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I need them, but now is not the time to go searching for lost shoes. No sir, I’m not out of the woods yet. There are so many places for Nick to hide; so many shadowy corners, he could be lurking virtually anywhere, waiting to pounce on me.
Right now all I must focus on is getting out of here.My very life depends on it.
Pressing my back against the wall, I slide cautiously toward the front door, my movements slow and timid as a mouse. Bit by bit, inch by inch, I ease myself closer to freedom.Oh God, please don’t let anything go wrong.Please!
Finally, I reach my destination.
With trembling fingers, I turn the latch, push open the door and step out into the night. For a brief second, I stand at the entrance to Nick’s house, unable to believe I’ve actually made it out of there alive. It feels so surreal. Snapping from my stupor, I stumble down the steps into the street.
My eyes dart about wildly. I’m still not convinced I’m safe. Glancing left and right, I survey the semi-circle of white regency houses with their blacked-out windows. The place seems eerily deserted; not a single light is on and for a moment, it’s like I’m the only person left on the planet. I get a sick feeling as the full horror of my predicament dawns on me. It’s the middle of the night and I’m stuck in a strange area, alone and afraid, in my bare feet and a flimsy pink mini dress. Worse still, the man I love is a …
No.
I won’t even allow myself to think it.
Mustering all my strength, I stagger across the road, taking care to avoid stones and pieces of broken glass. Somehow, someway, I’ve got to find a way out of this nightmare. Tilting my head, I scrutinise the empty street again. No sign of a bus stop anywhere and I haven’t a clue how to get to the train station. Where I am is anybody’s guess, but I have to keep going. With renewed determination, I start walking again, only to stop abruptly as something sharp presses into my heel. Screaming silently, I raise my foot and find a metal pull tab from a Coke can has lodged itself in my skin.
Hastily, I brush it off and flinch.No bleeding, thank God.
Painfully, I hobble on the sides of my heels to the end of the street in the hope of flagging down a passing car. For an interminable time, I stand on the sidewalk, waving frantically to every vehicles that passes, but nobody seems interested in my plight. Can I really blame them? I know I must look deranged, what with my panda eyes and tangled hair, but surely someone cares enough to at least pull over and check that I’m okay? What has the world come to? Are people really that insensitive?
Every so often, I glance furtively back at Nick’s house, hoping against hope that he doesn’t follow me outside. If I ever have to see his face again, the way he looked in the kitchen …
Oh God.
The low growl of an engine pulls me from my thoughts. Squinting through the darkness, I spy a taxi pulling up to the curb opposite; a large, bald-headed man is beckoning me to come over.
Is he for real?
Wiping sweat from my brow, I stagger up to the half-open passenger side window.
“Where to, love?” the cabbie asks.
“Battersea. And p-please make it quick.”
He nods and hits a switch on the armrest to unlock the door. Sobbing with relief, I jump in, unable to believe my good fortune. Almost immediately, we’re on the move. He yanks the wheel from left to right and keeps on driving until the darkness has consumed all traces of the nightmare I’ve endured.
For a few heartbeats, I sit rigidly in the back seat, hugging my arms tightly for protection. Tears wet my cheeks. I’m coming apart inside and my nerves are shot to shreds. I keep talking to myself; babbling a load of disjointed sentences that make no sense.
I reckon the cabbie must think I’m either drunk, crazy, or both.
Probably both.
“This can’t be happening,” I mutter under my breath. “Vampires don’t exist. This is a fucking hallucination. It’s got to be!”
“Had a rough night?” the cabbie asks. When I don’t respond, he turns his head and steals a quick glance at me. “Here look, are you sure you’re all right back there? Do you need me to take you to the hospital or something?”
“No.”
“The police station?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“You don’t look it, love. To be honest, I think you look pretty terrible. Have you been in a fight?”
“No, like I said I—”
“And what happened to your shoes? Why are you walking around in bare feet?”
