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Chapter 17- Lexie

The wind howled through the trees, banging branches against the house as I walked up the stairs to my room. I still hadn't returned Kate's earrings and started back down the stairs. Her room looked dark without her and I paused momentarily realizing the bedroom door was open again.

A bold dirt smell filled my nostrils and my body ignited with the fear of being alone. I shook my head and continued upstairs to brush my teeth, ignoring my anxiety.

The wind continued to blow the newly fallen snow into the air making it impossible to see out the window. I felt isolated amid the city limits.

Turning on the faucet, I heard a loud bang. I chuckled assuming it was Mike stuck in the driveway and turned off the water to listen. Again, I heard a slamming noise, as if it came from within the house. I had forgotten to shut Kate's door earlier and wondered if I had forgotten to secure the screen door after Mike left. 

I dropped my toothbrush and walked over the steps. The house was darker than usual with the blizzard blanketing the outdoors and uneasiness crept over me. I started down the stairs but stopped in panic as a shadow edged along with the couch.  Frozen in complete horror I stared at the silhouette of the strange man from the mall, inside my house!

Unable to move at first, my adrenaline kicked in and I quietly ran back to the bathroom to call for help. Softly, I closed the door so I wouldn't be heard while I dialed 911. It rang three times before a woman answered.

"There is someone in my house and he's the suspect for the 2 missing girls. Please hurry," I frantically whispered into the phone.

"What are your name and address?" she calmly asked.

"Lexie Dunn and I live at 22923 Elm Road. Detective Mike Miller was just here. Can you contact him; he can't be too far away?" I pleaded with the women.

"I am contacting him now and any other officers in the area. Are you in a safe location until help arrives?"

"I'm in my bathroom."

"Do you have any type of weapon, in case you need it?"

I started to panic and wasn't sure what kind of weapon I could use.  Then I remembered the baseball bat in my bedroom. We had used it for the patio door until the door froze from the rain and snow.

"Yes, I have a bat in my bedroom."

"Can you safely get it without him hearing you?"

"I think so," I replied. I didn't want to leave the bathroom but knew I should prepare myself in case I needed to.

"Put the phone down and don't turn it off. You can put it on mute if you like," she paused momentarily and continued. "We have two officers in the area and they will be there shortly."

"OK, I am putting the phone on mute now."

I set the phone down and opened the bathroom door. The house was silent except for the wind howling outside my bedroom window. The bat stood against the wall where I had left it last month and I cautiously tiptoed towards it.  I grabbed the bat just as a hand appeared from around the corner, twisting my wrist.

"There you are," a gravelly voice said as he yanked me towards him. He gripped both my arms forcing the bat to fall to the floor. "You turned out to be much more of a challenge than I thought you would be."

I screamed, hoping the 911 operator would hear what was happening, but he covered my mouth with his sweaty palms. His hands smelled of dirt; the familiar odor I had smelled in the past.

As he leaned towards me, he smiled leaving the scent of beer and cigarettes. I struggled to free myself, but he continued to tighten his grip, until I maneuvered my leg between his, throwing both of us to the ground.

I reached for the bat, just as he pulled a small white rope from his back pocket. Knowing, the rope was meant for my neck; I raised the bat with my right hand and swung at his head as hard as I could.

He looked stunned as he reached for the side of his head, revealing blood on his hand. "You whore," he yelled as he punched me in the stomach. "I've watched you tease men and then turn them away. It's not happening to me. You gonna get what you deserve."

An excruciating pain swept over me, making me nauseated and dizzy. His hands wrapped around my neck as I gasped for air. The smell of dirt was overwhelming and the room seemed to fade away as I struggled to keep conscious.

"I can't wait to bury you with the others once I am finished with you," he whispered leaning in to kiss me. His knees pushed my legs apart giving me an inch to move towards the bat. I felt the wooden handle graze my fingertips and struggled for a little more. As his slobbering lips touched mine, I managed to slide it towards me, gripping it firmly in one hand.  I bit his lip and he screamed in pain, slapping my face. The release of one hand gave me air to breathe and the strength to leverage the bat between us, pushing him away from me.  

It was just enough space to free my neck from his other hand. As his grip loosened, I kicked him in the stomach with both feet and jumped up. He grinned as if he enjoyed the battle.

"You are a lot feistier than the others," he groveled grabbing my arm.

I turned the bat towards him and shoved the end into his chest; pushing him further away. As he stumbled backward, I swung at his head causing him to lose his balance and fall down the stairs.

I ran to the doorway afraid of what I might find. I peered down the stairs discovering his lifeless body lying in my kitchen; blood gushing from his head.

The door abruptly opened and Mike and another officer barged into the house with their guns drawn towards me.

"Drop the bat," an officer demanded.

I raised my hands, releasing the bat down the stairs. The gusty winter wind blew in through the open door and I fell to the ground.

"Lexie, are you ok?" Mike yelled rushing up the stairs towards me.

I was unable to answer and closed my eyes as I heard sirens approaching. My world had never seemed so cold and empty, but the smell of dirt had vanished.