High Fidelity

43. i looked evil in his eyes |part 2

Sydney Bay Janes

"Surprise, Sydney," a distorted voice mocked the line from one of my favorite horror films - Scream (1996.)

Whoever it was knew me well enough to know my name and interests. I hoped none of my friends would scare me like that but seeing it was a black SUV, I thought it'd be the girls — Chyna— coming back from brunch to kiss and make up with me already.

In my YSL heels, I walked towards the passenger side.

With a coy smile, I watched the window scroll down.

"Chyna, Chyna, Chyna," I sounded, shaking my head.
Looking down at my pedicure, I said, "I didn't think you'd come looking for me this fast."

"Well here I am," a man's rugged voice made me gasp.

"Donovan, park the car," he commanded.

When he tried getting out, I unfroze my limbs and pushed my weight against the door so he couldn't.

"You stay there," I bossed, "don't come near me. What do you want?"

"You, baby girl," he smirked, removing his Cartier shades.

My head shook in grief as I took some steps backwards.

I looked to my left, more road, the car could stop me and corner me. To my right, the same thing and I'd eventually end up back at the brunch spot. Those snooty people there would be of no help.

Ahead of me, the highway and on the other side, a super Target in a plaza.

"Fuck you," I boomed.

"Hi, Sydney!" Donovan waved.

My hands dropped from my hips and I stared at him.

"I just wanna talk," Tony said calmly. I never heard that tone before, but I knew it was manipulative and not long before his mentally ill alter ego showed himself.

"You and me, we have nothing to talk about," I growled, walking away.

I advanced ten paces before the SUV sped in front of me.

I wept in distress, grabbing the hair at my temples.

His patience had worn thin.

"Get in the car, Sydney," he finally demanded. Tony's grey eyes went black. He looked less human, more monster. Evil.

'Be smart, Sydney,' I heard in my father's voice.

I faked a sultry smile and switched towards the truck, digging in my purse subtly.

"What do you really want, Tony?" I whispered in his face.

Tony eyed me from my feet up, by the time he realized, I had the pepper spray aligned with his eyes.

He couldn't even react before I sprayed him.

His agonizing screams disoriented Donovan long enough to give me a head start. My heels had straps, I wasn't able to kick them off so I didn't bother trying and risking slowing down my escape.

Cars beeped at me and swerved trying to avoid hitting me. I hadn't ran in so long but I put my legs to good use then. My heart thumped in my chest, my body in fight-or-flight. I guess flight. I fled across every lane and made it safely to the shopping center after what seemed like an eternity. Boy that was a whirlwind.

'Never do something that dumb again,' I could hear my mother say.

I looked around and didn't spot Donovan's SUV. Good. But just to be safe, I kept running.