when spread out and separate. Who will be breakfast? Who will be dinner…”

“There’s nobody else. Just you, me, and the space between.” Languid didn’t even begin to describe Rebecca today. Under the sun she became almost fluid, every movement elongated to display herself as favourably as possible. “Let’s remove the space, dear. Let’s come together.”

“I don’t know why people smoke after it’s done. Maybe it’s about chasing the high…letting the taste of a morsel like you melt into the tongue. Either way, it’s a habit.”

It’s strange how they ended up in her grasp. No words were exchanged, no orders given, nobody definitively agreed that this was to be their fate. Yet somehow, someway, Rebecca ended up with another slab of meat. It was all for her. “It’s good to be back” She murmured against their cold skin.

“I don’t forget about pretty things like you. The taste on my tongue remains far after the meal, if you know what I mean. Soon I’ll be home, and you’ll be right by my side. Good dog…”

“I hope you can appreciate I need some leisure time. Hot sun, new flesh pounding the streets around me, delicious food…I could stay here forever.”

“I was only gone a day, but I imagine to you that’s endless.” Sunlight beat against the windows, marking a contrast with Rebecca’s pale skin. Her place was stuffy, warm, yet still compelling. “Come in, take a seat. We have a lot to catch up on.” She smiled eagerly, locking the door behind them.

“I like you, because I like pretty things. I think I’ll keep you.” Rebecca smiled. “I’ll make sure you’re tucked away so that only I can have you. You’ll come to crave the love over time. It won’t be long until you’ll only live for me.”

Telltale signs of another satisfied victim. Rebecca couldn’t be bothered to wipe the evidence from her skin. She’d read once that ancient warriors would wear the bones of their defeated enemies as a show of dominance. She wore their lipstick in much the same way.

“I’ll only ever make you happier and happier. Until I decide it should end. Once you know that, it should make everything much easier. Surrender is a beautiful thing…”

“Cold cold mornings, right? The sun still knows when to hide despite the changing seasons. But you don’t care. You’ve been staring at me since you sat down. Do I make you warm at least?”

Rebecca smirked. It was like watching innocence itself try to justify corruption. “You may see my passion, dear.” She leaned in close, breath hot against the others ear. “But I see you…”

“When I kiss you, you’d better appreciate the taste. God knows I crave yours…”

“Whoops. You got me.” Beyond the noise of sickening wet thuds and strangely jagged scraping, Rebecca was there. Her eyes looked glazed in pleasure. Her breathing was short and sharp. “It’s not like anyone would believe you. But why take the chance?” She stood up, smirking. “Goodbye…”

“I think you’re looking for an excuse to spend as much time with me as possible. We’ll see who ends up in the others thoughts Mormon, dear Doctor.”

“Look at you, you’re really crumbling now. All your doors are closing, you know that? You see me at work, at home, in between. I bet you see me when you sleep as well, right? It’s ok to admit it. It’s what I want anyway. So whatever comes next, just know you wanted it.”

Melancholy. Do you ever think of me? The how The when, That magical time when things were Exciting. Passionate. Addictive. But all good things cannot last. Withers. Wilts. Rot. Like sweet botulism on my tongue. There’s nothing left but poison. In the space in between.

When you see nothing but stars, it’s hard to know where…where you stand. How far from your grasp everything really is. It makes even simple things lack substance and…and they become flickering specks instead of…instead of something real. I’m real…I hope I’m real. For you.

She was tired. She tried to turn that lack of energy into an aura of indifference, snaring one or two unwary strangers along the way. “Could you take me home? It’s so muggy outside I’m afraid I’d faint…” She let out a sigh. Rebecca watched as another poor thing became hers.

“Who? I have no idea. Can’t help you.” She kept her eyes shielded, and moved with purpose. As much as she craved the attention, attraction, this was a different place. Rebecca wanted the unfiltered reactions of strangers, not the familiar adoration of colleagues. She smirked. A brand new menu.

The chain wasn’t being pulled anymore. It hung slack in Rebecca’s hand and the meat at the other end breathed shakily. “Finally. If you kept on going I’d have been late to work tomorrow. Can’t have that.” She stood up, flicking her cigarette away. She licked her lips, smiling. “Time to indulge…”

This feeling of ice cold fingers gripping flesh and hair is…is all too much. They want me in one place, still, prone and…and I long only for…for escape. The words get stuck in…in my throat. Like they’re being pushed down and forced back. I crave only song…and…and kisses…sweet tender kisses.

“Sunlight makes me want to change. The flowers blossom, why shouldn’t I?” Rebecca sat uncomfortably close to the other hoping her presence was overwhelming. Once she chose someone, she rarely gave in. “I was thinking of relaxing today. You should as well. My arms are open.”

“Sunday always makes me feel lazy. Just give yourself to me so I’ll be ready for work tomorrow, ok?”

“Friends? No, we aren’t going to be friends.” Rebecca watched their eyes widen and sparkle. She realised what they were hoping for. She hated to shatter their illusion. She wasn’t interested in anything long term, as they probably wouldn’t last until morning. “Dream with me, just this once dear.”

“There’s nowhere to hide, so just don’t. Ok? Make this a nice relaxing weekend for me and give me your body willingly. It just makes sense. It’s silly to fight and get all worn out over something futile. I won’t think any less of you when you’re a quivering mess.”

“A weekend coffee would go down much nice with your taste on my tongue. Shame you’re a little worn out after last night. Do you think you’ll ever recover?”

“It’s a heavy thing to be alive. I’d consider it an hour to lift that weight from your shoulders.”

It’s like a…a million regrets catch up with me at once. I never would have allowed you to be alone without my…my touch. Never would have dreamed of watching you walk away without…without so much as goodbye. It violates my nature. I exist only for you. Come back to me…

too terrified to speak, legs weak, you wont escape me. no one will.

It only takes one wrong turn to end up in her grasp. Alleyways are perfect this time of night and just before the weekend is when guards are let down. “Hey stranger, going my way?” Rebecca smirked, her grip tightening. “Who am I kidding. Of course you are. Don’t scream, dear”

This is not for…for tears. I don’t have to cry. But it can feel good to…let it out. That’s all it is. Letting it out. Giving it to you. Holding my hands out…cupping them in…in gift. See what’s within and…take everything from me.

I come back to the trees once in a while to revisit the sight of the vanishing. From the corner of my eye the mind plays tricks. My editor enjoys this story as it’s cheap to rent a car and cheaper to stay in a motel nearby. I like this story because it never ends. They don’t return.

Lunch wasn’t filling at all. The so called “junior associate” she’d taken with her barely had enough to cover the drinks. She had to pay out of her own pocket for some measly sustenance. “You owe me, big time.” She sneered as they arrived at the office. They’d be alone later. She’d pounce then…

Rebecca was getting carried away with herself. She wanted every inch of her body to have purpose, as if a tribute to all the bodies that had fallen before her. Each item of clothing and accessory was carefully selected. Even those known only to her. “Perfection isn’t easy, sweetheart.”