He held her down, her wrists in his hands. "Don't fight it," he said.
She kicked and wriggled, but he was too strong for her.
She was crying.
He looked down at her. "It's so much easier if you don't fight it, my beauty."
She was sobbing, the tears leaking down her perfect face. He felt like sobbing too, for a moment, because it would be so sad to lose her. But with an effort, he regained his control.
"You have been an enjoyable specimen," he said, in a voice full of sympathy. “But it’s time now.”
She started writhing in terror, fighting him with surprising strength, but he was stronger.
He held her wrists tightly in his hands, then put his knee on her right arm so he could apply the rag.
He looked at her for a long moment.
"This is for your own good," he said.
"No," she said, crying. "No."
"Yes," he said, and he crushed the rag into her face.
She struggled, panicking. But soon, the soaked cloth did its work and her struggles abated.
“Close by, that’s where I’ll take you. The closest shore, quick and easy,” he muttered.
Quickly, he moved along with his plan. He tied her wrists with rope, and this time he trussed her ankles, too, pulling the knots very tight this time because he was not making the same mistake again. No way was another of his specimens escaping.
He blindfolded her. Then he lifted her and carried her outside to dump her in the trunk of his car.
His heart was racing. He felt a sense of triumph, but also of relief, knowing that what he was about to do was for the best.
He would dispose of her and then he could begin again.
All the same, he couldn't help staring down at her, feeling a pang of remorse at what she'd made him do.
He had never felt sorrier for anyone in his life.
“If only things could have been different,” he muttered to this, his most beautiful acquisition. But he knew he had no choice. It was time.
It was almost fully dark now. He climbed into the car and set off on the short drive to the closest lake shore.