Penny Takes the Stage

Chapter 27: The Cavalry

Penny didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to scoop Cameron up in her arms and hold him; she felt like this was the only way to keep him safe, to keep anything from happening to him. On the other hand, she was afraid, terrified, really, of touching him, of doing anything to him at all.

She held her breath and put a hand gently on his back, relieved to feel the warmth that emanated from it, relieved to feel the soft up and down motion that indicated he breathed still. Then she agonized over leaving him to go search for her phone, because she felt like her hand on his back was the only thing that was keeping him breathing.

Part of her knew that she was in shock, and that she wasn't thinking rationally, but that didn't change how she felt. She was afraid to move, she was afraid to stay still; she was afraid Cam would die, she was afraid he would bleed to death; she was afraid Frederick would come out of the bathroom to kill them both, she was afraid of everything.

She didn't know how long she sat there with her hand on Cameron's back, but finally something brushed along her leg, and she jumped, letting out a little scream, which in turn caused Cam to twitch under her hand, like a mini convulsion.

It was Carol Channing, who looked unnerved and skittish, who had left tiny, bloody cat footprints all over the living room on her way to her.

This got Penny moving, and she rose, going to the dish by the front door where she usually deposited her keys. She was relieved to find her phone next to her keys. She tried the door, and found that the knob wouldn't turn, and the keyhole had something viscous poured all over it. There was a nearly empty tube of super glue on the table next to the dish. She quickly punched in 911 on her phone.

She quickly gave the operator her address, and told her, "My ex-boyfriend broke into our apartment and cut up my boyfriend's face with a knife. He had a gun. Please come, there's blood everywhere and my boyfriend Cam is unconscious on the floor." She tried to concentrate on keeping her voice calm and even, knowing that she was already very loud.

"Miss, is your ex still on the premises?"

"Yes, he's on the bathroom floor, he tripped over the cat and fell."

"Listen carefully, you need to get your boyfriend and get somewhere safe. I'm sending help now, but you need to get out of there immediately, do you understand?"

"No, you don't understand, my ex fell and hit his head really hard, I think he's dead, so please just come!" Now Penny knew she was shouting but she couldn't help it. Her hand was also cramping from how hard she was holding the phone. She hobbled back to where Cam was lying on the floor and she knelt again next to him, putting her hand on his back, which was still warm.

Thank god. Thank god.

"And Frederick fucked up the door so it won't open," she told the operator. "I can't open it, it has glue all over it."

"I'm sending the fire department, don't worry, miss. You should be able to hear the sirens already, can you hear them? Just stay calm, can you do that?"

"I'm trying, I'm trying," Penny answered, beginning to cry, which at least kept her from screaming. And she could indeed hear sirens in the distance.

Thank god.

Next to her, Cam was making strange whooshing noises, scary wet noises.

"I have to go, Cam's trying to say something," Penny said into the phone.

"No, miss, stay on the line with me until the paramedics or the fire department arrives, okay?"

"I can't! Cam needs to tell me something, don't you understand?" Penny was shouting again. "I have to go! I have to go!"