I was mindlessly drinking my latte at Jeffs the café near my house like I did every Saturday morning, engrossed in the latest true crime book about a serial killer from the sixties.


My coffee had cooled so I knew I had been there for a while, I had been transported to 1967 and was on the edge of my seat, a mixture of excitement and fear had set in as I read about a chance encounter that ended with the torture and murder of Millie a 19 year old student from Nelson.


In the crime scene report Millie was described as a brunette female, 5 ft 9”, slim build 120 to 130 pounds. Those that knew her said she had a curious mind and a gentle soul, she was trusting, caring and adventurous. With piercing green eyes, long dark brown hair and legs that went on for days, often dressing in a mini skirt or tight jeans, Millie was popular and admired by everyone.


She had been sitting in a café just like this in the morning of Saturday June 3rd waiting for her boyfriend when he didn’t show up at 10:00 like he promised she told herself he wasn’t worth the wait. Still she could feel tears threatening to form and gulped down a lump in her throat gathering her purse and coat she was ready to walk back to her apartment.


As she started to get up he walked in, a tall and striking stranger, his eyes burned into her like fire, it was as though he was staring right through her and seeing her at the same time with a chiseled jaw line and a smile that would make any girl melt. Before she could look away or get her feet to move he approached, tilting his head slightly to the right and with a buttery English accent he said “you look like you could use some company. “ Millie taken aback nodded slightly and he sat down at the table in the seat across from her.


It didn’t take long for Millie to feel something stir inside her, she found herself thinking she could listen to his accent all day and get lost in those eyes. He was charming and attentive showering her with compliments and telling her all about the world beyond New Zealand. Millie had never left the country, Dunedin was as far as she had got coming here to attend Otago University to study nursing. This man who had seen the world and lived what seemed a thousand lives inspired her, she wanted to see and experience the world and listening to his stories Millie felt like she was.


The two strangers talked and drank coffee for hours, she hadn’t noticed the time passing and only took note when the café owner approached to let them know he was closing for the day, once more Millie gathered her purse and coat and as they started towards the door she heard a voice in her head telling her this was meant to be.


The sun was setting, it had cooled considerably the notorious Dunedin wind had picked up bringing an icy edge as it whirled around her, she hadn’t dressed for this and had to work to stop her teeth from chattering and hands from shaking, her companion quickly removed his coat and put it on her, wrapping an arm around her waist he pulled her in tight and started walking them towards his car continuing their conversation.


When they reached his car he opened the door for her and she mindlessly got in, the engine roared to life and they pulled out of the parking space and headed north. With the conversation flowing between them Millie hadn’t even thought to ask where they were going, she didn’t notice him lock the doors as they pulled out and she didn’t notice the change a darkening of sorts. He turned the lights on and continued to drive his eyes not leaving the road, focused and determined.


They drove for what seemed like hours until they reached a gravel road winding up a hill, there were no houses out here just pine trees as far as you could see, when they hit a pot hole in the road the jolt seemed to wake her up and make her pay attention. ‘where are we?’ Millie asked trying to keep the slight panic from sudden awareness out of her voice. ‘I’m taking you to my spot, you said you wanted to see it when we were back at the café’ he responded. ‘oh’ was all Millie could manage.


The strange surroundings and the darkness from a moonless night set her mind racing, thoughts twisting, going back and forth between admonishing herself for being so foolish and trying to find a good excuse that would get her back to the safety of her apartment. As her panic started to set in she began to ramble talking about how her flat mate would be worried about her not being home, she was supposed to call her parents an hour ago, she had a date planned for later and any other thing she could think of to convince him to turn around and take her home, he did not respond, eyes fixed ahead he continued to drive in silence, it was then she noticed the doors were locked.


Deep into the forest he slowed the car to a stop and turned off the lights and engine, he turned in his seat and reached for her, pulling her across the bench seat to him, one arm around her waist locking her in position his other hand went to her face clasping her chin to turn her face up at him. He smiled, this smile was different from before darker, sinister his eyes locked on hers as if he was able to read her thoughts with an edge to his voice he growled “I’ve been looking for you, don’t you know you’re my soul mate”


The words were ringing in my ears as if I could actually hear him, a chill ran down my spine, my palms got sweaty and my skin registered goosebumps I sucked in a deep breath torn between needing to stop and needing to continue. I was getting ready to read on when my brain suddenly registered I had actually heard those words and not in an English accent.


I snapped back to reality all to quickly my head reeling trying to work out what I was registering and make sense of it all. My eyes darted all around me but everything was dark I couldn’t see. I opened my mouth to say something to scream to hear my own voice out loud to know what was real but before I could make a noise I felt hand roughly clasp down over my face muffling my words and stifling my breath.


As my senses kicked back in I could feel the crushing weight on top of me, the sound of blood rushing filled my ears and every part of my body was sore, my head was throbbing as if Id been stuck with a wheel brace or other heavy object. As I tried to make sense of what I was feeling I noticed the sound of wind rushing through trees and could feel the earth beneath me, needles, sticks and dirt digging into my back and legs, the hot breath on my neck coupled with pressure and something was biting into my wrists I couldn’t move and I heard it again “your my soul mate Millie”.


I tried to summon any bit of strength I could trying to push the man off me, I tried to kick and scream and get away but it was useless, I was bound, naked and unable to move or talk I knew then that I had met my fate. As my blood drained and pooled around me I struggled to breath slipping in and out of consciousness my brain transported me back to Jeffs.


There I was, at the same table waiting for my boyfriend I glanced at the clock on the wall it was 10:30. Tears were threatening to form in my eyes I gulped down a lump in my throat and I was getting ready to go, telling my self he was not worth the wait. As I went to stand in walked a tall and striking stranger, his eyes burning into me like fire, it was though he was staring right through me and seeing me at the same time with a chiseled jaw line and a smile that would make any girl melt…