Free Hellbound: The Tally Man by David McCaffrey

killers had grown up in the same town as Michael Fassbender.
    With the streets becoming crowded and hot, Obadiah returned to the bench he had originally sat on and once again studied the passers-by. Their movements and actions reminded him of flies trapped behind a window, struggling to find a way out of their prison of glass. Their behaviours were random and manic, as they haphazardly flitted from one window to the next, never appearing to stop long enough to take in any information at all. Within this abstract chaos, Obadiah noticed the red-haired woman again.
    Carrying bags of shopping, she was more focused than the others, seemingly set on a particular destination. Obadiah stood and proceeded to copy her route, weaving between parked cars in the lot like a Great White honing in on its prey. She fished a set of keys from her bag, as she approached a shop currently empty and cloaked in darkness. He realised she was either opening up or she owned it - most probably the latter.
    His footsteps light as though cushioned, Obadiah steadily made his way towards her, using her blind side to avoid acknowledgement of his presence. His mind was focused, the initial caprice of his arrival here now tempered by the opportunity presented to him.
    Who was he to deny his true nature? In the absence of the reason for his being here, why not test the boundaries.
    She saw Obadiah’s approach reflected in the window and turned to face him, her expression one of curiosity as to the approach of a handsome stranger. Using the opportunity to get close, Obadiah smiled, flicking his tongue across the front of his teeth before bringing his elbow round and catching her directly on the jaw. He caught her as she slipped to the floor, gently guiding her down. He glanced around, ensuring no one had witnessed his actions before plucking the keys still gripped in her left hand and locating the one that opened the door. He dragged her into the cool, darkened shop and positioned her against a wall, closing and locking the door behind him. He scanned outside a second time before carrying Red’s body towards the rear of the shop, propping her in a chair in such a way so she didn’t fall off in her unconscious state.
    Obadiah grabbed another chair and sat opposite Red, studying her face. Her complexion was like porcelain, almost alabaster in contrast to her fiery hair. The V shape of her lilac sweater trailed a path to a suprasternal notch that delved deeply into the border of her sternum, her breasts below rising and falling gently in her cataleptic state.
    He could have watched her all day and night, the perfection of her face a direct contrast to the sights he had seen for so long at Absolom. But he had a job to do. If the answers he required wouldn’t come freely to him, he would use his new environment to entertain him instead.
    Obadiah gently slapped Red’s cheeks to bring her round. She murmured slightly as reality slowly dawned on her, her body tensing with the veracity of her situation and how she had arrived here came flooding over her in waves. She worked her aching jaw from side to side, suddenly noticing the throbbing in her head. As she spoke, she tried to hide her fear, but the slight tremble in her voice seeped through.
    “Please, you can take the money. Just don’t hurt me. You don’t have to do this.”
    “I don’t have to, no.” Obadiah smiled a baboon’s smile that seemed to stretch from ear to ear. “Forgive my manners. I didn’t ask you your name.”
    Red’s eyes began to moisten, but her voice became steadier. “Susan. Susan Sheridan. Please, let me go. I haven’t seen you. I won’t say anything to anyone. This isn’t necessary.”
    Obadiah’s green eyes flashed with intent as he stood and wondered over to the counter, randomly opening drawers and cupboards. Red glanced feverishly toward Obadiah and then the door, trying to calculate if she could make the distance. Obadiah sensed her intent.
    “I didn’t tie you down.