When my feet reach the other side of the house I stop. Looking around before my hands find the sides of the open window. With practiced ease I lift myself up and into the window. The soles of my converse hit the ground making next to no noise.

Inwardly my mind goes into a fit of giggles. Knowing if she would have just listened to her husband and closed the window when she wasn’t in the study I might not have been able to get in.

In less than thirty seconds I remove my shoes, keeping only my socks. No matter how light you are on your feet shoes are always a bad idea when trying to keep your presence unknown. Especially since most of the houses floor is wood. Its always better to be safe than sorry. No reason to take any unnecessary chances.

Down the hallway I go, careful to set my feet down as quietly as I can. Despite what you may think it wasn’t an easy task to master. Becoming a soundless creature takes more work than you’d think.

If she didn’t sit with her back to the door it wouldn’t be this easy. Her chances of survival would be much greater than they are, not that I’m complaining. I very much enjoy the stealth attack. The dramatic irony of knowing I can see them, but they can’t see me really gets me off.

And of course I’ve timed this just how I needed. She rips the un-addressed envelope open.

Cherish your next breath. It will be one of the last you ever take.

I clear my throat. She flinches, she knows. It takes a good thirty seconds, but eventually she finds the courage to look over her shoulder.

And there it is. That look so full of fear that not even the world’s best actress could come within fifty feet of it.

There won’t be a struggle. Of that I’m sure. She’s too frozen with fear to do anything but let her feet lead her backwards while I direct her into the far more private living room. And that’s when it begins. The crying, the sloppy tears, the begging.

"P-please do-don’t." The tone of her voice finds its way under my skin. But not in the bad way you’d expect. No, her pathetic tone feeds the animal inside.