The Last One Home

Part 21

It was the sound of a crash that caused him to open his eyes again. It sounded like something hard connecting with flesh.

Lana stood in front of him breathing hard. A chair lay on its back on the floor, two legs broken off. The killer lay on the floor, face down. His arms splayed above his head.

Max realized his sister must've struck the man with the chair, knocking him out. The gun lay on the floor like a discarded toy.

He could've kissed his sister right then.

Max grabbed the gun from the floor and held it at his side. Holding both the gun and knife, he finally had an advantage over the much larger man. The killer didn't move. Didn't breath.

Lana and his mother stood holding each other affectionately. Max approached them and wrapped his arms around both of them. It was a brief embrace. Nevertheless, it had been years since he had felt so close to his family.

Max turned back towards the unmoving body on the floor, gun in hand.

The only problem was, the body was gone.

Nothing but a small smear of blood remained on the floor.

Max could feel goosebumps break out on his arms. An involuntary shudder wormed its way down his spine.

The man couldn't have gotten far. He was wounded and bleeding. He had to be somewhere along the periphery of the room.

Max backed up several steps, gun still outstretched, until he felt himself collide with his sister. He heard her take in a sharp breath as if to protest, but then she seemed to think better of it, and never said a word. Max jumped as he felt his mother take his arm. He scanned the room in front of him. His eyes worked methodically from side to side, top to bottom. The air was thick with fear. Every shadowy corner of the room appeared poised and ready to attack.

Max wondered why he hadn't just pumped the man full of lead when he picked up the gun. He knew why. As he lay unconscious on the floor, he was no longer a threat. Max knew that he would have to pay for that mistake.

Several seconds passed by.

Max began to entertain the idea that maybe the killer had taken off. He was outnumbered and injured. Maybe he had decided it wasn't worth it.

The thick silence was cut by the sound of a siren in the distance. Its mournful wail rose and fell on the cold night air. Several more seconds passed before Max realized it was coming closer. Soon he could see red and blue lights washing through the windows. 

Max's heart leapt with excitement. The police had arrived. Unfortunately, they would be going into his mother's house. The last address the slain officer had been assigned to.

Perhaps it was the arrival of law enforcement that set into motion what happened next.

The killer suddenly appeared from the shadows. Before Max could raise his arm and train the gun on him, he had ahold of his mother by the back of her shirt. Mrs. Landon let out a pathetic squeal as she was yanked back. Clutched in his right hand was the letter opener that had previously been buried in his shoulder.

Max struggled to get a good sight line on the man. His struggling mother provided an effective shield.

"Let her go!" He screamed.

With a shriek, Lana dove forward and grabbed her mother's hand. She pulled feebly with little success.

The man stared silently behind the leering grin of the blank mask.

His arm seemed to rise in slow motion, but in one quick movement he plunged the letter opener into their mother's chest.