He chewed his overpriced slice of pizza as he watched Charlie. The pizza was tasteless. Just flavor drained cheese on thin bread, a sad layer of bland pizza sauce in between. It was barely a step up from cardboard.
Charlie, on the other hand, chewed hers with passion. He could swear that fresh tomatoes were bursting in her mouth. Fancy cheeses and Italian herbs were dancing on her tastebuds. She smiled and laughed with Shay as she enjoyed this exotic five dollar slice of pizza. Her actions made him believe the slice could have come straight from a exquisite restaurant in Italy rather than a food stand at Metalfest.
If only he could taste so deeply. Feel so strongly.
But he did feel, if only for a moment. When his fist connected with Charlie's jaw. When his fingers struck her skin. The blue-black bruise was already showing against her pale skin. Satisfaction pounded within him, like a heartbeat of approval, but it was quickly gone. He needed more! The pounding drums, the shrieking singers, the bass guitar...they just weren't enough now. Not after seeing her. Not after finding the girl who frequently invaded his ravenous dreams. Fate had drawn them together here in this wonderful place of darkness. This gorgeous festival of freaks.
He needed to feel that surge of gratification he can only get from someone like her. He needed to feel that sense of complete control. The power of destruction that comes with the slaughter of something precious.
He had to take her. There's something special he's set up. Something that's been waiting for someone special. Someone different than the others. It would be perfect for her. For the one that got away...