• A figure sillouetted by the harsh light of street lamps stalked the empty alleys. Slowly, deliberately, they walked…their footsteps echoing across the damp walls. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance. Suddenly, they stopped, looking up at a single window, a light still glowing in it. The light fell in a pool on the figures face, their eyes glowing bright. With focused eyes, they scanned the side of the building; a single metal staircase led up the side of the bricks. They climbed, their feet falling lightly, making not a sound. Reaching the right level, the figure pulled a knife from their jeans, and peering into the window, saw a man sitting on a queen sized bed in a plain looking room. The figure waited, still as the staircase they stood on. The man rose and exited the room. As quick as death itself the figure opened the window, entered the apartment, closed the window, and crawled into a cramped closet. The man came back, carrying a glass of water. He sat back down on the bed, picked his book back up and continued to read, every once in a while taking a sip of water.
    Something scurried across the figures foot. They stabbed downwards with deadly accuracy. The creature squeaked lightly. A mouse, a filthy disgusting creature like this wasn’t worth killing, but, it helped get the figures true target.

    “That darned mouse.” The man mumbled, getting up and walking over to the closet. When he was only three steps away, the figure lunged from the confines of the dark closet, knife bared, growling like a beast. The man screamed in fright and confusion and stumbled backwards. The figure only grazed his arm with their knife. He turned his back on them, foolish man, and ran towards his bedside table. The attacker jumped on his back, and he swung his elbow backwards, catching his attacker in the jaw, they fell off him. The man reached his nightstand, and pulled out a gun.

    “Stop right there!” He ordered. His assailant laughed.

    “Go ahead.” They said, spreading their arms wide. “Shoot me.” The man could see his attacker clearly for the first time. This caused the man to pause.

    “Who are you?” The man softened his stance, giving the attacker enough time to lunge. The knife met the man’s chest. He grunted is surprise and fell to the ground, gripping the knife sticking out of his heart. As his last breath left his body, the attacker laughed a giddy, triumphant laugh. Pulling their knife out of his chest, they turned to leave, but, as a last thought, retrieved the dead mouse from the closet and shoved it in his mouth.