“It won’t hurt, Professor.” She said gently.” You won’t die in agony like Vanessa. I’m showing you far more mercy than you showed her.” Allison slowly depressed the plunger until it went no further. The she sat with her legs crossed and watched him die. Phillips eventually drew his last breath. Her story would be simple. He had come in to help her print photos for her final project. They talked for hours before starting. After only a few prints, he said he wasn’t feeling well and then suddenly collapsed. They were just cops. Allison was aware that he was growing colder; she’d have to hurry to the campus phone if they were going to believe that she immediately went for help.

Abruptly Allison felt the heaviness and impending terror settle at the top of her gut.  She’d not been aware of it since Phillips arrived. But now the feeling drenched her.

“Vanessa.” She breathed. Allison’s throat seized when she heard a soft voice reply, “Allison.”

Allison froze, her eyes widened, and then she turned a full circle searching for the source of the disembodied voice.

“Allison, I’m here.”

Allison felt a cold hand light upon her shoulder then squeeze. She couldn’t see anything. Then glittering light fell from somewhere above her head. The light poured itself into two feet, then legs, torso, arms and head. Her features weren’t fully formed yet, but Allison saw that the body was solid. Unlike Hollywood ghosts, she couldn’t see through Vanessa’s form. Allison was awed into silence as she watched Vanessa’s amorphous face take shape. It took only moments, but for Allison time slowed downed. She closed her gapping mouth, swallowed, then whispered, “I love you, Vanessa.” Vanessa beamed at Allison. “I know.” She said. “And the moment you walked into the dark room, I knew you would be the one to save me. Thank you, Allison!”

Vanessa threw her arms around Allison, and she instinctively stiffened. Gradually Allison warmed in Vanessa’s cold embrace.

“I’m sorry, Allison. I’ll never be warm like you.”

“It’s okay, Vanessa. I don’t mind. I actually kind of like it.” Allison chuckled. Vanessa took Allison’s face between her hands and looked into her eyes.

“I’ve missed out on so much,” she said. “I can’t wait to start this new adventure. Would you mind if I kissed you, Allison?” Allison gulped. Her mouth opened to speak, but she could only manage to shake her head. Vanessa’s eyes closed as she brought her face closer to Allison’s. Not knowing what to do, Allison kept her eyes open hoping that she could watch what Vanessa was doing and then imitate her. But Allison soon melted into the kiss, and she helplessly let her eyelids fall. Vanessa’s hands began to travel down Allison’s back. She kissed her neck, and Allison heard herself moan. She was embarrassed by the sound, but Vanessa just laughed. The feelings between Allison’s legs that had once made her so uncomfortable and ashamed now flowed through her entire body, electrifying her nerves. She only knew that she wanted more. Allison hadn’t noticed Vanessa’s body until she paused for breath. She’d not realized Vanessa was nude. Her breasts were fully formed and heavy when Allison cupped one in her hand. Then she remembered how Vanessa’s shoulders were bare in the last photo. Vanessa was saying something, but Allison couldn’t focus.

“When you executed him for his crime,” Vanessa breathed, “it fulfilled my bargain with the demon soul eaters.”

“I’m so glad, Vanessa. I’ve never been so happy.” Allison rubbed a handful of Vanessa’s blonde hair against her cheek and inhaled deeply. It lacked scent, but Allison only knew that she wanted to feel that soft hair brushing against every part of her body.

“I will have twenty years of life. Twenty years that bastard took from me.” Vanessa said as she guided Allison’s hands down her body. “I needed four remorseless souls. And thanks to you, I now have them.” Vanessa exclaimed as Allison fumbled with the buttons on her shirt. Only half listening, she finally loosened the last button. She reached out to pull Vanessa back into her embrace.  Then she stopped and crinkled her brow.

“But my love, I-I only killed three people. Where are we going to get another remorseless soul?” Vanessa smiled and caressed Allison’s cheeks with the backs of her fingers. “Don’t worry, Allison.”

It happened so quickly; Allison couldn’t be sure she actually saw it. Vanessa’s featured smeared her face and her eyes widened as she seized Allison’s throat. Allison couldn’t even choke out the word ‘why.’ And she couldn’t break Vanessa’s grip on her throat. She wasn’t sure if it was the shock of betrayal or Vanessa’s superhuman hold, but she was powerless. The light in Allison’s eyes was fading fast. And as she sank to the floor, she quickly felt sadness envelope her like the darkness rapidly closing in from the periphery of her vision.