Chasing a Broken Butterfly

Chapter 29:

I step out onto the unfamiliar territory I once called home. My right hand is clasped around the sharp end of the scissors. My heart is beating so loud that I'm afraid I'll be heard and caught. I don't hear anything. No sign of Nathan struggling or talking downstairs. I'm used to silence, because I was born into a world of silence, but not like this. I feel my pupils widen in attempt to let in as much light as possible. My hands are becoming damp with moisture and I feel the scissors sliding around in my closed palm. My whole body is heated with nervous anticipation of what's to come.

I look to my left and see a darker area that can only be the entrance to my mom's room. To my right is the entry to the study room where the camera is set up. I'm not sure where to go, but I need to act quick. I can't see anything and God knows I can't hear anything. All I know is that I need to get to Nathan. Not just because I can't let him get hurt in a situation that was only mine to solve, but because he's my ears and my only way to survive.

I let out a shaky breath and slowly feel my way to the stairs. I find the railing and feel my way down the stairs one foot at at a time. I already know what areas of the stairway creak, so I make sure to step around them. Any noise will give me away. With every step I take I listen for any possible noise. There's nothing. Or at least, I think there's nothing.

One more step down and I finally make it to the bottom. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I realize that I'm hearing a faint scraping sound. I don't know how long it took for my brain to register that sound, but instinct tells me that it's from the kitchen, so I run across to the living room as lightly as I can. I bump my right foot into the leg of the love seat and bite my hand to keep from gasping. I hobble over to the far corner of the living room and crouch behind the love seat.

Within minutes I see a darker silhouette appear from the entryway. Although it's dark, I can tell by the way their outline curves in at the waist just so, that it's a girl. The sweatpants and hoodie seem like a last minute attempt to cover up. With just enough of the moonlight from outside seeping through under the curtains, I can see a chef knife glinting in her clutched hand. I see her face my direction for a moment before turning to face the stairs. She slowly drags the knife along the railing as she makes her way towards my room. If it really is a girl who is after me, who is she? My mind is boggling with never ending ideas of who it may be. I need to get out of here. Where the hell is Nathan?

The kitchen!

I take one more look at the figure at the top of the stairs and see that they're stepping inside my room.

'Now!' I tell myself.

It takes every ounce of courage and determination in me to bounce back up and make a run towards the kitchen as quickly and quietly as possible. Once in the kitchen my eyes search frantically for Nathan. Because it's dark, I can only see so much, but I can already tell that he isn't here. I start pulling my hair frantically and try to take deep breaths. I only have so much time before whoever is up there realizes that I'm downstairs. Damn it, where the hell is he?

'The tool shed...' I gasp. I cover my mouth immediately. I pray that I wasn't heard. I peek around the corner of the kitchen entryway towards the stairs. I cock my head to try again to hear any footsteps from above. I hear some creaking, but I can't tell if it's coming from my room or the other rooms. I look at the sliding door. Nathan might be out there. Do I risk it and make a dash for him? She'll hear me and surely run after me. I look behind me at the front entrance. Or do I try to find help and hope that Nathan is okay?

The police are outside... I remember their deal that they would stay one more night. Tonight. But what if they left early? I should check through the kitchen window. Then I hear a crash. And yelling. The words are not discernible to my ears, but I can tell they're angry words. I feel my heart drop as I hear stomping on the stairs. On impulse, I grab the first knife I can find in the utensil drawer and drop the scissors I was holding. I eye the coat closet that's right across from me. I can hide in there.

No, you'll be trapped if your found.

I press myself against the wall next to the kitchen entryway. If she comes, I'll just defend myself with the knife and then make a run for the tool shed.

"Elle!" I hear her yell. The voice sounds familiar, but I can't identify who it belongs to. "I fucking told you to back the hell off!" She continues to yell more foul words, but I don't catch them all. I'm too focused on paying attention to where her voice is coming from. I know she's on the bottom floor now because I can feel her steps vibrate and her voice is clearer now.

I hold the knife close to my chest as I try to control my breathing. I don't know how sensitive the average human ear is, but I'm not going to risk breathing normally if it means I'll be heard.

I hear something shatter from the living room. My heart jumps in shock and I feel my body trembling. Was that the sliding glass door? Or maybe it was the purple lamp that sits in the corner of the room.

What does it matter? She's pissed. and for what?

I hear her starting to talk. There's a certain iciness in her voice that makes my skin prickle. I hear her voice getting louder, meaning she's getting closer. My blood is pulsing with anticipation and fear.

God, please let me make it tonight. If not, tell my mother that I love her.
I feel a tear trickle down.

"All you needed to do was stay away from him. Was that so hard?" she spits.

This girl must be insane, I don't hang out with any guys except for Mikey.

And Nathan. My subconscious echoes.

Nathan! It hits me all at once. Kylie's preying eyes on the first day of school, her anger at me at The Diner, and her sudden tolerance to be seen around me because of Nathan. But why? I don't have time to think, I see the shadows of her face appear in the kitchen and my right hand instinctively flies up, knife clasped, and aim for her legs. I miss and feel the knife plunge into the side of her stomach. She keels over and inhales sharply. Stunned by the fact that I just stabbed somebody, my feet stand frozen solid on the ground. When I've finally gathered my senses, she's yanking the knife out, spilling blood everywhere.

Running on pure adrenaline, I race past her and break for the sliding door. I try to slam it open, but it won't budge. Damn it. It's locked. I fumble with the lock before finally getting it. My heart rises with hope as I slide the door open, but it falls just as suddenly when I feel someone yank on my hair and pull me down. I hit the floor and my breath is knocked out of me when I feel a heavy weight being straddled across my hips. I open my eyes and see Kylie sitting on top of me, her eyes filled with pure hatred. In one swift motion, she grabs my wrists and pins them over my head. I catch a glimpse of the bloody knife I used clasped in her right hand and buck my hips to knock her over in order to get away. Her grip on my wrists loosens, so I free my left hand and use it to grasp her neck in a choke-hold fashion. I push her head down to the floor. I tumble over and gain control by sitting on top of her, my hand still clawing into her neck to restrict her airway.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I yell at her before I tangle my fingers in her hair and slam her head down on the wooden floor as hard as I can. i swipe the knife laying beside her and run outside towards the tool shed.

"Nathan!" I scream at the top of my lungs. I want to get Nathan and then run to the front of the house towards the cop car for safety.

If they're still there...

"Nathan!" I try again. My feet are getting soaked from the dewy grass. I make it to the tool shed, the door is wide open. I run inside and see Nathan laying down in the far corner of the shed unconscious. No sooner than I see that, I feel strong hands pin my arms to my side and knock my head against the table. A surge of pain forms behind my eyes and I lose my vision momentarily. The dark wall covered in tools slowly comes back to view as I collapse onto the floor. My head is throbbing too much and I feel like I can't move. I notice Nathan's boots and peer up at him.

Wake up, Nathan. Please, wake up.

I look up and see a shadow in the shape of a man move in front of me. He lifts his arm up and I see a wooden plank in his hand. I see the plank coming at me fast and then nothing. Completely consumed by darkness, I slowly feel myself drift into unconsciousness.