A chase, horrible and twisted, his steps
close behind me— and blood. My legs tangled in the damp, sweaty sheets. I
gasped for air, a death grip on my mattress. Sore from violent dreams, my arms
stretched above the pillow and brushed the headboard. I’m ok.
Annabelle, my little sister assaulted our
family’s ears with the lyrics of her favorite song. Reluctant, I slumped down
the staircase and was met with the aroma of warm scrambled eggs and cinnamon
rolls on our breakfast table. My stomach grumbled in agreement with the rest of
my body. The meal tasted delicious; however, I had this feeling I couldn’t put
my finger on, slight dread but not enough to unsettle me. The feeling like an
itch, kept distracting me.
Restlessness overwhelmed me and I
decided to go for a short walk. Outside the summer breeze rushed through my
hair. To my left, an animal darted into a bush. I plodded down the jaded, dirt
path; it was so beautiful outside, I just wanted to capture it all. Pictures
wouldn’t do this day justice. The heat absorbed into my pale skin, and my arms
tingled with a burned sensation.
The fresh air invigorated my whole body. Home, I grabbed a glass from the cabinet
and filled it with water. I raced up the stairs to my room.
~
Later that night, mom and dad invited
some of dad’s business colleagues to our home for dinner. Sounds of laughter
and the clink of crystal glasses carried up the stairs. Draped over my bed with
one ear bud in, I day dreamed until a glass shattered in the room below— then
silence. A curious stillness paralyzed me from head to toe; it sent chills up
and down my spine. I stopped then peeked
around the textured wall, and saw everything in its place. Nothing was out of
the ordinary, except the broken glass on the floor, surrounded by a pool of red
liquid. I was alone.
Confused I turned back to the wall.
Thoughts raced by and invaded my mind. What is going on? Where is everyone? I wanted
to call out but something held me back. My legs carried me through the house,
from room to room. I felt isolated. A look out the front window proved they
hadn’t taken the car. I grasped a picture frame with a family photo tracing the
faces with my eyes. Where are they? I set down the frame harder than I meant
to, and the glass cracked. I trembled with
each step ‘til I came to the kitchen and cupped water in my hands and splashed
it on my face attempting to calm my now flushed cheeks. Out of a reflection, I
then saw something that struck fear into me.
A
dark figure emerged from the next room carrying a bloodied knife. Whose blood
is that? Why didn’t I hear anything? He scanned the room and cleared his throat,
then left in the same silence he came. My mind raced with possibilities,
horrible scenarios. I crept out of my hiding place determined to find answers.
With each quiet stride the dread of something
terrible washed over me. I peeked into
the next room and saw more of the same strange perfection. My blood ran cold
and my eyes darted back and forth over the familiar surroundings. I felt
constricted, my chest tightened. What’s going on? A drip on my right shoulder,
water from the air conditioning vent? I could have sworn dad fixed that. A brush of my fingers over my shoulder, it
was warm. I jerked my hand away. What? I brought my hand in front of my face
and stared in horror. Blood—then another drop on the opposite shoulder. Muscles
tightened as the blood made contact. A loss for words enveloped me. I wanted to
scream but no sound would come. A pulse, my pulse pounded in my head with a
deafening affect. My head lifted with caution. On the ceiling were my sister,
parents and their friends; dead, pinned there with rope and silver knives. My
hand flew to my mouth. Breath stolen, tears rolled down my face.
The door opened, the man was back. He
saw me with his icy blue eyes and waited for me to move. When I did he began
his chase. I leapt over the living room couch. Throwing the back door open, I
sprinted across the black street.
The full moon cast a soft glow on the
trees, planted in perfect rows. Down the opposite alley I ran and launched
myself over a fence but caught my leg and sensed the tear of skin. I bit my lip
ignoring the pain. Over my shoulder I looked, then rolled under a parked car.
My mind hoped, prayed he hadn’t seen me. Instinct and agility guided me behind
a large sign advertising a new neighbor hood community. There I sat rocking
back and forth. Paralyzed with exhaustion my body collapsed in a tired heap.
Maybe I was safe. Maybe.
Street
noise. I woke up and tried to stand on my sore leg then continued down the
road. Although the sun shone bright, the path I took was still ominous and
shaded. I couldn’t go home. I had to keep going. A few miles down the road, I had
come upon a clean-cut bright white house. Maybe they’d have a phone? I was
hesitant to go in but really had no other choice. I really didn’t see anything
else. With stealth I moved along the side of the house and peered around the window.
The same man, he was there. A frail looking old woman was in tears, sobbing
uncontrollably. She was filled with so much pain and sorrow, her eyes bloodshot.
“Why can’t I find that girl? This should be easy. How on earth did she get
away?” After his tirade, he stomped out slamming the door so hard it bounced
back.
I swung myself through the open window
as he made his exit. My fingers covered my lips motioning for her to not make a
sound. I approached her and used the sleeve of my shirt to dry the woman’s scarlet
eyes. “Is he coming back?” I asked.
“No, he’s looking for someone,”
she wavered, and looked to the floor shaking. I asked the bruised woman what
happened, and after a long pause she retold her life of terror. With every word she spoke I became more
afraid. I took a step back. The story she shared was my own. Mine but a little
different.
Mary, explained how she came home and
found her husband and son murdered, stabbed on the ceiling of her home. Filled
with horror, she let out an ear piercing scream. This alerted the killer, who
then captured her and forced her to do his bidding. Several times she attempted
to escape but the punishment was worse each time she tried. Mary had given up
hope. With a quiet whisper she uttered her final words, “Don’t let him catch
you, whatever you do, don’t let him…” Her heart gave out, she then died in my
arms. I laid her down on the ground and closed her eyes. Was this gonna be me? Now
I was terrified.
Frightened out of my mind I arose,
careful to leave the place as I found it. Then I left, and took the path
opposite of the dreaded killer. I couldn’t
stop. When tiredness overtook me, I rested my head on a bench and prayed for a
few hours of peace.
~
I woke up in a bed; a soft blanket tucked around me and sat up. I shouldn’t be here. I
have to keep moving. I looked up and met a tanned face inset with pair of brown
eyes. “Where am I?” A young man gave me a sympathetic smile and said,
“You
are in Brooksville Community Church. My dad and I found you lying on the bench
outside and brought you in.” Still nervous I leaned my back against the
adjacent wall. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“Ella.”
“Well here, I brought you some food.” He
smiled
“…and by the way my name is Adam, Adam Jacobson.”
he set a plate of steamy pancakes in front of me, which I eyeballed. “Go
ahead,” he motioned toward the food. I looked with caution but then accepted it,
eating every bite.
“You must be hungry. When did you last
eat?” he asked as I finished.
“I
have to go. Now.” I cut in, and stood in a dizzy rush. He steadied me, with a
light grip still on my elbow.
“Ella, don’t go. We can help you,
please.” He implored
“I have to”, I argued.
“No, no you don’t. Stay. Give us a
chance.” He said eyeing my leg, “It’s bleeding again, and at least let me
rewrap it.” I backed away.
“Why on earth would you help me? What’s in it for you?”
“Honestly, I just want to help.” He
said.
“Thanks”
I mumbled, he knelt down in front of me as I sat down on the bed.
My leg in his hand, he took a bowl of water
and a rag from the bedside table and began washing away the blood. He then
wrapped it in clean gauze. With all the care he took I began to be more
comfortable.
“Well as long as you want to be helpful,
is there a phone around here?”
“Yeah, here.” He handed me his Iphone.
“Can I have a minute?”
“Sure, I’ll be in the other room just
holler if you need anything.”
I
dialed 911, and listened to the ring. The operator answered, “911, what is your
emergency?”
“Hello, my family they’ve been
murdered, I need your help.”
“Ok dear, where did this happen?
Where are you?” she asked
“My house. It happened at my house:
829 Dunbar Terrace, Aikine County. I’m with a friend. I’ve been running. He’s
after me. You have to get them down. I can’t go back there”
“Slow down honey, get them down? What
do you mean? Who is after you? Why can’t you go back?”
“The man, he killed them. He stabbed them and strung them up on the ceiling.
You have to get them down.”
I’m sending a patrol car over to the
house. You said you’re with a friend, where are you? I’ll send a car over there
too.” She assured.
“Thank you. I’m at Brooksville
Community Church, staying with the pastor’s family.” I said.
“Alright dear, an officer will be
there in thirty minutes. Stay where you are.”
“I will.” I said and ended the call.
I walked into the hallway, “Adam?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Don’t freak out, ok?”
“Uh sure, what’s up?”
“Some
stuff happened to my family and the police are on the way and they need to talk
to me… that won’t be a problem, will it?”
“What?
Why?”
That’s when it happened. I broke. The
reality of my family being gone consumed me and I sobbed. Adam sat down next to
me, in silence at first but after a minute he brushed the hair from my face,
searching me for some kind of explanation. In a voice which still shook with
tears I said, “My family, they were murdered.” A knock on the door signaled the
arrival of the officer. Pastor Jacobson opened the door and let the man in,
“Ella. There is an officer here to see you.”
“Adam”, I whispered
“Yes”
“Come with me.”, I pleaded.
“Sure.”, He agreed.
I
rose and walked, Adam close behind me, and met the officer in the living room.
“Are you Ella Gold?” the policeman asked.
“Yeah that’s me.” I stepped forward.
When the officer left I collapsed on the
couch in an exhausted heap and cried. All I do is cry anymore. Why can’t I just
pull myself together? They’re gone. Crying won’t help, but I swear when I get
my hands on that— that monster, he
will wish he was never born. Adam placed his hand on my shoulder, “El, you’re
gonna get through I promise we’ll help you with whatever you need”. El? No one had ever called me that before but
somehow it felt ok, comforting even. I got up, and dried my eyes with the side
of my hand. “Ok” was all I could muster.
~
The next few weeks were hard to say the
least. I was a wreck. An emotional, unstable mess but Adam and his dad were
great. They were always there to talk and to listen; they accepted my flaws and
even helped me get a job at the local diner. My life was not normal by any
means but I guess I was starting to put the crumbled, shattered pieces back together.
And Adam, that boy. He was so sweet, every morning I walked into the dining
room and found a warm breakfast waiting for me and a note. I felt a part of the
family. As we got to know each other Adam opened up to me and told me about how
his mom died in a fire at his father’s old church when he was a child.
Adam and I were attached at the hip we
went everywhere together. I needed someone and he was always there, and after
about a month and a half I realized something that I didn’t want to accept. I
was in love with Adam Jacobson. I first realized it at the annual church picnic
and now I couldn’t get him out of my head.
Monday he took his seat at Sallyanne’s Diner,
the way he did every day at 6pm but he seemed a little antsy. “Hey what’s up
with you?” I asked.
“Oh nothing, can I get my usual El?”
“Sure”, I replied turning to the
kitchen.
“Wait” he called after me.
“Yeah?”
“You know how the guys and I go bowling
every Tuesday?”
“Uhuh” I said.
“Would you go with me?” he asked.
“Yeah, I think so.” I answered
“I mean with me.”
“Like a date?” I asked
“Yeah”, I blushed, “What time?”
“I’ll come by the house at seven and
pick you up.”
“Ok”, I agreed as I rushed to the
kitchen to compose myself.
What am I gonna wear? I can’t believe he
asked me out. What if I do something stupid? Come on you only have another half
an hour to finish. Brush in hand I combed out the tangled mess and smoothed
down my shirt. At seven I heard a loud knock, took one last look at myself and went
to open the door. I swung open the door but nothing was there. Well that was
weird. Oh, a box…hmmm. I wondered what it was and picked it up and set it on
the dining room table. I broke the seal and peered in—a human finger. With a
scream, I dropped the repulsive package.
When
I dropped it a note slipped out, with slow movements I bent down to retrieve
it.
I
have him. You know what I want. Meet me at the old train station on forks road.
If you don’t, believe that he will be dead. You have 59 minutes, good luck
orphan.
X
Anger boiled up and burned inside me.
How dare he? It was the first time I was a normal girl again. He has striped
every person I ever loved away from me. Why? I don’t understand. I have to get
him back I can’t let him get hurt because of me. I felt guilty that I drug him
into my crazy life at all. Now he’s in serious danger, it’s all my fault. I
started toward the station with each passing moment my speed ascended with my
desperation.
Upon my arrival I took in the darkness,
and eerie stillness. Again I felt alone but this time I couldn’t let the fear
overwhelm me, I had to keep him safe. I entered the station, walked a few
paces, then the door slammed behind me and the killer appeared with his gun
trained on Adam’s head.
“Let him go please. I’m here now. You
can have me just let him free.” I pleaded.
Laughter echoed through the empty halls.
“You thought it would be that easy didn’t you?” said the monster of a man who
stood before me. I walked closer but he tightened his grip ready to pull the
trigger.
“ El, run, get away!” Adam begged. “Go!”
“Shut up you little church boy.” the
killer growled.
With
a sudden click, the lights went out. Then two gun shots and silence.
To
Be Continued…
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