Page 58 of Chalk Outline

Winona Bishop

Hurricane — Tommee Profitt, Fleurie

I clip a climbing carabiner onto the grab handle on the left side of the tower’s outer wall, and the rope tied to it drops to the ground. I glance at Jason one last time and slide down smoothly from the balcony.

“Bitch, I’m starting to get impatient. This is not a good sign for you. I like cutting pretty things.”

The psycho is still yelling in the back, kicking the door nonstop as my boots land on the ground. I know Jason doesn’t have a clear shot from his balcony, but only if this guy steps into the garden.

“You have nowhere to go but to open the door, and I won’t hurt you in return. Pinky promise.”

The sound of harsh waves in the distance blends with the rolling thunder, crash after crash.

The fresh smell of earth and salt engulfs me.

The wind whistles ominously between the shades of trees. A wicked prickle scurries up my arms. I press my back against the tower wall as I slowly walk toward the edge, trying to catch a glimpse of him as I peek around the corner.

A hand grips my throat so tightly I almost choke. I reach for the gun in my holster, but it’s not there.

I swear I put it there.

I thrash against him as his fist collides with my face. He wears a dark robe that completely covers him. I have no idea who he is. He looks like he just stepped out of my nightmares.

The key necklace around my neck dangles as he drags me toward the entrance.

He wants to take me inside, and the glass is bulletproof. Even if Jason shoots, nothing will happen.

I slam the emergency light button on the outer wall next to the door. The emergency light casts a muted, cold glow. It’s not much, but it’ll do.

“I want to play with you, Winnie,” he says in a creepy baby voice and laughs manically as he raises his other hand, showing me a kitchen knife.

My stomach drops.

He is definitely on something.

I stomp my thick heel onto his foot and scratch the hand around my neck with my fingernails until I draw blood. He curses and laughs like a maniac. My eyes stay fixed on the knife in his hand as I yank the stun gun from my thigh bag and tase him.

Sucking in the air greedily, I twist his wrist and throw the knife out of his grasp. He tugs on my ankle, pulling me to the ground with him. I crawl on my hands and knees to escape, kicking my feet to push away the hand gripping me, but he tugs on my foot again, forcing me down.

“Fucking bitch!” His shaking, rage-filled voice lands on top of me, so I lift my hand right between his legs and tase his nuts. A guttural scream follows, piercing my eardrums.

Who’s the bitch now?

Lightning flashes, revealing the spider web tattoo on the side of his face.

That’s…

He pries the stun gun from my hand, forcing it to drop to the forest floor.

“You’re way prettier up close. I was looking atyouat the party,“ he whispers in a ghoulish tone.

His silhouette shifts from side to side, and the bulge tenting his pants grows in size. I squirm at the sensation of his slippery fingers brushing against my jaw.

“Shame. Those lips would look good around my cock. But I don’t want your tainted parts. She promised my dad I would own you when we’re old enough, but the cunt failed to deliver.”

“So what? You followed me here?” My eyes only capture the darkness cloaking him. “What do you want?”

“You thought you could escape me, but I proved you wrong. Your grandma isn’t here to rescue you.”