UNINVITED

Chapter 26

A gust blew in my direction as I ran toward the Bergers’ house. My clothes clung, and my hair started moving violently. I stopped in my tracks and took a deep breath. I shivered, clasping my nightgown to my body. As I approached the house, I heard another yell. The clinging of metals followed. Then I began to see movements downstairs.

     Swiftly, I moved to the front porch and tried the door. Locked. Huffing, I bent down and checked under the doormat but found it empty. I stepped back and went around the house, stopping by the side window. I peered inside the interior through the glass window. The curtain was opened slightly. My eyes landed in the living room. I cupped my hands onto the pane, discerning broken pieces of ceramic plates and a couple of books strewn on the floor. The loveseat was turned upside down, and so were the ottoman and the center table. As I strained my eyes further, I noticed flowers scattered on the floor.

     It was worse than I thought. I had to do something. I sidestepped onto the walkway by the lawn and followed the path to the backdoor. I tried the screen door when I neared it, and it instantly slid open. As I went for the knob, I hesitated, curling my fingers around the cold metal. I was intruding on their privacy. I would go way too far if I entered uninvited. But I just couldn’t sit back and do nothing. If Amy was in trouble and I barged in to her rescue, she’d be very glad I did come when she found out later. Besides, if I didn’t enter, someone was going to get hurt. Either Amy or Alec.

     I didn’t want to imagine it. This wasn’t the time to worry about breaking into someone’s home.

     Screw it! I’m entering.

     With a sigh, I twisted the knob and the door swung open. Not locked. Thank goodness! On calculated steps, I followed the hallway in front of me. It led me straight to the kitchen where I heard rustlings. Immediately I stepped inside, I froze, unable to believe my eyes.

     Alec held Amy’s throat, choking her hard. The poor woman squirmed, her slender hands on Alec’s brawny arms, struggling to push him away to no avail.

     Her roving eyes suddenly stopped when she saw me. She shrilled, “Help me, Elodie!”

     I didn’t know what to do. Grab a weapon? And then what? Strike Alec with it and Amy would be free? But there wasn’t any weapon in handy. I scanned the kitchen. Every item was tucked in the appropriate place. The counter was empty too. I shifted my attention to the island table. A flower vase. Good. I could grab that and hit him with it. Would that be enough to weaken him? There was only one way to find out.

     As I skittered toward the table, Alec craned his neck and stared daggers at me. “Stay out of it, Elodie! This is none of your business!” he thundered.

     I was taken aback. I had never heard him speak with such rage. It was as though he was possessed. His voice scared me, but I didn’t stop.

     He turned his attention to Amy, pressing her neck so hard that I thought he’d crack it. Then he yelled, “Who are you?”

     “L-L...let go of me. You’re hurting me,” Amy cried.

     I reached the table and snatched the vase, then lunged at Alec. I raised the vase high, brought it down to his head, and struck him hard with it.

     He cursed under his breath as he pulled a hand and touched his head. “Damn it, Elodie!

     Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Amy grabbed a knife from nowhere and plunged it into his abdomen, then pulled it out. His eyes widened as he let out a moan, and staggered wildly about before falling to the floor with a thud. Amy stood still, fingers and legs trembling as tears rolled down her cheeks. She let go of the knife and it clattered away.