The Art of the Anti-Hero

The Art of Eloise (pt 1)

Humans... filthy, dirty things with little to no morals. They are self-centered, selfish, prideful and just plain disgusting. That's why I am going to eradicate them with my hands.

Sitting on top of a burgundy, tiled roof, I watched them. They danced, smiled, drank and sang to their little heart's content. It was amusing how they always seemed to have fun after they have done their despicable deeds. The crisp and clean air danced around my dyed red, curly hair and kissed my dark brown face. The loud and bass boosted music rattled my nonbeating heart with Ciara's 'Body Party' blasting through the speakers.

They all danced, snatched up with their significant other to this sensual song. I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth.

"I'm having so much fun with you!" they screamed out. We'll be having fun alright. Smirking, I shook my head and my curls lengthened and lost their vibrant red color. I then stood up and grinned. I bet if anyone would look at the roof top, they would see the bringer of their demise. The night breeze swirled around with me, but this time, I danced with it. My skin color changed to the color of a lightly tanned European girl visiting the Californian coast in the summer. My blonde, straight hair whipped around me and caught on the zipper of my jacket. Seeing that even my height had changed to that of a shorter stature, my perspective was now different. I grinned.

By the time my transformation had ended, the song had switched to Drake's 'I'm Upset'. Suiting song for a suiting situation. I was upset. Stupid filthy humans filled with disrespect... Then my eyes shifted to my ex. Licking my lips, I smirked. "You're last."

In the next breeze, I took the time to smell the air. The scent of humans, sweat and nature all intermingled and assaulted my nose. However, I determined that they were all here. My targets were all here, and soon the air would be filled with the glorious scent of blood and fear. Pure fear.

"I'm Upset!" and on that, I fell backwards from the roof and landed behind the building in as much grace as Gabby Douglas. As if I had been here forever, I blended into the crowd, and kept my nose on lock with the scent of my prey. If my heart still had a beat, I bet it would have been going crazy in excitement.

"Three." There he was, my first prey. He stood there with a cup of red liquid in his hand. He swirled it as he laughed and spilled his ignorance with the two guys that stood there. "Not prey."

"Well, hey there, beautiful," one of his friends was the first to see me as I approached him.

I batted my eyes and flirtatiously smiled at him. "I'm not here for you, I want him," I purred as I rested a hand on my first prey's chest right over his thumping heart. Looking at him in his big, brown, alcohol shot eyes, I bit my lip. "What are you into, big boy?"

At first, he seemed shock, then as the hormones took over, he was in full heat. "Whatever you're into, baby girl."

I slowly pushed my hand into my pocket and ran a thumb over my blade. "Well, icy boy..." With a swift motion, I yanked the knife out and plunged it into his heart where my hand had once rested. "I'm into your blood!" His eyes widened in shock and even though there was music playing, there was a beat of silence in the air. It was as if time had stopped for this glorious moment only to restart again with the squelching of blood and flesh gushing out with the removal of the blade and his body making a thump as it crumpled to the floor. Warm blood soaked my fingers and pooled on the ground around him in a crimson puddle.

A girl nearby was the first to scream and the two guys who were with my first prey tried to grab me, but I was too quick. In an instant I was running amongst the herd of frenzied humans, changing my appearance to get my next target.

Sniffing the now blood and fear filled air, I locked on to her. "Two." I was now a young man running through the crowd and straight towards her. There she was, hiding behind one of the old buildings. "You good, sis?" I asked while leaning up to the building to 'catch my breath'.

She looked at me with tears brimming over her hazel eyes. "I think that was my friend back there!" she screamed. "I think he's dead." She then started bawl. Like a good human of society, I embraced her, and due to her vulnerable nature, she cried into my chest.

"There, there," I comforted. "You'll be fine. You wanna know why?"

She looked up at me with her makeup smeared face and nodded. Her eyes widened and a gasped escaped from her lips as a cold and already blood covered knife found its way in her abdomen. She then started to scream, making me plunge it inside her over and over and over again until her lifeless body slumped over me. I looked up and smiled at the onlookers who stared at me in shock.

"Who's next?" at the sound of my voice, they ran screaming at the top of their lungs. I giggled as I changed my appearance again. This time I took my original appearance. My bright red hair was noticeable amongst the frightened stragglers. I thought he would have been amongst them, but he ran away. I guess that he had a clue of what was going on, but not who was doing it, so, of course he would hide.

I giggled as my nose locked on to him. In no time, and with my enhanced speed, I found him running towards his car.

"Hey!" I giggled as I approached him. His head whipped around and his chocolate brown eyes widened as I came toa stop under the street light. I mean, I didn't blame him. Imagine your dead ex walking towards you covered in blood and with a knife in their hand.

"E... El... Eloise?" he stammered out.

"In the shape shifting flesh!" I mused as I walked closer to him. "One."

Stumbling back to his car and struggling to get his keys out, he dropped his hat. His keys then followed suit. "Do... don't come closer!" The scent of fear and blood in the air was enough to drive me mad with excitement. I was going to kill this monster.

I cocked my head to the side and grinned. "I don't need to," I giggled as I threw the knife at him. He caught it between his eyebrows and his eyes widened in realization.

The parking lot grew quiet after the thump of his body hitting the floor graced my ears.

"None."