ALL NOVEL Chapter 5: Chapter 4
It had been approximately 14 days since Marshall's first victim since his escape. Unfortunately, the authorities had not taken much notice, as there was no one to report her disappearance. Her lack of family or friends meant that there was no one to notice her absence, and thus, no search had been initiated by the police. Her disappearance had gone completely unnoticed by society. And her colleagues didn't really care.
Marshall, now more confident in his ability to blend in with society, was heading to the small, local supermarket
He walked the almost deserted store, his steps slow and deliberate. The shadows from the dimly lit street cast long, creepy shadows on the walls, making the surroundings seem even more eerie and ominous.
The store was almost eerily quiet, the only sound breaking the silence being the soft shuffling of his footsteps on the cobblestones. It was as if the entire town was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Marshall reached the entrance, pushing open the glass doors, the sound of the bell that signaled his arrival breaking the silence.
The inside was no more inviting than the outside, the flickering overhead lights casting a sickly, yellow glow over the sparse assortment of products.
Marshall casually browsed the aisles, feigning an interest in the items on the shelves. His eyes scanned the area, taking in the sights and sounds of the nearly empty market, searching for any potential victims.
As he walked, he couldn't help but notice a woman standing a few aisles away from him. She was standing with her back to him, her body language betraying her lack of awareness to her surroundings.
Marshall's lips curled into a sly smile, his eyes narrowing as he took in her vulnerable form. She was the perfect target - isolated, unaware of her surroundings, and alone.
Without a sound, he stealthy made his way towards her, moving like a cat stalking its prey. He approached from behind, careful to stay in the shadows, his footsteps silent on the tiled floor.
He crept closer, closing the distance between them, the woman blissfully unaware of the danger stalking her. He could hear her humming to herself quietly as she browsed the shelves, her mind completely occupied by mundane thoughts.
Marshall's body tensed, his mind focused and intent on fulfilling his evil intentions. He was within striking distance now, the woman so close he could almost smell a her perfume.
As he edged closer, he could see her more clearly now. Her hair was a waterfall of golden blonde locks, soft and wavy and framing a small, delicate face. Her eyes were a deep, mesmerizing blue, fringed by long eyelashes. Standing at a petite height, she had a slender frame that was both dainty and feminine.
The woman feeling like a presence being her, turned around
__The woman: Ohh... Sorry I didn't hear you, People don't come here at this hour usually.
she said taking off her earphones.
Marshall paused, his dark thoughts briefly interrupted by the woman's surprise. He quickly forced a charming smile onto his face, his eyes flickering over her body, taking in her delicate features and petite frame.
Marshall chuckled softly, his dark eyes meeting hers in the dim light of the market.
__Marshall: "No need to apologize. I was just browsing the aisles, didn't mean to startle you."
His voice was smooth and velvety, almost charming disguising the dangerous intentions that swirled behind his gaze.
He leaned against the nearest shelf, his stance casual yet calculated. He kept his eyes locked on hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
__The woman: "You're new here? I've never saw you before."
She asked as Delaware was a small town, so almost everybody knows each other.
__Marshall: "Observant. Yes, I just recently moved here."
He paused for a moment, as if considering his next words.
__Marshall: "And you," he said, taking a step closer, "What's your name?"
The woman, seemingly unperturbed by his intense gaze, offered him a polite smile.
__Emily: "My name is Emily," she replied, her voice friendly and open. "And yours is…?"
Marshall's smile widened, his eyes raking over her form once more. The name felt oddly fitting for her, soft and delicate like a flower.
__Marshall: "Marshall. Pleasure to meet you, Emily."
She nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes still regarding him with an innocent curiosity. She seemed completely unaware of the danger that lurked within him, her trust in him unshakeable.
__Emily: "Well if you need any help, I'm beyond the counter."
Marshall's heart beat a tad bit faster at her offer of help. The trap was set, and she was walking right into it.
He gave her a polite smile, his eyes sparkling with sinister delight.
__Marshall: "I'll keep that in mind, thank you."
He paused for a moment, contemplating his next move. "Actually, there is something you might be able to assist me with."
Emily raised an eyebrow, her expression curious. She was perfectly positioned now, right where he wanted her.
__Emily: "Sure, what do you need?" she asked, her voice still friendly and unsuspecting.
Marshall's smile widened, his eyes never Leaving hers. He took a slow, deliberate step closer to her, closing the distance between them.
__Marshall: "Well," he began, his voice dropping to a low, intimate whisper, "I need some help finding something." He paused again, his eyes roaming over her frame, taking in her small, seemingly defenseless form.
Emily could feel the air between them becoming thicker, the tension almost palpable. But she trusted him and his charming demeanor, her defenses completely down.
__Emily: "Of course. What are you looking for?" she replied, her voice still friendly and eager to help.
Marshall took another step closer, closing the distance between them to mere inches. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes boring into hers, his intense gaze sending a chill down her spine, though she wasn't aware of it yet. He reached out and casually put his hand on her arm, his touch light yet possessive.
__Marshall: "It's rather... specific," he said, his voice a low, smooth murmur, his fingers tracing a gentle pattern on her skin.
She chuckled, not believing his behavior.
__Emily: I'm talking about helping you find items you need in this store. That's why I'm getting payed for.
She said stepping back so that his hand was off of her.
Marshall felt a twinge of annoyance at her unexpected reaction. He had expected her to be more compliant, more vulnerable. He withdrew his hand, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched her take a step back.
Emily's firm gesture and her words caught him off guard. He hadn't planned on her being so direct or assertive.
He tried to maintain his composure, his mind racing to come up with a different approach.
He studied her for a moment, taking in the fire in her eyes and the determination in her stance. She was no longer the innocent, vulnerable target he had initially perceived her as.
He forced a smile onto his face, masking his irritation with an air of nonchalance.
His eyes flicked back and forth between her face and the rest of the store, his mind whirling with new possibilities.
He could see the dim lights casting shadows across her petite frame, the soft curve of her jawline, the slight curve of her hips...
He took a deep breath, trying to regroup and reassess the situation. He couldn't let her get the better of him. It was time to change tactics. Instead of pushing forward with his initial plan, he decided to play along with her boundaries for now.
__Marshall: "My apologies. Imight have been a bit forward there."
His eyes roaming over her once more, his gaze dark and calculating.
Emily nodded, her eyes still wary but her stance more relaxed now.
__Emily: "It's alright. Just remember, I'm here to help with your shopping, not anything else." she said, her voice cool and polite.
Marshall mentally cursed her for her firmness, but he couldn't push too hard without raising suspicion. He had to tread carefully now.
He gritted his teeth, his irritation growing at her rejection. But he knew he had no choice but to bide his time for now. He had to find another angle to get closer to her, to break down her defenses.
He forced a smile, pretending to brush off her words.
__Marshall: "Of course, I didn't mean to overstep," he replied, keeping his voice light and casual. "Can you show me where the canned tomatoes are? I'm planning on making a tomato sauce tonight."
Emily's expression softened a bit, her suspicion seemingly subsided for now. She smiled politely and pointed in the direction of the canned food aisle.
__Emily: "Right over there. Let me know if you need any other assistance." she said, her voice noticeably cooler than before.
Marshall nodded, pretending to be engaged in his shopping. But his mind was still focused on her, his eyes subtly following her every movement. He would find a way to get close to her, even if it took some time. He had never taken no for an answer and certainly wasn't going to start now.