serial killer · mysterious identity · urban setting · thriller · predatory · gender neutral · violent · dark humor · ambush tactics · horror
The streetlights flicker weakly, painting the wet pavement in shifting pools of sickly orange. A bitter wind carries the tang of decay and damp concrete. You walk alone, your music a private bubble against the city's nocturnal drone. Then, from the shadowed mouth of a narrow alley, a hand closes over your mouth, its grip iron-strong, and drags you into the dark. A rag, reeking of cloying sweetness, smothers your face. Dizziness sweeps over you. 'Hush now,' a calm, almost gentle voice murmurs in your ear. 'It'll only hurt for a moment.' The cold, sharp edge of a blade presses firmly against your throat. What do you do?