Eight O'Clock

If today was such a great day, then why was she shaking?

Alice sat on the couch nervously twisting her ring. For the hundredth time she glanced at the clock.

4:58

She exhaled loudly. It was almost time. She had awaited this day her entire life.

Today she was hosting dinner for the love of her life.

Her watch beeped.

5:00. She smiled. Time to get ready.

She stood up and habitually smoothed her flowing skirt, allowing herself a moment before she began. Then a change came over her face. It was showtime.

Her kitchen was already free of clutter, with what little there was dedicated to picture frames and knick knacks. She methodically gathered them all into a pile and dropped everything into the trash without so much as a second glance.

Next came the disinfectant spray. She pulled her long yellow rubber gloves on, gripping tightly with her thumb and forefinger before releasing them with a notable snap.

Slowly and methodically, careful not to miss a single spot she scrubbed every inch of the counters. She even moved the stools out and scrubbed the granite from the bottom wherever it cantilevered out beyond the wood base. She did the dining room table twice.

When she was done she moved to the cupboards, careful to run her cloth along the inside of the hinges and finally the windows, which she painstakingly wiped clean until there were absolutely no smudges or marks.

When she was finished she stood, surveying her handiwork. Then she nodded once.

The gloves, cloth and spray joined her memories in the trash.

Next came the fine china. She kept it in a crystal glass display waiting for this singular occasion. The cabinet doors clicked as she opened them, careful not to touch any glass. A pair of white gloves waited for her which she carefully donned before ever so delicately removing each plate one at a time. Enough for two people. No more, no less. The placemats were blood red, truly striking against the gleaming white of the shining table. She pressed them lightly polished and placed ever so delicately.

Finally she pulled three china food platters, each one gleaming white and placed them at the centre of the table before adding lids, ensuring they were centred exactly.

Next came the floors, although not a single crumb or piece of lint could be seen she mopped every inch of the entire floor, careful to move backwards and never step on a cleaned area until she finally converged in front of the steps to the second level. Once again she surveyed her handwork from the safety of the first step.

Then she nodded once. She leaned the mop against the railing and proceeded upstairs.

6:18.

The master bedroom was at the end of the hall and she had to pass two other rooms on her way there. The doors to these rooms were closed.

Her room was magnificent. When she entered she faced an entire wall of windows. There were no drapes or window coverings, just pure sunlight and she breathed it in. This time of day was her favourite, when the sun was lower on the horizon and shone directly into her room.

Her bathroom was lavish, but unlike the kitchen various beauty products and random objects littered every surface. The shower was tiled with golden stone but as soon as she entered she slid the door closed and turned out the light rendering it black as pitch. Without so much as pausing she walked directly forward five steps, opened the shower door and turned on the water.

Her clothes fell to the floor piece by piece, and again without pausing she stepped over the threshold into the steaming hot water.

The steaming hot water invaded her pores and massaged her head and for a moment the weight of the evening disappeared. She felt her muscles relax and the stress of perfection begin to melt away.

When she was ready she reached out in the dark and on her first try grabbed whichever cleaning soap she needed, and when she was finished she replaced them one by one, always in the exact same spot.

Finally she felt ready. By now she was one with the darkness. She could feel it seeping into her pores and warming her sensual desire.

Soon.

When she was finished, she shut off the water and still in the darkness grabbed her towel and dried herself. When she was ready, she opened the door, and eyes still closed re-emerged into the sunlit room. She walked the seven paces to the window and when she was ready opened her eyes.

The setting sun greeted her naked silhouette. It was breathtakingly beautiful. She forced her eyes open despite her widened pupils. The pain was worth it.

And there she stood. Small and insignificant amidst the glory of the sun, and as it set she bathed in the red, orange and yellow soaking up every moment.

When it was done she had a momentary blip of sadness, but this she forced down. As the sun set the darkness came. This was where she belonged. This was where she truly lived and died.

A creature of the dark. For him.

Her hand hovered over the sensor next to the wall bringing the lights on. Although she kept it dim, even she needed light to prepare her beauty.

7:05

The dress was laid out on the bed already. A blood red gown that rippled with black undertones as the light danced along its edges.

It was perfect.

She didn’t bother with undergarments as she slipped the dress over her head, allowing it to caress her body. It clung tightly and moved with her like a second skin.

She sashayed over to her makeup table and eased into her chair, careful not to wrinkle her dress.

First the dark eyeliner applied just so to make her eyes look deep and inviting. The mascara accentuated her long lashes.

But the lipstick, the lipstick was the creme de la creme. A deep blood red to match her dress that screamed “take me”.

Her hand paused over an elegant pearl necklace. It was intricate and one of a kind. She had had it made just for this occasion.

It twinkled in her hand as she held it up to her neck, but her hands froze and the tiniest hint of a frown reached the corners of her mouth. She turned to the left and then to the right and then sighed. This wouldn’t do. This wouldn’t do at all.

She discarded the necklace onto her desk but never took her eyes off her neck. She lifted her chin, examining the cords of her neck as she stretched it up. Yes, this was it. Her neck was the key. It must be insatiable. She must not cover it.

7:36.

The glow of the sun had completely faded, the time for the creatures of the night was upon her.

She stood, pausing only long enough to slip into her blood red heels. The heels straightened her posture extending her neck out just a hair more.

Perfect.

She descended the stairs carefully, the click of her heels announcing her descent.

The mop and bucket lay discarded against the railing. Without looking she grasped them and carried them over to the open closet where they were set exactly in place. She closed the door and turned, surveying her pristine white kitchen.

It gleamed. The china shone and the blood red table cloths contrasted exactly as intended.

Dinner would be ready soon, and her beloved would arrive.

Then…she shuddered as her lips parted just enough to run her tongue along her top lip. Then he would take her.

For a moment she could see the stark white of her kitchen slick with blood. The floors, walls and countertops coated in congealed splatter. She had seen it once, as a child, peering through a window. She wasn’t supposed to, but the memory still urged her to reconsider. To run. To run away as fast as she could.

Her hands shook and she raised them to her face, pausing just before they would touch and ruin her perfect complexion.

7:52

Still shaking she forced them down and clasped them in front of her.

Step by step she walked over to the table, just as she had been taught, and pulled out her chair. Her knuckles gripped it so tight the blood drained from her hands. Finally, she forced herself to gracefully sit. She clasped her hands together, her blood red nails matching her blood red lips.

There was nothing to do but wait.

7:58

Her heart fluttered. It was almost time. She could feel it in the shadows. The darkness always grew heavier just before he came. The shadows grew longer, reaching for her. She closed her eyes.

8:00

“Hello my dear.”

He appeared behind her, stepping out of the shadows.

Her breath caught in her throat. For a moment panic welled up inside her but her face never flinched.

She simply raised her chin, exposing her neck.

“My, why don’t you look ravishing.” his throaty voice caressed her ears and her sensuality shivered.

Still, a single tear drifted down her cheek, the only blemish in a perfect evening. It traveled slowly down her face, pausing at the edge of her jaw before dripping on to her neck.

Then like her, it paused and waited.