As the colors in the sky deepened and the day gave way to twilight, I opened my eyes, taking in the last rays of sunlight. I smiled, grateful for this peaceful interlude, a moment of pure connection with the world around me instead of the fucked-up situation I am currently in.
As the stars start to shine brightly above me, I glance up. Admiring the beauty in this moment. Growing up in a big city, the stars were something I never got to look at. Always blocked out by the bright lights that never seemed to diminish. The hustle and bustle of city life is such a distant memory to the small town living I experience now.
I tuck my feet under me and rise, ready to drive back home. I wrap my leather jacket tighter around me now that the air has grown colder, thankful I was wearing it. When I left for school this morning, I almost didn’t grab it, not expecting to come out here. But after the day I had, I knew I needed the serenity of this place.
Nothing happened today, but it didn’t matter where I was or what I was doing, I had the feeling of being watched constantly. I couldn’t even count the number of times I looked over my shoulder or scanned the entire room I was in, just hoping to find the source of discomfort I felt, but nothing ever seemed out of place. No one was directly looking at me. Nothing out of place in any of my classes. The only time I caught someone blatantly staring at me was during lunch. Valerie gave me a death glare from across the room with her little cronies until Midas caught her, and that immediately made her stop.
The one time that feeling was the strongest was while in math class at the end of the day. I couldn’t explain it, but there was something about it that made my skin crawl and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Once again, though, nothing seemed out of place, but that unease never left.
The Kings wanted to follow me, saying that I shouldn’t be alone, but that is exactly what I needed. Some space. Not from them, but from everything else. Before they could protest more, I hopped in my car and left the parking lot. I know they followed me through town, I could see their bikes behind me the whole time. Everywhere I stopped, they did too.
They followed me until I hit Richmond, then they suddenly turned around and left. I don’t know why they didn’t follow or even why I went there. I originally thought about going to see Dante, but I didn’t know where he would be or what he was doing, and the feeling of intruding hit me hard.
Eventually, I turned around and drove. Not knowing where I was going until I parked my car next to the lake. It suddenly hit me then that this is what I needed.
The walk to my car wasn’t nearly long enough, and the thought of going home wasn’t something I wanted, but I knew soon enough, Mom would get anxious and want me home. She has become even worse than the Kings with worrying about me. I get it. I was shot and spent the night in the hospital. That would be worrisome to any parent, which is why I can’t tell her the rest. Knowing my mom, she would blame herself and then pack all our things and leave town.
I hit the unlock button on my keys, and all the lights suddenly brightened. Something doesn’t look right. I walk up next to my car and notice that one of my tires is slashed and on the rim. Not just one, but all of them.Fuck.
I pull my phone out and call the one person I know who would help no matter what and is good with cars.
The phone rings only once before his deep voice answers.
“Zeus, I need some help.”
“Serena, what’s going on?”
“Someone slashed my tires.”
“I’m coming to get you. Where are you?”
“At the lake.”
“Ok. Stay on the line with me. We will be there as soon as we can. Get in your car and lock the doors. Don’t open them for anyone but us.”
Before I can respond, bright lights shine from a car I didn’t notice before. A man in all black and a ski mask jumps out of the car and starts running towards me. I let out a scream of fright before dropping my phone and running as fast as I could into the surrounding forest.
I can hear his footsteps getting closer to me. My breath is the only thing I can hear past the ring of fear in my ears. I take random turns, hoping to lose him in the density of this forest. But no matter where I turn, he seems to be right on my heels.
This is probably the only time in my life I wished I had a gun, or a knife, or literally anything else on me that could save me in this moment. I have never been one for violence like that, but I think this justifies it. Who knows what this guy is going to do to me once he gets his hands on me. He tried to kill me the last time, and who’s to say that he won’t succeed this time?
The roar of engines sounds off in the distance, and as soon as they stop, my name is called loudly and repeatedly. I know those voices, and I have never been happier that they are here. I open my mouth to yell out to them, wanting to let them know I am here, but a hand wraps around my mouth, silencing me.
I trash in his arms, the memories of Halloween haunting me.This can’t be happening again.I kick, claw, and scream behind his hand, praying that the guys can hear me and will find me.
I hear a thud to my right and Zeus cursing. Midas and Odin sound like they are fighting with others. Their curses and grunts flow on the wind towards me. Stalker starts to look around as he drags me further into the woods. My feet dragging through the mud, hoping it will slow him down enough that they can find me.
I bite his hand as hard as I can, and he yells out and releases my mouth. I scream out for help. I can hear them calling back out to me, telling me they are coming for me, but they are still busy fighting with whoever else is helping my stalker.
With a whoosh, someone tackles the two of us from the side, throwing us both to the ground. I manage to roll out of my stalker's arms and get to my feet, wanting to see who tackled him. I watch as Michael and the stalker start fighting. Punches are thrown between the two, both landing some solid hits.
Finally, Michael throws a punch into the stalker's gut that causes him to take a few steps back, but before Michael can move towards him again, the stalker pulls out a gun and points it at Michael.
The thoughts start swirling in my head again. That night, coming back in flashes that I try to push out of my head. He came here to kill me again. He came here with a gun, ready to kill me or hurt me.
The Kings come bursting through the trees, rushing towards me until the stalker turns the gun towards me. Everyone stops moving, and I practically stop breathing as I stare down the barrel of a gun. Again. I want to look back at the guys, to see their faces one last time before I am killed, but the bang of a shot being fired makes me close my eyes and wait for the inevitable pain that is to come.
Except it doesn’t this time. Instead, I hear a thud behind me. I don’t care if the gun is still pointed in my direction anymore. I turn and rush towards Midas as he lies on the ground, blood pooling from his arm. The same place that I was shot not that long ago.
