I ran as fast as I could back to the cabin. My chest hurt and my lungs burned but I didn’t stop.
Eric had tossed the keys on the table when we left. I needed to get back to the table and get those keys.
I could see the cabin straight ahead. I was almost there. Just a few more steps. I flew into the house and grabbed the keys and fled to my car. I stuck the keys in. The car wouldn’t start. I tried again. And again. I slammed the palm of my hand on the steering wheel.
The door opened. And Eric pulled me out. He was covered in blood and had a crazed look on his face. ‘It looks like we’ve got a lot of training to do.’
‘Please, Eric. Don’t. Just let me go.’
He grabbed my arm. ‘Only when I’m ready.’
I struggled as he pulled me towards the cabin. When we got inside, he forced me to sit on one of the wooden dining-room chairs. I watched as he opened his satchel and took out a coil of rope and a clown mask.
My cell phone rang. I knew from the ringtone it was Jackie. ‘I should answer that. It’s Jackie. If I don’t answer, she’ll think something’s wrong.’
Eric handed me the phone. ‘Put it on speaker.’
I nodded and answered. ‘Hi, Jackie.’
‘You sound far away,’ she said.
‘I have the phone on speaker.’
‘Oh. Okay. I was thinking of coming up earlier to go on another hike.’
‘Wish I could but I twisted my ankle. It hurts like hell.’
‘You what?’
‘Twisted my ankle.’
‘Ouchh! Have you put ice on it?’
‘I’m doing that now.’
‘Good. I’ll call later.’
‘Okay.’
‘Love you.’
‘Love you, too.’
I hung up the phone and Eric grabbed it from me and placed it on the table beside the knife he’d used earlier to cut off my bra.
‘Look at you two. I love you. I love you, too.’ Eric mocked. ‘You both are pathetic.’
‘Eric,’ I cried. ‘What’s happened to you?’
He slapped my face. ‘You! You made me like this! It’s your fault. Everything was progressing nicely until you decided to leave. No one leaves me, Shelly. No one.’
‘What about Lisa?’
He leaned down and his face was so close that when he talked I felt spit splatter my face. ‘She’s a whore. Just like you.’
I wanted to keep talking because Eric hadn’t finished tying my legs and my hands were still free. If I could keep him preoccupied, maybe he wouldn’t remember, and I could make a run for it.
He walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. Just as he was popping the lid, I lunged for the knife on the table.
Eric laughed. ‘Do you really think you’re going to use that on me? You’re nothing but a coward.’
I wielded the knife in front of me. ‘Don’t come any closer. I will use this.’
He stepped closer. ‘You don’t have the balls to use that knife. You’re pathetic. A loser with a capital L. Maybe I should get a big L tattooed on your butt. Would you like that? Would you?’
I sobbed as he got closer. I knew I wouldn’t be able to outrun him. My only chance was to stab him. I focused on his body moving closer to mine. I pictured plunging the knife into his chest. I would only get one opportunity, so I needed to focus and not falter, even for a second.
He screamed like a wild man and lunged for the knife. I stabbed him in the arm as hard as I could. He fell to the floor and rolled in pain. He was covered in blood and I stood there in shock, unable to move.
I heard police sirens. Jackie had understood. I ran out the door as police cruisers barreled down the lane with their sirens blaring and lights flashing. I collapsed on the ground as the police, guns drawn, surrounded the house.
The next thing I remember is being loaded into an ambulance.
I was taken to the hospital where I was treated and given a sedative. When I woke up, Jackie was sitting next to my bed.
I reached for her hand. ‘Thank you.’
I could tell Jackie was crying because her face was blotchy red. ‘I just wish I hadn’t gone home.’
Tears started to roll down my cheeks. ‘Jackie, this isn’t your fault.’
‘But if I’d stayed…’
‘If you’d stayed, he might have hurt us both. And if you’d stayed, you wouldn’t have gotten the message and knew to call the police. You saved me.’
We hugged, and I knew that my life would never be the same.