Ben and I walk down the street. I’m holding onto his arm as usual. I can feel his warmth beneath his sweater, my manicured fingers lightly denting his muscles. We pass a homeless guy with a dog and I turn to Ben. “Can you give him some money, Bennie?” I ask, real sweet.

“Babe, he’ll probably just spend it on drugs.” Ben replies.

“But he has a doggie... please?” I bat my eyelashes at him. That always works.

“Fine,” he grunts, taking out his wallet and throwing a crumpled note into the beggar’s lap.

“You’re so generous, Bennie,” I say to him.

“You know I can’t resist you, babe,” he says without even looking at me. I don’t mind. I know I’m his girl and there are no others. I know he loves me, even though he’s never said it to me. I know we’re gonna get married one day, and I’m gonna give him as many kids as he wants. I’m even learning how to bake so I can be a good housewife.

Sometimes Ben gets mad at me, but I know it’s just because he’s stressed with school. He’s studying to become a bigshot businessman so he can make a good life for us. I see the way other girls look at him in such a sinful way, but I know he only has eyes for me.

“I love you, Ben,” I whisper in his ear.

He smiles at me and says, “I love you too, babe.” My heart is so happy I could fly!

I wake up to hot breath against my cheek, and a presence on the bed whose weight makes me roll towards it. “Oh Ben, I thought you’d be studying all night at the library,” I say sleepily. I lean over to kiss him.

Then the smell hits me. At first I think maybe he’s gone to the gym- he has to maintain his perfect body- but this stink is different. It’s a homeless stink. It’s the man from before. And he’s wearing Ben’s face. I scream and scream until I can feel my throat tearing and bleeding.

“Shhh shhh, sweetheart,” he says gruffly, “Bennie’s here...”

*

A local woman was found murdered in her apartment this morning by her neighbours. Police say she lived with her boyfriend, and his blood was also found at the scene, but his body is yet to be located. Officer Xiang, who was first to arrive, has released a statement saying that this crime is connected to a host of others committed by the same person- none other than serial killer CJ Montgomery. Also called the “Bedside Bludgeoner”, Montgomery is known for posing as a homeless man and killing abusive couples who he sees as reincarnations of his parents. Police say he his armed and extremely dangerous...