When He Came (Short Story)

“And how does that make you feel?” I hate that question, but I need to answer, to get the help I need. “Sad, guilty, mad.” “Tell me why you feel this way, Jessica” Dr. Sholtz is a nice man, and I trust him. I just don’t like talking to people. Small tears formed in my big, gray eyes. Pushing a stray strand of mu long, black hair behind my ear, I said, “Because I couldn’t stop him.” “Tell me the whole story, Jess. You need to share with me in order to get help. Start from the beginning. Take your time.”                  It was a cold September day. I remember it, oh, so clearly; like it happened yesterday. My mom, Sara, and I had gone to visit Grammy, around 10 a.m. for a late breakfast. Arriving back home around 1 p.m., mom went inside, while I sat in the old rocker on the front porch. Suddenly, mother screamed. Jumping up to see what happened, I heard a man’s voice come from inside. “No need to yell, Sara dear. I’ve come to pay a brief visit to you, and that lovely daughter of yours. Where might she be?” My heart raced. Being seven, I didn’t know what to do. So, I walked in the house and stopped in my tracks.             There was a man, one I’d never seen before. The screen door snapped shut, causing the unidentified man to slowly turn his head in my direction. The low beating of my heart grew louder, louder, louder until I was sure it would pop out of my chest. The man was no longer interested in my, now, pale faced, fragile mother. No. This man was coming for me. It felt as if his bright green eyes would pierce my skin as he stared at me. The man was slowly moving towards me.             “Don’t hurt my baby, Payne.” Mother begged. I grimaced as Payne brushed his large, rough thumb against my soft, pale cheek. He chuckled and began stroking my hair. “Oh dear. I would never hurt this beautiful child. Oh no- not her.”             He stared at me, and I guess that’s why he didn’t hear nor see mother sneak into the kitchen. Payne bent down and kissed my cheek, his long, shaggy, black hair falling in his eyes. I couldn’t help but notice that we looked a lot alike. I looked over Payne’s shoulder as he stood up straight. Mother was sneaking back in from the kitchen, holding a butcher knife. She slowly, quietly crept towards us, knife in front of her. Payne screamed in agony as the knife sunk into his side, where his ribs were. As he fell to the ground, I grabbed mother’s hand and pulled her out the door with me.             We were running. Running to stay alive and we were scared. “He’ll come and find us. We have to hide. He won’t stop until someone dies.” Mother whispered, tears falling from her eyes. I looked back down the road, and I could see him. Mother was right; he was still coming for us. Mother grabbed my hand once again and ran down the old, dirt road. We came to a house, one that I knew all too well. My friend’s grandmother used to live there. She passed a few years back. “In Shirley’s house, mother!”  I cried, pointing at the huge, 2 story house. We ran up the cracked side walk, and to the old wooden porch, that was now, home to rats and spiders. Pushing open the old front door, and stepping into the darkness, I looked around frantically around. The only sign of life in the dusty house was the small creatures that took over when Shirley passed. We ran up the huge, marble staircase to the back bed room- Shirley’s old room.             “Mommy, who is that man?” I whispered, clutching to her arm, as we hid in the corner of the room. Wiping small tears from my cheeks, she thought for a second. “You-You’ll find out soon, sweetie” Then she kissed the top of my head, and pulled me into a bone crushing hug. “I’m scared, Mommy!’ I cried. “I know, baby. It’s going to be okay though.” She reassured me. “Mom?” I hesitated before asking, “Why does he look like me?”             Before she could answer we heard rough, heavy footsteps coming up the steps. I heard five doors open, then slam as he hunted us. “I know you’re in here somewhere, Sara! You can’t keep her from me forever! She’s my daughter too!” He bellowed as he walked into the room we were in. I started crying uncontrollably, scooting away from my mother. After all, I had a reason to be furious at her. She had kept me away from my own father for seven years! He must have heard me sniffle because he got closer. Close enough that I could see him from in between the two boxes I had in front of me. “Oh! That was easier than expected! Sara, haven’t you taught the child to be silent on occasion?” He snickered. I mentally cursed myself for making this easier for him. But, at the same time, a part of me believed that he wouldn’t hurt us. Suddenly, all of the boxes hiding my mom and I were shoved roughly aside, and my mom was jerked to her feet by her hair. “Mommy!” I cried. “Please don’t hurt my mom!”             And he did just that. He held the knife that she stabbed him with to her throat.  I hate seeing my mom like that, and I hated that I couldn’t do anything to stop him. After he had slit my mom’s throat, he threw her to the ground, and dropped to his knees. Payne held the knife high above his head, and sharply brought it down, stabbing my poor, blood covered mother in the heart. \           By this time, I was screaming loudly, and I was surprised that the neighbors hadn’t heard my cries. Payne looked back up at me and smiled evilly. He crawled over to me on his knees, and stroked my hair with his bloody fingers.  “You’re such a beautiful girl and sweet too. It really is too bad that you have to go too. We could have such a wonderful life together, if you would just love me back” he whispered pulling the knife back. “DROP THE KNIFE AND PUT YOUR HANDS UP!” the cops demanded as they burst through the door. Payne looked back at me, rage in his emerald green eyes. “You called the cops!?” He screamed. Two cops lunged forward and clamped the handcuffs around his wrist, while another wrapped me in his arms and called an ambulance for my lifeless, blood-covered mother. After my grandmother not wanting to take me, the government put me in foster care.             “And now here I am.” I finished, taking a deep breath. I looked up at Dr. Sholtz. His eyes were wide, and his jaw slightly hanging open. “Oh… um. Whoa.” He stuttered. I chuckled and proceeded to say, “There is one more thing…” “What is it?” “I got a call from the police a few days ago. He’s escaped from prison, and he’s back in town. They think he came back for me.” I explained, playing with my hair.             Now I’m walking, carrying one single red rose. As I open the creaking, rusty gate to the “Meadows’ Cemetery” and walk inside, I hear the September leaves crunch beneath my black converse. Nearing the granite head stone, I see the familiar name that is my mother’s, and a small tear rolls down my cheek. Twelve years and I still miss her like crazy. I lay the rose on the top of the head stone, wrap my cost around my body tighter, and hug myself as I look to the sky. “I love you, Mommy.” I whisper into the wind. “So much”               But all through this, I can’t help but fell like someone, besides my mother, is watching my every move…