Yuki sat in the corner of the dark hotel room, her laptop open in front of her. The screen showed an empty Word document. She stared at it, willing her fingers to fly across the keyboard like they once did. She began to think she was frustrated, maybe even angry. It wasn’t true, however. She was as hollow as a rotten log.

A familiar voice broke into her thoughts. I want you to kill him now.

She blinked with an echo of surprise. I thought I already fulfilled my end of our bargain, Yuki replied.

You think your book was that cheap? The voice floated through her mind with a shivering chuckle.

Yuki looked over at the figure sleeping on the only bed in the room. Well, will you at least tell me why you suddenly want him dead?

Would you keep a broken toy?

She nodded. She didn’t understand the reason, but she knew she had no choice. She stood over the sleeping figure, wondering if she would need her knife. Her eyes turned blacker than night as she decided it would be easier without it.