It didn’t matter anymore. There was no one else. He had killed them all in an effort to reach me.

I was all that was left; it would only be a matter of time before he found me. I stood gazing out at the sea. Goose pimples raised my flesh and I crammed a hand against my forehead in an effort to stifle my mind. Something slapped my ankle and I jumped, looking down. It was another letter.

He had left me love notes on the headstones, each and every one, the adorations enough to make your skin crawl. He had come out of nowhere, pursuing me. When I made it apparent I would always refuse him, he retaliated.  

Now I was all that was left. I picked up the letter. It flapped against my fingers weakly. His dark scrawl seemed to taint the paper.

I smell your softness, carnivorous and lusting. I want you stuffed into my mouth, hold you down and tear you open, live inside you. I'll grind against your bones
until our marrows mix. I will eat you slowly.
Oh love, I'd never hurt you.

I shuddered and opened my hand, rubbing my fingers against my legs. Leaning, I watched the note spiral down into the water.

“Good riddance,” I said softly.

The grass rattled, more insistently this time, and I knew he was there. My shoulders stiffened but I refused to turn around.

“Candy…”

The sun gleamed on the horizon ahead. Dawn was breaking. I fixed my eyes on the light, ignoring one of the mantras I had heard all my life: “Candy, don’t ever look directly at the sun, you’ll go blind.”

Going blind was the least of my problems.

And suddenly he was at my side. He had rustled the grass on purpose; this creature, this ancient horror, could have sneaked up, seized me, taken me away. But no; it was a game, a play to be acted out.

I refused to play my part.

“Do you regret it now?” he whispered, his breath hot on my ear. “Will you finally be mine?”

I clenched the rail so tightly I was amazed it didn’t crumple beneath my palms.

“Never.” My eyes stayed on the dawn. One didn’t have to be looking at him to tell his face had darkened. You could feel it emanating off him, so thick you could have touched it.

His hands crept around my neck, below my breast, tightened and bent my head so I was forced to gaze at him.

“You only have one more chance,” he hissed. “This chance.” The pressure grew until I saw spots in my vision, and then he released me. I stumbled forward, the rail stopping me from falling. I clutched at my throat with a hand, coughing. I wiped my mouth, (a small smear of blood on the back of my hand) and turned to face him.

“Never,” I repeated.

His clothing whipped about him, and I could have sworn that the sky darkened. I suddenly realized what I was dealing with, but I still refused to submit. The remaining letters flew past, chattering against one another.

“So be it.” He reached out for me again, and I darted sideways, glancing to my left as I did. His fingers

(claws)

snagged my nightgown.

No!

I squeezed my eyes shut and grabbed his wrist. I heard his cry of triumph, his nails creaking as they grew, sharp, sharp, sharper.

The world slowed. I felt his free hand loom near me, growing closer with every moment. Then it plunged into my chest. Despite myself, I screamed. Horror set my every nerve on fire as my own blood spilled down my abdomen, and my eyes snapped open.

“You’ll die like angels sing.”

I managed a grin, and for a split-second he looked scared. I jerked backwards and we tumbled off the cliff, his hands still imbedded in me.

I had one final, victorious thought before we landed in the water:

Thank the gods that salt water destroys unholy creatures.

Then we hit, and I thought no more.