Teetering through an alley, they were aloof in the chase. First, they had to search, and there was no delight to be gained if they made the wrong choice. The red brick wall being their guide, the crowd came into sight.

“It’s a busy night here in ole’ Motown,” they said.

Flexing the middle finger, they flicked a nearby trash bin. Using Ellie’s face, a devious smile panned out.

“Indeed, tonight has no chance of boring me,” and as they said it aloud, strangers passing by eyed them until turning a corner.

Giving the strangers no heed, they shrugged their shoulders and mixed into the crowd. Purveying the heads far and wide, they searched for the perfect target. Plenty of gems were in their reach, but that wasn’t enough. A night as special as this one had to end with platinum, that meant for them, the best had to be a step above the rest.

Streetlights shined onto darting eyes, reveling in the misty blue of the sky. As the eyes went back and forth so quick, two heads emerged from the hundreds. One head brunette and with curls, the other black and straight. It was a hard choice to make, so they made a gut decision and followed the black haired one.

The nose released a strong puff as they neared their prey, ever so fair, almighty and free. A sweet aroma wafted towards them and so they decided to take it in. Releasing the powerful scent, they withheld the urge to moan. Oh, how they loved the smell of the world, it’s people, it’s dirt, and even the garbage. All of it led them to paradise, in their new form they could not, would not, reject what they once did. The pleasures of the five senses, they adored it all. The scents their favorite, of course.

Passing by several stores, the lean and fair skinned man with black hair turned into an alley. Here was their mark, so they followed him into the alley. Licking their lips, they pulled out the large needle and thread and thought, too bad I don’t have my jacket, it would make things easier. After sighing over their misfortune, and being lost in thought, they continued tracing his steps. As his foot made for the ground, landing into a puddle, and splashing. A singular melody began to travel through the alley, reverberating from the walls and into his ears.

It was the sound of a young woman humming, “Hmm hm Motown, my town, your town,” and she sang along. “We may share the same roots, but here we collide. One must survive, not the other.”

Nearing towards him, time had slowed down, taking millennia to reach each other. But in that time, the monotone voice had sung a complete song, “How lucky I am, for you I shall live fulfilled.”

He stared at her hands with a frown, left unamused by her prank, he grabbed for the needle.

They pulled away and twiddled their index finger, “No, no, not so my dear friend.”

“C’mon gal, just put it away. Stop trying to scare me,” he replied, a hint of concern coursing through his voice.

In an instant though, his trap became shut. He didn’t have a chance to get a decent glimpse at what had happened, but he knew his lips hurt. Driven to immense pain, he clawed at his mouth like a beast. Thinking he could open it if he tried to, he was let down by the thick woven thread not giving way.

Frightened by his dilemma, he looked at the woman before him and pleaded with his eyes that had fresh tears in them. His plea fell on deaf ears, and he laid his eyes upon her eyes, begging once more as he gripped her sleeve. The glowing blue eyes brighter than the full moon replied in turn, they teetered on the edge of insanity, and embraced him in their wide-eyed bliss. He shuddered, falling backwards onto his butt. His skin and muscles shaking so fierce as he crawled away.

Reaching out with the needle, they said, “No need to fear me, I’ll get you all cleaned up.” A miserable giggle slipped out.

Each little inch he made back, she came closer by two. So, he came to the realization that he couldn’t run away and instead tried to fight back. Rising on one knee, close to raising the other knee, he was stricken with severe pain again. He growled like a dog, and raised his left foot. Unrolling his sock, he felt the thick thread, and tried to scream. Only a sad gurgle came out. The prey had been caught, they were right, tonight was lucky for them.

She inched nearer, so close she could touch his face. She started humming again, and he knew this was the sign, so he covered his face with his arms. Although it was for naught, and his suffering lasted long.

Deep into the night, before time had come for the sun to rise. A sullen woman entered the Rorty house, wearing black clothes, but not black enough to hide the splotches of dark red.