The Animator

"I work in animation," Charlie said as he sipped the vintage Merlot.

"Really? Who do you work for?" Jessica asked, completely enthralled. He was successful, that much was evident by the brand suits and the nice car. Charming, successful, and smart enough to be into Jessica. Everything she wanted.

"I'm freelance. I animate a little bit of everything. I'd be happy to show you some of my work sometime if you like." He was looking at her bright red hair, and matching lipstick. His eyes betrayed that she had won him, and she smiled like a blushing schoolgirl. She was painfully aware of this weakness, but she didn't care after this night. She had a pretty good buzz going, and they were alone, sitting at a little breakfast nook in her living room.

She put the wine down, and began to contemplate her move. She looked him up and down, looking for the best angle, the best approach. He locked eyes with her and she was paralyzed for a moment. He had caught her. He's so clever, she thought, He can see right through me. He leaned in and kissed her passionately. It was the first time they had kissed. It was electric, unlike any kiss she'd had in her adult life. It was like the sort of first kisses she had experienced in her high school days. The kind where you weren't quite sure how both parties knew to lean in at that exact moment. The kind where you're not quite conscious of the signal of intent, but that your body was moving of it's own volition, without needing to be told.

It was the kiss that initiated the best sex she had ever experienced. She forgot herself in it; lost herself in it. She was an animal with her conscious mind replaced by sheer ecstacy. She lost track of time, lost track of her thoughts, and had the most effortless orgasm she had ever experienced, and it lasted for what seemed like an eternity in the throes of such pure and unadulterated pleasure.

Afterwards, he slumped back into the chair and she lay there, her bare back on the table, and it occurred to her that at some point he had removed everything from the table and placed it on the shelf behind him. As the world came slowly back into focus, she smiled at him weakly, drained. He didn't have any bullshit pillow talk. He didn't feed her some line about how it was the most incredible sex he'd ever had, or even inquire as to whether or not she enjoyed it. He had a confidence, a strength that she was unaccustomed to finding in men. She felt like she should speak to fill the silence, but no words came to her, and she didn't want to risk losing such an amazing high by talking, or even getting off of the table, for fear that she might somehow fuck it all up.

Suddenly he began buttoning his shirt and fixing his perfectly groomed black hair, reaching for his coat. She moaned softly, "Don't leave?"

He waved his hand over the table, closing his eyes and... saying some sort of prayer? Oh god, she thought, No no no no, please don't fuck this up, Charlie. Please! Suddenly a shiver ran up her spine as the tablecloth itself seemed to be lifting up, wrapping softly around her, almost caressing her. Her mind went blank. She couldn't understand what was happening. And then suddenly, the tablecloth was wrapped around her neck and began constricting, blocking her airway. Charlie simply stood watching, smiling.

It was too late when she finally decided to accept that she was being strangled by a tablecloth. She kicked and tried to gasp out a scream as she clawed desperately at it. But it was too late. She heard the beautiful voice of the Animator speak softly as the world began to fall back away from her and the ambient noise all became metallic and unreal.

"Good night, sweet Jessica."