Oh my goodness. That has it really been that long since I posted something? Oh geez, don't be made at me I'm just a poor author! Have pity on me! (Ŏ艸Ŏ)

I've been running through this forest for what seemed like hours, but could have only been a few minutes. Every sound in the inky blackness surrounding me echo and make my breath hitch. My eyes dart back and forth to each side of the road thinking that Katsu found out I escaped and turned around. His trucks tire tracks are easy to see in the light of the full moon.

I quickly get a stitch in my side but I can barely feel the pain. There is only one thing on my mind now; escaping. I don't now where I'll go if I actually make it to civilization but I can't worry about that. Anything is better than here. I can still see Blondie's blue lips nad waxy skin in the bed of his truck. Now that I think back to her body I remember noticing a small wax heart stamped into her collar bone. It was the same color as her lipstick and blood camouflaged it almost perfectly. Sudden flashes of Yuki's, my old neighbor, body swinging from the rafters at my apartment complex comes to mind. I also saw the same heart on his collar bone. The authorities found the same red heart on my brother's body. They reported across the state that if you notice any suspicious activity surrounding the symbol, you should call the police immediately.

Could that symbol possibly be Katsu's calling card? I never saw May's body but I'll bet everything I have that she had the same heart as both of them. I can't believe I never realized what he was really capable of before now.

"Why the hell would Katsu mark a body? That probably the easiest way to get caught." Ted Bundy had a somewhat similar pattern, young girls, and women. Jack the Ripper would go after prostitutes. All serial killers, with a few, exceptions, have a pattern. What did all of Katsu's victims have in common? Me.

Yuki died the same day that Katsu saw us in the park together. Huki was found the same night he kicked me out. And Blondie was one of my school bullies. My face pales as I realize what Katsu is doing.

When he meant 'make things ok' he meant getting rid of all those that hurt me in some way. Even if you just pushed me in the halls of school or threw petty insults at me, if Katsu thinks of you as a threat to me then you must be eliminated. I just hope that I can stop Katsu before he kills another person. That's all I can really hope for at this point.

My legs start shaking, about to give out from all the exertion, when the tree line suddenly stops to reveal a lavish three-story house.

I have to blink a couple of times to see if I'm hallucinating or not. It's a very odd place for a house, especially a house as large as this one. A tangle of plants blocks my way to the house. I think they're strawberry plants but I can't be sure. A single light from the top floor is the only indication that the house isn't abandoned. I wonder if Katsu knew how close another person was to us. Well, they aren't dead yet so I guess not.

Without skipping a beat I continue toward the house. There is a three-car garage to the left side, the opposite of the light in the third story. I can just make out a slight hole in one of the garage doors. It didn't close all the way. I thank whoever was lazy enough not to close it.

I sneak over to the doors, skirting along the tree line and out of sight of any stray eyes. I slip under the tiny opening and wait for my eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness.

A cherry red sports car sits perfectly on the carpeted ground. Carpet? In the garage? How rich are these people?

Shaking my head in amazement, I continue searching the place. Only one car is missing from the garage but half a dozen bikes collect dust on the golden walls. I walk past the cars and reach for one of the lower bikes that look like they fit me. It's a flowery, pink bike with red rims and a wicker basket in the front. I sigh but take it anyway. A car would be faster but I don't know how to hot wire and I don't think the people living here would let me borrow it anyway.

As quietly as I can, I slide the bike under the door's opening.

I've just got the bike completely under and am about to crawl under myself when the sound of a door slamming open stops me. Harsh white light blinds me for a second before I see a tall figure in the doorway that leads into the house. It isn't until the person raises his hand do I notice it's holding the silhouette of an ax. My heart jumps into a fast pace when they take a threatening step toward me. I all but leap under the garage door to get away from what I can only guess is the homeowner. An ax murderer homeowner.

The door above me shudders as something punctures the metal above my head. The head of the ax shines against the moonlight telling me who close I was to decapitation. I chuckle humorlessly at that but stop when the sensation of someone stomping on my ankle that's still in the garage. I yelp out in pain as the ax murderer leans on my ankle making it bend awkwardly, the fibers of the carpet cutting into my skin.

"Oh my! A thief! Now, really! How rude to steal mistress's property." The voice was a deep baritone. The man sounded happy. Too happy, especially when you find someone trying to steal from you. I could almost hear the smile in his voice when he grabs my ankle and pulls me back inside. I reach around me desperately for anything to hold on to but come up short. So I do the only thing I can think of.

I blindly kick out with my other foot. My foot connects with something hard and I hear a grunt of pain from the other side of the door. they let go of my ankle just enough for me to slip outside completely. I grab the bike and start running. When I've gained enough momentum I swing onto the seat of the bike and ride back to the dirt road Katsu took.

I look back at the house. The crazy ax murderer isn't there but a shadow in the third story window stands to watch my escape. My breath hitches at the thought of a chase. My hands shake as I realize just how close I was to death once again. This has to be a new world record for avoiding the Grim Reaper this long. I smile grimly at that.

------------------

I never thought about what I would do when I reached civilization. Katsu's tire tracks disappear once I reach an asphalt road. There is the occasional spot of dried mud but nothing that really tells me which way he went. I'm still not sure where I am or how to get back to my city. So, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath I quickly decide to go to the right. It's the side with the most mud laying on it.

I shrug my shoulders. As long as away from Katsu, I'm willing to go anywhere. I giggle as I image his face when he finds that disgusting little hut empty and the knife in the wall missing.

He'll probably start looking for me immediately so every minute out in the open counts against me. That encounter with the ax murderer only made me jumpier so now every time I see distant headlights I duck into the bushes off to the side of the road. My heart has been beating erratically since I left that river causing a cold sweat to run down my back and make my hands shake involuntarily. I have to force myself not to accidently impale myself with Katsu's knife. It's harder than it looks.

Finally. And I mean FINALLY. I step inside the city limits. About a mile back things started to look familiar again. My heart soars with the possibility that all of this is behind me now. I all but run through the streets to my apartment building. I won't stay there, mostly because Katsu will find me there but also because Haruki died in my room. To be honest that place is probably haunted now. Haruki never really liked me when he was living so I won't take my chances with ghost Haruki.

I just need a clean pair of clothes and money for a decent meal. I don't have my keys with me, they're somewhere in May's house, but we always kept a spare hidden in the hallway light next to our door. My apartment is a few blocks from where I am right now so it was no surprise when I got there in no time. What was a surprise, though, was that the hallway door to the complex was locked. They never lock this door. I didn't even know it had a lock before now. I hear giggling coming from my right.

"The girlie has finally come back home." The old women pout her wrinkled lips together in a playful way as she watches me struggle. I recognize her as the homeless women that always hung out outside our building. I just roll my eyes at her.

"You know the police are after you? When you did show up for that boy's funeral they became suspicious." She cackles revealing old battered teeth that looked like broken fence posts. "They offered up a pretty reward for anyone who's seen you." My breath hitches as I see the gleam in her eyes.

I knew she was threatening to turn me into the authorities and while I knew I did nothing wrong I also didn't want to stay in this city any longer than I had to when I knew Katsu was here. So, I put on a way more confidence than I currently felt.

"Oh? Are you seriously threatening me?" I give her a hard glare and take a step toward her which she parries with her own step away. I have had a knife up to my throat, metaphorically and literally, for me to back down to this women. "Listen, bitch. I know for a fact that those needles in your pocket aren't for medical use and by the way, your fingers are twitching it wouldn't take a genius to guess what you're going to spend your 'reward' money on." The homeless women's eyes widen and she clutches her hands to stop their shaking. I knew she was a heroin addict because I would watch her inject from my window in my bedroom. I even sketched her bliss-filled face a few times. I wish I had my sketchbook so I could draw her horror fill face now.

"Ho-how d-d-do you know about tha-" She stumbles backward and almost falls. I reach a hand out to steady her but she bats my hands away.

"Ok! Ok! I won't turn you into the police if you can help me get into the complex." I wave my hand at the lock on the door.

"Yeah, sure! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! We don't need no cops coming over here! Sorry about that." She vigorously shakes her head at me. She quickly grabs one of the many empty beer cans littering the sidewalk and bends it in half. She peels off a sliver of the aluminum off and begins shaping it. I'm about to ask her what the Hell she's doing but before I can ask she jams bent side of the aluminum into the keyhole and turns it. The door opens smoothly. I open my mouth to thank her and ask her how she did that when she pushes me inside. I turn back to look at her to find a wrinkly scowl and sweaty complexion.

"See? See? I did what you asked so don't call nobody you don't need to call!" And with that, she slams the hall door closed again. I huff out an annoyed breath and continue up to my apartment. Luckily, this door isn't locked so I only need to duck under some police tape and I'm in. I don't take any time crossing my living room into my bedroom. Dark stains cover my bare mattress and most of my things are missing. All of my drawings are neatly stacked in the corner under my window. I cross my fingers and walk over to my closet. I pull up the frayed edges of the loose square of carpet hidden under my row of shoes. Loose, twenty dollar bills sit in the same place I left them.

During the summer I would spend my time working miscellaneous jobs around the neighborhood. I've been saving up for my own apartment, so there's roughly over a thousand dollars, instead I'll be spending it all on a bus ticket and a new life somewhere else. I know I should find Katsu and stop his murderous spree but when I start thinking about seeing him again I feel like vomiting.

------------------------------------------------

P.O.V Katsu

I sit impatiently in my truck outside one of the many sketchy nightclubs that blight the early hours of the morning with its obnoxious music. The cheap gas station coffee in my hand has long run cold but I still sip it subconsciously from time to time, my eyes never leaving the doors to the club. Ita not like I need the caffeine, though, my adrenaline is keeping me well wake. I hold in a groan as yet another stumbling couple exit instead of my target.

Brown hair. Blue eyes. Birthmark under the left eye and a reputation for frequenting a nightclub called the 'Night Owl' around this time. I've memorized his face and his routine that I found out through so very extensive 'research'. Well, not really research. More like cutting fingers off until his sister broke and told me everything.

I knew his name and appearance from school. It's also where I found out about his little crush on (Y/n) even if she's with me now.

A grin stretches across my face at that last thought.

She's with me. Me.

MINE.

FOREVER.

The nightclub's door swing open and out walks a very drunk Takuma, his arms wrapped around an equally as drunk fifty-some-year old. They're both laughing uncontrollably at their uneven footsteps until the women falls over, pulling Takuma down with her. I swiftly exit my trunk and pull the hood of my jacket over my head and make my way over to the two. I play with the dark blade hidden up my sleeve. The wax and lighter in my pocket feel heavy with their coming use

It'll be quick. Just a slip of a knife between two ribs and I can continue down the street before either of them realize what's happening. I almost growl at the easy kill. It won't be like last time with that blonde girl. I believe her name was Akane or something like that. I still remember her surprise when I showed up at her piano lesson instead of her instructor.

Little did she know that he was laying face down in a puddle of his blood in the hall. A quick little pluck of a piano wire and then I had her writhing under my hands in seconds, wire cutting into her neck.

I can't be so bold out in public with witnesses this time, though. I have to separate Takuma from the women and kill him in a back alleyway inconspicuously.

I'm five feet away from Takuma now when a blare of a horn makes my eyes dart to my right. The sight before me makes me stop altogether. I clench the dagger in my hand to stop myself from drawing an attention this way. I watch as the love of my life races toward a waiting bus at the bus station across the street. I have to blink a few times to make sure I'm seeing this correctly.

How could she have escaped? How did she find her way back? I ask myself as thinly veiled anger contorts my insides.

"Oh my, is that a dagger?" I hear the fifty-year-old not so subtly whisper to Takuma in fear. I'm torn between running to (Y/n) and finishing what I started but when (Y/n) climbs into the bus I know what I'm going to do.

Taking the last few steps toward Takuma I run the blade up into his abdomen then I the same move, take off for the bus. I ignore the women's confused questions and yelling and run across the street. It's just about to leave when I catch the driver's attention. He rolls his eyes at me but stops anyway. I smile graciously I walk up the bus's steps. (Y/n) recognizes me instantly and opens her mouth. I wrap my hand around her mouth, not giving her the chance to scream. I grip her wrists tightly and pull her out of her seat.

"I told you we're leaving for vacation tomorrow, darling! I know you're excited but I think you can wait one more day!" The bus driver gives us an odd look but doesn't say anything as I all but drag (Y/n) out. I can feel her biting my fingers but I don't think she realizes that it's only turning me on. I give the drive a sheepish smile and walk off the bus. (Y/n) struggles all the way down, trying to make eye contact with the driver but I force her head to face me.

"Um, excuse me, ma'am do you know this man?" My smile freezes on my face as (Y/n) attempts to shake her head 'no' in my grip.I quickly compose myself and frown mournfully.

"I'm her day nurse. Poor thing was diagnosed schizophrenic last year. She's always trying to run away, always claiming I'm a murderer," I roll my eyes like that's the craziest thing. "I was walking home when I saw her get on this bus. I'm just going to alert her family and take her home now." The driver looks (Y/n) up nad down. (Y/n) is still wearing the same outfit I took her in in August when I killed May. So, to say she looked a little ragged was to describe her lightly. But I didn't care what she looked like, I will love her forever. Shrugging his shoulders, the driver dismisses us with a wave of his hand.

(Y/n) screams through my hands but the bus doors are already closed. Tears stream down her face onto my hand and my heart breaks a little.

"Do you hate me that much? Is that why you left our home?" She just shakes her head again and closes her eyes in defeat. She's still resisting me so I simply push in the bit of skin between her neck and shoulder, knocking her unconscious. I walk from the bus station to my truck instead of walking around the gathering scene in front of 'Night Owl'. The woman has called the police if the distant sirens are anything to go by.

I cleaned the dead body out of my backseat before I came back to the city so I place (Y/n) back there and begin driving back to our house. Of course, we can't stay there now that (Y/n) knows her way back I just want to remove any trace that we were ever there in the first place. Wouldn't want the anyone stumbling upon the house and alert the authorities. I still have the knife with May's blood on it in the wall, after all.

It doesn't take long. I'm already driving on rough terrain again after about thirty minutes. We're halfway to the house when I hear (Y/n) start to wake up. Cursing under my breath I pull over and get out. I'll make sure to knock her out for longer this time so she doesn't do anything stupid while I'm driving.

I open the back door and my eyes widen as I face the barrel of a gun. I find (Y/n) hesitant eyes and smirk at her wavering hands.

"Put the gun down, love." I bring my hands up in a playful surrender, biting my lip in slight nervousness.

"No. You turn around." Despite her shaking hands, her voice is deathly calm. Sweat trickles down my temple as I turn around and face the forest.

"Now, walk until I say stop if you don't I swear on my life, I'll put all my bullets in your head." I could still feel the gun on my back so I started walking. I was a couple hundred feet away from (Y/n) when I heard the distinct sound of the trucks engine reeving.

No.

NO.

NO.

Before I fully understand what's going on I turn back around and take a step toward the truck. A sound louder then the trucks engine cuts through the tense air as well as me. Pain blossoms in my stomach causing me fall on my knees. I can't seem to catch my breath no matter how much I suck in air. I bring my hand to the spot right below my rib cage. My mouth is open in a silent scream as I watch as blood flows through my fingers.

I didn't think she would actually it.

"Finally." I don't realize who said it at first. It was just a  whisper. I'm surprised I even heard it over the sound of the truck driving away but I would know that voice anywhere. Suddenly, I was feeling an even worst pain. It felt awful. it felt like a knife in my heart, a bullet in the stomach. It felt like a betrayal. It was a voice that I love. A voice that I loved. It may have been the last word I would ever hear. Should I feel at piece that it was her voice that I would hear in my last breath? I don't feel at piece. I don't feel anything anymore. The last thing that I see is the love of my life running away from me. Forever.