Chapter One:

Nights like these are perfect for getting rid of unneeded things in the world, like ex-lovers. The darkness surrounds me and the forest of oak trees, which calmly sway with the wind. I adjust my tunic swiftly, which is partly stuck in the bush I’m hiding behind. “I know she will be coming,” I think to myself. Her dusty brown boots always give her away. As if on queue, she rounds the corner and begins the journey across the winding path, closer and closer to me and my blood-hungry dagger. She easily twists and turns, avoiding fallen branches and stones. The moonlight hits her just right, exposing her pale skin and light blonde hair. I shift around and slowly begin to rise, not daring to make a sound. I twist the knife back and forth in my fingers, slowly approaching her from behind. She was so stupid thinking that there wouldn’t be consequences for all of the pain she’s caused me. Suddenly, I feel a twig snap sharply beneath my feet, exposing me instantly. “Hello Ollie,” she coos at me. I roll my eyes and swiftly hide the knife in one of my pockets. “Miss me?” She asks, with a wicked smile stretching across her moonlight face. “Yeah something like that,” I retort. “Still spreading lies I presume?” She questions. I glare back at her, hoping she can see my crude gaze through the darkness. Our breakup was a mess, with her running away after being caught cheating on me with my best friend of 12 years. She tried to apologize, but I was already set on revenge. Maybe I’m the one to blame for letting everything get so deadly, but it’s too late now. I knew about her lies from the beginning, but convinced my heart I was wrong. I swore to kill her, and she swore to destroy everything that I loved. In just a year, she’s managed to ruin my life, her dagger more guilty than mine. She’s taken my whole family from me with just one knife. And yet, she still claims he had nothing to do with the string of murders. And yet she calls me the liar. Most mornings I like to think my soul is still with them, gone someplace else, abandoning me so I’ll die alone. Most days I feel nothing, no emotions, no fire, and no heart. But during the night, I come alive. She stares back at me, and I still glare back at her stupidly beautiful face. She takes a step backward, as I draw my knife without drawing her attention. I lunge towards him with my knife extended towards her heart. She clasps her hand around mine gently, preventing me from doing something stupid. My mind says, “Do it now, now NOW!” But my heart prevents me from hurting the woman who has caused me so much pain. “I didn’t hurt them, Oliver,” she says matter of factly, before disappearing into the trees. I drop to the ground with my knife still in my hand. I stare up at the stars blankly, waiting for my life to be over. Nights like these are haunting…