The John

By G.D. Howard

He found her walking along a narrow little street just off the main roadway. She was smoking a cigarette and carrying her high heel shoes in her free hand. From her clothing he knew she was hooker even though there were at least three strip clubs in the area. The stripers left work looking nothing like they did on stage. No make-up, baggy old sweats and comfortable sneakers. This was a working girl, he knew that from the skimpy tank top and very short skirt she was wearing. And her hair, wild cherry red hair. That intrigued him.

She would be a fighter and he like it when they fought back. It made it all the sweeter when the night was over. He could feel the blood flow a little faster through his veins, his heart racing as his mind considered just what he wanted to do to the girl he figured to be about nineteen or twenty.

He eased his car along side her and eased the window down. He was driving a nice silver Volvo, not the old panel van type vehicle that would make a woman nervous. And he was wearing a nice shirt and tie, his sports coat neatly hanging in the back seat.

“Excuse me,” he tired to sound nervous as he tugged at his tie, “I’m looking for an escort for the evening.

She stopped, her back to him. Her shoulders dropped as if she was bone tired, but the moment she turned to see his nice shiny car and handsome face a broad smile spread across her face, “How ‘bout a good time, sugar?” she said, playfully, “The evening’s done ‘bout over.”

Again he flashed a nervous smile, “Okay,” he leaned across the car and opened the door for her. Another trick to disarm her.

She glanced around before hopping into the seat beside him, “How you doin’, sugar?”

“Well, thanks…” he waited for her to close the door.

“So what kinda good time you lookin’ to have?” she asked.

“I’ve…well, I’ve…” he shook his head and stared straight ahead.

“You ain’t never been to this side of town before have you?” she giggled.

“No…” he lied, thinking she reeked of cigarettes, cheap perfume and the unmistakable must of sex. She had been busy that night. Three or four johns at least.

“Just relax, I’ll take good care of you,” she leaned over and rubbed his thigh, “You like it dirty or you want me to spank you like a bad boy?”

Again he tried to act nervous, but it was turning him own to know how well he was deceiving her.

“How much?” he asked, his voice cracking a little more out of excitement than nervousness.

“Two hundred,” she said after a moment of thought, “And I’ll do just whatever you please.”

“Where should we go?” he asked, knowing she would suggest some isolated spot or maybe even some little dive of a hotel where she had rented a room.

“Just up the road a ways…I know a good, dark place.” she leaned back in her seat.

“So what’s your name?” he asked, glancing between her and the road before them.

“Just call me Ruby.”

He knew this was not her given name, but of course, he did not really care.

“What you want me to call you?”

“John…” he said, laughter echoing through his mind.

“Okay, John, turn here.” She pointed at a narrow little alley, “All the way to the end.”

He took a deep breath as he stopped the car, she had chosen the perfect place. Dark, secluded and far away from anyone who might hear her scream.

“So what do you want?” she slide next to him and began to rub him through his trousers.

He smiled, thinking of the of the knife carefully concealed behind his back. “Let’s get out the car,” he suggested.

She smiled and quickly flung the passengers door open to meet him beside the front fender. “You still ain’t told me want you want.”

“I want it all…” he said, softly, still thinking about the long, sharp blade and her creamy white skin.

Again, she offered him a smile and went to her knees quickly undoing his zipper. He felt himself growing hard at just her touch, then her warm tongue swirling and stroking. He let her continued for sometime, just enjoying his own thoughts.

He reached behind his back, pulling out his knife as he stroked her hair for a brief second before snatching her back. He shoved the blade to throat, locking his eyes on hers as she realized what was going to happen to her.

The fear welled there. Her face twisted with fear as her mouth contorted to scream, but he shook his head.

“Sssh…” he hissed, sliding the blade along her alabaster neck. He breathed harder with the sight of her blood on his blade. A part of him wanted to lick the crimson trickle from her skin, but with these women it was too great a risk.

“Please, mister…” she was going to beg for her worthless life.

He grinned, shaking his head as he backed her away from the car into a gentle pool of light that seemed to be coming from nowhere. He had not seen a lamp post nor was he about to look for the source of the tawny light. He was focused on the young woman and what he had come there to do.

“I’ll do whatever you won’t just don’t…” she was crying now as he flung her onto the cold, damp ground.

There was a muffled shriek as he drug the gleaming blade across her throat so deep he thought he felt it hit the bone. A cough, a slight gurgle and she went still. Soft and limp in the crisp night. Quickly, he freed her body of her scant clothing. He was free to take his time, to explore his curiosity as he savored the feel of her skin cutting with each carefully stoke. His hands were steady and he felt so alive. The rush was so intense, better than anything he had ever felt before. More orgasmic than sex. A greater high than any drug. Now he knew it was the thrill he was seeking, his calling as it were.

She would only be the first.

The smell of her blood hung heavy in the night air as he strolled casually back to the car. He lit a cigarette from the pack he found lying in the floor board along with her red high heel shoes. He had never smoked a cigarette before, of course, he had never killed before either and he found he enjoyed that immensely.

He took a long slow drag a thought about the sight of her walking slowly along the deserted street. A smile spread a cross his face as he noticed the first hint of sunrise in the sky above. It had been a good night and decidedly, it would be the first of many along those dimly lit streets teeming with girls just like Ruby. Those willing to climb into a nice car with a handsome, well-dressed man.

Little did they know what he was planning to do to them.

Poor, stupid thing, he thought, staring at the purple hue of the early morning sky.