Escape to Savannah

Prologue

I couldn't stop the shivering. I had done it. I have killed someone. I became what I was always running from. A cold blooded killer. I noticed that the skin of my hands feel gooie from all the blood and that there was a metallic scent in the air. There wasn't an ounce of guilt, this is not how I imagined my first kill would be. I always thought it will be messy and disgusting. I don't know whether it's the adrenaline or the proud feeling that after all this time, I can finally protect me and my daughter. I quickly wiped my palms on the man's shirt and started looking for Savannah. I rushed into my living room, leaving the dead body behind in the backyard. Hurrying towards my daughter's room, I found her unceremoniously lying on her bed. Before the dark thought could enter my mind, I gently shook her. The relief when she opened her sea blue eyes was so great. I grabbed her and placed her on my lap. Crushing her to my chest, a sob broke out from me.

"Mom?" She questioned in a tiny voice, confused as her crying mother woke her up in the middle of the night.

"I'm sorry baby. Go back to sleep." Kissing her forehead, I assisted her to go lie down but she got out my grasp and turned on the night lamp placed on her side table. With a determined expression she asked me what happened. Not surprised that my six year child has noticed my worry after what we both went through. I wish I could get rid of whatever she remembered from before.

"Nothing happened baby. I just had a nightmare. You know how I have lot of bad dreams, right?" I hope I sounded as jovial on the outside as terrified I felt on the inside. She was about to say something but a distant sound outside our house silenced us both. Petrified, I rushed in the living room and peeked from the glass window. A man similar to the one I killed, a made man, had gotten out of his black SUV parked in front of our lawn and was heading towards the front door. I could see his hand was holding a revolver. Petrified, I again rushed towards Savannah. As fast as I could, I picked her up and took her to the kitchen which was across the living room. Her legs immediately tightened around my hips like she had done in the past so many times that just thinking about all those times brought tears to my eyes. I lowered her to the floor and assisted her into getting the cupboard. She started crying and clutched my hands as I was about to shut her inside. "Mommy.. Please don't leave" she started crying which broke my heart. "Ahh.. Baby.. Just for few minutes. Do not make any noise, okay. There is a bad man who wants to hurt us. But I will sort it out. Promise me, you will be brave." I looked above the kitchen counter as I heard the hustling and saw him trying to open the window. I asked her again "promise me, Savannah" Sobbing she nodded and whispered "love you mamma". Kissing the wet cheek of my daughter, I replied her, hopefully not for the last time. "Love you too,sweetheart. Always remember that." I finally shut the cupboard door and after taking out a knife from the culnury stand, I from quickly hid behind the wall that divided my kitchen and living room. Holding my breath, I waited for the man to enter our house. I hated that I forgot my phone in my room and couldn't call cops or anyone. Honestly I didn't had much hope that cops would be of any help when I knew who is involved. They didn't in the past, I have a scar to prove it. Moreover, all the lies that I have piled up in order it hide my real identity, wouldn't help me either. But I could take it all on me when Savannah is involved. The sound of footsteps were now moving towards living room. Like I had assumed, the first man must have picked the lock. Thank god, I didn't take chance on retriving my cell phone, otherwise I would've been dead. Lowering myself on my knees, I tried to peek to know the staus of the man. He was heading towards the backyard, maybe he finally saw the body of his friend. Crawling on all fours, I quietly followed him, praying that I could finish him without any fight like his partner. He was leaning over deadbody of his friend, checking his pulse with his finger on his neck. This was my chance to end him as well. Immediately standing up, I leaped at him with the knife clutched in my hand but unfortunately my prayers went unheard. He had predicted my attack and quickly side stepped. Before I could compose myself, he grabbed my wrist hard that I screamed in pain and dropped my knife. He then kicked my legs, so I fell down and started kicking my ribs, stomach, waist.. Basically whatever he could. His beating and the pain that followed it served as a bitter reminder of my past. One that I deeply wanted to forget but also the one that motivated me to fight him. When he tried to kick me again, I caught his foot with both my hands and pulled. He lost his balance and I took the chance of hitting him on groin. He let out a cry as expected and fell to his knees, cupping his balls. I stood up as fast as I could without maoning and grabbed the knife. I was about to stab him in the shoulder when he caught hold of my wrist with one hand and pulled at my shoulder with another. I fell face down in the grasp. He took hold of the knife and placed it on my throat to stop my struggles. He turned me over and sat on my waist with both legs on either side of my body. I could finally see his face clearly. I didn't recognize him which meant that either he was a new made man or a hired contract killer.