Darkness. Light cut across and scythed open a wide

path to illuminate the stark, small utility room as

the door was thrown wide. It was a dismal space

portraying unwelcoming paucity crammed with a few shelves

for stray items. Into that sparsity moved two figures, one

turning on the minimal lighting to provide an even, but ugly,

layer of radiance.

     The first person into the room was a sweetly pretty,

young woman. She wasn’t over twenty. Her blonde hair was

shaped for presentation; her face was made to attract men. All

movements indicated giddiness as she eagerly entered the light.

     Behind the woman was an extremely elderly man

conducting her path. He also had a joyousness within him,

exuded by a twinkle in his deep-black eyes and weakly parted

lips revealing pearly teeth clenched together. As he closed the

door, his silence became penetrating.

     “We have arrived, tell me,” the girlish woman cheered,

“I am happy you want me here!”

     The old man remained quiet. His gaze drilled her open

and enthusiastic face.

     “Talk to me,” she exclaimed, lightening the demand

through heightened timbre, “I could spend all life here with

you.”

     Wrinkled and feeble hands shook as they lifted tight to

his chest while his body squeezed closer to hers.

     “Yes, my love,” the girl said, “tell me good things,

now!”

     Those black eyes were hungrily staring into hers

slightly above him. His hands trembled as they rose under his

chin. Then his claws gently wobbled across the small span

between them and grabbed at her slender, exposed neck.

     “You want me,” she declared, “I’m so happy!”

     His hands tightened. They were clenching and

unclenching clumsily.

     “I now see you like tickle games,” the woman said

between forced gasps for air, “This is good. First fun and then

we are happy together, here.”

     The old man’s face contorted worse, wrinkles

deepening. Clamping hands and frustrated body weight applied

to his prey’s shoulders slowly put her on the ground. She

didn’t understand what he was doing. He didn’t seem to know

what he was doing, but he was trying regardless.

     “This is strange,” the girl choked out while the man

was on top of her, “I need help.”

     Effort increased; the elderly man slowly choking the

woman.

     “Help!” she screamed, arms flailing awkwardly.

     Behind the man’s back, the door to the small room

whooshed open. Into the frame of the entrance walked a very

normal-looking, nearly middle-age man of average height and

average proportion. The new comer’s eyes stared at the aged

man with fiery anger. He slowly walked forward to the two

near-prone bodies inside the small space.

     “Oh, thank you!” exclaimed the female, “Something is

wrong. We need help.”

     Turned to face the intruder, the older man’s eyes were

wide with fear, his countenance open as sweat began to form

within myriad wrinkles to course down blotched skin.

     “I knew this might be,” the standing man stated with

disdain for the attacker.

     A pause.

     “You’re doing it wrong,” the younger man growled.

Grabbing a large box from a shelf above the woman,

he pulled. When the box was mid-air, he slammed it down into

her head with all his might. The blow instantly stilled her.