Elliot

1

The soft glow of the streetlamp cast elongated shadows across the alleyway as Elliot Harper moved with practiced silence. The night air was crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of rain and asphalt. His breath, though steady, came out in short puffs of white mist. He was calm, unnervingly so, despite the urgency of his task. In his hand, he clutched a small, polished knife, its blade catching the lamplight and reflecting a sinister gleam.

The alley was quiet, save for the distant hum of late-night traffic and the occasional scurry of a stray cat. Elliot's target, a young man named Alex, was oblivious to the danger as he scrolled through his phone, engrossed in their conversation. They had met only hours earlier on a hookup app, the chat flowing seamlessly into a real-life meeting. Alex's excitement was palpable in his texts, an eagerness that Elliot had found easy to exploit.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," Elliot said, his voice smooth and reassuring as he approached Alex. He offered a charming smile that had, more than once, disarmed a potential victim. Alex looked up, his face lighting up with recognition and relief. The two exchanged casual pleasantries, their conversation filled with the pretense of normalcy that Elliot was so adept at maintaining.

As they moved further into the alley, away from the main street and into the shadows, Elliot's smile grew colder. He had planned every detail of this moment, from the secluded location to the precise timing of his movements. Alex, trusting and unsuspecting, walked beside him, unaware of the danger that loomed just out of sight.

Without warning, Elliot's hand tightened around the knife. He made a quick, practiced motion, and the blade slid silently into Alex's side. The sudden, sharp gasp of pain was the only sound that broke the night's stillness. Alex's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, Elliot was upon him, his movements swift and efficient. The final, desperate struggles of his victim were nothing more than a brief, futile dance with death.

The life drained from Alex's eyes, and Elliot's task was complete. He wiped the blade clean and tucked it away, his expression returning to its charming façade. He moved with the same calm efficiency as he had arrived, leaving behind only the echoes of a dark and unspeakable act.