Raising my head, I look into the empty, rarely used living room our parents use to entertain their rich friends in. I personally prefer the den with its large screen television, pool table, dart board, fireplace, and gently used furniture.
Pulling my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them, and resting my chin on them, I sit in silence listening to the sound of my own ragged breathing slowing down. I beg my heart to slow it's outrageous pace, wishing for nothing more than a ice cold glass of water to magically appear in front of me.
I let my eyes drift closed as the burning in my back slowly recedes. I thank God for helping me to get Madi and myself to safety. I try to determine in my head with some certainty if my experience was real, or just another panic attack.
Funny, I swear I'd taken my pill this morning to help control and hopefully eliminate my panic attacks. They usually only occur while I'm driving. I've had them ever since my parents died in a car wreck when I was only eight years old. Their remains had been so badly burned, the coffins were kept closed for the funeral.
It's so vivid in my mind, it still feels like it was just yesterday instead of thirteen years ago.
I played at Madi's that night with her, her older brother Brian, and the Nanny. The doorbell rang, I excitedly rushed to the door behind Nanny. I thought it was my mama and daddy come to get me and take me home to our house next door.
The cops are there in the entry way. They explained to nanny that my parents had been in a freak car accident when the gas tank blew up with them inside the car. They were killed instantly, their bodies had been char broiled, what had been left anyway.
I stopped listening after that. I knew in my heart they'd been murdered, that it had been no accident. I had seen it happen in my dreams the night before. There had been a bomb attached to the gas tank. I cried and told the police officer about it. I'd insisted they look at it which they did and found out I was right. The killer or killers have never been found nor prosecuted.
Madi's parents, big on closure, pushed the funeral director to let me see my parents' bodies. I stood between their bodies with only Madi to hold my hand, to lend me strength, as I pulled the sheets away to the shoulders on them both. The scent of burned flesh hit me first, It's a scent that you never forget. Then, my eyes registered what I now wish they never had. The images of my parents' badly burned bodies burned themselves into my mind for all time.
It had been the most gruesome sight I've ever seen in my life. The skulls and bones with the blackened flesh still falling slowly off of them, no longer resembled my mama and daddy. Unable to reconcile these bodies of char boiled meat with my parents, I passed out shortly after in the middle of the room.
I barely remember picking out their outfits, insisting they be put on them, for my own piece of mind. Madi's mom gave me their last effects, their wedding rings, which have since been restored and rest on a necklace around my neck.
The wake, funeral, and burial, are all a bit of a blur. I'm told that I fell down and draped my small body over my mama's casket, begging her not to leave me. Madi's daddy carried me from the burial to the car afterward and then laid me down to fall asleep in my own bed, they'd retrieved and placed in Madi's room for me. They'd also taken care of putting my parents' stuff in storage for me.
Madi's parents adopted me, to keep me out of the foster care system, and out of respect to my parents, their best friends. It wasn't until I was thirteen years of age that I visited their graves for the first time since their burials. I found out they'd been buried next to my stillborn twin brother, Daniel The one my parents would never speak about.
Shaking my head side to side, I loosen the grip of the painful memories, pushing them down deep so they can't resurface. I curse myself for the moment of weakness.
I can see it now, me in a white padded cell with a straight jacket on, yelling, "The danger was there.... you just couldn't see it!" I mumble to myself sarcastically, trying to find humor in this confusing and scary situation.
As the adrenaline begins to leave my body, leaving me feeling weak, I curse myself one again for thinking of past pains when I have a real life emergency right here in front of me!
When I get to the den, Madi's body is slumped over the chair's arm, touching the floor. Immediately alarm bells sound off in my head.
I rush to her side, moving quickly behind the recliner, twisting my body to reach over the recliner wrapping my arms under hers, lacing my hands across her collar bones. Using all my strength, I pull her body upright again.
I immediately check to see her normally beautiful bright blue eyes fully dilated and rolling back in her head, her pulse is weak and thready. Her breathing has a rattling sound to it.
"Madi dying, can't do alone, where phone?" My mind's not working right. It's sluggish and slow as if I have hypothermia. My only coherent thought is finding the cell and calling 911 for help.
I walk aimlessly around the room. I can't find that damn phone, knowing time is of the essence.
Ah hah!
I spot it on the fireplace's ledge.
I pause three steps from the phone, thinking I hear footsteps, then hear a chilling voice filled with such malice, it freezes my soul as well as my steps.
"Don't even think about it, woman! That phone can't help you or your friend," the deep growl echoes around the room.
A few seconds of silence follow. Cold sweat covers my body, my heart speeds back up to the tempo of a runner, pounding, and threatening to burst through my ribcage. My mouth, dry as the Sahara desert, cages my response behind sealed lips. Chills race up and down my spine, as my mind contemplates my next move.
Before the intruder can guess at my next move, my legs are propelling me out of the room and down the long hallway. Adrenaline once again fuels my body, my breathing speeds up, pulling oxygen into my heavy feeling lungs. My only thought, my vision of serial killers sneaking in through the open patio doors, has come true.
I fleetingly promise God to be more active if I survive this, as running turns into sprinting. I head for the front door and freedom.
The oppressive silence continues until, "Dammit! Stop her right now, before we're exposed," a massive bestial growl echoes down the hallway. My heart kicking up a notch, urges my legs to move even faster through the quicksand feeling. The front door is in my sights, but keeps pulling away from me!
I suddenly become aware of heavy masculine footsteps sounding behind me, further back in the hall, and they're gaining on me! I desperately want to glance over my shoulder, yet, afraid to see the monster my mind has conjured up.
Legs already trembling from exertion are pushed past the point of no return. Arms raising in front of me, nearly rip the front door off its hinges as I run past. Freedom is in my grasp just outside. I don't understand why the house alarm didn't go off.
Reaching the circular concrete driveway, I feel the overwhelming oppressive air of the outdoors coursing through my burning, oxygen starved lungs, my desert dry mouth and throat, are even more parched. I hesitate briefly, relishing in my freedom, deciding which way to run.
Leading with my right foot I take off, ignoring the pain in my body. I scream bloody murder when silent, strong, and muscular steel like arms wrap around my waist. My struggles, are reduced to those of a child as I'm immediately pulled forcefully backward into a hard, muscular body.
No way in Hellfire will you get me!
My mind screams.
Like a hellcat, I immediately fight even harder with every last ounce of strength to get free, knowing Madi's life and mine, depend upon it!
I suck in a sharp breath and my body tenses as I realize my arms are trapped at my sides.
I scream at the top of my lungs, "Let me go right now, or you'll be damn sorry!" I'm trying to project my scream to make me appear more sinister than I am, more menacing. Silently, I'm praying he'll loosen his arms just enough so I can scratch out his eyes and run! I'm terrified Madi's already dead, at the hands of the other intruder.
I know in an instant, my instincts are faulty and not to be trusted. They're insanely screaming safety and desire for a killer whose trapped me in his arms! What the hell is wrong with me? He's only waiting until his partner comes out and then, they'll kill me too!
I continue searching my surroundings, but see no one out and about in our beautiful, gated community of the rich and famous. I'm praying at least one person has heard my screams and is calling 911 at this moment.
"Shhh....I'm not gonna hurt you darling in any way, you have my solemn vow." The deeply husky, seductive, melt my insides to liquid, belongs in my bedroom, masculine voice whispers in my right ear. Long silky soft black as midnight hair brushes my sweaty naked neck and shoulder ever so softly.
What the hell is wrong with me? Thinking he and his voice belong in my bedroom? Just lock me up in the insane asylum right now! I've completely lost it!
I stand completely still, forcing my body to relax, trying to throw this large stranger off guard just enough to get away.
I try to calm my raspy and labored breathing as my legs threaten to crumple under my weight, afraid of what will happen if my plan fails.
The stranger behind me chuckles, his hot breath caresses my neck, causing my body to involuntarily heat up with desire. Something it clearly has no business feeling! His body, flush and tight against my backside begins to relax. His arms loosen considerably around my waist.
I smile to myself thinking,
Sucker!
Seconds later when I'm sure he least expects it I suddenly struggle like a hellcat against his bands of steel. I manage to get my arms loose.
I finally get my arms loose and clench my hands into claws. I scratch his arms, fiercely drawing blood. Then, slam my elbows repeatedly into his chest as hard as I can. I try to do the most damage possible to get free.
"Ahhh!" I hear him roar behind me in anger and pain. Before I can get free, his arms trap mine once again tightly against my sides, tightening considerably. I suddenly fear he's going to tighten those bands of steel until he breaks me in half. It hurts like hell and I scream in agony and anger, refusing to stop fighting against him.
"Dammit, woman! Stop beating the living crap out of me!" He growls menacingly.
"Never! You'll have to kill me first!" I slam my head backward, intent on breaking his nose. I'm angry as hell when he anticipates my move and my head only ends up hitting his hard chest. I instantly feel dizzy having almost knocked myself out.
Jesus, does he have superman's chest or what? I think to myself as he sighs heavily against my neck. I can't stop the involuntarily shiver of desire.
"Woman, for someone who looks so damn sweet and innocent, you're even ten times worse than Satan's own hell hounds!" I can't help but smile taking that as a compliment, even knowing it wasn't intended as such.
It dawns on me, that the only other person who's ever compared me to a hell hound, is a figment of my imagination. One who lives only in my dreams and fantasies.
"Sweetheart, you leave me no choice."
He
sighs deeply again, chanting in a strange demonic sounding language.
My heart pounds so hard in my chest, I feel as if it's also pounding in my ears. My breath hitches in my chest. I struggle against him even harder, feeling as if it's the last act I'll ever accomplish on this earth.
Suddenly, I whimper as my feet and hands become rigid and unmovable.
What the hell is going on here?
The sensation moves slowly over every inch of my body. In my overwhelming fear, I begin hyperventilating, unable to stop it, unable to calm my breathing down.
My eyes widen as large as saucers, my stomach is heavy, and all thoughts fly right out of my head, the only thing I
can
move. My breath comes faster and faster as I look down. I swear something invisible is holding me still, not letting me move.
"What are you, some kind of witch or voodoo priest? Did you just put a hex on me, you bastard?" I manage to gasp out in between quick inhalations still trying to calm myself. "I will not just stand here and let you rape and kill me! I'll scream my bloody head off until my very last breath!"
Before I can say another word, he grabs my head, turning it sideways and blows some kind of black smoke in my face. For some reason it works, allowing me to calm my breathing down. Yet it doesn't mean he plans to be nice.
"Be quiet woman! Don't make me disable your vocal cords. It would be such a shame." He growls sarcastically, his tone telling me just how angry he really is.
What the hell does he have to be angry about, he is the one trying to kill me!
"You could....compare me to a witch even though I can't stand the sneaky tricksters. Yes, I did put a paralyzation curse on you just now. It's only to keep you from maiming me any further."
"You coward! Why are you afraid to show yourself to me? Are you
actually
afraid of little ol' me?" I taunt him, my voice highly patronizing. He remains silent and hidden. instead of facing me.
He's probably afraid I'll be able to identify him! I think angrily. I hold onto my anger to chase away the remaining fear. That way if he kills me, at least I know I died fighting. Not like a frightened whimp who never even tried.
"There's nowhere you can ever hide from me if my sister dies in there! I assure you, I will find you and kill you!" I blister his ears bloody, growling fiercely.
"Shhh, my little hellcat. I truly am not going to hurt you in any way. I promise Madi will be just fine. We're here to help, not hurt her or you. Don't you think if I was going to hurt you, I would have done so by now? I'm so sorry Damien scared you so badly, he can be quite the asshole sometimes.
Do I trust what he's saying? He does have a point
"Only Sometimes?" I ask sarcastically. Even if I begin to warm up to him, I never will to his so called friend, Damien.