The Obsession

Chapter 3

                                                              CHAPTER THREE

         Madison watched Joe spin out of the drive. What had he done? Where was he going? A cold, unsettling chill ran through her body making her even more apprehensive. It might be better that she didn't know. It worried her because it was evident that Joe was in unspeakable trouble. There was no denying that even without an explanation.

         She stood alone in the middle of the living room unsure of what to do next. This had definitely been a eventful day and her mind felt overloaded with questions. This was strange, unanticipated, and unforeseen. Joe was gone in an instant. Isn't that what she had wanted? What she had been praying for? Then why did she have this grave knot in the pit of her stomach? Why was she so scared? In a matter of seconds her entire life was changed.

         She had lost the man she had fallen in love with long ago, so why did it hurt so much to watch him walk away? She should be happy. Relieved. But she wasn't. She felt awful that she could not save him. Deep down she knew that no one could have saved him. He had gone down this road all on his own. Changing drastically from the charming, handsome football player she had meet in school to a violent drug addict and a drunk.

         Now he was in serious trouble and she could not help him. He had brought this all on himself. Getting involved with drug dealers and thieves had led to this devastating moment in his life. It was heartbreaking. But he had already broken her heart long ago. Now it felt as if he was doing it all over again. For a brief second she thought she had seen the old Joe. The moment his warm hand had brushed her cheek. She knew deep down that she was just fooling herself. He was in trouble and didn't want her calling the cops. Just like the last five years. She was a fool.

         In a way she had been given what she had asked for. A chance for happiness. A chance to give Kate and Tyler the life they deserve. Sue had given her enough money to start a new life. What would Sue think now? Would Joe be coming back?

         Madison knew she couldn't leave now. If Joe was in trouble then she would look like she was as guilty as he was. That is something she did not want. She shouldn't think of this as a loss but as a beginning. The beginning she used to dream about. Now she just had to make it happen.

         Bright white lights flashed off in the darkness. She went to the kitchen window to check if it is lightening outside. The weather appeared to be calm. There was no sign of a storm brewing. The darkness illuminated once more. This time she noticed it was not from the sky. It was from the woods. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be the perhaps a hunter in search of his prey? Madison could not help but be reminded of the note she had been left earlier that day. She sleepily rubbed her eyes dismissing the thought from her mind.

         So much had taken place in the last hour. Madison was overwhelmed with emotion. There was so much she needed to think about. A lot of difficult decisions to make. It had been a strange and mind boggling day. She laid down on the couch, her head pounding. She just needed to rest for a minute. Just one minute...

        Madison found herself alone in the darkness. It was a moonless night making it very difficult to see. The wind was blowing and flashes of lightening lit up the dark sky as if a storm was moving in. Madison searched the darkness anxiously trying to figure out where she was and why she was there. She was becoming increasingly alarmed as she could sense a forbidding presence nearby. Her heart began pounding, her breath quickening, and her palms sweating. She could feel the will of this beast was strong and its desire was powerful. She could feel it's eyes watching her every move. She felt as like it was hunting and she was its prey. Madison not knowing what else to do began running. Running as fast as she could. All she knew was that she needed to put distance between herself and whatever this was that stalked her.