Count Down

Prologue

       Her breath came out in quick bursts, seeming like she couldn't get enough air in her lungs. Her once perfectly smooth, blonde hair is now matted and bloody. Tears and sweat continue to pool down her face as she tries her best to stay silent, covering her mouth as she hears his feet stomp closer towards her hiding spot.

"Caroline, why did you have to run?" His disembodied voice calls out. She cringes as he calls her a name that isn't hers. How has he not grasped that that isn't her name yet? She's only told him nine or more times! "We were so happy! Now you had to go and ruin it. But you still have a chance to save it, if you just come to me."

She tried creeping down the alley, scraping her back against the rough brick that wreaked of something she couldn't bring herself to name. It's almost pitch black, thanks to the burnt-out street lamps, leaving just one at the end of the alley flickering.

"You have until I count down to one, and then there is no turning back." His raucous voice sounds much closer than before, even though she was listening for his nearing footsteps. "3..."

She makes it to the end of the alley, her back feeling raw and numb after being scraped by the brick the whole way, and takes a big sigh of relief. He wouldn't be able to know that she snuck around to the next street, how would he? She could barely see herself.

"2..."

Her heart begins to race again as she hears how close he is. How? How did he know she snuck this far away? She knew she was doomed at this point, but it wasn't her nature to give up even if the odds were against her. She was going to make a run for it, she could probably get some distance between them before he caught up to her. She looks around to see which way to go but decides it doesn't matter which way she ends up, as long as she gets away from the madman.

As she takes her first step in her last attempt to save herself, she feels an arm wrap around her waist, pulling her back into a built chest. As she shrieks, the other hand clamps hard over her mouth and his gruff voice growls into her ear. "...1."