Chapter 52: Key 1
292 Words
The door was still open.
Empty hallway.
But the footsteps were gone.
Jessica exhaled.
Knife still shaking in her hand.
Buzz.
Unknown Number: 17 minutes.
Unknown Number: Key 1. Where we first met.
Where we first met...
Jessica's mind raced.
The library.
6 years ago.
Freshman year.
She dropped her books.
He helped her pick them up.
Marcus.
Jessica ran downstairs.
Grabbed her keys and phone.
The front door was unlocked.
She was sure she locked it.
Outside.
Cold air.
3:15 AM.
Her car was parked on the street.
But next to it.
Another car.
Black.
Tinted windows.
Engine running.
Jessica's phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: Wrong place, Jessica.
Unknown Number: 16 minutes.
She spun around.
No one.
Then she saw it.
On her windshield.
A piece of paper.
Under the wiper.
She walked to it slowly.
"Key 1 is not a place."
"It's a person."
"P.S. Look behind you."
Jessica turned.
Standing at the end of the street.
Under the streetlight.
Marcus.
Same jacket.
Same smile.
Holding something in his hand.
A key.
Old.
Bronze.
Marcus: You remember this?
Marcus: From the library.
Marcus: I kept it.
Jessica: Stay away from me.
She backed up to her car.
Buzz.
Unknown Number: 15 minutes.
Unknown Number: Come get it.
Marcus held up the key.
Then dropped it.
On the ground.
Right between them.
Marcus: Catch me if you can.
He turned and ran.
Into the alley.
Jessica didn't think.
She ran after him.
The alley was dark.
Dead end.
No exit.
But Marcus was gone.
Only the key.
Lying on the wet ground.
Jessica picked it up.
Cold.
Heavy.
Buzz.
Unknown Number: Key 1: Collected.
Unknown Number: 2 more to go.
Unknown Number: 14 minutes.
From behind her.
A whisper.
Marcus: Good girl.
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