The sound of traffic from the nearby highway was pregnant in the cold stillness of the evening. Closer in the dark alley the sound of steady breathing could be heard and the tiny clacking of claws on concrete as the animal shifted positions. Then the sound of a can skittering across the cement broke the stillness of the evening follows by the faint sounds of something very small chewing.

There was a blindfolded woman huddled unmoving in the shadows showing no sign of life, that was until a small grin spread across her lips as a taught leash was released. The signal given the well trained German Shepherd sprang into action rushing across the alley soon accompanied with a loud crash of cardboard boxes and skittering. Moments later the sound of frantic fear-filled squeaking could be heard as the large rat struggled futilely in the dogs powerful jaws.

The woman still showed no sign of movement apart from the small grin growing into a broad and wicked smile with two fangs extending in hungry anticipation as the animal padded over to her. Finally a hand reached out palm up and waited. The dog place the squirming furry bundle in the woman’s outstretched hand and it closed suddenly with a powerful vice like grip. Then slowly she raised the frantic creature to her opening maw and bit down. The creature flailed and screeched terribly as the fangs pierced its hide. Squeaking echoed off the alley walls in the stillness of the evening as its life’s blood drained away into the woman’s mouth. It took only moments for the creature to finally quit struggling and go limp in her hand.

Dirge withdrew her fangs and frowned in disappointment not at the foul taste of the animal’s vitae, but with the rat expired it no longer struggled as it had in its final agonizing moments. The enjoyment over she tossed the lifeless corpse at the dog’s feet and it struck the pavement with a sickly thud.

“Good boy Cerberus…good boy.” Was all she said as she reached out for the animal’s leash.