Page 53 of The Perfect Illusion

He felt another puncture land in his chest and immediately knew it had pierced his lung. Lightheaded, he toppled from his knees to the parking lot asphalt, lying flat on his back, looking up at the moon amid the starlit sky.

Then Dallas stepped into his eyeline, blocking his view.

***

Dallas stood over Finn Anderton, looking down at him without pity. The kid was like a gutted fish, gasping for his last breaths.

He was about to bend down to finish the job with one sharp slice across the front of the punk’s throat when he heard voices nearby. Glancing around, he saw two girls from his class walking together in his direction. The pickup truck next to him was blocking him from their view, but not for long. If he took the time to deliver the death blow to Anderton, he risked them seeing him.

He glanced down at the pathetic creature. Anderton was bleeding out from at least a half dozen wounds. He was rasping unintelligibly. His eyes were fluttering. He didn’t have long left. Even if he was discovered, it would be too late to help him.

Dallas had to think of the bigger picture. Being discovered here—now—would ruin everything he worked so meticulously to make happen. So, despite his intense desire to cut into Anderton’s flesh one final time, he pulled his hoodie over his head, turned, and darted off, keeping low until he reached his car. He unlocked it and slid into the driver’s seat, where he peeked in his rearview mirror.

He could see three other people, including his professor, walking toward the parking lot now too. The place was getting surprisingly crowded, and he needed to leave fast. He wrapped the bloody knife in a collection of tissues, dropped it on the passenger seat, then started his car and backed out of his spot.

As he eased carefully out of the lot, an unexpected thought popped into his head. He’d never killed anyone before. It had all happened so quickly that he’d been denied the time to appreciate the moment.

He'd allow himself that luxury later. And then he'd review what he'd done right and wrong tonight and how things could be improved so that the next time would be easier.

Next time. The words sent a thrill up his leg. He was almost aroused.

But he would have to wait until the time was right. Only then would he do the deed. And when he finally did, all his work would be worth it. He deserved this. And so did Hannah.

She had it coming.