Night of the Valentine

For the last three days, Mara has received a card, flowers and a box of assorted chocolates at work. Each came with a note, not signed, One day I will have you.

At first, the gifts were pleasing and put smiles on her face, but the more she thought about it, the more she wondered, “What if this is some creep or sicko, playing mind games with me.”

The end of another week arrived and with that, she left the office on a dark and somewhat dreary Valentine night. With a slight grimmacing smile (and no Valentine lover in her life), Mara started walking the five blocks back to her apartment. What, with the weather frigid, she walked briskly, with purpose.

Starting on block number two, she could hear whistling, a somewhat eerie whistling. Mara didn’t stop to see where it was coming from and began to increase her pace, all the time thinking how nice it would be when she left Saturday to spend the day with her sister, Grace.

In block three, the whistling seemed louder, and closer. This time, she did turn, without stopping, but saw no one. Her heart began to race slightly higher and she was becoming nervous. Where was the whistling coming from?

By block four, her nerves slowly cracking, for now, the whistling continued. It was as if the tune itself was mocking her now apparent fear, Desparately, she tried to make her legs speed up so she could be inside her apartment, and be safe from whoever it was doing that eerie whistling.

As she reached block five, she felt, more than heard someone directly behind her. Fearful and scared, she walked faster; tears formed and slid slowly down her cheeks.

Less than fifty feet from steps that would lead her to the security door to her apartment building; that was when it happened.

A hand reached out and spun her around.

She gave out a brief piercing scream, and as quickly, she cut short.

“Oh, Brandon! It’s you. You gave me such a scare.”

Brandon works for the same company she does They rarely speak at great length, but they say good morning to each other. Simple things, nothing more.

“Yes, it’s me, Mara. I had hoped that....”

“Hoped for what? Wait! Was that you that sent me all those gifts? Thank you.”

“Yes, it was me. I had hoped you would like them, but then I overheard you saying to no one in particular, what if it’s some kind of sicko.”

With that, he plunged the knife deep into her belly and twisted the blade.

Mara’s eyes went wide from the pain but no sound came from between her lips. The suddenness and shock was too much for her. Her blood pooled out of her in the shape of a heart.

“I just wanted to get to know you better, Mara, but that won’t happen, will it. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Brandon walked to his apartment, thinking, Who will be next?