Black Nightingale- The Prey That Hunts Back

Chapter 1- The New Threat

Present Day

Midnight. Rolling fog. Slight precipitation in the air. A light fall breeze. A young brunette woman, with olive skin and brown eyes is walking in the middle of a New York City park, heading home. The lamp posts, casting a halo like glow around itself in the fog.

Her outfit- rather modest. With the exception of some classy cleavage. Suddenly she feels an eerie gust of wind that stops her in her tracks. She shivers, pulling her jacket closed. She glances behind her…nothing out of the ordinary. She turns and is met with a sleek black suited gentleman in a bird- like mask.

“You scared me. Cool costume. But it’s a little early for Halloween, isn’t it?” she says with a laugh, as she starts to walk past him.

His gloved hand stops her, his fingers clasping her wrist tightly.

“Hey, let me go,” she says pulling her arm, trying to break free.

He pulls out a small garden tool. His head tilting to the side, ever so slightly. Silent. Controlled movements. Dark eyes. He slides the small rake teethed tool down her neck meeting her cleavage.

“Get your hands off me,” she says… “What are you gonna do…rake me to death? … Fall Basic Asshole, I bet you sip on pumpkin spice lattes in your spare time. Whatever this is, it’s not sexy. Its creepy.” she says pulling her wrist free, she walks away in a huff. Her footsteps quick.

She turns back one more time and he’s somehow vanished. Gone. She sighs, relieved. Turning to go on her merry way, she’s met with his masked face yet again, starring back at her,

“What the hell do you want from me Wall Street?” she says annoyed, her fear now really starting to kick in.

He brings his weapon swiftly through her chin, the small rake splitting through her face. Her eyes bulging out of her head. The dark red blood gushing out as she falls to the cold, wet ground. Kneeling down, the masked man pulls the weapon from her head, as it makes a violent thrashing, sticky sound.

He stands towering over his victim. Cocking his head to the side, ever so slightly. Like a predator hovering over his nightly prey.

He takes a silk brown handkerchief from his suit pocket and wipes his rake weapon clean, tossing it in the blood pooling near the young woman’s lifeless body. Securing it away, he straightens his tie and fixes his collar as he calmly walks away. Back into the night. No one around to witness his violent crime.

* “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” by Fall Out Boy begins to play.*

PLAY SONG

Nevina Luna and her neighbor Gregory “Greg” Gavin take turns knocking around a punching bag at their local gym.

“You’ve got it all wrong Luna…I Know What You Did Last Summer is such a better slasher film than Scream.”

“What?” Nevina says gasping as she kicks the punching bag he’s holding, he moves his face out of the way just in time.

“Ghost face really? He’s not scary. Now a guy with a hook for a hand. That’s creepy!”

“Oh ghost face is so creepy. I mean he’s not. But he is. I just think it’s the lurking and the stalking and the idea that he’s masked that creeps people out. That’s what does it for me, at least.” She shrugs as they move to the boxing ring.

Nevina comes at him with a right hook and Greg ducks blocking his face with his boxing gloves.

“Damn it, Luna. You’ve got one hell of a right hook.” He chuckles as he steps back.

She laughs. “You bet your ass I do,” she says as she throws him a sly smirk.

He looks at her. An uncertain look in his eye.

“What?” She says.

“Nothing,” Greg says looking away.

“Gavin what?” She laughs punching him in the shoulder playfully.

“You just…you have really pretty eyes, Luna.” He says seriously.

“Why Gregory Gavin are you flirting with your neighbor/best friend since forever?” she says dramatically.

“Now would I do that? What kind of man do you think I am?” He says laughing.

They share a laugh. “Come on I’m just messing with you, let’s go get some tacos. I’m buying,” Nevina says sauntering away.” Greg rolls his eyes at her as they follow her, with a longing look. A sweet smile on his lips.

“Hey are we still doing movie night tonight?” he asks.

“Yes for sure. You pick the horror film, I’ll bring the candy?”

“Deal,” Greg says smiling.

“But I do have an early morning so can we make it an early showing.” She says smiling at him as she bats her eyelashes at him jokingly.

“Yea, sure. Luna where are you always going?” he says puzzled as they head out of the gym doors and onto the sidewalk.

“Places to go, people to see, my friend,” she says smirking at him.

TO BE CONTINUED…

*I do not take credit for any images used in my edits or otherwise.*

For daily updates on this project follow me on instagram @michelleleighwritesvibes

Happy Tuesday!

-<3-