The traffic signal turned red and she was palpitating, waiting for the signal light to turn green and add one more day to her life. She had clutched her palms into a fist digging her nails onto the soft leather of the steering wheel. She was running impatient. She turned to look back with much audacity and closed her eyes for a second. A drop of sweat trickled down her forehead and rested on her lips. She could hear her heartbeats crystal clear and opened her eyes to the green traffic light. Wasting no time, she drove towards the other end of the road without turning either left or right and disappeared into a dark alley.
“Mom, can I get some more mushroom?” asked little Derek to Samantha with his hands placed on both sides of his plate. Samantha looked at him while taking the last spoon of her mushroom ravioli and shook her head.
“You’ve had enough for tonight, sweety. No more mushrooms for you." Derek frowned.
“Mom, you can’t say no to me. C’mon mom, this is the last time."
Samantha couldn’t let him eat more so she decided to stay resolute. “I am your mother, honey. I am allowed to say no, remember? Now wash your hands and go quietly to your bed. It’s sleep time." Saying this, she kissed him on his forehead and watched him go up the stairs to his bedroom and she made her way back into the kitchen. In the midst of the chiming sound of the vessels, there came an erratic knock at the door. She was terrified as who could it be at this time of the night while praying deep down that it was not her. She ran to open the door. It was her.
Even before she could realize what was happening, Alice took her by surprise, embracing her tight. “Hey! What happened? Why are you crying?” asked Samantha.
Alice was not able to weave words together but managed to lift her head up from her shoulder and looked into her blotched eyes. “Oh God! You look so terrible, Alice. Did it happen again? Tell me." Alice nodded and sat on the ground.
“I don’t understand what’s happening with me, Sam. Why does it have to be me? This is the fourth time that I am attacked."
Samantha was taken aback and hugged her dear little friend, afraid to lose. She didn’t know what to do. Being her best friend, Samantha could not hide the concern she felt for Alice and each time she tried to mask it, it would get emoted in some way or the other. They were best friends since childhood and it would not be incorrect to say that they were more like sisters to each other. They both got up from where they were half sitting and adjusted themselves on the couch.
“Did you see their face this time?”
“No, I didn’t. It was dark outside”, replied Alice in a squeaky tone.
“Did you call Nathan? I am sure he will help you out."
“No, I haven’t informed him yet. I just ran and didn’t know where to go and what to do so I decided to come over here and bother you."
Samantha looked at her and went teary eyed. “Bother me? Oh dear, you never bother me. It’s my duty to take care of you like you always did when we were kids. My doors are always open for you." Saying this she almost burst into tears. “So what is it that you have decided to do? This place is not safe for you, you know."
Alice nodded and said, “I know. But I don’t yet know of any place where I can hide until this gets over. I am so tired of this shit." Both of them did not say a word after that for a few minutes and listened to the silent atmosphere around them that alarmed them of something mystifying, something that was going to fall upon them. Upon her. It was Alice who broke the trance. “I think I should get back home. It’s already late." Samantha concurred and asked her to call if she needed any help. That night she couldn’t sleep.
Alice woke up the next morning even before her alarm buzzed. She had the same nightmare that night of somebody chasing her and she screaming her lungs out for help but in vain. She tried not to think of it and headed toward the kitchen to make her a quick breakfast before leaving for work. Meanwhile, she decided to call Nathan up and tell him about last night but something stopped her from doing so. “I will call him later”, she thought to herself and left for work.
It was a bright day outside in contrast to Alice’s life. She drove to her workplace and reached there on time. Unlike other days, she was down in the dumps but managed to put on a fake smile and walked off to her desk only to encounter a mysterious box. She reached for her desk and the small square sized box wrapped in a silver paper took her by surprise. She took it in her hands and tried opening it. There was a small piece of paper inside which read- YOU CAN TRY BUT CANNOT ESCAPE ME! This jolted her out of her senses for some seconds before she succumbed to unconsciousness. She went pale and looked here and there frantically wondering who could have sent her this. The office phone buzzed disturbing her thoughts and she took no time in receiving it and answered it in a lost way, “Hello, Pea n Pea office here."
“Hey Alice, how are you doing? I have been worried about you. I tried your number but it was switched off so I thought of calling you here. I hope I didn’t disturb you."
Alice breathed a sigh of relief before answering. “Hey Nathan, I am really sorry I didn’t realize my phone was switched off. Yeah, I am doing fine." She paused for a second and trailed on, “Actually, no. I am not okay."
Nathan sounded alarmed at the other end of the phone. “Why? What has happened, baby girl?” he asked.
“Can we catch up later this evening? I can’t tell you over the phone."
“Okay, as you say."
“Alright. See you soon." She hanged up on him wondering despite of her ill luck on the mystifying attacks, she was lucky to have a brother like Nathan who was really concerned about her and a best friend like Samantha who could even put her own life at stake. This made her feel a little happy and she resumed her work.
It was about 5 pm when Alice finally got out of her work place and left for a small coffee shop nearby where she had a date with Nathan. She reached before time and was waiting for him at a table while switching on her cell phone. “God! Seven missed calls from Samantha and one text message." She sighed and left her a text back: I’m meeting Nathan now. Will call u later. As she was going through the menu, Nathan had arrived.
“Hey baby girl. I hope I didn’t make you wait for long. So what is it?”
Alice tried to maintain her posture and took a deep breath before going on. “Well, you know Nathan how things are with me of late. And it happened again last night." Nathan’s face wore a horrified look but he managed to control his facial expression and urged her to go on. “I was working late last night and while coming back home, I stopped by a bakery to buy myself a bread when it happened. There was this guy at a distance, who was constantly staring at me and the moment I stepped out of the shop towards my drive, he started to follow me. Although I couldn’t see his face properly since it was stark dark outside, I took a look at his finger and he wore a ring with a big green emerald stone on it." She paused for a moment and continued, “But he was gone before I could take a second look at him and without waiting a single second I turned on the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. But what came next was terrible. A man followed me on a bike and the next thing I realized was a bullet that missed my car by inches and then he disappeared."
Nathan gasped and sat still. “I am so sorry, Alice. I wish this didn’t happen to you. I wish I could help you, baby girl." He took her hands in his and said, “I think we should call the police. They will be able to catch those bastards who are trying to kill my dear sister." Alice never wanted to involve the police but this time she agreed.
“I got to be going. I’ll call you up later."
Nathan nodded, “Sure, ping me anytime. Take care."
On her way back home, she avoided going through the same road but a different route. As she pulled in her car at the parking lot of her apartment, she noticed a red SUV parked at the opposite end of the road. She thought to her own self as whose car could that be since she never saw a red SUV there before. She tried peeping into the side glass of that SUV and saw that same man whom she saw at the bakery with a ring on his finger studded with a green stone. As she concentrated, she got kicked in the teeth when she realized it was Mark, her colleague. She went stoned. Few moments later, she maintained her calm and went inside her house. Although she was getting prepared to take a cold shower, her mind was flying elsewhere. Mark. She thought. “What would he be doing here? And most importantly, what was he doing last there last night?” she talked to her own self, perplexed. She was sceptical about his appearance but shooed away the suspicion that happened to rest on Mark. “He can’t be doing it." With a heavy head, she entered her bathroom and turned on the water tap to fill in the bathtub. As the tub was getting half filled with water, she stepped inside it and relaxed her arms and legs when she suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to bring in her towel. The moment she stepped out of the tub, her eyes fell on the brink of the tub. She gave a closer look at it and her eyes got transfixed. Those were two electrical wires running down the tub. So somebody had planned to kill her with an electrode. She could not think of anything else and went completely blank. She rushed out of the bathroom and dialed Nathan.
“Hey Nathan, somebody tried to kill me again using electrical wires this time. I am so petrified."
“Oh Jesus! Don’t move. I am on my way." Meanwhile, Alice called up Samantha and she decided to come over as well. As she was waiting for both Nathan and Samantha to show up, she looked outside her window and noticed that the red SUV was gone. She wondered how could somebody have got the keys to her apartment door since she shared it with none. Who else could have had the same keys or perhaps a duplicate set? Minutes later, Samantha arrived and hugged her tight.
“Oh dear, are you okay? I got scared out of my wits when you called me."
Alice could neither smile nor could she fake one as the fear overshadowed all of her emotions. “Yes, I am fine, I guess. Nathan would be here any moment." The door dashed open and there stood Nathan with a cop.
“Baby girl, are you alright? Did you get hurt?”
“Yes, I am fine."
“I have a cop with me. Mr Charles Bailey. I thought it’s safer."
Alice nodded. The cop spoke this time. “So Miss Hawkins, do you mind if I go check in your bathroom?”
Alice showed him the way and Mr. Bailey came out after a couple of minutes. “So whoever tried to attack you seems quite smart. He was clever enough to tape those wires circumspectly away from any man’s general sight. Nathan has told me all about it so I won’t run on those questions but do you have any particular suspect?” Alice thought of Mark but she wasn’t sure of him.
“There’s a guy, Mark. He’s my colleague. I spotted him last night when I was attacked and saw his car outside my apartment today when I got home."
“We’ll keep an eye on him. Don’t worry."
Nathan promised her that he would catch them as soon as possible and asked her to keep safe. “I’ll be around. You be cautious." That night, Samantha stayed back at her place.
The air around Alice took a calm nature for the next few days. She drove cautiously to her office, looked Mark in the eye every time they encountered to notice any outlandish behaviour and drove back home safe but careful. The cops were keeping an eye on Mark and were on the look for other possible suspects. Things were going fine for a few weeks but how long?
“Hello Alice? It’s me, Samantha."
“Heya, Sam. What’s up?” She sounded happy.
“Are you doing anything today afternoon? If not then why don’t you come up with me to Derek’s school? He’s having a football match and Cary’s out of town so I’d be glad if you join me."
“Yeah sure I can come. See you in the afternoon."
It was a bright sunny day and the school football ground was filled with kids wearing their jerseys. They looked amazing just like any other professional sports person. Alice and Samantha took to their seats among the crowded audience which was filled with parents who came here to cheer their kids up in the match. There were security guards who fenced the ground in case any parent tried to go inside out of sheer excitement. Samantha and Alice were enjoying the match with Samantha cheering up her son in between. She got up after half an hour to buy drinks for both. While scanning the field, Alice spotted Mark, who was sitting among the crowd. She was about to pass out but managed her calm and tried not to look at his direction. She had her eyes fixed on little Derek who played amazingly well, hitting the ball and running after it. Her lips wore a smile after days long. In the midst of her jollity the smile on her lips faded, her heart started to thump faster, the world seemed to fade away in the dark and the screams of the audience went distant. She opened her eyes to Dr. Patrick who was adjusting the flow of saline. Samantha came near her and touched her forehead.
“Honey, how are you feeling now?”
Alice spoke in a husky voice, “I’m good. But my arm hurts a little. I’m glad the bullet couldn’t hit me well."
“I want to tell you something, Alice. It’s high time you move out of this town as soon as possible. You’re not safe here anymore. What can be scarier than being attacked in broad daylight in a crowd of thousands? I’m growing literally worried about you."
“But where shall I go? I know of no such place where I can put my head into or any friends or relatives who could protect me."
Samantha looked at her and smirked. “You need not worry. I know of a place which will be safe for you and you can stay there as long as you need."
The next morning, Alice was all prepared to leave the town but she decided to call Nathan up and tell him all about her shifting plans so that he could be at ease and not worry about her. Later, she headed to the airport and caught a flight that was ready to take her to the South of California. It was a two hours flight. She hired a cab from the airport to take her to the prescribed location. It took her two hours so by the time she reached, it was dusk. It was on the outskirts of town, a small cottage lit with a dim lamp. She went inside and saw a lady in her mid fifties stirring a cup of coffee. She looked at Alice and stood up.
“Are you Alice?”
She nodded.
“Oh well, hello there, Alice. Samantha told me about you. I believe this will prove to be a perfect place for you to stay."
“Thank you, Mrs...?”
“Oh I am Hannah. I have been looking after this house ever since my husband died."
“And your kids?”
“I believe God has not blessed me with fecundity."
“Oh, I am sorry."
“It’s ok. Come here, I’ll show you your room. I have cleaned it as soon as I heard you’re coming." The room was quaint, cosy and beautiful.
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Hannah."
It was the only place where she could hide. She wished she was safe there and wanted this cataclysm to get over as quick as possible. She called up Samantha and told her she reached safe and sound. Samantha was gratified and warned her to not roam around needlessly. Alice was too tired to even take dinner for the night so she just dozed off.
The next few days went perfect without any hindrance. She knew she was out of danger. She spent her days either helping Mrs. Hannah in her household chores or running to the market to buy necessary items. One night, Alice woke up past midnight to use the washroom. She had her eyes squinted to get a clear view but there was something that took her breath away. Something was written on the mirror of the dresser:
I AM HERE!
She felt a shudder down her body and went sick to her stomach. She quickly ran downstairs for Mrs. Hannah and let out a shrill scream. Mrs. Hannah was lying dead on the couch. Alice covered her mouth with both hands and ran out of the house in tears. Coincidently, Samantha called her.
“Hey Alice, listen. I have a ver....”
“Sam!! He is here. And killed Hannah. Damn, I’m so frightened. What do I do?”
There exploded the entire cottage. It was in flames. For a moment, Alice went blank. She ran as far as she could watching the cot on fire, each spark spilled itself in its brightest illumination.
“Alice, are you there? What had happened? Alice? You okay?”
“The house just got burned down. He has burnt the house. He tried to set me on fire." She said almost like a dead soul. Lifeless.
“Holy Moses! Listen, Alice. I know who’s behind these attacks."
The next few minutes, Alice had her eyes wide open while having her phone held tight onto her ears looking pale and ice cold, listening to what Samantha had to say. She didn’t move an inch. She had dropped her phone on the ground and ran towards the town, never looking back. She had booked the earliest possible flight back to her place which was to take off at 5 am.
*******
“Did you call me again to say she has escaped this time too? Listen, I don’t want to hear that, alright?”
“You’ll be rather happy to know that she’s dead. I have burnt down the whole house, like you ordered."
A smile ran across Nathan’s face. “Good job, Michael."
“I would rather say, poor luck, Nathan."
Nathan turned around to the voice and got startled. “Alice!”
Alice stood in front of him along with Samantha and another man in a black suit.
“Yes, it’s me. Are you surprised, Nathan?”
Nathan looked like he had seen a ghost. “Well, wha...how did you....the fire." He could not let out his voice. He felt choked.
“Samantha told me everything about you. She had overheard your telephonic conversation with someone whom you had sent to kill me. I trusted you so much and all you gave me in return is this? I have loved you like my own brother."
“Oh smart lady, eh? I am sure you have found out the reason too, haven’t you?”
“Yes, fortunately I did. So guess what? You are never going to get any share of this property. And after trying to illegally claim the remaining share of mine, you are deprived of your own share as well. How does that sound?”
“As per the will, Mr. Hawkins had divided the property in such a way that 65% goes to Miss Alice and the rest 35% gets your claim, Mr. Nathan. But now I am afraid you lose that 35% as well”, said the lawyer.
Nathan could not believe his ears and eyes. “I don’t believe this. He said he loved me equally. He said he never considered me adopted. Oh, what a pity!”
“Dad accepted you as his own son, Nathan. But you’ve turned out to be such a disgrace. You betrayed me. Betrayed all of us. I am glad dad isn’t here anymore or else he would have regretted his decision of providing shelter and raising a son like you."
The cops accompanied by Mr. Bailey had arrived and took Nathan away. His trials had begun.