The Masked Murderer

The Return

Jess sat on my couch crying over Justin, while I vacuumed up the small pieces of glass that were embedded into my carpet. Once I was done, I sat next to her, placing my arm over her shoulder, consoling her. She was really stressed out about Justin, it's no wonder she was so persistent and wouldn't quit knocking at my door. She desperately needed someone to talk to, along with a place to lay her head in the meantime.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" I asked her as I gently laid my hand on her shoulder with the hope of reassuring her that things would be okay.

"Sure," Jess replied, wiping tears from her eyes. I handed her a box of kleenex. She took a few tissues and she began dabbing her eyes with it.

"You probably think I'm being ridiculous. You've been through so much and here I am crying over a guy who'd rather spend time with his friends than with me," Jess was sniffling and sobbing while blowing her nose on a handkerchief.

"Jess, I don't think you're being ridiculous at all," I said stepping away from the couch, and making my way into the kitchen.

I walked into the kitchen and poured water into my small red teapot. Then I placed the teapot on top of the stove and turned the heat on high, so the water could boil quickly.

I noticed Jess had been drinking by the way she was acting. I could also smell the scent of tequila on her breath everytime she spoke.

"Jess, you know you shouldn't be drinking and driving," I said, crossing my arms and staring at her as I spoke to her in an authoritative manner.

She put her head down in embarrassment as she lightly pulled her long curly jet black hair away from her shoulder to her back, "Olivia, I was so upset, I needed a drink, I just had one... only one," Jess explained, "I won't do it again, I promise."

"I just want you to be safe, that's all,"

I tried to get her mind off of Justin by suggesting that we watch a movie.

"Let's watch a movie, Jess" I said, "What about Beaches? We loved that movie when we were kids,"

Jess nodded in agreement. I turned on the television, the news was on.

"I'll put in the movie after I get your tea, " I told Jess. I got up from the couch and I walked into the kitchen to make Jess's tea. I poured the hot water into a teacup and let the teabag seep. Then I stirred in some honey to give it a little bit of sweetness. I was walking back to the living room with the teacup in my hand when I heard the most disturbing news being reported through the television speakers.

"The masked murderer has struck again," the news reporter said.

I dropped the teacup.

Clack!

Little pieces of the teacup scattered across the kitchen floor.

"Are you okay, Olivia?" Jess asked me.

"... After six months with no sign of him and police once believing that he fled the country, that is no longer the case...." The reporter continued.

"Oh no, this can't be true," I distraughtly said.

Jess took the remote and turned the volume up higher, so that we could hear better.

She turned to me and said, "I'm sorry, Olivia,"

The masked murderer was back. He was on the hunt and this time he was even more gruesome than ever before. The news reported that he had killed a total of seven women so far, all ranging in age from twenty-four to thirty. Their bodies mutilated with their organs and body parts severed and being planted right next to their lifeless bodies. Dead bodies were being discovered in various places around the state, some close to Charleston where I lived at with Charles.

The next morning I went over to my parents house because they were concerned for my safety and wanted to talk with me. Mom suggested I get help from the police and Dad had an outrageous idea, he thought I should move to another state.

"Dad, I'm not throwing my whole life away and moving out of state. I refuse to let a deranged, psychotic killer chase me away," I told Dad as I sat at the dining room table with both of my parents.

"This is terrible. The police have to catch him. Why can't they catch him?" Mom asked, turning her head towards Dad, as she cupped her hands around her coffee cup.

"Darling, they'll catch him soon enough," Dad said.

"Olivia, you know you can stay here if you need too," Mom said concerningly as she took quick sips of her coffee. She looked at me, her eyes peered into mine. I could feel the sadness and empathy she expressed for me.

"Mom, I'll be fine. Charles hasn't worked much overtime lately, so he's been home every night this week with me,"

"That's good. That's what we want to hear," Dad said.

My parents were so old-fashioned. Charles was old-fashioned too, that's why my parents liked him so much. They didn't quite like the fact that we shacked up, though. They thought we should've waited until after we got married. Ideally, we would've waited, but after the kidnapping ordeal and being that I'm a petite, twenty-four year old, I didn't feel safe living all by myself.

My phone beeped. It was Charles. He sent me a text message letting me know he'd be home in a few hours because he was helping his brother Nathan put up a new fence around his house. That left me time to run a few errands while it was still light outside.

"Mom, Dad, I'll see you two later. I gotta run a few errands before Charles gets home," I said giving both of my parents a goodbye hug.

"You be safe out there," Dad patted my back as I opened the door to step outside.

"Thanks Dad. I'll be safe as I can be," I forced a smile and waved goodbye.

The thought of the masked murderer striking again scared the living daylights out of me, but I didn't want my parents to know that.

I turned on Pandora as I drove down the country road admiring the trees and cornfields. Charles enjoyed living in a rural part of Texas, but me, not so much. It was far from most everything even the grocery store was a good half hour away. Although I did enjoy the few mom and pop eateries and the country themed bar we had nearby, but I still felt like we lived too far out.

I was simply lost in my music when suddenly a big blue Ford truck pushed up against my rear bumper. I thought it was an accident, so I was going to pull over on the side of the road, but when I looked back into my rear-view mirror the truck rammed harder against my bumper, shoving me forward. I almost lost control of my car. I jerked, my head plopped forward, then backward as he rammed into me a third time.

"What do you want?! Leave me alone!" I shouted, tears forming in my eyes.

I tried to see what he looked like, but the tears in my eyes clouded my vision. I was also blinded by the reflection from the sun and his truck was up to high.

"Leave me the hell alone!" I screamed.

My anxiety was increasing as my body started to shake.

I sped up.

I dumped my purse out on the passenger seat while trying to focus on the road. I nervously rummaged my hand through the pile, trying to feel for my cell phone.

I felt it and picked it up.

I immediately called Charles.

"Charles, answer!" I cried, while I tried to steady the steering wheel with my hands nervously shaking.

The phone kept ringing.

"Damn you, Charles!" I screamed, hitting my phone against the steering wheel in frustration.

I dialed Jess's number.

Please answer

"Hey, Jess here," she answered

"Jessica, help me! There's a strange man chasing me on highway nineteen, near the pancake house. Please help me!" I cried.

"I'm on my way. I'm bringing Justin with me," She said and hung up.

The truck swerved around me, sped up and then drove off. I pulled over on the side of the road crying.

Jessica and Justin arrived within minutes.

"Oh my gosh, are you alright, Olivia?"

Jess asked me, bending over to hug me.

Tears were streaming down my face.

"Justin will drive your car back to my place. We'll talk about it there," Jess said while she put her arms around me, hugging me while she helped me out of my car. We walked over to her car and we both got inside.

I cried uncontrollably all the way to Jess's apartment. Once we got there, I explained to Jess and Justin what happened. They listened intently as I described the horrific ordeal of nearly being run off the road.

"Wow! Sounds like a movie!"Justin said in awe while he chuckled.

"Justin now is not the time to joke!" Jess snapped.

I ignored Justin as he was probably trying to make light of the situation to make me feel better. He had quite the sense of humor and that's what Jess loved about him, but I wasn't in the mood for any jokes.

They sat at the table drinking beer. I was too nervous to eat or drink anything. My stomach was in knots. My eyes were sore and red, and my nose burned from all the crying.

"Would you at least like a glass of water?" Jess asked as she stood up from her stool.

I nodded, "Sure," I said while wiping tears from my eyes.

I watched absentmindedly as Jess took a tall glass from the cabinet, added ice to it then poured fresh spring water over the chilled ice causing it to crackle. She then sat it right in front of me. I picked it up and took a few small sips.

"It was him. I know it was him," I exclaimed.

Jess sat next to me and caressed my arm with her hand as it laid flat on the table, "I believe you, Olivia. What do you want to do, now?"

"I want to go to the police and file a police report," I said as I cupped my hand over my face, "I just want this nightmare to end, permanently, once and for all," I cried.

Jess hugged me. I was scared, he was back, he was after me and he wasn't giving up.

*****

Charles and I went gun shopping the next day. I picked out a forty-four magnum and I was ready to use it.

After we left the gun shop, we drove back home in Charles's small truck.

"Do you feel a little safer now?" Charles asked me as he drove down the road.

"I feel a lot safer now. I think I'll be able to relax a lot more as long as this is by my side," I said to Charles as I held up my gun case.

"You'll be okay, babe. I'll always be here to protect you, no matter what," Charles said while he rubbed my thigh.

I laid my head on his shoulder. I knew Charles would protect me by any means necessary and that made me feel safer already.

****Thank you for reading :-)