Page 5 of Sam
“Okay,” I reply just as the back door opens. The alarm doesn’t go off, though.
“Shit,” I whisper, tiptoeing away. “He’s in the house, and he’s somehow bypassed the alarm,” I tell the detective. “I need to hide. Don’t be long.”
Keeping him on the line, I tuck the phone into my pocket and take one of my knives from its sheath. I creep along the wall, keeping to the shadows. I’m not sure where the guy has gone, but I can’t see him from here. The only thing I know is that he hasn’t come past me.
I hurry as fast as I can towards the bedroom and ease into the room, closing the door behind me. I think I’m in the clear when the door is suddenly pushed hard, and it hits me in the head, making me bite my tongue and see stars with the amount of force he used.
“You thought you’d get away from me,” a male voice chuckles darkly. I scramble back, knowing I can’t let him get his hands on me. I only have to keep him busy long enough for the police to get here. Detective Brick is shouting, but I’m busy trying to figure out who this guy is. I don’t recognise his voice.
It’s dark in my bedroom. I’d not left a light on when I’d gone to the lounge.
“You were meant to be asleep,” he purrs as he stalks towards me, grips my throat and lifts. I let my body go slack so that he takes all my weight.
He curses, and I lift my knee and try to go for his balls, but he stops me with his thigh.
Knowing I have to keep my wits about me and not panic, even if he’s cutting off my air. I’ve still got my knife, but I need him closer to be able to do any damage, and I want to know who he is.
“Who are you?” I grit out.
“Me,” he chuckles, “why, baby, I’m your lover. I’ve watched you every night for the last year. Seen you pleasure yourself, and I know you call my name when you come.”
The guy is delusional. He continues to tell me his fantasies. “I’ve been in bed with you, and you never even knew. I’m going to love training you.”
I shudder in disgust, wondering if what he’s just told me is true. I’ve never seen any evidence that someone had been in bed with me. Leaning forward, he licks up my neck to my lips as he sticks his tongue in my mouth. I bite down hard enough that I get a mouthful of blood. He grunts and punches at my head. His punch is hard enough that I have to let go, falling, gagging, and spitting out the blood that fills my mouth as he pushes me away.
“You fucking little bitch,” he shouts as he hits out. I take it. It’s not the first punch I’ve received, but fuck, it hurts. I’d forgotten how much. I know I can’t let him get me on the floor. I’m shuffling my way along the wall, disorientated from the punch and the hit to my head by the door. Eventually, I find the edge of the bedroom door.
Relief fills me as I run out, slamming the door closed behind me, hoping to slow him down. I’m almost to the front door when he grabs my hair, pulling me back against him.
“You fucking bastard,” I screech. “You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
“No,” he whispers, turning me around, and I get my first clear look at him. I recognise him now. He lives with my neighbourtwo doors down. He’s her grandson. The timing works; he moved in with her a year ago. He’s also the guy from the café. My brain is taking time to catch up with everything, but one thing’s for sure—he’s obviously been following me.
“How did you get into my house?” I want to know.
He cackles and holds up my back door key. “You should be more careful with your keys, little bird.”
“No,” I tell him as I brace my feet. “You should be more careful who you stalk, motherfucker.”
Lifting my hand, I stab him in the neck and take satisfaction from watching surprise flare in his eyes as he grips the knife.
Pulling it out of his neck, he looks at it as if he can’t quite understand what I’ve done. I think I’m in the clear. I know I got him good; he’s wobbling, but with a last lunge, he shoves my knife into my chest.
“If I’m dying, then so are you,” he hisses. “You’re mine or nobody’s.”
“No,” I whisper, hunching over in pain as blood bubbles up from my mouth, spraying out.
My knees give way, and darkness takes me. I don’t hear the door being battered open or my dad’s cry of anguish as he falls to the floor next to me, nor do I see him fall apart as the ambulance crew work on saving me.
I know none of this. All I know is that the pain is gone.
I’m floating in a peaceful bubble that has an annoying beeping sound. Then there’s nothing again, just blessed darkness.
When I next wake, it’s to my dad’s ravaged features and my mum’s tearful face. I’m not awake for long, but it’s enough for everything to come flooding back, and I panic. Nurses anddoctors rush in, pushing Mum and Dad away. Then I’m back to a peaceful darkness.
When I wake again, I handle it better; I’m in pain, but at least I’m alive.
2015
