Stay quiet, like always.
He had learned a few things, drawing closer to them. The night became less oppressive the more he saw of their light. A beacon burning, waiting for the inevitable and unknown. Now, he had names for those united flames. Eufrozina Monika and David Seymour. Yikes, even their names are way different. He stifled a chuckle and slid a handful of small, plastic cards into his jacket pocket. Everything of note had been taken, everything vital discarded. Their phones were already quietly tucked away in a trash can, dissembled with fingers the quiet young man could not deny were nimble, even when under pressure.
I think I like the diminutives more. 'Eufi and Dave' sounds cute.
Trailing closer, he heard bits and pieces of their conversation as it progressed. What he had picked up earlier was mundane, but sweet nonetheless. Absently, he had wondered whether or not the two were intoxicated. That's probably just a difference in understanding, though. I just don't ever get to feel like that. His mouth tightened and something in him rebuked the fog rolling in. I've got a thing to do. Now's not the time.
"So, yeah! I was thinking that maybe we could, ooooh, I dunno, go back to your place?" Eufi's voice was pure fucking magic. The quiet young man wanted to reach out, then, but fought back the impulse. Instead, he watched Dave. He seemed contemplative, but smiled. "Maybe watch a movie or...y'know, whatever?"
She's awfully reserved, for someone who looks like she does. Figured the vernacular would be different. Goes to show, though, don't judge a book by its cover. Or whatever. I thought she'd be all brazen about it, but this is... The quiet young man retrieved something from his left pocket, a small and metallic object that did little but drink in the darkness around it. He kept it low, parallel to his waist; sliding it slightly into his sleeve, letting his arms dangle without tension. It's cute. She's cute. I can't get over it.
"Sure, we can do that." A surprisingly flat answer. Eufi seemed to eat it up, anyway, moving closer to weave her fingers through Dave's and dance a little. "But we'll have to be quiet. You know my roomie's been home the last few days and-"
"Seriously?!" Apparently, she didn't know. "Art is such a dick, though. I mean, you're the one with a bedroom, anyway! He just sleeps on the couch, what gives him the right to yell at us?" Dave chuckled and gave a more genuine grin.
"Well, he works and pays for that spot on the couch..."
Seriously, Dave? Come on, man, step up!
"but, yeah, he's a total dick. Let's get going."
The quiet young man bit back a laugh, and instead used it to craft a mask. His smile was sly and serpentine, even when he didn't want it to be; a crooked thing that gave all the wrong impressions to the perceptive. Now's the time. I've waited as long as I can. In his left hand he held a hidden blade, with the right he began producing Eufi's identification.
"Hold up," his voice was surprisingly friendly, and not because of any constructed facade, "sorry to bother you guys, but I think I have something of yours." Between his thumb and index finger, he offered forward the card; keeping the respectable distance he had maintained. When they turned and stared, he watched them back. He saw the possibilities flashing through their conjoined minds. "Found it outside of a cafe, a few blocks back. Took me a minute to figure it was you guys. Here."
Holding it aloft, he only had to wait a moment for the predictable two actions. Eufi took the card, but seemed unwilling to meet his gaze. More sensitive of the two. Obviously. She has a bad feeling. Then Dave spoke up, his posture changing into one of slight tension and defensiveness.
"I don't think I know you. Thanks, though, that would've been a big problem for me tomorrow. What's your name?"
Of course you don't. There's no way you would.
Dave extended a hand. Classic. The quiet young man extended his own, a little more slowly. Eufi had shifted back a bit, watching him though she thought his attention had drifted. They were both gauging him. One's always closer to the truth than the other. He took the gesture with an appropriate matching of force. "My name's Montague," it wasn't, nor would it ever be, beyond this instant, "nice to meet you, Dave."
"Yeah, you too. Thanks, again...wait, how did-"
Now.
It was all too practiced. The blade slid from his sleeve and he buried it in Dave's throat. Or, at least, that's what Eufi thought she saw. She let loose a scream, the quiet young man standing behind her now. Her boyfriend crumpled, his legs giving out and his eyes becoming empty portals. No blood spilled, and no one seemed to mind the scream.
"What the fuck did you do?! David! David, wake up!" She rushed to his side, turning his head back and forth; staring into his eyes. "What did..." The words stuck in her throat and tears formed.
She's starting to notice the difference, even through the shock. Surprisingly perceptive. A little too late, though.
To him it was clear. He had brought his own shades of neon madness into the world around them, casting sick hues of purple, green and black all over the warping cityscape. It was his world, then. It was here that his shadow opened its eyes the widest.
It curled around him, snaking up his legs and caressing his back. Gently, it took the blade from his lax grip and held it aloft; pointing to the girl, daring her to run. His false smile grew wide, his eyes glinting with malice in the dancing darkness.
"We still have a few, Eufi, don't worry about him. He's done! You should worry about yourself!" He moved without his usual stealth or reserve, walking a wide circle around her while his shadow kept the blade steady. "We've got about seven minutes. Plenty of time to get to know each other, right?"
