SHADOW

Second Phase

It was barely 6 a.m and I was already preparing to leave my house. I was dressed outside of my attire. Instead of sweats, I wore jeans and my usual dark sweatshirt.

My phone rung with an incoming call. I frowned. There were only two people that could possibly be calling me at this time in the day. And I wasn't expecting a call so soon.

I looked at the caller ID, puzzled. This had never happened before.

I answered the phone skeptically. I didn't have time to say anything before the insults poured in. My eyebrows furrowed. Usually I'd get an anger filled string of text messages, but I had never received a call this early in the process.

"Are you even listening to me, asshole?"

"No Jayde," I answered truthfully. "I'm not really sure why're you upset with me."

"You. Left. Me. Didn't text me. Didn't follow through with a single thing you told me except the sex. That's all you wanted from me!"

I cocked my head, amused at her outburst. I spoke calmly, a slight mocking to my tone. "You wanted me to stay the night after your parents came home? You wanted me to stay to talk to you? While you were sleeping? I may be talented but I can't read minds, my love. So tell me what you're upset about again."

She went quiet, only the low static filling the silence.

"Exactly," I stated bluntly. "Count yourself lucky that I let you insult me for that long. It doesn't happen often. If you want me to see you again all you have to do is ask. I'd love to hear about what's in that pretty little head of yours."

She was quiet for a few more seconds. "Okay," she said simply.

I smiled, satisfied with her submission. "Great!" I said happily. "If you're lucky you'll see me today."

I hung up the phone before she could say anything else and shoved it in my back pocket. I left my house and headed into town for the day. I'd make sure to catch up with her by midday, but until then I needed to find something to eat.

It had only been a few days but I needed to keep myself healthy for the time being.

This time was perfect to go hunting. Inevitably there would be somebody out for an early jog. I stopped on the outskirts of the inner city and parked my car in the first suburban neighborhood I could find.

I slipped out and took my hood down before I started walking along the sidewalk. Sunrise had already happened. I didn't bat an eye at the offensive rays.

I walked two blocks without seeing a single person. By the third block I finally found somebody but she was surrounded by three dogs. The black one out of the three sniffed the air and growled at me from across the street, inciting the others to start barking. I passed the opportunity, it was too much trouble. I might not have a heart but I did like dogs and I'd rather not have to hurt them. They were animals just like I was.

I cut across a street and walked a little farther until I finally found someone.

It was a man, maybe in his mid-thirties. He was fit and I guess people might classify him as handsome with his well-groomed beard and hair. This would be easy.

I approached him as he occupied himself with tapping away at his apple watch. He hadn't even noticed me yet. This is what got people killed; their inability to pay attention to things other than their precious devices. Luckily for him, I was in a good mood. I wouldn't kill him. I just needed to feed a little.

I bumped into him purposely, gaining his attention immediately.

"I'm so..." he trailed off once he met my eyes.