The Blind Man

EIGHT

Cristal ran as fast as she could. This couldn't be happening. Leaping into her small cabin she slammed the door behind her before throwing the locks into place. Her heart pounded so hard the drumming of it was filling her ears.

Grabbing her cell phone from the counter, she rushed into the living room as she dialed Maggie's number. She paced the room as her dread continued to grow. Fear settled into her stomach as she listened to Maggie's voice mail play in her ear. Tears burned her eyes as she tried Maggie's phone again.

"Please pick up." She begged aloud.

There was still no answer. Cristal had no idea what to do as she heard the man's heavy footsteps climb her porch and start banging his fist against the door. All she could do was cry as the image of Luis's lifeless body filled her mind. She needed help fast, but just as she began punching in 911, her cell went dead.

~~*~~

They walked in the house and were welcomed by Rosie. "I bet you want a snack." Maggie smiled as Jae spoke to Rosie like a child.

They walked into the kitchen and he gave her a treat before he turned in Maggie's direction.

"I feel like I'm covered in grease." He joked.

"Same here."

"I'm going to take a quick shower so I can go ahead and start winding down for the day."

"Sounds good. I might do the same."

They both headed up with Rosie leading the way. Jae used his own bathroom while Maggie went into the guest bath to shower.

She had had fun with Jae this afternoon. After eating he had taken her out to an ice cream shop before stopping at the local library go get Maggie a book to read aloud for both of them. They planned to start the book tonight and finish what they could before Luis and Cristal came home tomorrow. Then they could hopefully start solving their problem in a more stable environment.

~~*~~

Cristal held her breath when the man walked right past her as he made his way through the house in search of her. Luis's blood stained his clothes and hands and she could feel a scream building up in her chest. This was like something out of a movie, it didn't seem real; but it was very real and she needed to escape before she got killed.

Once she thought the guy was in the other room she eased out of the dark closet and darted for the front door. As she leaped off the porch she heard him yell her name and it pushed her to run faster. She pulled her keys out of her pocket as she rushed to the car at the end of the driveway. She wished Luis would have parked closer to the cabin, but he had insisted on parking on the side of the road to let the neighbors know they were here. She wished now that she had put up a better fight.

As she raced forward down the driveway, she could hear the man's heavy footsteps slam to the ground behind her. She didn't dare look back as she pushed herself to run harder. Her lungs burned as her side began to cramp; would she make it?

The car came into sight and she almost fell in her excitement. The man yelled her name again sounding as if he were just inches behind her. She could almost feel the man's hand on her back as she rushed around to the drivers side before risking a glance up at the driveway. He was now a few yards away and as she climbed into the car and locked the doors he appeared at the passanger window beating it with his fist.

As she turned the car on, he slammed his fist against the window and it shattered as she acreamed. Without thought she threw the car into drive and hit the gas as his arm came through the window. She heard him scream in pain as his arm got jerked with the car before he hit the ground. She didn't look into her mirror as she drove away. All she thought to do now was get to Jae and Maggie; they would know what to do.

~~*~~

Maggie woke up the next morning feeling off in some way. She wasn't sure why, but there was a strange feeling that settled into the pit of her stomach as she got ready for the day.

Jae woke up an hour after her, but she didn't mention how she was feeling. They ate breakfast in silence, and when they did the dishes afterwards he hit the problem headon.

"What's bothering you?"

She sighed setting another dish in the sink for him to dry. "I really don't know. I just feel off for some reason."

"Is it because of everything that's happened?"

"That might be it. There's just a lot of stuff happening and I want it to end." She paused. "I'm scared, Jae."

He turned his head her way and she caught sight of his cloudy eyes. He's gotten comfortable enough around her to not wear his sunglasses and this made her feel special.

He opened his arms and she carefully leaned against him. At first she was stiff, but she soon found herself relaxing against him as he held her close. "I'm here for you, and as long as I'm breathing I'm going to do everything I can to protect you." He said.

His words warmed her and gave some comfort, but that heavy feeling still stayed in her chest. She went to pull away, but Jae kept his hands on her arms. His head is tilted down and she freezes as his piercing eyes seem like they're actually looking down at her. They stay like this, both frozen in place and Maggie suddenly wonders what it would be like to kiss him.

~~*~~

He wishes he could see her expression to tell what she may be thinking, but all he can do is feel the way her arms relax under his grip and he pulls her closer again, but this time gently.

A sudden image of Star flashes threw his mind and he feels himself being draw to Maggie. His mind races as everything comes together in his head. There's no way this could be true, could it? Yet, they've only been together three days and he feels like he's known her for years.

Jae carefully slips his hand from her shoulder and to her cheek. He waits to see if she'll stop him before he begins to run his finger tips across her face. He can bearably believe what he's feeling as each feature she has lines up with the image that's glued to his mind. Tears burn his eyes as he let's his hand fall down to her shoulder.

"Maggie." He whispers.

"Jae." Her tone sounds like his and he wonders if she's remembered something about him too.

"I-I" He can't seem to get it out.

They're so close now that he can feel her warm breath against the skin of his neck. He knows that if he bends his head just an inch their lips would meet. He can't seem to speak because he can't believe that this whole time he was with the girl he had fallen for years ago, but could it really be her?

He knows that if he kisses her, he'll be able to tell if it's her or not. For years her kiss had haunted him; keeping him awake at night until the memory of it had almost left, but now it burns bright in his mind.

He goes to lean in, but suddenly he hears gravel crunching and within moments he hears Cristal yelling as she bursts threw the front door.

He releases Maggie as she rushes over to Cristal. The moment is gone and Jae wants to be concerned about Cristal, but his thoughts stay with Maggie. Could he really be just feet away from the woman he has waited for, for so long?