It was a cold night, way past midnight. Along Tinapa street, businesses had long since closed for the day and doors to houses were firmly shut. Except for the occasional dog barking, a heavy cloud of silence rested on the neighborhood. There were no vehicular movements and not a soul was in sight; except for Candice.
Candy folded her arms tightly in a bid to ward off the night chill. She wore a jacket that had proven to be too light to keep her warm, her toes were fast growing numb. She would have worn a pair of socks but she had not planned to be out here so late and more so, in this cold weather.
She was not very familiar with this part of the city. Remembering now, Candy increased her pace. There was no hope of getting a taxi to her own part of the city. She wished she had enough money on her, she would have lodged in the nearest hotel she could find till morning. Maybe she could find a church nearby; she hoped their doors would open to admit her.
The sound of a car coming behind drew Candy's attention. She doubted very much it would be safe to board a taxi or hitch a ride at this hour; not with the kidnap stories she had heard recently. The car was getting closer. Candy looked behind to see which it was; a cab or a private ride.
She knew that car! She had been in it severally in the past two months. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest as her feet, guided by her instinct, began to run.
The driver wearing a face cap accelerated in pursuit. It was a straight road and Candy had no place to run. He had been in this position many times before and knew he had her. He could toy with her to enjoy himself. He slowed down to watch her run. He was enjoying the chase.
What a cute little thing she was; he thought.
It was unfortunate that she could not stay. He had kept her longer than the others and would have kept her for a bit more if she had not found those pictures.
He loved to watch those pictures, they gave him an erection each time he did, he would touch himself till he came and then return them to his wardrobe till the never-really-far next time he would feel the need to watch them.
There were fourteen pictures in all. Candy's picture will be the 15th. Right now, his camera sat beside him; ready and waiting to click. How had she even found them? He kept them in a hidden lining of his wardrobe. What had she been looking for? They could have spent some quality time together. His red haired princess. He could never withstand them when they came with eyes that blue.
He had not forgotten his game; he accelerated and watched her pick up her pace, then slowed the car again. He was enjoying this too much for it to end too fast.
He had come out of the bathroom to find her gone. She had not been in his study as she had said she would be. His instincts had immediately guided him to the wardrobe, sure enough, some things had been shifted from their usual positions. She must have discovered the hiding place when she moved a small box that contained his handcuffs. He had been yet to introduce her to that part.
Damn her for cutting the fun they could have had so short. Usually, he would spoil the girls so much that when he finally told them how he really liked his sex, they would not be able to refuse him. Candy had spoilt it all.
Suddenly angry, he gunned his engine.
Candy had been a good athlete in her high school days but never had she run in this manner before. She was scared. She knew she was right to be. The pictures were real enough. Each had been of a bloodied red haired woman like herself lying askew on the road. Now that she thought of it, it was this road.
Candy did not want to die just yet. She had so much left undone plus an ill mum and younger siblings to cater for. If she survived this, she would never forget to look past the glitter. She usually did but had become so envious of Sylvia, she had decided against her better judgment to go for it. She should have known that people had different lots and what as far as she knew, had continued to work for Sylvia may not work for her.
Sylvia had met the love of her life on the internet eleven months ago. Internet dating had never been Candy's thing but against her predictions and expectation, Sylvia's relationship had flourished into an engagement. Sylvia's life had changed, she could now afford to travel to places around the world courtesy of her very rich very handsome very generous fiance.
Candy had decided internet dating was not bad after all. She had put more effort into taking and uploading sexy photos and among the men that had soon shown interest, picked Kevin.
She had blessed God each day for the choice she had made until now. Kevin had been the perfect lover and gentleman she had always wanted.
It was going to be their two months dating anniversary tomorrow and she had been looking for the right place to hide her tiny but expensive gift in his wardrobe. Kevin had expensive taste and was almost a neat freak. She had been looking for a place to put the cuff links; a place he would not notice where she could direct him to find it the next day. A pleasant surprise she had hoped, until she had found the pictures.
How had he noticed? She had told him while he was still in the shower she would be in the study downstairs. She had thought it would have given her enough time to get to her house, pick up a few things, report to the police and go to wherever she would have been hiding out till the police made an arrest but obviously, that had not worked. He knew not to disturb her when she decided to use his study impromptu. It usually meant some unexpected work she had to see to immediately had come up.
What had given her out that fast? She wondered as she ran. There were no corners to turn on this goddamned street! She felt really done for but kept running. She could not stop. She had to try.
Kevin, the driver behind the wheel had grown bored of his game.
Candy was nearing his favorite 'spot'. It was time to cash out his winnings.
For the last time, Kevin picked up speed and plowed into Candy from behind. The force of the hit flung her against a pole nearby before she dropped to the ground with a thud.
Kevin laughed clapping his hands excitedly. Watching this part was his favorite. His last girl had been flung into a wall. He reversed the car so that it faced the direction from which he had come. Candy lay askew and completely still a small distance in front of him.
There were only two things left to be done. He took his camera from the passenger seat and got down from the vehicle. He went to where Candy lay, knelt to press a kiss to her cold lips; she had been a special one for him after all. Standing, Kevin took a few shots of her. He would print out the best shot.
He returned to the car to do his last customary thing. After revving the engine repeatedly, he climbed over Candy's body on his way home. It had been a far better night than expected.
