Page 55 of Saving Meadow

“Why are you doing this to me?” I had to find a way out of this - she was going to kill me. I had no doubt I was about to be dragged out of the car and stabbed in the face until there was nothing left. I’d read the reports; I knew what she’d done.

Please, God, Nick! I didn’t want him to see me dead in the alley with my face like that. He’d blame himself.

“Why not you?”

“You’re right. Why not me? I’m begging you not to leave me here. Drive to another city and dump my body. Don’t do it here. I won’t scream this time, I promise. Just please, I’m begging you not here.”

“You don’t get a say. You’re not in charge, I am. This is my way.”

“Please Beth,” I tried again.

“Now you want to be nice? Well, fuck you. We’re done talking - it’s time.”

I tried to struggle and stop her from getting me out of the car. I screamed and yelled and tried to bite her. Nothing worked. I was out of the backseat and on the cold, dirty asphalt of the alley.

“Stay still,” she told me as I thrashed around as much as I could with my limbs bound.

“Not here. Please, Beth!”

I kicked and knocked the knife out of her hand, but it wasn’t hard enough because it was back in her hand and headed straight for me. I twisted again, and the familiar burn of her blade sliced my leg.

“God damn, I fucking hate you. Always such a pain in the ass, stay fucking still.”

Her knife caught me again, and I cried out. I was exhausted from the exertion. Not here, please God, don’t let Nick find me. I didn’t think I could keep this up much longer. Her arm went back, and I strained to move my head, but there was no way to get out of the way.

I’m so sorry Nick.

The low menacing growl pulled Beth’s attention from me, and I rolled to my side in time to see Beth stick her knife in Sally as the dog jumped at Beth knocking her to the ground.

No! I tried to scream, but no words came out. Please don’t let that be Sally. There had to be strays running the streets, right? Not Sally. Please, not her.

“Don’t move,” a man yelled as Beth struggled to her feet. “Beth Stevens, you’re under arrest.”

There was so much commotion I didn’t know what to do. There was nothing I could do but lie there as men yelled at Beth to put her hands up and move away from me. I didn’t know where her knife went. Would she still kill me in front of the police?

“Please Beth,” I cried.

“Shut up. This is all your fault. All of it. If you would’ve kept your mouth shut, none of this would’ve happened.”

“It’s over, Beth,” a woman’s voice joined the male voices.

Beth didn’t get the chance to answer. Out of nowhere, she was tackled from behind, her head hitting the ground with a sickening thud. At the same time, I was grabbed under my armpits and pulled away from a struggling Beth. She was screaming obscenities and threatening to kill me.

My body tensed, and fight or flight set in; I fought against the hold, trying to break free.

“It’s me, Red. Relax baby; you’re safe.”

Nick.

“Where’s Sally?” I asked.

“Let me worry about you right now.”

“No! I’m fine. Please, Nick. Help her; she saved my life. Go to her.”

“Joel’s got her. Let me cut you free and check your leg.”

“Please, Nick. She saved me.”