Finally Home Alone

"We promise we'll be back by nine. Don't open the door, go outside or answer the phone unless you're sure that it's one of us." My mum rushed around her bedroom, looking for her car keys while dad silently stood at the front door. They were going to the movies for their annual date-night, mum decided to watch the Notebook while dad wanted to watch the new Jurassic World. Personally I'd watch Jurassic Word but I'm a sucker for dinosaurs.

"I know mum," I pointed to the keys on the floor next to mum's bag "keys."

After what felt like the longest goodbye ever, my parents finally left. Every time they went out my older cousin would babysit me but they promised me that once I turned fourteen I'd be able to stay home alone.

'Finally, I get the house to myself. Now what to do, I have a couple of hours to waste before they get back.' I decided to study for an upcoming test, do some homework and some extra-curricular work.

After what felt like half an hour of straight writing, I noticed how dark it was getting. Where I was living it didn't get cold until after eight-thirty. I looked at my watch, nine-forty. 'They're late' I thought slightly worried; 'I bet they're stuck in traffic, I hate traffic.' I continued with my homework while repeatedly checking my watch. After another ten minutes I decided to call my mum.

One ring. Two rings. Three rings. Nothing. I was about to hang up when she answered. I was waiting for her to begin taking but she stayed silent, probably waiting for me to begin talking.

"Hey mum, I was just wondering why you and dad are so late." Nobody replied, all I could hear was puffing, like the person on the other end had been running...a lot!

"Mum? Are you okay?" I was starting to get really worried now, she wasn't answering. Was it even my mum? It didn't sound like her breathing, plus why would she have to run?

I was about to hang up when whoever was on the other side did. I sat on the lounge and turned on the television, trying to distract myself from the call. I changed the channel over and over again until I finally found the local news channel. Nothing interesting, everything boring. After another round of skipping through all of the TV channels until I returned once again to the local news channel.

"Recently Benjamin McNickle has escaped from jail. It wasn't long ago when Benjamin murdered a couple outside of the local movie theatre, than going to their house to kill their three children." I pulled my hair-band out and laid down, it was a lot later than I usually stayed up to and I was struggling to stay awake.

I woke up an hour later to my phone ringing angrily. My mum's phone number flashing in the darkness. I answered to hear the same breathing as before, just much calmer.

"Look, whoever you are I'm not impressed with the prank calls so just lay off it!" I told the person on the other end of the call, letting my cap blow.

"Who said these calls were pranks?" A deep male voice asked. "I sure as hell didn't."

"Who are you, I swear if you're from my school I'm gonna be so-"

I was cut off before I began swearing at the man "I'm Benjamin McNickle" as he said this, my face dropped and my throat dried.

"Yeah right, I'll believe it when I get proof!" I told the man sassily, feeling quite confident all of a sudden.

"Ok then, come over to the front window. Come see why your parents aren't home yet." I could hear the insanity in his voice, as if while his voice was being woven God decided to lace a bit of insanity around the edges.

I cautiously walked to the window, taking tiny steps. The closer I got, the harder it became to breathe. This man couldn't be telling the truth, it was just a joke. A sick and twisted joke.

I reached the window and peered outside to find the front lawn covered in blood, it looked very real. I began hearing the breathing behind me and tuned around. Nothing was there. I turned back around to see writing on the window, in the same blood that covered the lawn.

'Do you believe me now little miss sassy?' was written. How did he write that so fast? I put the phone back on my ear. He had ended the call. I hadn't noticed until just then but the power was out. I rushed to the front door. Locked. I ran to the back door. Also locked. Why couldn't I open it from the inside?

Millions of questions began surfacing in my head, why this, why that? I was just the sort of person that needed logic and answers, I often used questions to prove a point. I began to walk to my parents' bedroom; my dad had a safe in which he kept his gun collection. If this guy was who he said he was I'd need a weapon and a good one at that.

I entered the room, only to find my parents' limp body parts piled on one another. Mentally I was breaking down, but I wouldn't let him see just how much this affected me, I couldn't. I rushed into their walk-in-wardrobe, wasting no time, only to find and empty safe. How did he know the code? How and when did he get in the house? A fresh set of questions emerged as I sat in the wardrobe.

I dialled 000. No service. Thump. Thump. Thump. My breathing ceased as the footsteps got closer.

Crap, crap, crap! I'm dead. There is no way I'm getting thought this alive.' I thought, hoping that the man had left. Sure, if I survived I'd be alone and I'd either have to live with my dreaded family or live with dreaded strangers so either way if I left my future was bleak.

I held my breath as I heard his breathing once more. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. It was somehow soothing yet terrifying.

"I'd hate to kill two and leave just the one," he said outside the wardrobe door "I have to keep the traditions alive. It's my last hunt, may as well go all out."

He bashed the door in and tears began to flow down my cheeks. 'This is the end.' I braced myself.

"See you on the other side" he said and smiled a bright but insane smile.

"Screw Y-!" I screamed at him, letting all of my pain and anger seep into my voice, but was cut short by a gun shot. Straight to my chest. My heart slowly and painfully wasted away as the man stood in the doorway.

"May as well go all out." He repeated as he shot himself in the head, his brain colouring the walls and floor behind him.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The police arrived half an hour late when they got a complaint from neighbours. They felt bad for my parents, the man and myself.

"The jail said he was getting better but stated skipping his meds at last minute. He went straight back to the beginning. They don't know how he got out though." The officer sighed "I feel bad for the guy; it's not his fault he was tortured by his parents as a kid."

"Doesn't mean he had to take it out on innocent people." The other officer said.

"True, the girl was only fourteen."

"Yeah, betcha she tried to escape." I did. If only I had more time. If only I hadn't have been so keen on growing up so soon. If only...The End