Trust A Stranger

by Baxter, Cole

  "Thank you very much. You just saved my life." And that wasn't an exaggeration. After everything Ruby had done to Mary, even if the other woman didn't kill her on the spot, she would make her life such a living hell that Mary would beg for that outcome.

  His expression didn't change, nor did he lower his gun. He doesn't trust me, she realized. And truth be told, he didn't have any reason to in the first place. She was a stranger to him and nothing more.

  "You have sixty seconds to explain to me what the fuck is going on here," he said, glancing through the window. He was clearly startled, upset about the situation he’d found himself in. And who wouldn't be? This man lived in the middle of nowhere, and the last thing he would expect was to have a half-naked woman appearing at his doorstep, begging for help as another woman chased her around.

  Focus, she snapped at herself. Act now. Explain everything to the best of your ability and think about unimportant things later. Despite all this craziness, he was curtly waiting for her to say anything, so she obliged.

  "I have been held against my will on the estate that borders this one. I barely managed to escape. Please help me get away. Don't let her have me." Mary would rather die, here and now, than go back to that house with Ruby. Or go back to that basement. She shuddered.

  The man noticed that, although Mary believed he still looked rather skeptical. Because things like this don't happen in real life, a part of her mocked. He's gonna send me away. Mary panicked.

  "I know how all of this sounds, please believe me," she tried again. "Ruby Thompson kidnapped me and brought me here, to her house."

  "Thompson, you say?"

  "Yes. I managed to escape, but as you can see, she found me, shooting at me all the way here."

  "I heard gunshots."

  Mary hoped that meant he was starting to believe her. "She is out of her mind because I escaped. Ruby also shot her associate in a fit of rage."

  He raised an eyebrow. Mary didn't want to say what was on her mind at the moment but knew she had to. It wouldn't be fair to keep quiet.

  "I'm sure she will try to harm you too for helping me. She wants to bring me back to that house no matter what." Mary's voice hitched at the end. She couldn't go back, she just couldn't.

  The man nodded at that. She was sorry she’d brought such misfortune to this man.

  "Well, she can try," he said in all seriousness.

  Ruby chose that moment to reach the door and to start banging against it. Instinctively, Mary jumped a little, and despite the fact that they were inside, the man moved to stand in front of her, protectively relocating her to stand behind him.

  "Let me in," Ruby screamed. "Mary, I know you're in there! You have to come with me, now!"

  Mary debated whether she should answer her or not. Either way, that would antagonize Ruby, so Mary chose not to. She wasn't worth the trouble.

  As Ruby continued to rage, the man said over his shoulder, "I'm calling the police now." He fished his phone out from his pocket.

  Mary missed having a phone. Life would be so much easier if she had one.

  Then he added a little louder so Ruby could hear him, "I'm dialing nine-one-one, so you’d better leave now."

  His words meant nothing to Ruby, as it turned out, and she continued to speak nonsense and beg Mary to come out. As if Mary would ever do such a thing after all the trouble she went through to get away.

  Very quickly, the man explained over the phone what was going on before disconnecting. "They are on their way," he informed Mary.

  That was the best news she'd had in weeks, in years, maybe in her entire life. "Thank you," Mary replied.

  The man took a step forward. "This is your last warning. Leave now. The police are on their way, you crazy bitch."

  The banging stopped for a moment, and before Mary could feel relief that Ruby actually listened to him, she appeared at the window, looking at them. Her eyes were completely wild. Ruby was clearly out of control since her fantasy had been thoroughly shattered thanks to Mary. Half of her face was in serious blisters, and the man glanced at Mary, clearly wanting to know how that happened. Mary wanted to say, yes, I did that, and just shrugged instead.

  "Mary, I came for you. Come outside, let's go," Ruby said to her, completely ignoring the man, her tone urgent.

  Mary snorted in return. "I'm not going anywhere with you!" She moved forward so Ruby could see how serious and unafraid she was.

  I will no longer be a prisoner of yours in any way. No matter the outcome, Ruby no longer held any kind of power over her. Mary was truly free.

  Ruby's face, which was already deformed thanks to the makeover Mary put her through, became more grotesque as she grimaced in fury, obviously not liking what she heard.

  "I said, come outside!" she seethed.

  "And I said no," Mary replied calmly. "Go to Hell, Ruby."

  Ruby raised the butt of her gun as though she planned on using it to smash the window.

  "Excuse me." The man felt the need to intervene at that moment, stepping forward and pointing his rifle at Ruby's head.

  "I would think twice about your next move if I were you," he advised in a calm manner, as though either outcome was just fine with him.

  Once again, Mary felt awful for dragging this man into her own mess, though he looked completely on top of this situation. He looked as though he dealt with crazy murderers all the time, Mary thought.

  Despite the fact that he was a stranger, Mary felt something she hadn't in a long time. She felt safe. This man would defend her. That was plain to see in his eyes and posture. He was determined to see this through, no matter what. And not just because all this drama was literally happening on his property.

  Mary was absolutely astounded, to say the least, that he was willing to go this far and help her. It was true she was in desperate need, but none of this was his responsibility or obligation. Mary was beyond grateful. I don't even know his name, she realized.

  "I want my friend back," Ruby said to the man, sounding like a spoiled brat.

  The man glanced at Mary before looking back at her. "I don't think she wants to go anywhere with you."

  Ruby frowned, raising her chin. "I'm not going anywhere without her," she replied stubbornly.

  You can't reason with the crazy.

  "Suit yourself," he replied with a small shrug.

  Ruby disappeared for a moment only to return in front of the door. Once again, she started banging against it. "You can't keep us apart. She's my friend. Mary, listen to me. Come outside, now," she rambled.

  Mary looked apologetically at her host. Although host might be too strong of a word. She accidentally stumbled upon his house and he was kind enough to help her in her hour of need.

  The banging got louder, ferocious this time around, which could only mean that Ruby was using the butt of her gun for it.

  "As I said before, the police are on their way, but feel free to continue," the man said to Ruby, sounding almost conversational.

  Mary wanted to offer to replace his door after all of this was over but refrained from it. It didn't seem like the right time to speak about such things.

  The man misunderstood her moodiness. "That door is solid oak. She's not getting inside any time soon, or ever," he reassured her.

  After a while, since she clearly wasn't thinking about leaving, Ruby switched tactics. She started pleading to Mary. "Come with me, Mary," she said, almost sobbing. "You know I'm only doing this because I want to keep you safe."

  Mary was concerned the man would fall for her fake tears since Ruby really was that good of an actress, but he remained unmoved. I guess he's smarter than I am.

  "Behave. Be a good friend, come out of there, and run away with me."

  The man looked at her incredulously. "Is she for real?"

  "I'm afraid so," Mary replied simply.

  If he doubted her before, he certainly believed her now after everything he'd heard and witnessed. Seeing Ruby in all her delusional glory did the trick. />
  Ruby continued to ramble, speaking all kinds of nonsense while hitting the door as Mary slowly approached it.

  The man looked at her with intent as though not knowing what she planned on doing. Does he actually think I would go outside and run into the sunset with that nutcase? Mary wondered. The notion was completely ludicrous to her. On the other hand, he didn't know her that well, or at all, so it stood to reason that he was intrigued.

  "Ruby, stop," Mary said, immediately capturing Ruby's attention.

  "My friend," Ruby exclaimed all sweetly. "Did you come to your senses? Are we leaving now?"

  "Listen to me," Mary snapped, and Ruby stopped talking. "You are a murdering, kidnapping monster, and I will never, in my life, go anywhere with you willingly. You belong in a cell, completely isolated from the rest of the world." And not even then could she repent for all her sins.

  Mary stepped back to stand closer to the owner of the house once she settled that. Ruby snapped, just like Mary knew she would. She started screaming, making sounds that appeared otherworldly as she practically threw herself against the door.

  "I will kill you! You ungrateful brat!"

  The man whistled, clearly impressed in some macabre way by her determination, level of craziness, and stamina. In a way, Mary was too. She was also tired of all of this and simply wished for everything to end.

  "Is she off her meds or something?" he asked at some point.

  "Something," Mary replied.

  "I'll throw you in the basement where all the bad friends go," she threatened.

  She kept going like that until the sheriff arrived.

  "The police are here," the man informed Mary, looking out the window, and she joined him.

  "Mr. Winston?" the sheriff called out.

  "We're all right, Sheriff Wild. Just take care of this unwanted guest, if you would be so kind," the man, Mr. Winston, replied.

  With that settled, the sheriff and his deputy advanced very slowly toward Ruby, trying to calm her down, reason with her. At first, she acted as though they weren't there. She continued to sing her tune and bang against the door.

  Mary watched with great interest as the sheriff tried to subdue Ruby and take her away. It was a struggle. "Ma'am, step away from the door and lower your weapon," the sheriff commanded. Only when they drew their own weapons did Ruby stop and turn toward them.

  She tried to smooth her hair, although in this circumstance, as her hair was completely wild, the gesture looked completely ridiculous. "This is all just a misunderstanding," she sang in her usual manner, offering the most charming smile. "I was just—"

  "Ma'am, lower your weapon right now."

  "Oh, this? This isn't mine. I was just using it to knock on the door," she tried to explain.

  "Put it down, now," the sheriff replied sternly.

  Much to Mary's surprise, Ruby complied. Self-preservation was stronger than anything else, as it turned out.

  "We need you to come with us," the sheriff informed her as he and his men slowly approached her.

  "Leave? I can't leave. My friend is in there. She needs me."

  "We will sort that out later."

  The sheriff put his gun away and took his handcuffs out. As he approached her, Ruby exploded. "What do you think you're doing? Do you have any idea who I am?"

  The sheriff managed to grab hold of her arm.

  "Release me this instant," Ruby demanded.

  As the sheriff started reading her rights, she continued to rage. "Mary, tell them they’re making a mistake. Mary?"

  The sheriff's man replaced his boss, walking her toward the car as the sheriff himself lingered on the porch.

  "Mary, I need you!" Ruby cried out. "Can't you see what they’re doing to me? You are a bad friend! I hope you die! I will kill you myself!" she spat.

  Thankfully, she was forced inside a vehicle, and with the doors closed on her, all her future shouts were completely muted.

  Peace at last.

  Mary sighed with relief. Now I'm truly free.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  “I’m Mace, by the way," the man said somewhat awkwardly. "Mace Winston."

  "Mary Wright," she replied politely.

  "So I've heard," he joked.

  Mary actually laughed. It felt good to do something as normal as laughing when the nightmare finally ended.

  When it was safe, meaning when Ruby was locked inside the sheriff's car, Mace let Sheriff Wild inside. Mary knew he would want to know what was going on, hear her tale.

  As they settled into the living room, Mary took a deep breath and told the two men everything. Mary tried her best to remain calm, impartial as she recounted everything that had transpired inside that house of horrors as though it all happened to someone else and failed a couple of times. It was just too hard.

  "Take your time," the sheriff told her in a very calm, sympathetic, yet professional manner. "You are safe here. She can't hurt you anymore," he said.

  I hope that's true. A part of her was still in shock and believed Ruby would walk through that door and drag her away. Or even worse, Mary would wake up only to discover all of this was just a dream.

  Mace smiled encouragingly as well, so taking a deep breath and banishing those thoughts, Mary continued.

  "She killed him because he wouldn't go after me." Mary told them all about Norman as well.

  "Are you sure?" the sheriff insisted.

  "Yes, she shot him in the head." He would need a miracle to survive something like that.

  "And there's more." The biggest tragedy, Mary saved for last. "I wasn't the only one."

  "What do you mean?" the sheriff asked for clarification. "You said just the two of you were inside that house."

  The only two who were breathing. "That's true to a degree. When I'd had enough and spoke back to Ruby, she got really angry. It was then she told me what she'd done to Nick. He was my estranged husband. He'd pushed her down the stairs and she'd broken her wrist. She paid him back by having him killed. Because of my defiance, she locked me up in the basement." Mary stopped there, drinking some water before forcing herself to continue.

  "And you have proof of this?" the sheriff asked, taking notes.

  "No, not exactly, but there's more. When I was locked in the basement, I discovered a graveyard down there. Ruby had tortured and chained a lot of women to the walls down there, leaving them to rot." Mary wiped away tears as the images of those poor souls assaulted her.

  I hope you will finally find peace now, and some justice, she prayed.

  "I recognized one of them. Her name is . . . was Carla Blake. She was an actress. The detective over Nick's case said that Nick had been tortured before being shot."

  Mary then moved on to the finale of the story, how she’d managed to escape. After that, Sheriff Wild called for backup because Ruby's home had officially become a crime scene.

  After everything was said and done, Sheriff Wild offered to take Mary back home.

  "I'll do that, first thing in the morning," Mace was quick to reassure him.

  "Is that okay with you, Miss Wright?" The sheriff wanted to make sure.

  Actually, for some reason, Mary preferred it. Of course, she didn't say that out loud. She nodded.

  "Call if you need anything. I'll be in the neighborhood." were his parting words. Meaning he was going to join his colleagues and sweep Ruby's house.

  "Thank you, Sheriff, for everything."

  They said their goodbyes, and Mary watched through the window as they took Ruby away. She hoped they would simply lock her up and throw away the key. Perhaps that wasn't very Christian of her. At the moment, she didn't care about such things.

  "Do you want to rest for a bit?" Mace offered.

  "I don't think sleep is an option for me at the moment," Mary replied honestly.

  He nodded, understanding everything she didn't say. "I guess it's breakfast time then."

  "It's the middle of the night."

  "It's never too early or too l
ate for breakfast," he announced.

  She knew what he was doing and was grateful. Mary smiled. "You know what? Breakfast sounds perfect."

  "Now you're speaking my language."

  Mary had to admit that Mace was a decent cook.

  "You shouldn't be dealing with everything that awaits you in New York City alone. I'll go with you wherever you need to go," he offered between the bites.

  The sad reality was that she was alone, no matter what. Mary refrained from saying that. Instead, she said, "Thank you."

  Since neither one of them wished to retire for the night, they stayed in the living room talking. At some point, Mace offered her some clothes of his to change into. Since he was very muscular, everything looked enormous on her, his clothes swallowing her completely, and Mary liked it. They were clean, comfortable, and most importantly, they didn't come from Ruby.

  True to his word, when morning came, Mace jogged the short distance to his garage to warm up the car for their journey back to civilization. The big Range Rover pickup truck somehow not only went perfectly with the scenery but with Mace himself as well.

  It stopped snowing, but it hadn't melted. It stuck around, painting the scenery in white, coating it with silence. Mary wished it were that silent inside her head. No matter what she did, she could hear Ruby screaming at her.

  Her feet were really bothering her, especially after she put on Mace's boots and started walking in them. They were too big and too heavy, but she endured. Mary considered those, as well as the welts on her back, her battle wounds, proof she’d won, survived to tell the tale, and while looking at things that way, the pain subsided.

  On their way to New York City, Mary was confronted with the fact of how far away she was from home. She had been drugged the first time she made the trip, but she was wide awake now, which made her realize something. I would never have made it on foot. Once again, she thanked the heavens for finding Mace. She was sure she wouldn't be here, free, returning home, if he weren't there.