The Pursuit

Thirty-Two

⬻Maggie⤖

I heard the gunshots ring through the air as I'm half way down the first flight of stairs. I paused and my body instinctively lurched forward down the rest of the stairs. Please be alive, please be alive. I carried myself downwards and heard the door, from above ,close with a thud and then the steady quick pounding of feet on the stairs above me. I picked up my pace but he was much faster than me and I moved towards the door to the fourth floor. I swung it open and let it close quickly but silently. I ran towards the elevator and prayed it was quick. I looked around and watched the digital numbers climb upward. I knew he'd find me. I could feel it but I couldn't be afraid anymore. I had to fight him off.

The elevator chimed and I thanked god Sam didn't catch me. I hit the number seven and waited for the doors to close slowly. A hand stopped the doors from closing and I jumped. I watched the doors open backup and Sam stepped forward. He's clutched his left arm with his gun still firmly place in his right. I could see the blood seeping through his long sleeve shirt. Without thinking I say, "You're hurt", and realized that meant someone  must have shot him. Please be alive Damien.

"You don't have genuine care in your observation", he looked down at me and put his loaded gun close to my face as he stroked my cheek with his hand. He quickly pulled back and yanked me forward out of the elevator with force.

"Sam, stop!" I screamed. "Just stop!" I hoped someone could hear me screaming at him. They needed to help me.

He pulled me towards the staircase again and I panicked. There was no way I could overpower him. I could feel the fear start to come forward. I could feel the hairs on my skin stand on edge and my eyes scanned the area for something to hold onto, in order to slow him down. I saw the flash of glass from the fire extinguisher but knew I don't have time to break the glass to get it. I looked next to it and saw the fire alarm.

As Sam dragged me closer to the door I kicked out and him pushed him with my force into the wall so his injured arm hit the wall. He hit the wall and groaned outwardly in pain, letting go of me briefly. I took my chance and reached to the fire alarm. I pulled the lever downward and the alarm blared around us. Sam came closer to me and I ducked under him and tried to move around him to the door. I needed to get away from him. The lights around us flashed and the repetitive siren boomed. Sam tried to grab me but he was weak without his other arm. His hand still clutched the gun firmly. I moved around him and start punching him in his injured arm. He winced but didn't  let me get an advantage over him.

"That's enough Maggie!" he threw my body into the wall and I felt pain enter my bones. I sucked in air and tried to right myself. He reached out and grabbed a chunk of my hair and I screamed out in pain.

"What the fuck do you want with me? To kill me?" I cried out. He pushed me through the doors to the staircase and dragged me down the steps. The pull on my hair seared through me and I gritted my teeth. I knew I had to slow him down. I needed more time.

"Oh, no, dear. I'm just going to keep you safe now", he said clearly in a menacing tone. We got down another flight my head pounding with pain. My time dwindling.

"You can't keep me!" I yelled at him and pulled him back with all my strength. He fell backwards and hit the steps bring me down with him but letting go of my hair. I stood above him and he looked bewildered. "I am not your piece of property. I am not powerless without you. You have no right to me!" I screamed at him my voice giving out at the end. My head seared with pain and he watched me with a flicker of concern. I saw a flash of some recognition cross his face but then it disappeared. He pulled himself up and stared down at me.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" he spat at me with venom. His eyes bore into me with hate and those amber flecks he once had were gone. He yanked my head and body towards him and pulled me with him down the steps. "You must have been fucked hard by pretty boy if you think you can talk to me like that and I'll just let you go", he dragged me more and we moved through a door into a parking garage. I'm never getting away from him.