1. Masterpiece

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Masterpiece

Mask

I have a secret. I could find her anywhere—not because I know everything about her, but losing her would never be an option.

This game I’ve started of hunter and prey is the only way we can be together forever. A rustling sound awakens the paved abyss as the wind blows dry, crunchy leaves around the half empty parking lot, rolling them across the cool pavement and down the street. When the leaves settle and silence falls over the dimly lit, dusk-washed streets again, I hear her.

I’m so fucking obsessed. My sweet, rainy little storm cloud trudges out of the hospital entrance and to the light rail stop. The way my fingers ache to brush over her soft, creamy skin is unbearable. They would recognize her any place; ravishing every part of her. I imagine the slender curve of her neck beneath my hand. It’s elegant and sleek, sloping gracefully into her dainty shoulders, sprinkled in tattoos. I’m painting a scene in my mind, creating a wild fantasy. Her breasts would heave and fall beneath me as I leaned over her body, memorizing her beautiful face. Everything about her is pure perfection, she’s my little masterpiece.

The bell rings, signaling the train is about to arrive. It rips my attention away from her for just the slightest moment. I hate this part of our route home. I quicken my pace, hanging back just enough to be one of the last people to board, leaving me seated in the very front with my back to her. It doesn’t bother me nearly as much now as it used to. Once I realized I could use the mirrors all over to see her, it made losing sight of her for only a few moments bearable. The second warning bell sounds and I step onto the light rail train seconds before the entrance doors slam closed behind me. As I slide into my seat, I pull my baseball cap down lower over my face and tug on the hoodie strings of my black zip-up sweatshirt. It takes me less than a minute to locate where she’s sitting. I count the number of seconds, racing my best time.

It’s a short ride to her stop. I climb off first, slipping away into the shadows to watch from my hiding spot. She should be going to the gym tonight. Like the creature of habit she is, my little muse turns up the street that leads to the shops nestled inside the neighborhood, like a secret sanctuary for its inhabitants. I follow her, unphased by my own behavior. We’ve been doing this little song and dance for a few weeks now, moving as one: hunter and prey. I sneak along behind her, ducking down the side streets and alleys every time she looks back over her shoulder. She’s uncomfortable, but it doesn’t stop me from studying the way she moves, committing it to memory. It’s not always safe to go walking through the streets of the city alone at night. I’m also searching, taking in every aspect of our surroundings, like a vigilante.

The long summer days have faded into eerie, dusk steeped nights as fall’s impending reign steals the last bits of sunlight from the sky. If I’m going to keep her safe from the dangers of this world, then I can’t let her out of my sight. Our evenings together are something I’ve come to look forward to. She works out at the gym for an hour after long shifts at the hospital, and I sit across the street watching her inside while eating a different flavor of ice cream. The way her body bends and moves should be a sin. I have to adjust myself so no one else can see the intoxicating spell her body has me under. The sweat glistening on top of her skin does unspeakable things to my thoughts. Mesmerized, I allow my imagination to run wild as I watch her rhythmic movements. If only I could run my hands all over her body, the way they crave to touch her. My body pinning hers against the wall, burning with desire as I drag my greedy fingers over her soft, dainty curves. Just the thought has me itching to race across the street and act on my impulses. Instead, I take a deep breath and shove another bite of ice cream into my mouth, licking the spoon clean. Soon. , checking the time on my watch, but not tonight. Not yet. Our game has only just begun. I intend to play with her a while longer, savoring the minutes I intend to spend with her from now until Halloween. The smile creeping across my lips is sinister. It’s so hard to contain my excitement. I’ve planned out all my moves in this diabolical game of chess. I continue to watch her, enthralled with the object of my attention as I shove bite after delicious creamy bite into my mouth.

Soon my ice cream is gone, and she’s wiping down with a towel. I watch with longing as she tucks it into her gym bag. Lifting her water bottle to her plump lips, my masterpiece parts her lips, and takes a long swig. I imagine they are parted around my dick as she swallows it inch by inch until she’s gagging and unable to breathe. I snicker to myself. She doesn’t even realize the danger she is in at all times. I’m a goddamn masochist when it comes to her.

As she emerges from the gym, I watch and my body tenses with the instinctive rush of adrenaline urging me to follow her. I stand, moving slowly, naturally, so as not to draw any unwanted attention to myself. Once she’s goldiloxed in front of me, I return to the shadows, stalking her. Shrouded by the darkness, I slink behind her, diligently onward to the next destination. Home. I can’t wait. Depending on the day, one of my highlights is watching her undress from the alley at night. My dick is hard and warm against my leg as I imagine her naked. I reach down to stroke my cock, uncaring if anyone sees. She’s mine. I’ll do whatever the fuck I want when we’re together.

The dark tendrils of night snake around both of us. We’re almost home and all alone; just my masterpiece and me.

She stops unexpectedly up ahead of me and I duck behind a car parallel parked on the street. Cautiously, I peer out from the cover of the car. She’s not looking back at me. She’s looking down the alley where she stands. Her foot slides back, preparing for fight or flight. The moment it does, I slip from my hiding spot, walking as quickly as I can without giving myself away. Her chest rises and falls in slow motion. She’s paralyzed with fear. I kick a rock from one of the well manicured yards next to the sidewalk. The noise startles her, and she takes off in a sprint. That’s my girl, run.

It’s probably just a neighborhood cat that spooked her or a strange shadow. Despite that, it’s still fully necessary for me to figure it out. I like to make sure I’m certain my masterpiece remains unscathed by others. I turn down the alley with a loud skid as my shoes slide over the loose gravel. Ahead of me, the moonlight reveals a shadowy figure slipping away in the other direction. I follow after them at a jog, intent on figuring out just exactly what they think they’re doing following my trophy.

I follow my target closely, taking extra care to remain undetected until I decide to reveal myself. We’ve covered an entire block and are nearing the halfway point of a second when a dog barks from behind me. There’s nowhere to hide and no sense in appearing guilty of following them. The figure in front of me turns just as a flash of lightning strikes in the overcast sky. Thunder cracks, warning us both of the impending fall storm. Soon the rain will turn to sleet, then snow. I keep my head down to conceal my identity. When I look up, he’s turned back around and is continuing his trek. I slow my pace, adding extra seconds to every stride I take. We’re both shrouded in darkness, with two street lights between us. Now I’m walking more like a potential victim, and less like an actual threat. Hopefully, I get lucky and they’re stupid enough to take the bait I’m using to lure them right into my trap. Everything about my body language changes. I’m about to pass across the alley my target disappeared into. In about thirty goddamn seconds, I’m going to show them exactly why it’s not okay to creep on another man’s personal belongings. My masterpiece was created for my eyes and my eyes only.

I reach into my hoodie and pull out the mask from the pocket. I’ve been carrying it around just in case I wanted to kick things up a notch, but now it seems pretty useful for keeping my face hidden. I slip it on, hiding behind the purple neon glow of the dark threads, and count down in my head. Five. Four. Three. Two. One,

My new target’s fist lands against my forearm. The block catches him off guard and he stumbles back like a scared little kitten. Good. He wasn’t expecting me to try to take the upper hand. I use the opportune moment to slip my hand around his neck, lifting him in the air, then slamming him to the cement ground with a thunk. The imposter stalker tries to climb to his feet, but my foot delivers a powerful kick into his ribs so hard I swear I felt some of them snap.

“It’s not a good idea to stand up right now. I enjoy beating the fuck out of bullshit strangers,” I say, slamming my elbow into his back. He collapses at my feet with a groan.

“That’s my good little low-life criminal. Stay down. Kiss my feet.” I growl.

“What kind of kinky shit are you into?” He asks, his voice cracking.

I chuckle, not giving him the satisfaction of an answer, and he stays low. Instead, he lays there belly side down against the cool cement, not even bothering to strain and get up.

I kick him again. “I said, kiss my fucking feet, asshole.”

Deciding that I might be a little more crazy than he is, my new little play toy lifts his head and kisses my black cross trainers. Once he lays back down, I compliment him.

“That’s better,” I say, leaning down to grab him by the hair.

He’s forced to look at me while I’m free to hide behind my mask. “I don’t give a fuck about anything else you want to do in this neighborhood, except for one thing.” I pause dramatically, relishing in the delightful way the power trip rolls through me.

“If I ever catch you so much as thinking about looking at my girl, let alone near her, I will fucking kill you. I’ll snap your neck without thinking twice. Are we clear?”

The dumbass has the audacity to answer. “But isn’t that basically saying I shouldn’t be in your neighborhood at all and that if you catch me, you’ll kill me?”

I clap my hands in an agonizingly slow round of applause for him. “I guess you aren’t as stupid as I expected you to be.”

He says nothing, simply glaring at me for my insult.

“Should I assume your silence means we have a mutual understanding?” I sneer.

More silence. He’s really starting to piss me off, so I slam his face into the concrete without warning.

“What the fuck was that for?” He complains once he recovers.

“You were annoying me. I asked a question, and you failed to answer.” I reply.

“This is the last time I’m going to ask. Have I been clear? Do you understand what will happen if I ever see you again?”

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1. Goldiloxed- To be the perfect amount. Not too hot, and not too cold. To be just right.