POV - The Thief Trap

Rogue is a skilled cat burglar who has gained a reputation in the criminal underworld as a successful thief who can nab any valuable items without leaving a trace. She has recently got a tip-off from one of her contacts about a house filled with undeclared valuables that were procured illicitly to begin with, so once they are taken they won't be reported to authorities. However, Rogue is unaware this tip-off is really just a long con set-up by another criminal with dark interests…

Rogue breaks into the home with her lockpicking kit, closing the door softly behind her just in case someone is there. She creeps around the front room, running her hands along the couches and checking every nook and cranny for anything of value. She scans around searching and listening as she moves stealthily though the house. With no items to be found in the front room, Rogue follows the intel she was given and heads next to the bedroom. She climbs up the stairs quietly, then peeks inside the bedroom down before slowly pushing it open and going through.

Rogue sneaks through the bedroom and looks around. Moving her hands along the dresser and opening the drawers. She finds a box of valuables and her eyes light up. She carefully takes the box out and opens it. It is filled with money and sparkling gems. Rogue runs her hand through it and then puts it away into her bag. She looks through and dumps it in her bag with a smile. In a drawer she finds a big stack of cash which she quickly tucks away as well. Rogue continues through the room, checking under the bed and finding a lockbox. Rogue hunches over the box as she opens it up to examine its contents. It doesn't appear to have much of value; newspaper clippings, random knick-knacks, garments, hair ties, and more. Some shiny jewelry catches Rogues eye and she shoves it all into her bag. Rogue's brow furrows as she rummages through the box further, discovering polaroid photos and a newspaper headline. The polaroid photos show different women in different stages of distress and bindings, and some who appear limp and lifeless. The newspaper headline read 'The Shadow Choker Still at Large' with a crime scene photo next to the article. The realization of whose home this is dawns on Rogue as her eyes go wide in fear. Her hands shake as she drops the photos back into the lockbox and closes it before quickly sliding it back under the bed.

Rogue gathers her newfound valuables and rushes to the door out of the room. Just as she is about to escape out of the doorway, the door in front of her swings closed and reveals the Shadow Choker has been waiting for his newest prey this whole time. Rogue is caught of guard and drops the box of gems in surprise, the valuables cascading out onto the floor. She tries to reason with the killer, apologizing for breaking in and promising to return everything she took. The shadow choker stares at her while he wears a helmet with a mounted camera in order to capture every moment of this planned kill. He holds a ligature in his hands as he steps slowly towards the cornered thief. Rogue makes a break for it and tries to get past him, but the killer lunges out and grabs at her, managing to get the cord wrapped tight around Rogue's neck. She struggles and gasps for air, trying to pull away, but she cannot break free. The killer pulls hard on the ligature and strangles the life out of her.

Rogue grasps at the cord crushing her neck as the killer strangles her from behind. She tries to move away but he holds her in place. She shakes her head and swings her arms, but the killers grip is too strong. The killer follows Rogues movements and then pushes her forcefully face first into the wall. He pulls at both ends of the ligature and holds her in place against the wall with his body weight pressed up against her. Rogue tries to push free, but is quickly slammed back into the wall as the man strangles her relentlessly. Crying in agony and screaming for help, the situation grows increasingly more hopeless for Rogue. Soon her legs buckle out from under her as she is continuously choked and she falls onto the floor. The choker follows her down and switches positions so now he is strangling her face-to-face. Her boots kick up in the air and scratch against the ground while she struggles energetically. Hitting at her attacker and pulling at the cord, unable to get a breath while the ligature pulls tight on her throat asphyxiating her. He pulls the cord with all his strength. Rogue's eyes roll and she grows weaker, unable to break free.

The choker holds on tight as he attacks and Rogue gradually fades into unconsciousness. She falls back limp on the floor with her eyes closed. The choker finally lets go of the cord and relents the pressure. He runs his hands across her face and body, examining closely of his newest victim. She lies there unmoving as he takes the bag filled with valuables which she has strapped around her torso. He also removes each of her boots and socks before dragging her out of the room.

Rogue is tied up in the sound-proof basement of the killers home, her arms taped to the chair and her legs bound at the ankles. She gradually wakes up and finds she is unable to move, pulling against her bonds and quaking in fear. She pulls hard at the bindings, desperate to break free. Shaking her arms and trying to kick out her feet. The shadow choker enters the torture chamber, carrying Rogues bag filled with the valuables. He approaches slowly while Rogue pleads and begs with him, apologizing for breaking in and professing she will do anything to get free. He paces around her, watching her struggle and running a hand along her shoulders, face, and legs. He picks out the dollar bills and gems which she had been trying to steal and tosses them onto her bound body. Rogue protests while her captor toys with her and dumps the loot all over her.

The killer tosses the bag to the side and pulls out the ligature, positioning himself behind her and then wrapping it around her neck tightly. Rogue's face opens wide in panicked agony as her kidnapper chokes her hard. Her hands pull forcefully at her bindings while her tied up feet uselessly kick in the air. He holds on tight with the ligature as she struggles, face growing red from the pressure. She coughs and sputters, shaking her whole body to try and get free. But all she can do is give in to the agony. Her hands and feet clench against the bindings but she is trapped in place. The strangler relents and gives his victim a chance to catch her breath. Pacing around in front of her while she pleads even more desperately than before. He gently caresses her body and dangles the cord on her playfully.

The choker sits down on top of his trapped victim, bringing the ligature up to her neck while looking at her face-to-face. She tries to pull away but can't move far as she must submit to the whim of her kidnapper. He brings the ligature around her neck and pulls tight again, asphyxiating her slowly but surely in his sadistic breathplay game. Her mouth and eyes open wide as she struggles, trapped in place at the whim of her captor. His hands pull either end of the ligature tightly, squeezing all the breath out of the trapped thief. She gasps and gags, whimpering from the crushing force. Just when it seems she can take no more, the strangler relents and loosens his grip on the ligature.

Rogue cries out in pain as she catches her breath, unable to take any more of this choking game which has been forced upon her. The killer paces around watching her suffer before moving in for the final strangulation. Stepping behind his helpless victim, the shadow choker runs the cord across her body and slowly wraps it around her neck. Rogue's face goes red and her body trembles from the pressure. Fighting against it and arching back her head and neck in an attempt to free herself from the bonds. But it is no use as the tape holding her to the chair seems to only get tighter and tighter with every movement. She looks into the killer's camera, her eyes silently pleading for mercy as she is strangled hard. Soon she loses all control and becomes nothing more than a trembling spasming mess, tongue protruded and eyes glazed over. Her head falls to the side as some final spasms run through her body before she goes entirely limp. The choker holds on tight a few moments more, shaking his deceased victim in the chair. Finally he lets go, looking into Rogue's glazed dead eyes and the final expression on her face.

The killer paces around his dead victim, admiring the beauty of this crime scene. He runs his hand along Rogue's body, then sets about preparing for disposal. The choker lays out a big plastic tarp on the ground, then unties the bindings on Rogue's wrists and ankles. Getting a good look at her tied-up bare feet as he removes the bondage a piece at a time. He lifts up the limp body and brings it to the tarp, tossing Rogue on the ground on top of the plastic. He wraps her up methodically and presses it tight once she has been covered in the plastic. He takes a moment to admire his handiwork, the dead body covered with a plastic sheet, eyes still open and staring. He grabs her by the legs and drags her out of the basement, another victim added to his twisted collection.