Killer Appears
1172 Words
The excitement of the band’s recent success filled the school. Eternal Chords had gained popularity, and Chris’s confidence seemed to grow each day. Sam couldn’t help but feel a mix of pride and relief as she watched him smile more often. She had begun to think she was making progress, guarding his life toward a better outcome.
But fate had other plans.
---
One quiet evening after school, Sam stayed back in the music room with Chris. They were cleaning up after another practice session, stacking chairs and packing equipment. The space was still filled with the faint echo of the band’s final song of the day.
“Thanks for staying to help,” Chris said, placing a guitar into its case. His voice carried warmth, his usual seriousness softened with appreciation.
“Anytime,” Sam replied, smiling. She felt a rare moment of peace, enjoying the time spent with him.
As they worked, a faint sound broke the silence. It was quiet at first, a shuffle, like shoes dragging across the hallway tiles.
Sam froze. Her heart began to race as the noise grew louder, closer. She turned toward the door, her mind sensing danger.
“Did you hear that?” she whispered.
Chris glanced up, frowning. “Probably just someone locked up for the night,” he said, but his tone held a trace of uncertainty.
The sound stopped suddenly, leaving a sense of fear. Sam’s stomach twisted with unease.
---
A shadow moved just outside the doorway, and then a figure stepped into the room. The man was tall, wearing a dark hood that hid most of his face. But Sam didn’t need to see his features. She knew exactly who he was.
Her breath caught in her throat. It was the same man from before, the one who had chased her during her first trip to the past. The killer.
Chris noticed her reaction immediately. “Sam, who is that?” he asked, his voice low but tense.
The man didn’t answer. Instead, he took a step forward, pulling a shining knife from his jacket. The blade caught the dull light, its sharp edge glowing dangerously.
Chris intentionally moved in front of Sam, protecting her. “Hey, what’s your problem?” he demanded, his hands clenched into fists.
The man remained silent, his eyes fixed on Sam.
“Chris, don’t,” she whispered, panic creeping into her voice. “You don’t understand he’s dangerous.”
---
Before she could explain further, the man pursued them. His movements were quick, but Chris reacted just as fast. He grabbed a nearby music stand and swung it in the attacker’s path, forcing him to step back.
“Get out of here, Sam!” Chris shouted, his voice firm and commanding.
Sam hesitated, fear weakening her. She couldn’t leave him alone, not when she knew how deadly the man was.
The killer regained his footing and slashed at Chris, but Chris dodged, the knife missing him by inches. Sam’s heart pounded as she watched the struggle, her mind thinking about a way to help.
---
Desperation took over. On noticing a heavy metal disk lying on the floor, Sam grabbed it and threw it toward the attacker. The metal disk hit his arm, causing him to drop the knife with a loud crash.
“Nice throw!” Chris called, giving her a quick, encouraging grin before turning his attention back to the man.
The killer didn’t waste time. He moved toward the knife, but Chris kicked it out of reach, sending it flying across the room.
“You’re not hurting anyone,” Chris said, his voice firm despite the tension.
For a moment, the man hesitated, his covered face leaning closely toward Chris. Then, without a word, he turned and ran out of the room, disappearing into the dark.
---
The silence that followed was unease. Chris set down the music stand, his shoulders heaving with each breath.
“Who was that?” he asked, his gaze locking onto Sam.
She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. She couldn’t tell him the truth, not without freezing time.
“I don’t know,” she lied, her voice trembling. “He just... came out of nowhere.”
Chris frowned but didn’t ask her further. “Are you okay?” he asked, stepping closer.
Sam nodded, though her hands were still shaking. “I’m fine. What about you?”
“I’m good,” he said, brushing it off. “But we should report this to someone.”
---
Later that night, Sam sat in her room, replaying the encounter in her mind. The killer’s sudden appearance had shattered any sense of security she’d felt. He wasn’t just a random danger, he was connected to Chris’s future, and by changing the timeline, she had made him an even bigger target.
Her chest was heavy with guilt. She had come back to save Chris, to give him a chance at happiness. But instead, her actions had put him into her own confusion.
---
The next day, Sam tried to keep things normal. She joined Chris and the band during lunch, laughing at their jokes and listening as they planned their next steps after the performance.
But underneath the surface, her mind was spinning. She needed to figure out why the killer was after her and now, why he seemed to be connected to Chris.
“Earth to Sam,” Mia said, waving a hand in front of her face.
Sam blinked, realizing she had been staring at her tray without eating. “Sorry, what?”
“Are you okay?” Mia asked, concern flashed in her eyes.
“Yeah,” Sam said quickly. “Just tired.”
---
That evening, as the band rehearsed in the music room, Sam kept a watchful eye on the doors. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the killer was still lurking nearby, waiting for the right moment to attack again.
During a break, Chris approached her, his expression serious.
“Sam, about last night,” he began, reducing his voice. “I don’t think that guy was just some random thug. He seemed... like he was after you.”
Sam’s was filled with worry and concern. She couldn’t deny it, but she also couldn’t explain without exposing too much.
“I don’t know why,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I promise I’ll figure it out.”
Chris studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Whatever’s going on, you don’t have to handle it alone. I’ve got your back.”
Tears itched Sam’s eyes at his words. She wanted to believe she could protect him, but the killer’s presence had made everything so much more complicated.
---
As Chris returned to his guitar, Sam squeezed the watch on her wrist tightly, her mind completely made up. She had to find a way to fix this, to save Chris without making things worse.
No matter what it took, she wouldn’t let the killer win.
- Writer
