The Ripper Returns

The Slaughter

Predator and prey, the hunter and the hunted. We've played these games since the beginning of time. Animals have always had a pecking order. The wolf eats the lamb, the lion catches the gazelle, and the eagle catches the little mouse. I'm particular to vultures myself. Carrion birds that hunt the living and live off the flesh of others. Sometimes you have to use the parts of others to survive. If someone is wasting their body, then they don't need it anyway. Vultures are often depicted as the villains in the story, yet what's wrong with simply trying to survive? Nothing.

The most thrilling part isn't the kill but instead stalking your prey. When they find out you've been following them they'll have the initial shock, but it's the recognition and then terrified betrayal that gets my adrenaline going. The look that flashes through their eyes when they know they're going to die is almost tantalizing. The stench of fear, regret, and pure, unadulterated terror.

The darkness fell and the biting cold took to the streets, coating everything in a slight layer of frost. The rolling fog obscured everything in sight and limited vision down to a minimum. A young woman leaned against the nearby pub, analyzing those who passed her by. She was searching, stalking. Each man who passed her was scanned up and down as she looked for any sign that they may be the perfect target.

The air reeked of vomit and piss as the pub's inhabitants tended to exit, relieve themselves, and go on their merry way. The unfortunate factors of living in the seedy areas surrounding the port, the woman thought to herself as she breathed through her mouth. She would never get used to the smell.

As one of the men drunkenly stumbled past her, her eyes caught the small coin purse swaying from his belt. He was rather disheveled and in his current state, would be prime pickings.

"Hey handsome," she called out to him. "Where ya headed tonight?" The man looked up and his eyes landed on the woman's chest before finally focusing on her face. He smiled and she noticed the smile was yellowed with a few teeth missing here and there.

"Anywhere as long as it's with you sexy." The man slurred out. His attempt at flirting would have failed miserably on any sane woman. This woman had a goal in mind though. She approached him slowly and instantly fought the urge to get away from him. The way he watched her forced a chill up her spine. His body was slightly hunched in his drunken stupor, disguising his true height at the moment. The woman guessed he would be around five-nine at best. Only two inches taller than her wouldn't be a problem if things didn't quite go her way.

"Well then how about we," she smiled seductively, "head back to my place? It's just right over there." The woman pointed off towards a nearby set of apartment buildings. They appeared rundown yet functional at the moment.

With the alcohol coursing through the man's veins, the woman was easily able to influence him into following. She led them towards the building through the ever-growing, dense fog. Only shadows were visible as the night continued. She stole the key to the room off some poor sap who had fallen victim to the rampant opium dens sprouting up. His body didn't need it anymore and she still hoped to survive.

As they went up the short staircase and up to one of the entrances, the woman could feel the man begin to fidget. He seemed to be growing rather impatient in the current situation.

As she pulled the key from her hip, the man spun her around to face him and pressed her against the door. He planted a sloppy kiss against her lips before rapidly moving down her neck. All she could feel was his sticky saliva that made her want to retch with each passing moment.

The woman imagined the little bag hanging off the man's belt to keep herself sane. Just a little more and she'll be free of this disgusting man, she thought to herself. A little further and my pockets will be a bit heavier with someone else's money. Enough to eat tonight at the least.