The hunger was back.
And it was back with vengeance. He had been satiated for the past three years. The humans that he had taken had been helping him with his hunger. It was like a treat. Looking at them made him feel happy.
A shrill scream escaped his lips, causing a passing coworker to frown at him. It grated his nerves that he had to work with these people.
They have no idea what it truly feels like to live. To see how life drains from someone's eyes. He felt a certain rush whenever he…
His eyes caught someone strode in the office. A small woman with shoulder length hair with silver highlights strode in.
She walked like she owned the place. Like she was the boss of them.
And that irritated him more…
No, he was not irritated, he was furious.
How dare she strode here like a queen? How dare she…
His heart suddenly went to his throat when their eyes locked. Those green eyes of hers pierced him like she was searching the very essence of his soul.
He shouldn't break eye contact. If he did, she would know that they have seen each other at his old house. But had she seen him?
The number of people outside that day were far too many for someone like her to take in. She was not that intelligent to remember someone like him.
Yes, that was it. She couldn't remember him. He was safe.
Sweat began to break on his forehead when the woman didn't look away. Was she testing him? What was she trying to prove?!
He did not dare blink.
It felt like days before she pulled her attention from him. In reality, it only took a minute. A whole dang minute, before one of his senior officers tapped her shoulder.
He gave an audible sigh when she turned her back to him. He immediately sank on his chair and took several deep breaths.
This cannot be happening to him.
"Hey, Luke, you okay? You look like you saw a ghost? Everything alright?"
His team leader asked.
"I…m f…ine…"
Luke managed to say, trying to swallow his saliva. He did not like getting attention. He did his best not to be noticed. Now this!
It's all that woman's fault!
"Hey, TL, have you seen that chick?"
"Kinda impossible not to notice her."
"Yeah," another one of his co-workers chimed in. "She looked like a model. Too bad she isn't that tall."
Gads, why are they even talking around his cubicle?! Don't they have better things to do?!
His anger was slowly rising to a point that he wanted to strangle them. If they didn't…
"I heard she is from the police department."
"Police?" He suddenly cut in. "She is a police officer?"
"Oh, yeah. Mina told me, she was the one who actually let her in."
You need to calm down, Luke. Don't look nervous, just breathe. Everything will be fine.
It was a mantra by now. Luke was hyperventilating inside. His mind filled with possible scenarios.
…Him, being chased down the flight of stairs only to break his neck.
…Him, reaching the helipad of their building and losing his balance, causing him to fall on the ground.
…Him, being shot at…
And the list goes on. He really needs to stop being an overthinker. Being in that state was never good for him.
How many times did it cause him problems?
Far, far too many.
What he needed was to focus and…
"Looking for a building…"
He blinked several times then paid attention to what his co-workers were saying.
"Is she looking for a place to live in?"
"Man, I would love to give her a tour in one of our complexes. Maybe do more than just a tour…"
They all laugh. They were men with wives, but it didn't stop them from tasting others. He had even seen them do more than just one.
He remembered one time when they asked him to join them. The next day, the woman they picked was threatening the office.
"Bro, aren't you going a bit too much?" Another one said, "should I remind you of what happened three years ago?"
He heard bickering and then they laughed. They were getting on his nerves.
Everyone was getting on his nerves. It's that woman's fault!
He opened a new document and started trying the report that he needed to submit at the end of the day. Totally ignoring his co-workers.
They were still discussing how to bed the police officer, when the woman in question suddenly walked to them. His boss beside her.
He could see how his boss was animatedly talking to the officer. There was a smile on his face that spoke of sale.
Luke took a deep breath and did his best to listen in to their conversation.
"We have several buildings that you could choose from. Most of them are fully furnished, and you don't need to worry about buying stuff. Of course, they are a lot more expensive than an empty space."
They were right, she was looking for a place to live in. She was not there for him. How could she remember him when he was behind his car that time?
"Ah, look at that, most of my best agents are in one place."
He heard a couple of "Hellos" from the people standing on the side of the cubicle. He could only imagine how they began to stand tall in her presence.
Luke shook his head. Men will always be men, he thought.
They were doing their best to express their eagerness to help her. Yet, she ignored them and waited.
"Officer Valentino, so sorry for letting them bother you," his boss said. "It's rare for the police to buy land from us, they are usually given the land for free."
"That's fine. No harm done."
Luke closed his eyes and had to stop himself from moaning. Her voice. It was so smooth and silky. Hearing her talk was like an aphrodisiac to his senses.
"Is there someone who could really help me?"
"Luke…"
With an effort he never knew he had, Luke stood up and faced his boss and the woman.
The officer gave a short bow of acknowledgment, before looking back at his boss.
"Rene, you said you can help me, so where is he?"
"You are looking at him." He gave a big pause, then continued, "he is the best man for the job, wouldn't you agree, Luke?"
His heart began to beat again. This was not fear. This was a different kind of emotion.
Excitement.
Luke was excited.
He wasn't going to find another woman or child. How could he? The perfect person had been given to him. The perfect one to satisfy his hunger once more.
Officer Valentino.
Yes, he was hungry…
And he just found his prey.