“WHAT’S WRONG? Cat got your tongue?” More laughter.
Alex wanted to hang up, refuse to listen, but her arm was locked in place, with the phone covering her ear.
“You don’t have to speak. Just listen. I have been waiting a long time for this.” Delighted sounding sigh. “I am coming for you. Just got into town, as a matter of fact.” Diabolical laughter. “And if you think I don’t know where you live, think again.” Voice hard as nails. “Killing you will be such a sweet treat. I have dreamed of snapping your neck with my bare hands. Looks like I’ll finally get the chance.” More laughter. “See you soon.”
The phone dropped from Alex’s hand. She didn’t even flinch when it hit the floor. Part of her knew she needed to leave, get out of the house, but her body seemed incapable of moving. She couldn’t even feel her chest rise and fall with each breath. Can people really die from not breathing when they are terrified?
Get a grip, Alex!
The voice brought her to her feet, though her knees wobbled so badly she could barely move. She grabbed her phone out of her purse and dialed Jenn’s number with shaking hands.
“Jenn! Where are you?”
“I haven’t finished packing yet. Alex, what’s wrong?”
“He called me! Stygian called me and said he’s coming, he’s in town and he’s on his way, Jenn, he could be at my house right now. Why aren’t you here, why did you take so long to pack?” Alex paced the living room and ran her hands through her hair.
“I’ll leave right now. It’s okay, it’s going to be okay—”
“No, no, no, there’s no time,” Alex mumbled, shaking her head. “He’s on his way, he said he was. I have to get out now, hide somewhere.”
“Alex, where are you going to hide?”
“Don’t know, don’t know, but I have to go right now. Yes, I have to leave and hide so he can’t find me...”
“Alex,” Jenn said slowly. “You need to calm down. I am in my car and turning it on. I’ll drive faster than I’ve ever driven before. Do you hear me? Stay where you are. Call Sean and Gavin. Alex? Alex!”
“Can’t stay, have to leave. Right now.” Alex hung up the phone.
Her mind was in a fog. The only coherent thought blaring through her head was to leave, hide, run. The thought of staying was out of the question. Alex grabbed her purse, and shoved her phone inside, completely forgetting Jenn’s sensible orders to call Gavin.
She ran out the front door, with no idea at all where she was going. Alex spun in a circle, hoping some brilliant idea would come to her. Several people were walking their dogs. On her right, a neighbor was putting his trash can out on the curb. On her left a little girl and boy were riding their bikes down the sidewalk, her in a pink helmet, him in one made to look like Iron Man. Their giggles echoed in the relative quiet of the neighborhood. The nice, normal neighborhood. No one knew her secret. No one knew what was coming for her. Alex saw all the people on her street and had never felt so alone.
The sun was crawling behind the Colorado National Monument, bathing the area in warm golds and pinks. Alex wondered if this was going to be her last sunset. Tears fell down her cheeks. She wanted to run to the nearest adult and beg them to help her. A murdering maniac was coming for her and the only thing she could think of was to stand in the street and stare at the normal things going on around her.
Alex turned back around to stare at the mountains behind her and an idea blossomed in her mind like a growing fire. It probably wasn’t the best plan but it was all she had at the moment. Without giving herself time to change her mind, Alex took off running the couple of blocks to her aunt’s house.
I hope I can remember where to find it.
***
Drifter steered the stolen truck down toward Alex’s neighborhood. It was the third vehicle he had taken since running away from the Marine base. His skills made stealing money and vehicles easy. The drunk outside the bar that owned the truck didn’t even know what hit him. Drifter didn’t regret killing the man. But it had taken time and had been messy. Two things Drifter didn’t like. But he didn’t really care. All he cared about was killing Alex.
He had stolen another vehicle just outside of Grand Junction that had an extra bonus: a working cell phone in the glove box. Drifter took the slip of paper out of his pocket that had the girl’s home address and cell phone number on it. This time he thanked his access to information that made getting the numbers and addresses all too easy. Calling the girl to torment her had been almost as sweet as killing Lance Corporal Jensen.
Drifter checked his map again and turned, almost hitting another vehicle when he spotted his quarry running up the street. He shook his head, unable to believe his good fortune. Rather than scaring her off, Drifter turned onto a side street and made a U-turn. He grinned when he saw where Alex was going.
Surely she should know Auntie isn’t home.
***
Chandon drove to Alex’s house. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since he had left yesterday. He had her number on his phone but he hesitated with his thumb over the little green phone icon that would actually dial it. If he asked Alex what was wrong she would only lie and say nothing. The only way for him to get the truth from her was to see her face-to-face. He was sick with worry for her and he couldn’t even put his finger on why. But with each passing moment, he feared he would lose her.
Suddenly, he spotted her trotting around the side of a house, heading up into the Monument. The car lurched to a stop as he stomped on the brakes. Chandon rolled down the window, ready to shout for her but he closed his mouth when he saw she wasn’t alone. Chandon grabbed his cell phone off the passenger seat.
Who is that guy following her?