I felt a jolt pass through me when I saw him, but then it was gone, replaced by calm. I had seen him so many times in my dreams and he used to scare me, but he had no power over me anymore. I knew this was just a dream like any other and now I felt no fear. .
"Go away," I said quietly, and started to roll over, but then his gloved hand clamped down suddenly on my mouth. I smelled the leather and felt the pressure, the inability to breathe, and then he leaned down close to me, his breath hot on my cheek. .
"Not a word," he whispered, and in that moment I knew he was real. For a second I couldn't even think…every thought that started splintered off into my brain and was lost in the darkness. The unreality of it all, the impossibility…he was supposed to be in jail, not here, how did he know where I lived, why was he here, how did he get here. Involuntarily my lungs searched for the air they were being deprived of, but encountered only the force of his hand pressing down harder, harder….
"I bet you never expected to see me here, did you?" He hissed, his face still close to mine. "Well, I have news for you, little girl. I got out for good behavior. What do you think of that?" .
Always before when I encountered him, my mind and my body froze and I was completely powerless in his presence, as if he had some spell over me. But after all this time, after all I had achieved…I had finally gotten my life back and now he wanted to take it away again. Well, I wouldn't let him. Not this time. I would not let him. .
I don't think he was expecting my sudden lunge because his hand dropped and he fell backwards easily…too easily as I surged upwards, scrambling blindly, fighting for air, desperately trying to get away. In the haze of my panic I think I heard him laugh, and then he was there again, knocking my lamp to the floor as he threw himself on top of me, pinning me down with his heavy weight, smothering me. I opened my mouth to scream, but the cold point of a knife against my throat silenced me. .
"I said not a word, remember? You've gotten a little bit better than last time, but still not good enough." He sat up slowly and I gasped for breath, fighting the tears burning behind my eyes, not wanting him to see any weakness from me. He glanced at my bedside table and his eyes fell on the picture of Lucky and me, his lips curving in a cruel smile as he picked it up. "Isn't this sweet? You and your boyfriend. I guess he doesn't mind used goods, does he?" .
I couldn't control the tears any longer, and they spilled scalding hot down my cheeks. "Shutup," I said, my voice shaking with fear and rage. "Shutup." .
"Shh, Lizzie. Not a word." .
I charged past him off the end of my bed, hitting the floor on hands and knees, but I was up again without even realizing it. I just needed to get to the door, the door and I would be free and away from him….free… I screamed when he grabbed my hair and yanked hard, pulling my head back, crushing me against his chest, the knife at my throat again. He turned me around slowly and walked me to my bed. He pushed me down onto it and I felt his knee on my back. .
"You try that again, and I'll cut your throat. Say anything, scream again, and you're dead. You got that?" I could only nod, sobbing as he flipped me over. Still kneeling over me, he picked up the picture again and smashed it against the edge of the table, shattering the glass. He shoved his knife into the sheath clipped to his belt and picked up a particularly large shard of glass. He held it up before me. .
"I think I need to teach you a little lesson." He took my arm and held it out, and I flinched as he ran the point of the glass down it lightly. When he reached my palm he pressed down, and I gasped as the tip cut deeply into my flesh. He made a cup of my hand and watched as it filled slowly with blood. "See that? Isn't it pretty?" He tipped my hand and the blood spilled out, splashing onto my blanket. "I hope that didn't hurt too much." He grabbed my other arm and did the same thing to that hand. .
I did not feel the pain, only the panic coursing through my veins with every beat of my heart, pumping out bright and warm with the blood in my hands. Lucky, where are you Lucky? I need you. Please come save me. I need you. Help me Lucky….
He jerked me to my feet. "No!" I shouted and tried to pull away from him, but he shook me hard. .
"What did I tell you, Elizabeth? Are you going to cooperate or are you going to die?"I subsided, cursing my smallness, wishing I was seven feet tall, wishing I was strong enough to pick him up and throw him out of the window. I turned and started to pick up the photo, but he yanked me upward again, leaving a smear of blood across Lucky's face. .
"Leave that." He dragged me across the room to my dresser, his arm around my waist as he opened a drawer and pulled out some of my clothes, stuffing them down the front of his shirt. Then he was opening my door, practically carrying me as he thundered down the stairs and out the front door. I touched everything I could on the way down. My message to Lucky. Come save me. .