Hunted

Chapter 10: Grave News

Picture of Megan

*****

The next morning, I started to pack my stuff. Uncle Ben told me that school was cancelled for the day before going off to work, so no one would notice if I disappeared without a trace for at least 24 hours. I could run and never look back. I did it before two years ago in Philadelphia, and it took Sarah two months to find where I had run to.

A soft knock on the door drew me out of my past disappearing acts and back into the present.

"Silver, open up. We need to talk about what happened yesterday," Elizabeth's softly spoke through the wooden frame.

"Nothing to discuss. Not like my friends are trying to force me to give them vital details of my past that which have been haunting me for the past four years," the sarcasm screaming to be heard.

"I know you're mad that Andy just sprung the whole club thing on you, but it really has helped some of us."

My door swung open revealing a shocked Elizabeth. I just stared at her as realization of what she admitted dawned on her facial features, "Us?"

"Yes. I joined a few weeks ago when we first visited the town. It was nice to open up, and it stopped some of the nightmares from being regular," she says, "I don't care what think. Talking about it, does help."

"It won't help me. No one in that room could possibly understand what I went through. The pain I had to endure!" I broke. Anger swept through my body as Elizabeth tipped over the edge as well.

"How do you know?! Every one of them has felt the pain and loss of this life. What makes you so different?" she yelled at me.

"Because I-" my voice cut off by the ringing of Elizabeth's cell phone.

We both just stood there, watching each other, waiting for one of us to move. The ringing continued as the tension between us screamed to snap.

"You should get that. It could be important," I said. My voice returned to the emotionless feel of a broken being.

She gave me one last look before finally giving in.

"Hello," she answered, "Hey dad. What's-" her questioned cut off from the other end of the line, "Wait, slow down. What happened?"

She listened closely and fear enveloped her face, "Turn on channel 4 now!" she ordered as she dragged me from my room downstairs. She moved like lightning to the couch as she hit the button on the remote with the phone still pressed tightly to her ear.

The screen lit up with a picture of a twenty-something year old woman named Jessica Smalls. The reporter than replaced her image as she stood in front of a police barricade.

"Reports say that around eleven last night, Jessica Smalls was walking to her car when she was struck down by an unknown assailant. Confirmed reports say police have no suspects at this time but advise citizens of Hopesprings to be vigilant as there is a killer on the loose."

Her voice floods my ears with the thoughts of the past. Another death. There is more security here than any other place in the U.S., how could she have been murdered?

My heart raced as panic began to set in. What if it's him? He always killed first before coming for me, so I would know that he was near. Had I caused this?

My mind became dizzy and I couldn't stop the flood of memories.

...His fingers snaked their way through my hair, yanking my head back to face him.

"Well look what we got here," his voice was cold and callous. His face was hidden by the shadows of the house. The light showed a dark silhouette around him.

He tossed me toward the wall. My face smacked against the raw brick. After hitting once, he stalked towards me and slammed my forehead against the brick a second and third time. His menacing laugh echoed throughout the yard.

Twisting me around, his hand wrapped tight around my throat. The blood flowed down the broken face. The warm, oozing blood was the only warmth felt as he came closer.

The only part of him that was reflected off the light was his mouth. The smile on his face was the greatest memorable thing about him. The grin showed only the emotions of true pleasure in pain, and it seemed like I was to be the next victim.

My eyes blurred and I started to lose consciousness. He loosened his grip as I slumped to the ground, facing up to him.

He squatted down and said, "I guess we don't get enjoy that thrill of the chase after all."

His eyes poured into mine. The same ones I had seen every day. The same look that I had once thought was love. Love of family.

The man standing over me now was Jason. The one ready to kill me was my own brother.

My world began to fade away and the darkness took me over...

My heartbeat sped even faster and my lungs seized. I was having a panic attack.

I knew what the death meant. It was his calling card.

Jason was here.