First Date

April had, despite her many reservations, decided to break the spell of her two month long post break up depression when she accepted a dinner invitation.  Adam was handsome, successful, charming. After a few missed hints, he came out and asked her out. She ignored her over analytical tendency and said yes.

Despite the rain, the night was close to perfect.  He was the epitome of chivalrous. She hadn't had a door opened or a chair pulled out for her in so long she forgot the last time.  And the compliments, though uncomfortable for her at first, didn't hurt. This was what she needed. So when he asked her back to his place, she didn't think twice.

April slipped off her right high heel and slid her foot across the cold wood floor.  Adam was in the kitchen opposite the couch in which she sat.  He rummaged through the fridge in search of a much hyped bottle of Sauvignon blanc.

“Found it!” he said triumphantly.

Adam shot her a large grin. He placed the bottle and two glasses on the table in front of the couch.

“I see you're getting comfortable,” he said with a slight chuckle, staring down at her high heel-less foot.

“Oh, sorry...” she apologized as she scrambled to find the shoe with her foot.

Adam chuckled again with great amusement.

“No. Don't.” he said, crouching down to push the shoe out of reach.

“Get comfortable.”

His eyes met hers, but unlike the first instance in the restaurant, she did not look away.

“I'll pour the wine.”

He stood up, turning his attention to the table.

“Can I use your bathroom?”

“Down the hall, last door on the right.”

“Ok. Be back.”

Down the hall and stopped in front of the bathroom's open door. A low whisper stopped her in her tracks. She looked at the door opposite the bathroom, which was secured with a lock whose key was in place. Inching closer, the faint sound continued to emanate. Pressing her ear against the door, the sounds took on a new quality: a gurgling.

“You OK?”

Adam's voice sent a cold electric shock throughout her and her heart rate quickened.

“Oh! I'm sorry. I thought I heard something. I just—” her words trailed off as he approached.

He placed his ear to the door. “Sounds like I left the window open. I'm sure the wind is blowing rain all over.”

He took her hand and smiled his beautiful smile once more.

“C'mon.”

April complied, her heart returning to normal. She sat on the couch and accepted the glass of wine he held out to her.

“Cheers, beautiful.”

She let out a little laugh.

“Cheers.” she said, raising her glass to meet his.

She took small sip of the icy wine, and savored its sweetness.

THUD

Their faces turned in unison towards the hallway.

“What was that?”

He set his wine down. “Neighbors,” he laughed.

“Why do you have a deadbolt on that door?”

“That's my office. My housekeeper was told to keep out, but she didn't and she broke a figurine that belonged to my mother.”

THUD THUD THUD

The noise grew louder. April stood and walked towards the kitchen.

THUD

Her heart rate picked up again, and an uneasiness set in. “That's coming from the hallway.”

“No, it's not.”

April started for the hallway but Adam was faster. He grabbed her wrists.

“What are you doing?”

“Adam, please. Let me go.”

“Why are you acting this way? You were supposed to be asleep. You should've drank your wine and went to sleep.”

She struggled against his grip.

Fighting against his sobs, he screamed into her frightened face “I'm sorry, April. You think I want to do this? I didn't know! When I went to him, I didn't know. I just wanted her back. I didn't know this is what would happen.”

April, sobbing now, too, screamed back “What are you talking about? Please, let me go.”

THUD

“I missed her so much.” he said releasing his grip. “I found someone to give her back to me. But I didn't know what it would take to keep her.”

April tried to push passed him, but he shoved her back.

THUD

“This isn't how it was supposed to happen! I tried to make it easy for you, but you ruined it!”

He struck the side of her head, hard enough to drop her to the floor.

As she awoke and writhed, the plastic tarp crunched beneath her naked body. Her mouth was duct taped, her feet and hands bound. Adam stood above her.

“It wasn't supposed to be this hard, April.”

She let out a muffled whimper, fighting in vain to free herself.

“When he brought her back to life, she came back wrong. She needs to eat.”

From the darkened corner of the office, a hunched figure crawled out. April began crying hysterically as it came into the light; an old woman on all fours, her jaw unhinged, thick saliva spilling on the floor, her fingers long and clawed. She wheezed, and cocked her head, her black eyes locked on April.  She leapt with considerable speed and landed atop the flailing girl.

“Don't fight, April.”

The woman's purple tongue licked her stomach before biting into it with row upon row of jagged teeth. April laid still as the hot pain spread from her abdomen to her entire body. The woman began pulling out strands of her intestine, pink strand after pink strand, tearing like a rabid dog.

“I couldn't live without her. I'm sorry. But you-” his voice cracked, “you've helped us. Thank you.”

The old woman split her stomach further open and began to feast on her liver.

“Hey,” Adam called.

The woman turned her bloody face towards him.

“I love you, mama.”