• It was a calm night, with not a cloud in the sky. A young man, whom we'll call Kane, was in his room working on a YouTube video on his laptop. He laid down on his bed, working on the lyrics, for the video. It was getting late, and the only illumination in the room, was the glow of his lap top screen, a small desk lap, and the black light he used for his pet snake, to keep her warm. In the sun, she was a rainbow of color. Which, was part of her species' namesake, as the Colombian Rainbow Boa. Everyone else in the household was asleep, and our young hero was starting to get bored. So, he decided to play some Team Territory Two. As the game was loading, he was certain he could hear faint screams, and looked out the window, as lights were coming on in the house across the street. Then, they went out, one by one... Nothing about this was ever said, though no one from the house was seen thereafter...
    About a week after the incident, Kane was in his room, reading a book, when he heard a bang outside. He promptly grabbed the nearest pocket knife, as he collected them due to the fact he often went camping, and was to go again that Saturday. Then, a creaking sound in the hallway, and Kane shut the light in his room off. He sat there, for what felt like hours. After quite some time, a sound resembling that of a glass of water being spilled could be heard from across the hall. After a while longer, our young hero managed to get up, clutching his weapon closely, and opened his door, as it slid open on silent hinges. He then went into his brother's room, across the hall. He opened the door, and looked to the floor, at his red-tinted reflection. He quickly ducked away and out of the doorway, and then, like a ton of bricks, another thought hit him. He quietly but hastily made his way to his parents' room, and looked in. He almost started crying right there, but ducked out, sadness and anger welling up inside him. He retreated to his room, trying to be as quiet as possible, and instantly knew someone had been there, his snake now dead in her... Whoever had done it, however, was no longer in the room, and likely searching for him.
    The hunt was on. "Game on. Bring it." Kane whispered quietly. Filled with a quiet, misery fueled rage, he grabbed some other knives, his Zippo lighter, and some lighter fluid. Then, he inserted one of his heavy metal CDs into his radio, and paused the radio before it even started. Then, he turned up the volume until it would go no higher, and hit play. He then promptly fled the room, and hid, waiting, in the bathroom. The radio would both make him harder to hear, and issue a challenge to the night-killer, this, Dagger in the Dark. "One on one... Take me on..." Kane whispered in sync with the song. Judas Priest, One on One. One of his favorite songs. Then… A shadow! A shadow crept by, and Kane jumped from his hiding spot. The killer turned, and Kane slashed at it. He knew not where though. But then, he felt the shock, of cold steel, slipping between his ribs. He managed to return the favor, and they both slumped to the floor. Kane then took out his Zippo, and let himself up. He was getting weaker. He could barely feel the flames creeping up his body. He used the last of his energy to pull the mask off his killer, to find himself looking into a mirror, the killer having his face "High score," his dark doppelganger said, as Kane started to lose consciousness due to blood loss. So, did I win...? Was our hero's last thoughts, as the smoke from the fire, and mortal wound still seeping crimson blood, took over him. The last sensation he felt, was one of peace and the dark embrace creeping through his body, and his mind going into eternal sleep, never to wake again.