A.L.E.N - Between Shadows (Chapter 2)

Act 20

Hannah was locked in her bedroom with her phone, desperately trying to call Robert. "Come on, come on. Robert, pick up, please pick up!" she whispered, her voice trembling with fear. Each ring that went unanswered felt like an eternity, and when the call finally went to voicemail, her heart sank.

Devastated, she quickly dialed her older son Adam, who was staying the night with some friends. "Please... please... pick up...!" she muttered, her voice breaking.

Adam, groggy from sleep, answered the call. "Hey Mom, what's going on? Why are you calling this late?"

Hannah, barely able to contain her terror, whispered urgently, "There is someone in the house." Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice quivered.

Adam immediately sat up, fully awake now. "Crap! Okay, stay safe and hide. I'll get there as soon as I can." He tried to remain calm for her sake, but the fear in his mother's voice was palpable. Just then, Hannah heard footsteps ascending the stairs and approaching her room.

Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "Adam, do me a favor; please contact..." Her words were cut off abruptly as the power went out due to the raging storm outside. The room plunged into darkness, and her phone lost signal.

Adam, panic rising in his chest, shouted into the phone, "Mom? Mom!? Crap...!" He quickly dialed the police, explaining the situation, and then contacted Mr. Rogers, a neighbor, hoping someone could get there before him. One of Adam's friends, now awake, asked, "Hey, Adam?! Where are you going?"

With the phone still pressed to his ear, Adam responded urgently, "I'm going home. We'll talk later!" He dashed to the door and ran towards his mother's house as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, in Hannah's house, the intruder was trying to open her bedroom door. At first, he tried gently, but soon began to force it open with increasing violence. Hannah, her back pressed against the door, screamed, "Go away!" Suddenly, the banging stopped, and she heard the footsteps retreating.

Hannah glanced at her phone, her heart sinking as she saw there was still no signal. "Hello, Adam! No, no. Damnit!" she cried, feeling utterly helpless.

A moment later, a loud bang resounded against the door, over and over, until it finally gave way. The man burst into the room. In a desperate attempt to defend herself, Hannah grabbed a knife from her bedside table and threw it at him, but it missed, clattering uselessly to the floor.

The man advanced on her, ignoring her frantic screams, "Get out! The police are coming!" He grabbed her wrists and pinned her to the bed, his weight making escape impossible. With a surge of adrenaline, Hannah kicked him hard between the legs. He grunted in pain, momentarily loosening his grip. Seizing the opportunity, she kicked him again, this time sending him sprawling backward. He hit his head on the floor, dazed, his cap falling over his eyes.

Hannah bolted from the room, her screams for help echoing through the house and out into the night. "Help! Please, someone, help me!" she cried, as dogs began to bark in the distance.

Mrs. Ferns, the elderly neighbor, opened her window, her cats watching curiously. "Miss Whitt!? What on earth are you doing in the middle of the night, yelling and screaming?" she asked, concerned.

Hannah, trembling, tried to explain, "I'm so sorry for disturbing you, Mrs. Ferns, but there's a..." Her voice trailed off as the man, having recovered, stepped outside. He waved casually at the old lady, attempting to appear harmless.

"Oh, I see. I didn't know you had a boyfriend," Mrs. Ferns remarked, oblivious to the danger.

Hannah stuttered, "I... He is not... Mrs. Ferns..."

Mrs. Ferns, misinterpreting the situation, said, "Oh, well. I'll leave you two alone, then." She closed her window, but something felt off to her, so she picked up the phone to make a call.

Hannah and the man locked eyes, and she bolted again, but he was faster. He caught her, clamping a cloth soaked in liquid Ecstasy over her mouth. Her struggles weakened until she slumped into unconsciousness. The man carefully lifted her and started to leave.

Unbeknownst to him, a hooded figure stood in the shadows, watching. As the man carried Hannah away, the figure turned and walked off, a crowbar glinting in the dim light.

Adam, having alerted the police, arrived at the house, his heart pounding. "Please, it's urgent! My mother is in danger," he had told them. He burst into the house, calling out, "Mom! Mom!" But there was no response.

As he frantically searched the house, he found an old, dirty bandage with traces of blood on the floor, and a knife also stained with blood. Realizing he was too late, he sank to his knees, whispering in despair, "No... Mom, no."