She moved through the glass doors her eyes averted to the ground, carefully avoiding eye contact with anyone. She had soon learned that the people in her building were quite friendly. Being that most of the building’s residents were older, she suspected that they were also very inquisitive. Surely they were wondering how someone her age was able to afford such an expensive place. She fully suspected that many of them presumed she was a prostitute.
By now she was certain that most of the building’s residents had ascertained that she lived alone. They probably thought her very rude as her eyes were always fixed on the ground. Any pleasantries, if exchanged at all, came out in an impatient whisper. She didn’t care though. She hated taking the elevator and sometimes opted to take the stairs if she knew it was going to be crowded. Walking 8 stories always gave her a chance to clear her head.
Glancing up for a second, she was grateful to be alone this time. Quickly she pressed a button, summoning the elevator and impatiently tapping her foot as she waited. When the elevator arrived, she stepped in quickly, her hand instinctively hitting the ‘door close button’. She breathed a small sigh of relief as the door closed and the elevator lurched upwards.
Her mind raced along with the elevator, thinking about the past few hours. She had to admit, Nick wasn’t at all what she had expected. They had talked for a few hours and as she thought back on it now she realized that she hadn’t once glanced at her watch or felt extremely uncomfortable. Sure there had been moments of awkwardness and silence but nothing unbearable. As she stepped out of the elevator, she shook her head slightly wondering how it was that she could carry on a conversation with someone she barely knew yet was unable to pick up the phone and call any of her old friends, people she had known her entire life.
She walked down the hall, instinctively glancing over her shoulder as she pulled her keys from her purse and opened her door. She entered her apartment, looking around cautiously before she locked the door behind her. She made her way to her bedroom, throwing her keys and purse onto the bed before she flopped down onto it. She sat there for a few moments staring up at the ceiling. A contented sigh escaped her lips. On the surface her date with Nick seemed harmless but she had enough experience to know that things were never what they seemed. Despite the warning bells in her head, she couldn’t deny that she had had a good time today. Against her will, she felt a smile creep onto her lips. The smile broadened as she realized that it was her first genuine smile in months. She reached for her sketchpad and a nearby pencil and quickly and eagerly went to work.
Nick cruised the streets lazily not the least bit tempted to return to his boring apartment. There was nothing waiting there for him but loneliness. He tried to avoid it as much as possible on the weekends.
A small smile twitched at his lips as his car sped down the street. As far as he could remember this was the first time he had actually come away from a date contented. The first time he was actually looking forward to seeing a girl again. It was the first time he had gotten into the car after a date without pounding his fists against the steering wheel before he drove off.
There hadn’t been any emotional revelations or intimate moments between the two of them yet Nick had enjoyed himself. She was a mixture of charm, mystery and intelligence – something he had definitely never come across in any of the other girls he had taken out. Her body language spoke volumes though and Nick was already certain that any night spent with her would be a far cry from the nights he spent with girls from the club. She would barely look him straight in the eyes let alone sleep with him.
Driving along, Nick realized just how little he knew about her. He had quickly determined that she didn’t enjoy talking about herself. Her evasive answers throughout the day had only piqued his curiosity. He hadn’t probed though. If there was one thing he had learned in his countless dates, it was to never push a girl. Part of a girl’s persona was mystery. And Nick had to admit… he found mystery incredibly sexy.
Pausing at a red light, his mind began to race. Why doesn’t she have a boyfriend? A girl like her could have anyone they wanted. As the light changed Nick pressed his foot to the pedal and his car lurched forth. He shook his head, erasing thoughts of a possible boyfriend to contend with. What did he care if she had a boyfriend? Even if she did it certainly wouldn’t be the first time Nick had fooled around with a girl who was involved in a relationship.
Whatever Jessica’s story was, it didn’t matter. All he knew was that for some inexplicable reason he couldn’t wait to see her again. Coming to a stop at another red light, Nick suddenly realized that it wasn’t going to be that simple. How the hell am I going to get in touch with her if I don't even have her phone number?
He sat glaring at his computer screen, fuming over his inability to express himself. He had so much anger pent up inside him that it was overwhelming. There were so many things that he wanted and needed to say. Things that he was certain were probably best left unsaid.
He took a deep breath and angrily jerked out of his chair. The letter had to be perfect. He couldn’t say too much. There would be plenty others to follow. There was no way he could give everything away right at the beginning – especially if he wanted the letters to be effective. He had to be patient. Use his words sparingly.
He paced up and down the room, a tired sigh escaping his lips. After waiting outside her apartment building he had spent the day roaming around and getting acquainted with the area. After all, he would be spending a lot of time here. It would be best to become familiar with his surroundings since they were her surroundings too. He had explored numerous shops, restaurants, banks, all the while contemplating which ones she frequented. He would have to find out. The more he knew, the better.
She felt the walls around her closing in. Her throat tightened as fear coursed through her veins. Her eyes darted in fervent frenzy about the room searching for any means of escape.
In desperation she clawed at him, viciously trying to fend him off. Her attempts were futile however. He was ten times stronger than she. He was in control now.
The lump in her throat grew to unbearable proportions as he pawed roughly at her. His face loomed eerily above hers but she remained with eyes closed, refusing to look at him.
She struggled to part her dry, cracked lips in an attempt to scream. She couldn’t make a sound though. She fought desperately for a few seconds to make any sound at all but couldn’t. A few seconds later the tears of resignation began to trickle slowly down her flushed cheeks.
There was nothing she could do to stop him. Unless…
All of a sudden her mind shifted gears. Her veins were suddenly equipped with ferocious adrenaline. Her eyes opened anxiously. It was in the drawer. She had kept it there praying that there it would remain collecting dust for all eternity. True she had bought it because she had been scared but she had always maintained that she would never use it. She had promised herself that things would never get that far ever again.
Now it would be her salvation. If she could just reach it she would be in control.
He shot her a scathing look, completely unperturbed by the glint of determination in her eyes. She struggled, breathing laboriously as she groped around feeling for the handle of her night table drawer. She finally caught hold of it, her fingers clammy and cold and slipping as she awkwardly fiddled about.
An unwarranted sigh of relief escaped her lips as the drawer finally opened. She felt around, desperately seeking its sleek, cool metal. She knew it was in there. That was the only thing she kept in there. She never even opened the drawer.
She continued searching hurriedly but with no avail. It was gone. There was only emptiness. Someone must have taken it. Maybe it was him. Maybe he had stolen it when she wasn’t looking. She didn’t know.
She felt her body go limp as the devastation took over. The was no way to stop him now.
The gun was gone.
With a sudden lurch, Jessica sprung from her bed panting uncontrollably. Her entire body was drenched with cold sweat. Even her fingers shook as she began slowly rocking herself back and forth in the quiet darkness.