[suspense] RUNNING...

BEAT

It had been 2 years since the last letter. She thought she was safe living in the little town where no one knew her, so far away from home. She allowed herself to forget things that ought not be forgotten.

Coming home one day she sifted through mail on the porch and to her horror discovered a letter from the prison where he was incarcerated.
She began reading it there on the porch and realised it was not from him, it was from his cell mate.
Unlike the other mail she had received it was not forwarded, it was mailed directley to her, how could that be she wondered. She became faint and grasped the hand rail as a neighbor walking by noticed and came to her aid.
She looked up and only nodded to him when he asked if she were okay, she then tore into the house slamming the door behind her running from room to room locking windows and doors and drawing the curtins.

She then went into her bedroom where she safest and sat down to try and make sense of what was happening. She tried her best to remain calm, but found it too difficult knowing that they knew where she was. She tried to convince herself that everything was okay, he was still in prison afterall, the postmark date was only from 2 days ago. A crash of thunder struck and she jumped off the bed, this is silly she said to herself laughing nervously. I will just pack a few bags and leave for Marlene's in the morning, for a week or so until I know what is going on for sure...by then the storm will have passed she thought as she looked out of her bedroom window.

She made a call to her closest friend Marlene to ask if it were okay and explained what was going on. Ofcourse you can stay here Lexy, said Marlene. You go ahead and reserve your airline ticket and call me back to let me know your arrival time so I can pick you up. You are the best Marlene, call you back in a few, said Lexy.

Lexy had finished reserving the tickets when she picked up the phone to call Marlene back, but there was dead air...as if the other phone in the house was of the hook. She hung it up and figured it was the storm as she hadnt been out of her room yet so the other phone hadn't been touched. She picked up the phone again to check it and this time she could here someone breathing...she sat on her bed paralyzed with fear, her mind was racing, someone is in the house!
She lay day the phone quietly and ran lightly to her door and locked it shut.
She sat down and picked up the phone again, there was no one there but it was still off the hook.

What is happening, why is this happening to me she cried. Maybe I imagined it she thought trying to clear herself of the fear that was aring inside of her...and then she heard the footsteps coming down the hall. She could'nt breathe now, the fear was choking her. The footsteps stopped at the room next to hers it sounded like, at the bathroom. What do I do?! and then she remembered her knife and reached under the bed for it. She sat listening and grabbing onto the knife so tight that her hand was throbbing.

My cell phone she thought, it's in my purse...in the kitchen, only right down the hall. If I could only hear where he was I might be able to...then she heard the front door shut. The front door? Oh No! I didnt lock it, he walked right in...how could I have done that she moaned. I was so worried about all of the other entrances, with a sigh of disgust she got up and walked to her door, did he leave she wondered.

The thunder struck and she bumped her head into the door as she listened for any footsteps, she turned to walk back to the bed and to her absolute horror saw his silhouette in her bedroom window. He was on the back porch! she wanted to scream, instead she droped her knife and clasped her hands round her mouth to muffle the sounds escaping her.
The shadow moved away, she then realised it was her chance to get her purse, she could make it she told herself.
She flung open her door and tore down the hallway, her purse wasnt on the counter, where did I put it!!!
I dropped it on the floor as I came in the house, its down the main hall! She ran down another hall and grabbed it, she stopped to listen, breathing heavily...

She peaked round the corner and the front door was standing wide open, she listened and heard nothing still, she could run out the front door but risk running into him, what should I do?...
She ran back towards her room as fast as she could, I made it she gasped as she locked her door. I will call the police from here and wait, atleast I have my knife if he gets close, she turned to pick it up where she had dropped it, it was gone.
NOOO!! she screamed, she heard steps outside her door, she dialed 911 for help as she backed away from the door.

She saw the handle turn as she listened to the busy signal on her phone. Busy!! how can it be Busy!! this is the emergency line!! Think Lexy, what do I do she said to herself.
She frantically dialed marlene, almost dropping the phone. Ringing, ringing...finally! Marlene she began frantically, you have to call 911 for me, my phone is about to die and...
but then she was interupted by a familiar voice.
Marlene cant come to the phone right now, she is...tied up at the moment.
In shock she muttered, but who..how...what is...
Yes Lexy, I knew if I found Marlene she would tell me where you were...eventually, he said.
But, no wait, if you are there then who is..and then she stopped and realised that the man she was running from was not the man in her house hunting her.
Where are you Lexy!, he snapped.
I am running from your cell mate, your cell mate is here trying to kill me! Shawn, why is he here what is going on she cried.
My cell mate? I had no cell mate, what are you talking about?!

The phone dies and she dropped it feeling sick and wishing now that she were dead, she just couldn't take it anymore.
She heard movement in the kitchen, she picked up the land phone and heard him breathing. Who is this? she whispered
She waited and heard nothing for a moment and just as she was going to say it again he spoke.
Lexy, I am surprised you hav'nt figured it out yet. I thought you were smarter than this...I'm afraid playing this game with you has ceased to amuse me though. Why dont you come out and see for yourself?
But I dont know who you are! I dont know!
Please leave me alone, please leave!
Oh, he said, I will leave Lexy, once I get what I came for.
What do you want she screamed!
I want your heart Lexy, I want your heart on a plate.

Then there was silence, he set the phone down and she heard him walking around the house, what was he doing she wandered as she sat on the floor against the door shaking.
She had'nt heard anything now for atleast ten minutes, maybe he is sitting and waiting for me to open the door she thought.

She looked up at the window, I can escape onto the back porch through the window while he is in the house she thought. I can run to the neighbors and call for help!
She tiptoed to the window, slid it open and crouched down sticking her leg out first and then pulling her body out she stood and finally her head she stood up and turned around and was standning face to face with him.

She could'nt scream, she could'nt move...she was staring at him in shock and amazement to realise who it was.
He thrust her very own knife into her and she fell to her knees,
How could you do this to me David, ...I'm your mother.

He bent down and said through clenched teeth, how could you have sent me to prison to rot for all those years and expect me to treat you any different than I treated your boyfriend when I killed him?

Dad understood how I felt, after all ...you did send him away for 20 years after he beat both you and your boyfriend for cheating on him in his own house!
He then stood up, spat on her and walked away.

She watched him fade into the night and then fell over onto the knife and died.

---

Well, that's it...wrote it at work last week, forgive typo's if any please I havn't re-read it yet. Love to hear what you think!

patch

That's pretty good Beat, holds the attention. I think you might have rushed the ending though! It feels like you were almost finished work, and finished it up too quick!
Well done though.

Thats good.
(I can sense the irony in my next comment before I type it but...) I would think making reference to Heavy rain falling outside would have more subtle dramatic effect within your story than the crashes of thunder.
The rain grew heavier... ( for instance )
The wind was howling as it crashed against the window..
Making it difficult to listen for those footsteps...
Then maybe a Cat jumping up onto the window for an additional sudden fright factor...

anyhow just my two cents

mm

BEAT

thanks guys