Marking Her Territory

The gym lights flickered to life at 6:03 a.m.

 

Seraphina keyed in the door code with gloved fingers, brushed the light snowfall from the handle, and stepped inside. The air still held last night's sweat and old rubber, but she didn't mind. It smelled like routine. Predictable… and oh so very human.

 

She flicked on the front desk monitor, logged into the check-in system, and tied her hair back in one clean motion. The first arrivals wouldn't be in for another half hour, which meant she had time to breathe and get everything organized.

 

Or at least, pretend to.

 

Footsteps echoed down the hallway behind the weight room. Heavy and familiar, and she couldn't hold back the smile that appeared on her lips.

 

Right now, she hated humans… the way they made her feel, the things that they did to her in her past life, the idea of getting attached and knowing that they were going to die in less than a year.