Misery- a heartless assassin. Stalking his new prey, a small woman known as Joy, he slips from shadow to shadow, unnoticed. His target knew not that she was being watched; she knew not what fate lay ahead.

Slowly, stealthily, Misery slides inches behind the woman. The tightly held wire in his hands was at the ready. With lightning speed, he jerked forward.

No sound came from the victim as the wire wrapped around her neck, cutting into her skin as it suffocated her. Her hands clawed helplessly at the tiny weapon, but to no avail. In one swift jerk, Misery cut completely through Joy’s neck.

Her head toppled over and her body collapsed. Instead of blood, a silvery white mist flowed out from the clean cuts the wire had made. The mist drifted upwards, and from it, joyous laughter and squeals could be heard.

As the mist and laughter faded, Misery sighed. Joy would be reunited with the elated mist eventually, but until then, she would be an empty soul.

“Until next time,” he whispered, saluting the corpse. With a soft whoosh of his cloak and slight clicks of his boots, Misery disappeared into the night, leaving Joy's corpse behind.