The Pursuit

Eight

Maggie stirred on the couch, wrapped in a cocoon of blankets. She twisted and turned to free herself from the captivity. She peeked her eyes open silently and assessed the room. The TV glowed with the image of her mother frozen in a laugh. She smiled and felt her chest warm. God, she was the best, she said to herself. 

"I couldn't do it", she heard Sam murmur out loud. His voice was distant in another room. Maggie sat up and looked around to the giant clock on the wall. It's only eleven, who is he talking to? Is dad home? , she wondered. She lifted the blankets off of her and placed her feet on the ground. She looked for her cell phone and found it on the table across from her.

"No" she heard Sam grit through his teeth. "I won't do it and neither will you" he yelled out.  Maggie grabbed her phone and saw a text from her dad. 

"Gonna head to a friend's for awhile. May stay over ;)"

Ugh, gross. At least he won't find Sam here in the middle of the night. She looked at the time stamp. It was from an hour ago.

"What aren't you getting? I would not harm her for you, you've already done enough", Sam whispered harshly in the distance. Maggie felt a chill run through her body. That sensation of fear coming up again. Harm, who wants to harm me, and why do they want Sam to do it?, she panicked.

"I swear I would protect her from you and you know I have my resources. Don't push me", he warned the other person. You need to call dad, or Jamie, or the police! This is not good, back it up girl and get out of the house.

Maggie stood in a shot upwards. She looked around the living room. How can I get out without him seeing me? Christ, you are silliest woman in the whole world. You let your vagina guide a killer home. You stupid girl,  she chastised herself harshly.

She made her way to the window in the back of the room. She lifted the window up and pushed the screen out. She knew he could come back in an instant. She could hear him in the distance pacing and talking. She heard his fist meet the wall in frustration. She only had her cell phone in her hand. No shoes or car key. You're just gonna have to run to the next house over. Don't let him see.

She pushed her body out the window and crept down in the flower bed. She steered her way around the side of the house. She could see her neighbor's house across the the street.  She looked back at her house and then to the street. She took her phone and dialed Jamie's number. Her call went to voicemail. She tried her dad, no luck. She could see the house and began her sprint. The house was getting bigger and her feet crushed on the asphalt. She made it to the driveway but then she heard the heavy feet behind her.

She pushed herself faster than she's ever run before. Faster than the time in the woods. Faster than the day she ran from the house away from her mother's body.  She knew he was getting closer. Her heart was pumping out of her chest. His feet came closer. Her body wasn't giving up on her as she got closer to her neighbor's front door. She reached the door and pounded her hands on it. Adrenaline coursed through her body and her hands began to tingle. She looked back and saw Sam's giant form approach her. Maggie pounded her hands again on the  door with such force her hands began to throb. She started her scream but as the air came in to start the cry a hand covered her mouth. She bit down on his hand and let the air out in a blood curdling scream. Louder, do it again, scream louder.

"Don't scream Maggie, please. I'm not going to hurt you" Sam said from behind her. His arms encircled her and pulled her tight to his chest. She could feel his chest rise up and down from the force of his stalking run. She could feel the tears start to puddle in her eyes. If he didn't want to hurt you then why did he stalk you and run you down like a wild animal? You need to bite him again and fight! Fight!