As I read this, I read ‘Watson’ as the name and immediately thought of a twisted sherlock homes novel as a basis. I see this was wishful thinking on my part and the sentence has enough horror on its own. A less graphic image here, the last part is very chilling.

I too thought that this was rather chilling. However, I think that presence of a name is unnecessary.

Interesting that the name seems out of place for you guys. I wrote it as “he” at first, but it felt bland. I put the name in to give Winston an identity and a “real person” status but left the victim as “she” so as to make her less important and faceless, as Winston might see her.

I think the name is necessary. Rather than a random act of violence, it’s a personal one.