Continuous Panic

My heart is racing as I’m running for my life. I feel the sweat trickling down my back as I make my way up the stairs. I quickly run into my bedroom, and lock the door behind me. I make my way over to the closet, but trip on the rug, landing hard on the floor. I look up in terror and realize that I’m not alone. As I sit up slowly, a rope wraps around my neck. I realize that this may be my last chance to find that book. I struggle to break free of the rope, but to no avail, I cannot fight my attacker. Darkness washes over me as I realize this is the last time I will see the sunlight shining through my window.

I don’t understand why this is happening to me. I can’t remember where I put it. Think. Think hard to retrace my steps, put together the sequence of events that brought me to this very moment. Where did I put that little black book? I hear shuffling around my room; drawers opening and shutting, clothing and shoe boxes thrown from the closet, pushing and moving things under my bed.

My attacker picks me up and carries me down the stairs. My body sways back and forth.

No, no, no, no! I can’t let this happen. I need to get free. I grabbed the banister at the bottom of the stairs as he takes the last step on the stairs. I slide through his arms, and kick him hard in the back of his head. “What the?” he exclaimed as I kick him again in the middle of his back.

He falls forward and hits his head against the wall. I land on my side on the stairs, sharp pain cripples my side. The wind knocks out of me for a second. Slowly I move my foot to touch his body, and he’s not moving. Straining to stand up, I see blood pouring out his head. I’m safe…for now.

I crawl back up the stairs taking deep breaths. The pain is unbearable. This day just keeps getting better. I have no idea who that guy is and what he wants. Ever since I got into the accident, I can’t remember much. Everything is fuzzy, fragments of my life come to me leaving me with more questions than answers. I drag myself to my office. Closing the door, I lean on it realizing this is the first moment that I’ve had to myself. Tears are streaming down my face. I have no idea where the book is. Looking around my office, I take in my surroundings. This was my safe haven, my life, my home. It doesn’t feel like it anymore.

Wiping away the tears, I pull myself together. Deep breaths. In and out. Getting up, I make my way over to my desk. I look at my desk calendar, and realize I have a few hours to find my book.

I start searching through my desk drawers, peeling through files, and cases. Nothing. Ugh.

I opened my planner and see the last appointment planned was with my agent, Richard.

Immediately, I opened my laptop, and sent him an email asking if he could meet me. Thankfully, he emails me back that he can. Meet me in 15 minutes at the Café Nola.

I close my laptop, with my eyes on the door. I need to leave, but his body is laying there. I have no idea if he’s dead or alive. I move as fast as I can to the door, and struggle to hear any movement. It’s dead silent; I crack open the door peeking down the hall to the stairs. Nothing.

I make my way over to the stairs, and his body is still there. I tip toe down the stairs, closer to his body. As I get closer to him, I can’t see that he’s moving. Good sign. I jump over his body, grab my keys, and dash out of the house. I don’t bother to look back out of fear. Opening the car door, I peel out of the driveway heading to the café. Who is he? Why does he look familiar? Why was he in my house? Too many unanswered questions. I desperately need answers, and I’m hoping Richard can provide them.

As I pull into the café parking lot, I see that Richard is seated on a bench by the window. He waves to me, and I motion him to get into the car. “Richard!! I was attacked at home! Some guy tried to kidnap me, but I fought him off.” I exclaimed. Richard got in, and I started driving. Richard said, “What? Oh my goodness, are you okay? Where is he? We need to call the police!” I said to him, “I’m okay, just a little shook up and hurt my side. He’s laying on the floor in my house…Richard, I didn’t call the police. I need to know why he was after me. I don’t understand what’s going on. I need to know what’s so important about that book.”

Richard paused for a moment. He looks out the window, and takes a deep breath. He says nothing for what feels eternity. Looking over at me he says, “That little black book holds has some important information. We need to find it before anyone else does. Do you know where it can be?” “I really have no clue. My memory is shot, and I really don’t know.”

I drive back to the house as Richard calls the police. As soon as we arrive to my house, two police cars park in front as well. The officers walk over to us and said, “Hello, are you Richard?”

Richard responds to him. He fills them in on the details of what happened in my house.

Looking at the lawn, I start to zone out. I clearly remember driving my car on the highway, and hitting the brakes. The car won’t stop. The brakes aren’t working!! I pull on the emergency brake, and I’m still going!! Please stop, stop now!! I’m panicking now, I’m driving too fast now. I close my eyes and brace myself for the impact. Everything is fuzzy again then darkness.

I’m awakened by bright white lights moving fast. I close my eyes again feeling nauseous. “Sara! Sara? Wake up Sara!” Richard!! I try to say his name, but it comes out as groan. Where am I?

I open my eyes slightly, and Richard is looking at me, holding my hand. “She’s awake!” he says to the doctor. He looks back at me, “Sara, you passed out at your house while we were talking to the cops. Are you ok? You’ve been out cold for 2 hours. You gave us quite the scare!”

Two hours!! How can this be? “Richard…the brakes.” Richard questioned me, “The brakes?” “They weren’t working on the car.” I managed to whisper. “What do you mean?” Richard asked.

“The car accident. Brakes were cut.” Richard looked horrified by this. “Shhh calm down, we will talk about this later. You fainted back at your house. We need to make sure you are okay, and you are well.” I feel myself slipping away again, and go back to sleep. “Sara, Sara?? Doctor!! She’s out again!!”

A few hours later, I wake up in a hospital room. The rays of sunshine were pouring into my blanket. I see the needle in my hand and I try to pull it off. I hate needles. The IV is dripping eerily slow. I have to get out of here. “Sara!” Richard is sitting in a chair in the corner. I didn’t even see him. “Rich…” “Sara, you’re awake! The doctors said that you need to rest,” he said. “Rich I need to go home, I can’t stay here.” Richard said, “The doctors want to keep you overnight, and you can leave in the morning.” “What about the attacker in my house?”

Richard sighed and said, “I hate to tell you this, but he’s dead. He had no identification on him. Why was he after you Sara?” “I don’t know Rich. The doctor’s right, I need to sleep.” I said.

Richard said, “Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kisses me on the cheek, and leaves the room.

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. I can’t stay here overnight. The last place I remember having my book with me is in the car before the crash. The scene of the accident! I don’t remember the book in my belongings that I gathered at the police station. I need to go back to where I crashed. Richard is gone now, and he can’t babysit me. I grab on to the needle, and rip the IV out of my arm. That hurt as I screamed out in pain. I crawled out of bed, and found my clothes. I throw them on, and prepare to take my leave from the hospital. I peek out of the room on either sides of the door. No one is there. I quickly leave my room and head for the elevator. I hit the down button repeatedly and get on as soon as the door opens.

I crashed my car off of an exit on the highway. I’m halfway there, and I can still make it find the book. The book holds the key and why I was in the accident and attacked at home. I flag down a taxi, “Hi, I need to go to the Hutch near exit 10 please.” He nods and starts to drive. I open my purse and find my phone. It’s 6:30pm. I have a few hours until the sun sets. It will take half an hour to get there. All I need is an hour to find it.

As I look out the window, everything looks as it should. Everyone is getting on with their life with not a care in the world. Driving home from work. Going to meet a loved one or hang out with friends. As he gets closer to the sign, I asked him to slow down. I have him let me out on the side of the highway, he says “Ma’am, do you want me to stay? It will get dark soon.” He’s right. “Yes, if you don’t mind. I lost something here in accident that I need to find.” He says, “Sure, no problem! Take your time, and let me know if you need help!” “Thank you so much!” I tell him as I exited he vehicle.

I walk towards the brush that I crashed into. It was completely flattened out. Glass is scattered all over shines in the sunlight. I walk over to where the passenger seat would have been since that’s where I had the book. I look around, and there’s nothing there. Walking up a bit further into the brush I see something peeking out under some of the debris from the car. I move the part over and find the book!!! I open the book to find all the pages intact, and just a little water damage. I ran back to the taxi, and said, “Thank you so much!! I’m going home!”

Flipping through the pages of the book I see what I couldn’t remember. The bank information for the account with twenty grand that was left to me by my granduncle. I realize that this is what my attacker was after. I can now breathe for the first time, and relax on the way home. The ride home was quicker than I expected.

I opened the door and found Richard standing in front of me with a gun in his hand. I gasped in shock, and realized my relief was short lived. “Rich what are you doing?” “What do you think I’m doing? Something that didn’t work the first time!” Richard said. He aims the gun at me and shoots. Darkness becomes my friend.