Sooner or later, someone will kill me. I am nothing but a shadow, a fleeting glimspe of pain and regret. Moving among dark alleyways or crowded city streets. Mesmerized by the sights and smells. The crowds of people who go about their lives, never understanding their lives until that one brief instant which stares them in the eyes when it starts to slip away from them. I've seen that look in many eyes. That slow realization on someone's face as it dawns on them that they will never again witness another sunrise or sunset. To know in their hearts that they are slipping away into that vast and dark unknown. How many lives have I ended? And why? Were these insignificant people, ones who were of no use to the modern world? Or were they just random targets whom I picked merely for the fun of it?

Not even I could say.

I cannot change the creature I am the killer that I will always be. To change my nature would be to kill me, and that wouldn't do. I've accepted my role as the executioner of my fellow humans. Could they ever accept me as their judge? I have determined the lives of over one hundred people and their fates as well. The police have searched for me approximately over five years now. The F.B.I. has tried to find me also, but can you truly find a person who doesn't seek to be found? Not only are their manhunts ineffective, but their methods as well. I've walked and rode past many of their roadblocks. It makes no difference how they seek to find me. But my practice is too perfect, my escapes too extraordinary to be captured or killed by them.

You disagree? Then let me tell you about this one victim that I killed...

Her name was Maria Samonas. A 23 year old college student and quite a respected worker at the main hospital downtown. She was easy prey and I enjoyed every second that I spent watching her, observing her movements, going about her daily life. She drove a black, two door Honda Accord. I followed her everywhere. Watching as she went from home, to her classes, and then to her job. I saw her in almost every aspect of her life. How she visited her grandparents on Saturday and spent Sunday with her family. Yes this one was really special. I felt that about her immediately after laying eyes on her. How she loved to go to this little cafe that was only a half block down from her apartment. I followed her there, and watched her still. Fascinated by her beauty. Her large eyes and glowing smile. An absolute blend of beauty and gentleness that I found absolutely erotic. And I loved her for it. I made her my pet peeve. Watching her as she went to McDonald's with her friends. Going out on Fridays to her boyfriends' place.Watching her as she sometimes played the piano that was downstairs in the lobby of her apartment complex. And she was quite good at it too. Even I admit that. Her personality made her a unique target, and I wanted some time alone to be with my prey...to appreciate her death when I found it time to kill her.

And I got my chance too. She was standing right outside her place, looking at the flat tire that her car had. The look on her face was one of disbelief, and as I rounded the corner and saw her, I slowed my car down and pulled up behind hers. She stopped to look at me with a quizzical look but didn't say anything to me. As I got out the car, I smiled and asked her if she needed some assistance. At first she shook her head no, but when I inquired the second time, she readily agreed. She gave me the keys to her car and I deftly went to retrieve the spare tire from the trunk. She looked at me as I did all this but didn't get in the way. Working very quickly, I glanced up at her and gave a brief smile. She was standing there looking so gorgeous in her blouse and skirt..I could just imagine the feel of her skin in my mind. But I didn't stop working on her tire until I was through and her spare tire was secured in place by the caps. I stood up and she stepped forward and offered me her hand.

I shook my head. Didn't want my precious dove to become unclean. That wouldn't do. So instead I just told her that she should be more careful when she's driving. She promised me that she would, and as I handed her the keys to her vehicle, she flashed another smile at me. Then she got in her car and drove off. There was no need to follow her. Today was Thursday, which meant that she was on her way to a tutoring session where she worked as a mentor. She was rewarding, my prey was.

After her car turned the corner, I went back to mine and pulled out a rather large bookbag. Inside were all the things that I needed. Today was the day. She would certainly die this evening, and I would enjoy it. Not only would she come straight home but her boyfriend wouldn't be coming over either. That was always a good sign. I walked through the front doors of the building with the bag slung over my shoulder and walked past the main desk. The small, rather petite young woman who sat there never even looked up as I went past. That was better. I quietly slipped around to the elevators and got in the first one that opened. To my surprise, an elderly lady was in there. I stepped into the elevator and she smiled at me. I pressed the button for the floor I wanted and just stood there as the doors closed. When the elevator started moving, I felt her tug on my bag. I turned around to look at her, and she smiled again. Told me that the bag looked heavy.

I wasn't really in a quick mood to answer, the elevator was stopping on my desired floor. As the doors slid open, I gave the old lady a smile and waved to her as I left the elevator. Then I walked down the hallway to door #503. Maria's suite. I pulled the pick gun from my pocket and opened her door after 5 seconds. I slid into the room and closed the door behind me. Marveled at what I saw. How clean her place was. Obviously this young woman took pride in her apartment as much as she took pride in herself. There was nothing out of place. I dropped the bag on the floor and walked over to her telephone. No messages. I looked over at her entertainment system, but didn't touch it. I went back to the bag and knelt down. I opened it and pulled out a pair of heavy gloves. Putting them on, I realized that I had an hour to set everything up before she came back. I walked over to her fuse box, and opened it. All of them were working properly. I flipped a switch and pulled two of them out.

That would keep her from cutting on any lights. Then I went back to the bag, and pulled out a signal scrambler. I placed it behind her desk that the phone sat on, and activated the device. Then I walked into her bathroom and drew her a bubble bath. I knew she would be very tired this evening when she returned home. I finished that and walked back into the front room to scoop the bag up off the floor. Now it was time to wait.

Maria came home a little after dark. I heard her keys as she opened the lock and came into the room. She closed the door behind her, and the apartment was in darkness. I patiently waited as she walked from room to room while effortlessly peeling off her clothes. Then it started. She walked into her bedroom and flicked the light switch. When it didn't come on, she started going from room to room, flicking the switches and growing very irritable. My little dove had an angry side after all. I waited until she went to the kitchen and straight to the fuse box. She opened it and muttered a curse as she realized that two of the fuses were missing. I walked up behind her and quickly grabbed her, surpressing her screaming but she started kicking like hell. I have to admit, that excited me even more. She was going to put up a fight. So I did what I had to do. I knocked her out with an anesthetic.

As she started drifting out of consciousness, her attempts at kicking and fighting grew more and more passive until she finally just went out like a light. I dragged her from the kitchen to her bedroom and placed her on the bed. She was so very beautiful and the softness of her skin was perfect. I quickly peeled her bra and panties off of her body, then I pulled my bag out from under her bed and selected two ropes from it. I used them to tie her quite securely, then I went back into my bag and pulled out my digital camcorder. When she awoke, she would be the star of her very own show. And I would have a memory of her.

As I sat there drinking another shot of Tequila, I noticed that my little dove was moving. I got up and walked over to the bed and sat down beside Maria. She was still groggy from the effects of the anesthetic, but she was coming around pretty fast. I looked down at her and smiled. In the darkness, there was no mistaking the fear that was running through her mind. I saw it so very clearly on her face. When her eyes locked on me, I knew that it was time. I decided to up the ante and pulled out the stainless steel hunting knife that I'd carried in the bag. Her eyes widened as I slowly brought it within her view. I smiled. Maria wanted to scream but that was impossible so long as she wore the little choker that I'd placed on her neck. Now we could begin. I reached down and slowly removed the gag from her mouth, warning her that if she made a sound, she would die quick. Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded her head slowly to show me that she understood. When I removed the gag, she started pleading with me to let her go. I slowly leaned forward and kissed her lips. Surprisingly, she didn't offer any resistance. I stood up and looked down at her. She was crying very softly and begging me to let her loose. I smiled again. I placed the tip of the knife against her left thigh. She asked me if I was going to rape her. I shook my head and told her that I was going to kill her. She gasped loudly and started crying harder. I told her to relax. I wasn't going to kill her yet. She needed to be cleaned up first. With that, I picked her up from the bed and carried her to the bathroom. As I placed her in the tub full of warm water, she started trying to kick me, and so I just simply pushed her head down under the water. Since she was bound and tied very securely, she couldn't do anything but try to squirm and get free. I grabbed her by her hair and pulled her back up. Amid the water that streamed out of her hair and down her face and neck, she was crying and trying to breathe deep breaths at the same time. I grinned.

I figured that would've scared the crap out of her. And it did. When I released her, she grew quiet and didn't even try to fight me again. That was good. It meant that she now understood the rules of the game.

And I had a new participant for my show.