This man sits on the bus, staring at his reflection in the rain-streaked glass. A pale man. A man with dark circles around his eyes. His breathing is slow. His pulse steady. The city and the night scroll by.
He glances down the rows of seats. A young woman with dyed black hair and piercings is listening to music on her headphones. An old man is reading a newspaper. The driver sits in his cab and drives.
He does not know why he hurts people. He isn’t angry at the world. He doesn’t feel any elation at the prospect of killing. But he does it anyway.
The young woman presses the stop button.
It is a meticulous business. He doesn’t want to get caught. He must plan his night carefully.
The woman stands. The bus slows.
He has his tools in his bag. Steel wire. Bleach. Cloths.
The bus comes to a stop. The doors hiss open.
He stands. The woman gets off the bus. The man follows.
Paddy Dobson
28th October 2022