ONE

The red flashing lights illuminated the alert faces. Every curious set of eyes was focused on me. I could understand why:

I was the cause of the excitement.

Behind the bulletproof glass, the woman turned the microphone on. “This is a lockdown; standard procedure. Relax. Stay away from the doors and windows. The police will be here soon."

I banged on the glass. “Let me out, now!”

She turned the microphone off. “It's not safe.”

“My friend is dead if I don't get to her now!”

“You can't leave.”

I looked over at the locked doors - inch thick glass bordered by a solid aluminum frame. I needed to get them open!

“Get away from the door!” She said into the microphone, watching me walk away.

I tried to wedge them open, but they wouldn't move.

“Please, sit back down.”

I kicked the glass.

Again, and again.

Cracks rippled through the pane. I kicked again, and glass shattered all over the ground.

TWO

The engine ignited, and I drove faster than ever before. My bleeding hands steadied the wheel as I tore down the freeway.

I locked up the brakes in front of Elise's house, and skidded up onto her lawn.

With the pain surging through my bleeding leg, I limped up to her front door, screaming her name.

On a wave of fear I blew through her house, and found her in the kitchen.

She was on her back, atop the dining table. Cross-eyed, she struggled to breathe. The handle of a kitchen knife protruded from her neck.

She noticed me. Blubbering, she tried to correct her vision without success. She tried to speak, and squealed in pain. She raised her arm as high as she could and threw it at me.

I dragged her out to my car by the stomach, speaking into her ear. "You're going to be alright."

THREE

I woke up, on my back, to the horror.

My shoulder-blades and thighs chattered against the tiled floor as I tried to break free.

Bound to the ground, out by my side, my arms weren't going anywhere. It didn't matter how hard I attempted; there was no escape.

The devil pounded on my chest with his hoofed fists. With each collision, blood splattered out of me. It coated the room.

His rusty steel teeth ground together, and he spat out sparks like a flint.

I woke with a start, suddenly aware that I was deranged and alone. Under the sheets, I writhed in discomfort. My throbbing head felt like it was about to explode.

FOUR

I sat on the hospital bed, with my deep, dry eyes locked open.

I'd woken up in a suite, hidden away in the depths of the hospital. A television sat muted in the far corner, in front of a window with a high-up view.

I listened carefully to the sound of electricity flowing through the walls; through the room, trying to gague what was going on around me.

The knock at my door startled me.

"Come in."

A police officer entered my room, frowning at me with pity. He took off his hat. "Hello, Ryan. I'm Officer Unley"

"Is she alive?"

He shrugged at me. "I don't know about her. In fact, I'm completely in the dark. I need you to come down to the station and answer some questions."

"I can't leave. Not until Elise is safe."

A nurse appeared in the doorway.

The officer said: "I'm sorry. You have to come with me. There's no other option."

"What's going on?" The nurse asked.

"We need to take Ryan down to the station."

"I'm afraid not," she said. "He can't leave. He's in shock. He needs proper medical treatment for the next day or so."

The officer grunted. "When should I come back?"

"Is he under arrest?"

"Well, no."

"Leave your number downstairs. We'll pass it on to Ryan when he checks out."

Frustrated, the officer left without saying another word.

The nurse came up to my bedside. She was wearing a white dress on her thin frame. She had a long, worn face with a bright smile. "Get some more sleep. Tomorrow, we'll be able to take you to Elise.”

“Elise is alive? She's going to make it?”

The nurse nodded, and her smile faded. “But-”

“But what?”

“She's in bad shape. She's not going to be back to normal for a while.”

“But she's going to live?”

The nurse nodded.

FIVE

My phone vibrated on the counter, beside me. Reluctantly, I picked it up.

The caller ID said: 'ELISE MOBILE'

Jimmy!

I sat up in bed, and put it to my ear.

“Where are ya?” He asked, casually.

“The hospital. And you?”

“Never you mind.”

"Are you going to turn yourself in?"

"I'm not calling to talk about me."

"What, then?"

"I just wanted to say goodbye. I'm done with you - now that I've taken your wife, your son, and your best friend. It took me a while, but I've finished with you."

"You're going to jail. The police will search every sewer, and garbage bin. They'll look under every rock. They won't stop until they find you. You're a mass murderer."

"Yes. I'm a legend. And what are you? A broken old man."

"No."

“Look at what I've done. Look at the power I've got in my two hands. This is over, Ryan. You're an ant. I squashed your family. I sent you flying across my yard with a breath.”

“You're insane.”

"You were the greatest man I knew, Ryan. I mean that. But now I know I'm better. I mean, three people; three strikes. You couldn't even save your friend."

I felt the rage flush through me, and I let it slip: "You know what, Jimmy: You fucked up. She's still alive. I got to her in time. I got her here, and the doctors saved her."

"What!? No!"

"You know, I wasn't ready the first time. How could I predict that you'd kidnap my family? But this time, I was there to save Elise. And I'm still here. You think you're better than me, motherfucker? You think you have more power? Come and fucking get me. We'll see who has the power."

Jimmy was civil, once more. "I'm a little groggy, Ryan. Have been since I woke up. I'm bound to make a mistake, in this state. It's not the end of the world for me. Tell Elise I'll be seeing her real soon.”

When I heard the line disconnect, I threw the phone against the wall in a rage. It shattered to pieces.

CONTINUE