The One I Knew

Chapter 8

**Sorry for the wait guys! I have been having so many ideas for other stories and then I get caught up in them! I will be finishing this and my other stories over the next couple days/weeks/months so I can start this other story I have come up with. Please keep up the reading and votes! Love you guys! *gives hugs to all y'all marvelous peoples! btw the picture is of Daniel Day Lewis cast as Kyle Smith**

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He knew what I was going to do.

Something stupid.

Something brilliant.

Something that would inevitably get me killed.

The only thing I could do,

Go to  the place where everything started.

I finally figured out who Eric was.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

My body shook as I shoved the key into the ignition. My blood was boiling as the car failed to start. I screamed in frustration and punched the steering wheel. I hissed as pain erupted in my hand. I tried to start the car again and yet it failed to start once more.

"Rose!" A voice called, but it was muffled through the pounding in my ears. I looked up and saw Michael running towards me. Panicking, I tried the car again and sighed with relief as it started up. I took off out of the precinct parking lot and took off down the road. I was going to kill him once and for all. This 'Eric' would pay and pay hard for what he did. Unwanted tears burned at my eyes, begging to be released. I kept my eyes open wide and waited for the tears to go away. I had worked so hard for years not to cry and to numb myself against this, it would not ruin me now.

After half an hour of driving, I came upon the dirt side road I was looking for. Another half hour of rounding around sharp corners, the car bouncing along the uneven road. I would never forget the way. I finally found the right turn off and drove down the homemade gravel road. One that I had helped pour the gravel in that took up a couple weeks to finish. I remember burning up as the hot summer sun cast its deadly rays down on my back. That summer I had gotten a horrible sun burn and it took forever to get rid of. Shaking my head of the memory, I paid close attention to the road.

I pulled up to the oh-so-familiar house that I had spent the first thirteen years of my life in. As soon as the roof came into view, I shut my headlights off so I wouldn't be seen. My car was silent as I drove up and parked at the garage door. Before getting out, I pulled out my gun and checked it. Fully loaded. I put it back in my belt and grabbed my flashlight. There were no other cars and the lights were completely off. But I still remembered it as if it were yesterday that I was drawing it in my old sketchpad. The fading white paint, royal blue colored shutters and the bright ruby colored door that I had painted. The two story house loomed over me as I stepped out of the car. Taking deep breathes, I walked up to the front door. So good so far, I thought. But I knew it wouldn't last long. There was always a calm before the storm.

I pulled out my gun, fingers clenched tight over it. My injured ankle screamed in pain as I walked up the porch steps. This was so stupid of me. I was walking into my death completely vulnerable. However, I had to do this. I had to end it and end it tonight.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door slowly. After years of sneaking out, I knew how to without making it creak. I stepped in, the musky, dust filled air assaulted my nose. I pinched the bridge of my nose, stopping the sneeze that had begun. The house was cold, but not as cold as it should have been. Warmth tingled in the air, someone else was here.

Taking out my flashlight, I flashed the light, illuminating the old kitchen. The pain of memories threatened and tightened around my heart, but I forced the away. After making sure it was empty, I walked into the foyer, the couch had been a pale yellow color, however now it had faded into a disgusting mustard yellow. It was stained with mold from the years of abuse as no one lived here.

After checking the hallway closet and bathroom, I made my way upstairs. After years of sneaking around, I still remembered which steps creaked. After hopping over steps four, five, and seven, I finally landing at the top. Ahead of me was a hallway, still covered in old pictures that held pictures cut out from old calendars. I made my way and first passed the full bathroom. Shining my flash light inside, I gasped. The light flashed across the shower curtain, illuminating a shadow from behind. Fingers still clenched around the gun I inched inside. I pinched the curtain and drew it back quickly, only to reveal moldy tiles. I sighed in relief and let go of the curtain. Turning around, a scream caught in my throat. In front of me was a girl. She had dark auburn hair pulled into a ponytail. Baby hair stuck out and there was a large bruise along her cheek. Her eyeliner had been smudged and her eyes were wide with fear. Her whole body was shaking and her lips were slightly opened as if she were about to say something.

I shook my head and turned away from the mirror. I headed back into the hallway and went inside the next door. The familiar surroundings scared me. A bed was in the far right corner, the pink comforter covered in dust. Pictures hung up on the wall and the light blue paint was peeling off the walls. The window still had the same uneven and broken blinds that were trying to be hidden underneath a thin set of blue curtains.

A desk was to my left with old child drawings and various broken pencils and crayons. I quickly shut the door before memories could rise up. My heart was pounding and I took several deep breathes to make my heart rate go back to normal. Once it was, I made my way to the end of the hall. There, the master bedroom door was closed, daring me to open it. My fingers shook as I curled them around the door knob.

My whole body screamed at me to not do this. I knew that I would find something beyond this door. I would have to confront what I didn't want to. I would have to confront my worst nightmare. But it had to be done or my nightmares would continue. He would not win. Not this time.

I shut my eyes and counted to ten.

One.

It was something my therapist had taught me.

Two.

It was supposed to help me calm down.

Three.

It wasn't working.

Four.

It never worked.

Five.

Oh no.

Six.

Unwanted memories flooded my mind.

Seven.

I tried to flush them out.

Eight.

It wasn't working.

Nine.

Tears threatened as I remembered that night.

Ten.

Eric was going to pay for what he did.

I opened my eyes, ready for what lay ahead. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Finger right above the trigger, I flashed the light around until it happened upon the bed. It flashed along a dark shape, hand tied to the bedposts.

"Kathryn!" I cried out, stepping closer. Her wide brown eyes stared up in disbelief.

"No, no, no, no! You shouldn't have come. Please tell me you aren't alone. Oh please tell me that," she mumbled. Her head shaking as she sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

However, before she could answer I heard a board creak behind me. My whole body froze and so did Kathryn's. I heard him shut the door behind him. My blood boiled with anger and I felt him step closer. Before I could turn around, I felt a hand wrap around my waist and mouth. I held my breath as the cloth was held over my nose and mouth, but I wasn't fast enough. My vision faltered as the sickly sweet smell assaulted my senses. My body went numb against him and before I knew it, sleep surrounded me.