GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

SEARCHING FOR THE PART

Jack was always attracted to power. And even though he was just 28 years old, he had already gained a good amount of it. The kind of power that had made him rich enough to own a very comfortable apartment downtown. From the 12th floor he could look down at all the poor, weak souls that could never reach him and his status. He always felt like a king whenever he looked down that balcony.

If it was something he cherished with the same passion, it was order. He had, since he could remember himself. There was a certain ritualistic nature to his day, and he honored it diligently. After his morning espresso, with exactly 20 grams of coffee and only a thin layer of foam, he would head out to work at precisely 8 a.m. At 5 p.m, he would leave work and head to a nearby swimming pool, to exercise and calm his nerves. At 6:30, he would return home, and, if no social gatherings where in store ,(purely for business reasons), he would cook a nice, eclectic meal for himself. The schedule was set. Meat or fish for three days of the week, vegetables the other three, legumes or pasta the last one. Then he’d relax in front of the large, flat-screen t.v of his living room, with a cold beer and later, maybe, a glass of whiskey.

But power, as with most things, becomes apparent and meaningless after a while. Jack was starting to feel jaded. And the cure for that feeling was simple. More power, more complete and more vicious. As a result, a project entered into development a few months ago. He knew the right people that could help him, no questions asked, after a generous offer. All he needed was the right subject. And on that day, as he sat sipping his drink, he looked down on a certain photo on his phone, then pressed “send”. He smiled with satisfaction.

GETTING THE PART

A cute, 24 year-old girl also had a big smile stuck on her face, when she returned home from the swimming pool. Today was her day-off and she knew how she wanted to spend it. The water always made her feel rejuvenated and energetic. Her name was Eve. She was a shy, but gorgeous young woman, with silky, dark hair and beautiful, blue eyes. Her body was thin and athletic. She loved horse riding and shoe shopping and took every chance her schedule gave her, to do either. Even though those chances were rare nowadays, it was worth it. Working at a 2-Michelin-star restaurant, at such a young age, was a sign that her dream of becoming a famous chef was on the right track. Everyone was always mentioning how talented and creative a cook she was, and her friends and family never missed a chance to taste her delicious creations.

As Eve entered her apartment, she let out a sigh. “Again with the garbage..” she murmured. “Why does she have to throw everything on the floor?” Her roommate worked at nights and was rarely at home when Eve got back. They went along fine, but the mess she would occationally leave, drove Eve mad. After she cleaned up after her roommate for the hundrendth time, she fell on the couch, exhausted from a hard but rewarding day. Her eyes begun closing, and she slowly drifted into sleep, still in her work clothes.

Asleep as she was, she didn’t hear the turning of the key lock.