The Murder Of Hazel

Chapter 2

   The car door closed. He walked downstairs, I could hear him. I tried to inch further back and saw another tunnel. I crawled deeper into the creepy, old house. I could hardly control my breathing. Someone wanted to kill me. My boyfriend wanted me dead. I hate him. I hate him and Brittney.

   I realized my phone was in my pocket. I kept crawling till I was out of the basement. Once I got outside I hid in the trees. The first person I called was 911.

   "911, what's your emergency?"

   "My ex-boyfriend is trying to murder me. We are at the abandoned house by the school, North View High." I managed to squeak out.

   "Okay, Ma'am. The police will be there soon. They will have their siren's off, so they won't scare the guy away." The lady on the other line said.

   "Okay, Thank you. He has a gun, be careful." I told her quickly, and silently.

   "Thanks for warning us. Bye Miss." She said before the line went dead. I was alone, in these trees, hiding from my ex-boyfriend. After two minutes, which seemed like forever, the police arrived. They left their doors open, so Derek wouldn't know they were there. I watched them enter the odd old house.

   I heard them talking to Derek. I heard bits and pieces of their conversation, but I only heard one thing that was very clear. "Put the gun down now!" The somewhat young policemen told him. I took that as my cue to spy. I ran as fast as I could to the house. I saw the vent I came out of, and I moved the rock I had put there. I crawled in and closed the back side. I crawled to where the tunnel connects with others. I listen for voices and footsteps. I followed those. I found my way and was back in the basement. I stayed a bit further from the vent opening. I hoped to God they wouldn't see me.

   They tell Derek to put the gun down again. I wasn't surprised by the answer.

   "I don't think so." He said and shot them multiple times in the stomach. They died. The end just like that and they couldn't finish their life. I know how they feel.

   I ran out of the house as quick as I possibly could. I didn't stop running, but eventually I did slow down to a jog. I finally stopped, who knows how long later. I saw a sign saying, "Welcome to Nashville, Tennessee." I was 45 minutes away from my hometown, Clarksville. Just then, my stomach growled. I looked around and saw a Subway. I walked in and ordered my usual: ham, turkey, cheese, and bacon. Once I got my food, I walked over to the booth area. I ate quietly, minding my own business. I was eating fast so I could get up out of here. I was scared to death and I'm sure my face showed it.  A guy got up throw away his food and walked over to me.

   "Hey, is this seat taken?" He asked. He looked about 6'1. He had black hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a light grey and black Henley shirt, black jeans, and a pair of black ripped up converse.

   "Uh, no, not at all. Go ahead." I managed to breathe out. He looked good, to be honest.

   "Thanks. Are you okay?" He said, as he cocked his head and sounded sympathetic.

   "I don't know you. Why should I trust you?" I smirked and he pouted.

   "Fine, I have time anyway. I'm Alex, Alex Cutler. I like music. I'm a 3.8 student. I don't really do much. My parents are gone, and I'm left to fend for myself." He talked really quickly.

   "Good to know. I'm Hazel. How old are you? Where do you live? And why the heck are you talking to me?" I asked him quickly like he talked to me.

   "I'm 18, live right down the street in that yellow house." He pointed out the window. "I am talking to you because you look like you need help. You look sad, lonely, and mostly scared." He continued.

   "So, you're wanting to help me? I asked slowly this time.

   "Yeah. I really do. I hate seeing people upset and you look like you're having a rough time. I'll ask you again. Are you okay?" He said, looking into my eyes. His were full of concern and I felt so vulnerable.

   I busted into tears at the moment and told him everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours. "My crazy ex-boyfriend is trying to kill me. He is mad that I broke up with him because he rapes and abuses me. So I'm running. He has a gun and killed the police that tried to help me. I ran all the way out here from Clarksville. I have no one and I don't really know what to do!" I cried and yelled the last part. People started staring. I noticed one guy in particular. As he was looking, mainly at me, his eyes got wider. He picked up the phone after a minute. I only heard part of the conversation, but I did hear the last past very clearly.

   "I found her." That's when it hit me.

   "Alex! We gotta run. Now!" I yell at him, dragging him behind me.

   We got out of Subway. We ran into his house. We got in quickly. I knew he was chasing me. I quickly looked for a place to hide in the house. I also knew they were going to look in the house, as well. I opened a cabinet and climbed in. Alex took some stuff off the counter, which ended up being cleaner and rags. He shoved them into the cabinet hide me. I went to the hidden corner I saw. You couldn't see me unless you were in the cabinet. As soon as I got comfortable, I heard someone pounding on the door.

   "Keep quiet. I'll be here for you, don't forget that." Alex said before he walked to the door.

   "Where is she?!" The dude growled. I saw his shadow through the crack of the cabinet. Alex stayed silent. "Huh? Where the heck is she!?" I saw him pulling something out. I heard it click. It was a gun. He was reloading it. "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Tell me where she is now or you're dead!" He continued yelling before I heard Alex speak up.

   "She ran out the back door and ran into the forest. That's all I know. I swear!" Alex said, uneasily.

   "You better not be lying," He said and walked out the back door. He slammed it. Who would've guessed?

   I waited a minute then Alex opened the door. "Come on out." I jumped out and ran into his awaiting arms.

   "Thank you so much. I owe you. I feel so bad for dragging you into this. It's really not your problem and I should just go. I don't need innocent people getting killed because I got into some bad people. I'm sorry." I said as I pulled back. Tears slowly filled my eyes.

   "Hey... Don't worry about it. You aren't going anywhere. You can stay here as long as you like. It really is no problem at all. I promise." Alex said quietly.

   "Really? You mean that?" I questioned him. "I don't really think it's safe for either of us to stay here..."

   "That's okay. I kind of figured. Let's not worry about it just yet, okay? Let's go to a hotel tonight. The house is already up for sale, as I've been waiting to move. It just gives me another reason. Is that a deal?" He asked. I didn't even notice the for sale sign out front. Then again, I didn't notice anything since I was busy running and hiding.

   "Yeah. Deal. I'll wait down here while you go pack then. Can we stop somewhere? I guess I don't have anything now that I lost my stuff. I don't think I'd be able to go back to my own house."

   "How about I drop you off at the hotel and I can run by and get your stuff? Would that work for you?" I felt my mouth drop open a little. Would he really do that for me? A stranger he just met? I guess we are about to find out.

   "Would you really? That would be great, but please don't feel like you have to." I asked him.

   "Shh," He said. He bent down and gently kissed my forehead. "I really want to be here for you, and if that involves helping you get your stuff, then so be it. I can pack later, so let's go." He grabbed my hand and we walked out the doorway.