Kevin worked late most nights. Tonight, he had to finish the project and get it ready for presentation. It was already past eleven pm. He rode the elevator to the ground floor, swiped himself out, and walked into the cool August air. His train was due in seven minutes and he took a shortcut through a narrow alley that was crowded with wheelie bins reeking of waste and food thrown away from eateries in the neighbourhood. The only surviving streetlight blinked ominously every second or so. He was barely halfway dodging rubbish strewn in his path, holding his breath when the impact came.


Kevin teetered on the spot and fell, hitting his head on the sidewalk stone. It knocked him out almost instantly but not before he spotted a figure speeding away. The legs were bare below the knees and he was sure it was a girl.


***


Ecila was panting as if being chased by wild dogs. She slowed down only when she turned into the cul-de-sac at the end of which was her apartment block. Yet, every so often, she whipped around to make sure she wasn’t being followed.


She almost ran up the two flights of stairs, avoiding the elevator, and dug her trembling hands into the pocket of her hoodie for the keys. She jabbed the key with effort into the lock, twisted it the wrong way first, and then opened it with a click.


The house was dark, just as she liked. She tip-toed to her bedroom, wiped her face with the hoodie, and then threw it on the floor. It was done but she had to leave a message. She walked to the phone, picked up the receiver, hit record, and began to speak: “Hey Alice, it’s done.” She paused for exactly fifteen seconds. “That creep Kevin learnt his lesson, I hope!” Pause. “If he isn’t dead, that is.” Then, she stopped the recording, set the timer to one-thirty am and replaced the receiver.


***


The telephone rang sharp at one-thirty. This time Alice woke up quickly and raced to the phone. “Hello! Who is this?”


“Hey Alice, it’s done…” 


Once the caller hung up, Alice stood shaking in the dark. Then, she began to laugh. A low scoff at first that soon turned to a full blown, throaty one. Then, she picked up her hoodie, walked to the laundry, and dumped it in the washing machine.


Then, she slumped down on the bed and went to sleep.