Fugitive

Chapter 9: "Rocky Roads"

Nicole sits tucked away in the corner of the convenience store. She promised her father she would work a short shift by herself since he covered for her the last couple of days. Nicole's parents still have no idea what had happened with JJ that evening. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. A lot of nice customers, easy day to stock the re-stock the shelves, and not a single sign of JJ.

Right around 9:00pm Nicole is sweeping behind the counter while listening to a podcast. All of a sudden a car shines it's blazing headlights through the thin glass windows. The person puts the car in park, but does not turn the vehicle off. The headlights are blinding Nicole's eyes. She squints to wear she begins to cry.

The door then slings right open basically almost breaking it. The person darts over to the counter and grabs Nicole by her perfectly pressed tee shirt. " I told you not to tell bitch!" The man then proceeds to slap her across the face causing her nose to bleed.

Nicole recognizes JJ's demon eyes and begins shouting. " What are you talking about!?"

" You know, I was the one who slashed all four of your tires! They took DNA from your vehicle and traced it back to me! I am in deep shit and it's all your fault Nicole!" He then takes his gun out and points it as her head.

" You better keep that pretty mouth of yours shut. You got it!" He spats.

"I didn't do anything JJ! Please leave me alone!" She cries out.

He pulls his rusty beat up gun away from her head and sighs in relief. Nicole is crouching in the corner balling her baby blue eyes out. She keeps her face buried in her hands afraid to make eye contact with the killer.

"You better keep your mouth shut!" He yells.

JJ makes his way out of the shop and hops into his car. He drives away into the night.

Nicole is left there crying on the floor. She makes her way up and finds a tissue to blot the blood coming from her nostrils.

The rest of the night remains quiet. Nicole puts on a brave face and finishes her shift. She is afraid to go to the police, but she is contemplating it in her head at the same time.

The next day Nicole wakes up to her TV. "Breaking news, we have identified the Orlando, Florida bank murder as thirty year old Joseph Jennings. DNA we collected identified the killer. As of today the killer is still on loose. Police have drawn an investigation that he might be in the Kentucky area." The screen then flashes to a photo of JJ from a previous arrest. "If you see this man please call the local police department immediately." "Back to you Ron." The anchor says with a concerned look on his handsome face.

"Oh my gosh!" Nicole says to herself crying as she falls to her knees.

Her mother and father both barge in her bedroom and console her.

" We heard honey." Her dad says holding onto his adult child.

"We will get him don't worry." He looks at her with tears in his eye.

"Dad, I can't he already said he would kill me. " She cries burying her head into her dad's broad chest.

"Don't worry baby, we will get through this." He kisses her head.

Nicole and her family close their store temporarily because they don't want her to be harm's way. The police are on patrol looking to catch JJ.

A few hours go by and Nicole has had enough sitting in the house doing absolutely nothing. She is fed up and will not let JJ defeat her.

She walks out of her bedroom and greets her family in the living room. " Mom, dad, I need a break. I got my gun and I am going for a drive. I will be back soon. I cannot sit in this house and think about this for much longer."