The Difference is...

Cat and Mouse

"C-Colin... What are you doing in here?" I pushed away from him and flung myself against the opposite wall trying to put as much distance as possible between us.

"I was just admiring the house...and it's contents." he started stalking towards me like a predator to it's prey only... I was the frightened animal watching from the sidelines as he attacked. This wasn't a sexual flirt. This was a demanding, threatening creeper and I had let him into my home.

"You should go. I think i'd rather stay here tonight." I hoped he would back off and leave, but he did just the opposite.

"But I want you Tara. I saw you in the gym, eying me with your friend, don't you want me?" He started getting closer and I could feel the fear set in. The alarm in my head screamed run but my body wouldn't move.

"Colin, please...." I started shaking now. I couldn't control my body anymore. fear had taken over and I was stuck. "let me go...please.." I was begging now, tears falling down my cheeks. A firm hand had come across my cheek and I could feel the sting.

"Stop begging you whore. It's sickening."

Through my blurring vision I saw my phone on the dresser behind him and looked over a little to see the door right there as well. If I made a break for it across my bed, grabbed my phone, and somehow managed to get away, I could get to the bathroom and call the police.

"Don't fight me, Tara. I don't want to hurt you." He was holding his hands out now. I locked eyes with him to try and read his next move but what I saw was far worse. I saw danger in his eyes and something else I was to afraid to put a label to.

As quick as my feet would move I jumped across the bed and made a beeline for the door reaching out for my phone as I passed the dresser. instead of running out the door, I fell to the ground. Colin had ahold of my ankle from the bed and I knew this was bad. I kicked my free foot hard at his face and he let go. I reached up and grabbed my phone and crawled out as fast as possible before standing to my feet and running down the hall to the bathroom.

I could hear his foot steps behind me. He was walking. Not running. And that scared the hell out of me. Just as I unlocked my phone and locked the bathroom door, he started beating on the door and yelling.

"Let me in, Tara! Don't make me hurt you. I don't want to hurt you." He started banging harder and all I could do was cry.

I heard a faint voice and suddenly remembered I had dialed 911 in the midst of the yelling.

"Hello? Ma'am are you there? Hello?"

I fumbled as I held the phone to my ear. "Please, send help! There is a man in my house trying to rape me..."

Just as I said that Colin kicked the door, but luckily it stayed firm.

"Who are you talking to, Tara?! I'm going to have to hurt you now. You could get me into trouble and we don't want that. Open up, Tara!"

"Please help me! I'm at 22 fairway drive! Hurry please!"

Colin was hitting the door harder now. the crashes echoing through my small bathroom. I could faintly make out the lady telling me to stay on the line. I held the phone at my side and clicked the speaker button so I could hear if the woman were to speak.

I heard sirens outside and Colin started to curse at me.

"You little bitch! You called the cops?! You're in big trouble now, Tara. I'm going to kill you slowly."

I was crying hard now. I heard a loud bang and the bathroom door hit the ground faster than I could scream. As soon as he walked in my front door crashed open and 4 police officers ran to my rescue.

"NYPD! Hands where we can see them!"

I curled into the corner shaking and sobbing. an officer picked me up from the floor and carried me to the living room where he sat me on the couch. Two more officers came into the loving room dragging Colin by hand cuffs out the door as he screamed and yelled. And lastly the fourth cop walked in and sat in the chair across from me and started to speak.

"My name is Sheriff Carter and this here is Deputy Bradford. Are you alright ma'am?"

"Alright? Alright?! Am I alright?! That man just tried to rape me!!"

Deputy Bradford placed a hand on my shoulder to calm me down as Sheriff Carter pulled out a pad of paper from his breast pocket.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little shook up is all."

Deputy Bradford gave me a smile and nod. "It's alright ma'am. We understand. We..."

Sheriff Carter cut in before the deputy could finish his sentence. "This isn't the first time Mr. Harris has done this."

That sent me into a rage. "You mean this man had done this countless other times and he isn't behind bars rotting like he deserves what the hell do they pay you for?"

"Ma'am, we..."

"It's Tara. Call me Tara."

The cop sat up a little straighter and adjusted his collar as if pulling it to breathe. "alright, Tara, we have been trying to catch him. He gets away before we get there. Now we have him so you can rest assured that this man will be behind bars before morning." He stood and shook my hand as did the deputy. "We promise."

Just as the cops walked out, Max bursts through the door and ran directly to me. "Tara! Oh my god are you okay? I heard your address on the scanner!"

"What scanner?"

"The scanner at Alan's place." His face heated and I could see the pink rising in his cheeks. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I really was, but I wasn't so sure I believe myself.