by Kelly Oram
He stepped toward me and I jumped back, swatting his hand away. When he realized how serious I was, he assessed the situation. Unfortunately, he decided tackling me was the way to go. He rushed me, but this time I saw it coming and he wasn’t going to get me so easily. It took him four times as long to pin me to the ground with my hands behind my back this time, and once I was finally rendered helpless we were both exhausted.
“You’re getting much better at that,” he said, and he had the nerve to sound amused. If I were facing him, I would have spit in his face.
I already knew it was no use struggling, but that didn’t mean I didn’t. I struggled and struggled and struggled until my body ached. Then I screamed in frustration when I was forced to give up. “I hate you!”
“No, you don’t.”
This set me off again and Seth spoke over my thrashing and cursing. “You know I’m sorry for this, but you are too stubborn for your own good, and you’re not acting rationally right now. Tell me why you think I am going to kill you.”
I answered him by thrashing again so hard that I nearly pulled my arm from its socket. Part of me wanted to rip it from my shoulder just so that Seth would feel bad, but before I could work up the guts to do that, Seth leaned his head down to mine.
“Please calm down,” he begged. I hated that he sounded full of concern. “I can’t handle this game you’re playing. Something is wrong. Something has been wrong all week and you need to tell me what it is. The truth this time, please. I can’t help you unless you trust me.”
“I know it’s you, all right!” I yelled, defeated. “I know you killed those girls! And if you’re going to kill me, then just do it already, because I can’t take this anymore! I hate you! I hate you for making me feel things about you that I shouldn’t!”
“Ellie!” Seth gasped. “What are you talking about? I haven’t killed anyone!”
“Now who’s the liar?”
“I’m not lying! How could you even think that?”
“They found Travis’ car!” I screamed, and then all the fight left me. I couldn’t yell anymore. “That’s what that detective you saw me and Angela talking to was saying. They found Travis’ car and inside there was a knife that had both Travis’ DNA and DNA from two of the Saturday Night girls.”
That’s when the fight left Seth. I felt his body go limp. He stumbled as he climbed off me. When I rolled over onto my back, Seth was sitting there looking ghostly white. I doubt he would have been capable of even standing at the moment if he’d tried.
He looked scared, which made me want to comfort him. I hated him for that. But I also couldn’t help myself. “I didn’t want to believe it, Seth. I’m sorry. I tried not to. But he was so sure.”
“If that’s true, why come to you? Why tell you that? Why not just arrest me?”
“Because he doesn’t have hard proof that you attacked Travis. He needs you to go after another girl. He said I couldn’t break up with you, because you’d figure out we knew. He said I was a good distraction for you and told me to keep you happy.” I couldn’t stop myself from smirking bitterly. “I pretty much failed that assignment big time.”
“Believe me,” Seth said with a harsh laugh. “His plan worked like a charm. You’ve kept me plenty distracted this week. Too distracted.”
Seth rose to his feet and began pacing the room. “I should have figured it out,” he chastised himself. “I saw him with you and didn’t question it. I knew something was wrong with you. I even knew you lied to me on Wednesday, but I was so worried about you that I didn’t put it together. How could I have been so stupid?”
Now he was angry. Angry that he’d been discovered, and angry that he’d let a girl distract him into screwing up his otherwise perfect operation.
Seth lost himself in thought and pulled his knife from his back pocket. My blood turned to ice in my veins as I watched him mindlessly flip it open and closed. As I was contemplating my chances of escape if I bolted for the door right now—which were poor considering he was on his feet now and he’d pounce on me the second I tried to stand—Seth’s eyes suddenly flashed down at me. “This detective,” he said. “He’s with the FBI?”
He seemed almost crazy now. I figured it wasn’t wise to give him any more crap. I shook my head. “Detroit PD.”
“He wanted to use you as bait, and you just went along with it?”
“He didn’t use me. He just said that if you knew I knew your secret, you’d try to kill me. He said not breaking up with you was the only way to keep me safe. He promised he’d keep an eye on me. He said he knew you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I’ll bet he did,” Seth muttered.
I had to look away as I said my next words, because I was ashamed for believing them. “I thought I knew it, too,” I whispered pathetically. “Even if I thought you were killing girls that look just like me, I was sure you would never hurt me. That’s why I went along with it. And that’s why I was so upset Wednesday—because I couldn’t make myself hate you. I couldn’t not like it when you kissed me. You told me you love me and I—I—you’re a serial killer! And stupid me couldn’t help falling for you anyway.”
Seth’s anger vanished. He smiled so lovingly it hurt. “You’re right,” he teased. “That was stupid of you. Not that I don’t appreciate it.”
My jaw dropped. “Is this a joke to you?”
“No!” Seth said, all of his anger returning in an instant. Man, do I have a talent for making him lose his temper or what?
“It’s not a joke. And I can’t believe you’re not taking it more seriously. You’re in danger, Ellie. Real danger. Do you realize that?”
Seth was one hundred percent serious, and his tone was harsher than I’d ever heard it. It was the first time I really truly believed he was going to do it. He was going to kill me. It was only a matter of time now. Well, he’s not getting me without a fight.
“And what about your parents?” he continued to rant. “I can’t believe your parents went along with this. And left you alone on top of that.”
“Are you kidding? My parents don’t know anything about any of this. When Detective Pierce found out we hadn’t told anyone, he made us keep it a secret. He was afraid of tipping you off. He was afraid if my parents canceled their trip you might get spooked and kill me.”
“Wait. He knows you’re home alone this weekend?”
Seth’s eyes narrowed and his whole body went rigid. He grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet. “We’re getting out of here right now,” he said.
It took me a few steps before the realization hit. This was it. “The hell we are!” I said, ripping my hand from his. I was surprised he hadn’t been holding on tighter. I tried to book it up the stairs, but he caught me by the ankle.
“You don’t still believe I want to kill you?” Seth asked incredulously.
I knew it would only be a matter of seconds before he had me pinned again, but I was close enough now that Angela might hear me over the stereo blasting from her room.
“Angela!” I screamed. “Angela! Call Detective Pierce!”
“Ellie, stop! Just wait!”
“Get away from me!” I kicked backward and managed to hit Seth in the face hard enough that he let go. I scrambled up the stairs. If I could just get to my sister’s room, we could lock the door and wait for the cops to show up.
Seth was too fast. He flew at me as we reached the top of the stairs. He had me on the floor again. “Angela!” I screamed.
“Ellie, just listen to me for a second! You can’t call him!” Seth shouted at me. “Don’t you get it? Serial killings are handled by the FBI, not—”
Seth cut off mid-sentence and let out a cry of pain. Then Angela screamed and Seth fell limp on top of me.
“Angela!” I yelled. “Angela, what happened? Are you okay? Angela!”
I pushed Seth’s body off me and found my terrified sister standing over us, holding Seth’s taser. “Are you okay?” she asked, her hands shaking and tears streaming down h
er face.
Seth coughed my name, not quite unconscious, and when he tried to reach his hand toward me, Angela and I both screamed and my frantic sister zapped him again. I had to pry the thing out of her hands before she let go of the trigger. This time Seth was out cold.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to do that to someone more than once,” I breathed as I poked Seth’s unconscious form. It was the only thing I could concentrate on at the moment—my brain’s way of dealing with my fear. I cringed at how bloody his face was. I guess I’d kicked him pretty good.
Angela and I were both so shaken that when the doorbell rang we screamed again before realizing who it would be.
“Detective Pierce!” Angela gasped.
We ran down the stairs and flailed ourselves into the startled policeman’s arms. Yeah, he was a little shocked to find two hysterical teenage girls suddenly clinging to him.
Angela and I both launched into the story at the same time, until Detective Pierce laughed and pulled us off him. “Girls,” he said calmly. “One at a time, please.”
I stepped back, able to calm myself faster than my sister. I let her do the talking, since I doubted she was capable of stopping herself. She seemed to be in shock.
As Angela clung to the detective’s jacket and began to explain that Seth tried to kill me and was now unconscious in the upstairs hallway, Detective Pierce stepped in the house and slowly closed the door behind him, sliding the deadbolt into place. He held a supportive arm around my sister, listening carefully to her story, but he never took his eyes off me—his crazed, hungry eyes.
I realized it just a second too late.
Detective Pierce recognized the moment that understanding hit me. He smiled.
Ugh, Ellie, you stupid, stupid, stupid idiot! Seth was right. I’m too stubborn for my own good. “He was trying to tell me, but I wouldn’t stop to listen.”
“The kid had it figured out, did he?” Detective Pierce laughed. “I knew he was trying. Why do you think I needed you to distract him—ah, ah, Ellie,” he said when my body tensed. “Have a little patience.”
Angela pulled her face out of Detective Pierce’s chest and only had time to ask, “Wha—” before the psycho whirled her around and trapped her tight against his body. I never saw when he grabbed a knife, but he suddenly had it pressed against her throat.
Angela and I both froze.
“E—E—Ellie?”
“Don’t move, Ang,” I warned her. Then I focused my gaze on Detective Pierce. He still hadn’t taken his eyes off me. I’m not even sure he’d blinked. And I thought Seth was creepy.
“Don’t worry, Ellie,” the Detective said, “I’ll give you a sporting chance—looking forward to it, actually. Just not quite yet.”
Detective Pierce finally broke his stare to grin at my sister in a way that would give me nightmares later. I was glad Angela couldn’t see him.
“What about her,” I asked, pushing my hysteria back as best I could. My voice still shook, though. “Will you give her the same sporting chance?”
Detective Pierce gave Angela a calculating look. “I could,” he mused. Then his eyes locked on me again. “But you and I both know it wouldn’t matter. You’re not a fighter,” he whispered into Angela’s ear. “Are you honey?”
Detective Pierce slowly slid the blade of his knife down Angela’s throat catching it on the collar of her shirt. The material dipped low enough to show her cleavage. She gasped and tears started to stream down her cheeks.
I watched, horrified, as Detective Pierce laughed and then licked the tears off her face. “Stop it!” I shrieked, while Angela began to sob.
I couldn’t hold back my own tears any longer, but instead of panic overtaking me, my fear turned to rage. I shifted my weight onto the balls of my feet. I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do, but no way was I going to let that creep hurt my sister.
“Careful, Ellie,” Detective Pierce warned. But the way his voice purred, I think he was hoping I would try it.
“Let her go.”
Detective Pierce let out a harsh laugh.
“You’ll never get through us both,” I said, trying to sound stronger than I felt. “You know I’m not just going to stand here and wait for you to finish with her, and she’s not really the one you want.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Detective Pierce said, though he couldn’t hide his desire. Angela definitely wasn’t who he was after. He wanted me so bad that he could hardly stay focused. “I’d hate for Angela to miss out on any fun. After all, I’m very grateful to your sister. Your stupid, imaginative, ridiculous, silly, brilliant sister.” He kissed the side of her head and sighed. “When you filed that report, you gave me a gift. Two gifts.”
Angela gasped at his words. “It’s my fault,” she sobbed. “All of your victims have had criminal records. That’s how you were finding them. You never would have found Ellie if I hadn’t called the police about Seth.”
“Not in a million years,” Pierce agreed conversationally. “But she’s so deliciously perfect. Seth, too—with his accident, his parents’ deaths, a violent temper, and a personality disorder? I couldn’t have created a better scapegoat if I’d conjured him out of thin air.”
“Ellie,” Angela sobbed. “I’m so sorry!”
“Don’t be sorry,” Detective Pierce told her. “You’ve saved lives. Who knows how many other girls I would have gone after if you didn’t give me such a beautiful way out?”
This didn’t exactly make Angela feel any better. She began to cry so hard that Detective Pierce could hardly hold on to her. I tried to ignore her. I couldn’t afford the distraction. I figured if I could just keep him talking long enough, Seth would wake up and call the police. Or maybe kill the psycho. Either option was fine with me.
“You attacked Travis,” I said, putting the pieces together. “After Seth got in trouble for threatening Travis, you attacked him to make Seth look guilty.”
“How could I resist? With my knife connecting Travis and the Saturday Night murders? Once they find the two of you in the morning, no jury in the world will let Seth walk.”
Detective Pierce was starting to get restless. His knife was falling away from Angela’s neck as he resisted the urge to attack me. I saw an opportunity to distract him. Of course, that meant provoking him into coming after me. I just hoped Angela had good sense enough to run for it as soon as he did.
“You talk a big game for a guy who only goes after starving runaways and crack addicts.”
The danger I’d seen flash so often in Seth’s eyes was now overpowering Pierce’s stare. My defiance was exciting him. “True,” he said. “Which is why this is going to be very, very interesting.”
I looked into his wild eyes. His pupils were dilated so large that all I could see was black. My heart raced. There was so much adrenaline coursing my veins, I don’t think it was physically possible to feel panicked. I knew that would come when it was all over. In fact, I bet I’d be more screwed up than Seth if I survived this. But right now I could only focus on the game. And this was a game. A sick, twisted game.
Well, I wasn’t going to let the Saturday Night Slasher beat me any more than I’d ever let Dave beat me in a game of one-on-one. I channeled all the crazy energy my fear was giving me, squared my shoulders, and pulled my shaking hands into tight fists. “Bring it.”
Okay, I’ll admit I’m not always the smartest person in the world, and I had a feeling what I was about to do was just about the stupidest thing I could have possibly done, but I figured rushing him would be the last thing he expected me to do.
Before I could chicken out, I ran at him. I was right that it surprised him and he had to shove Angela out of the way in order to fend off my attack. He threw my lightweight-of-a-sister so hard that she slammed her head into the front door and landed in a heap on the floor. She was in shock and probably had a massive headache, but at least her throat hadn’t been slashed.
Things, however, weren’t looking quite
so good for me. I’d managed to get my sister out of harms way, but I’d also managed to get grabbed from behind. “I hope that’s not all you’ve got, Ellie.”
It’s not.
Detective Pierce was a huge guy, but he obviously hadn’t taken the same self-defense classes that Seth had been taking for years. He hadn’t lifted my feet off the ground the way Seth always did, making it possible for me to stomp down on his foot, and he’d wrapped his arms around my shoulders instead of at my elbows, giving me more than enough wiggle room to throw my elbow back into his ribs. The blow was enough for me to break away from him and I took off through the house, headed for the back door.
“Ellie!” he shouted, and just like I’d hoped, he forgot all about Angela and came running after me.
If it weren’t for the stupid kitchen table that stood between the sliding glass door and me, I would have been outside and able to make enough noise to alert the cavalry. I started to go around the table, but Detective Pierce caught up to me. “You’re going to have to do better than that,” he said, grabbing me by my hair.
As he yanked me backwards I was able to grab hold of a chair and I swung it around as hard as I could. Unlike any of the times I’ve seen Chuck Norris smash someone with a chair in the movies, the thing didn’t shatter into a million pieces—which was totally disappointing—but it did leave a giant gash on the side of his face. Judging from the look he gave me, I was definitely the first Saturday Night girl to bloody him up.
I got to the back door, but it was locked, and before I could slide it open, a very pissed off serial killer picked me up and slammed me down onto the kitchen counter. My head hit in almost the same spot I’d busted it at the beginning of the summer, and those floating black spots in my vision came back for a visit. My eyes rolled for a moment, but snapped into focus when I burst into searing pain so hot that I thought I was being lit on fire.
For a minute I couldn’t think. All I could do was scream from the pain as Pierce dragged his knife across my stomach. It wasn’t deep enough to spill my guts or anything, but that’s how this guy operated—he’d make it last.
