Page 95 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

Since you think I pump my cock at night…

–M

She was going to strangle him.

With purpose, she walked back through her bedroom, down the stairs, and wound up in her kitchen looking for an airtight container. After perusing the cluttered stacks of them in her cupboard, she settled on the smallest one she could find before heading back up to thescenein her bathroom.

Using q-tips and surgeon steady hands, Anika gathered up a small sample of his semen and sealed it off.

“You stupid fuck,” she muttered to herself.

Satisfied with what she had, she set it aside and rummaged through her cleaning supplies. A cleaner with enzymes known to break down body fluids and a scrub brush should do the trick.

After scouring the basin for ten minutes straight, she was satisfied her bathroom was clean once more. All the toiletries and makeup brushes he’d ruined were in the trash, a list of what she’d lost cataloged in her phone.

Either he or Levi would be purchasing replacement items for her.

Scalding hot water reddening her skin and multiple pumps of soap finished off her cleaning routine. Wiping her hands on her pants, her towel also diseased, Anika slipped her phone from her pants pocket, needing a distraction.

Before she could considernotdoing this, she typed out a quick text to Levi.

Since you make big money and all…wanna spoil me this weekend? I need some new makeup to look pretty for you:Anika

His answer came back almost instantly.

Levi:For once, I’m not the one arranging the date?

Levi:Consider it done, beautiful

Anika huffed and merely shucked her clothes off and fell into bed.

28

Stalking

Unknown

He thought you didn’t see him,couldn’tsee him, for everything that he was. But you knew when to let your guard down. Most of what you’d built around yourself was a facade—an illusion for others to drink up. And if he fell for it as well, all the better for you. You savored the attention, relished in the idea that he didn’t know all your plans.

You had parked in the usual spot down the street from his house, content to lie in wait. The night was like any other, the leaves littering the sidewalk as the temperature dropped. The colors bled into rusty hues bathing the whole town in warm tangerines and vivid reds.

It reminded you of something else…

Movement caught the corner of your eye, the buildings you were watching suddenly coming alive with activity.

There you are, you little rat.

Swathed in shadow, you waited. This was another piece of the overall puzzle, and you’d be damned if it didn’t fall into place justas you’d designed it. The man you’d been following was oblivious, unable to feel the telltale prickle on the back of his neck.

You loved when they made it easy for you. While your emotions were usually tucked neatly away, seeing his face incited an indescribable rage.

Later, you’d let it all outlater.

Now, it was time to engage in adelicatedance.

Outwardly, you were normal. Another face blending in with the thousands roaming the city, but did anyone else see through the illusion? Even if someone did, it’d be too late, your gun silencing them.

Besides, you enjoyed the feeling of naivety that came with this persona, thismask.