The dim lighting of the restaurant made her look more attractive than she really was. That, along with the fact tonight was the night, made Keith’s smile genuine.

            “Are you enjoying your dinner?”

            “Oh, yes, it’s delicious.” She blushed. It turned her pale skin an unbecoming shade of mottled plum.

            He placed his large, warm hand over her smaller one. “It’s important you have a good time tonight, Saundra.” Anticipation was thick in his tone and she shuddered and rubbed her bare arms.

            “Are you cold? I can order some coffee. Or a brandy.”

            “Oh, I’m fine. Really. You’ve been more than generous the past few weeks.”

            “You deserve it.” He blotted his mouth with a white linen napkin. “I want you to know how special you are to me.”

            “I do. And I want tonight to be special for both of us.” Their gazes locked as the waiter cleared the table.

            “Please bring the check,” Keith said.

            At her house, he sat beside her on the faded, floral print couch and wrapped her in his arms. His lips brushed hers, cottony light, and she sighed in contentment.

            He shifted to pin her legs under his weight while he pulled a length of rope from his pocket and twisted her arms behind her back. He loved the rush of this moment. The moment when he looked into his victim’s face and saw dawning realization.

            The wide eyes, the trembling flesh, the labored breaths he’d silence at his leisure. How he enjoyed their heated struggles for life as it made them sweat and intensified the scent of cheap perfume.

            But Saundra was smiling.

            Bemused, he thought she might believe this was a naughty game. To dissolve her illusions, he whispered close to her ear.

            “I’m not here to seduce you.”

            “I know.” She snuggled deeper into the couch. “You’re here to kill me.”

            “What?” His voice was a dry croak. “You mean you want… to die?” 

            Her smile remained beatific. “I prayed for death to come. Then, one day, you did.”

            “Why do you want to die?” Fear crawled up his sweating back. No one had ever welcomed him before. Or placed their hopes in him.

            “It doesn’t matter. I’m ready to go.”

            “I can’t.” The women had to be fighting and scratching and screaming for life in order for him to be able to sink his blade into their softness. Again and again.

            “Please.”

            “No!” He leaped from the couch. “No! It has to be my way, not yours.”

            “Okay, we can do it however you want.”

            “You ruined it. You aren’t the one. You aren’t special.” He ran.

            “Keith, wait.” By the time she sat up, his tires screeched as he pulled away from the curb.

            Saundra picked up the knife he’d dropped as he’d fled. If you want something done right…