Friends with benefits

Sam and Andy had been going steady for about a year now and they loved each other deeply. Both felt that they had found their soulmate. This evening they were walking back home after watching a movie with Sam’s friend from childhood, Beth. They turned into an alley that was a shortcut between the Main Street in town and the street where they lived. Although it was dark, the alley was not long and they had all used it many times before without problem, so they didn’t give it a second thought.

As they passed a pile of old boxes and rubbish sacks a figure darted out of the shadows and lunged at them. Andy pushed Sam out of the way and span to face the attacker. As he did so, he saw the flash of a blade and struck out at the hooded assailant. The blade clattered to the floor and the attacker staggered backwards hitting his head on a rock. The figure was not moving, so Andy turned his attention back to the girls. The look of horror on Andy’s face was mirrored by Sam as they both watched the almost impossible sight of their friend apparently melting in front of their eyes. They both rushed forwards to catch Beth as she folded up on herself. Within seconds their vibrant, bubbly friend had become a seemingly lifeless “skin”, some of her clothes falling away from her.

Andy turned back towards the figure on the ground to try and get some answers from this criminal. What he found was an empty hoodie, ragged jeans and scuffed sneakers. Lying next to the pile of clothes was the strange looking blade. Andy picked it up by its ornate handle and put it in his pocket. Returning to Sam he saw how she was cradling her friend, tears welling in her eyes.

“What just happened?” cried Sam.

“I have no idea and that creep has just vanished leaving a pile of clothes” said Andy.