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Once I’m outside, I glance back at the house just once. Then I start running in the direction of the bus stop, following the same path I used to get to Antonio’s house when I first arrived. I’m not carrying Lara this time so I move much faster. The evening breeze brushes against my cheeks. The full moon illuminates the ground ahead of my feet as if abetting me in my escape, leading me away from the town.
This is how things should have been. I should have left as soon as I had the chance. I don’t belong here. Maybe because of Antonio’s kindness, I forgot that. I allowed him to make me believe that I could have a home here, that I could start over with Lara, that I could finally find peace and happiness. Maybe, for a moment, that was possible, but it isn’t anymore.
I’m grateful for the reprieve. I’ll never forget the kind people I’ve met. But now I must go and deal with the devil once again.
Jim is alive. He’ll come for me. Maybe he’s even on his way now with his friends. As long as I’m not here, the town will be safe. Antonio and Lara will be safe. As for me, I’ll be safe as long as I don’t get caught. If I do, I’ll be dead. I’m sure of it.
I beat my fist against my leg. Damn it. Why did I have to fail? Why couldn’t Jim just die like most people who get stabbed five times? He really must be a demon.
I walk faster. Apart from the fact that I’m not carrying a heavy load, I’m stronger now. I should reach the bus stop in ten minutes, and if there’s no bus then I’ll just walk some more until I can hitch a ride, or at least get to the next town and hide somewhere until the bus arrives. Thanks to the cash Antonio left on the kitchen counter – which I promise to pay back as soon as I can – I have enough to buy a ticket. I don’t have to sell Jim’s watch yet.
Jim’s watch.
At the thought of the watch, I stop. If what happened to Jim is in the papers, the police are probably already investigating – another reason for me to leave. If he were dead, I might not have to go to jail. I could say I did what I did in self-defense, which is the truth. But he’s alive. What if he accuses me of stealing and the police find his watch among my belongings? That makes it look like robbery and attempted murder.
I can’t give the police a reason to throw me in jail. I have to dispose of the watch. The question is: How? Do I just throw it behind some bushes right now?
I decide to do that, but as I approach the bushes, my ears pick up a sound. Running water. A river? Antonio did mention one.
It gives me a better idea on how to dispose of the watch, so I follow the sound. I’m going to stand on the bank and throw the watch right into the water.
After a few minutes, I see the river. Its surface glistens under the moonlight. I try to find a path leading down to it but there doesn’t seem to be one.
I guess I’ll have to climb down.
I do it carefully, one step at a time. I may be in a rush, but I don’t want to lose my footing and take a tumble. It’s a good thing there’s a full moon so I can see where I’m going.
Spoken too soon.
I’m only a quarter of the way down when the moon hides behind some clouds. I pause and catch my breath as I wait for them to pass. I continue as soon as they do, only to stop abruptly when I catch a glimpse of something slithering along the riverbank.
A snake?
My whole body freezes in fear even as my heart goes on hammering in my chest. What do I do? I can’t seem to think. To make my situation worse, my shoe starts to slip. I grab the nearest bush to keep myself from sliding down towards the serpent. As I do, Jim’s watch falls from my hand.
Shit.
It makes a thud as it bounces off a rock. The sound causes the snake to disappear into the water.
I let out a breath of relief. Good. It’s gone. Now, all I have to do is grab Jim’s watch, throw it into the river and get out of here as soon as I can.
At least, that’s the plan, but when I let go of the bush and take a step, my shoe slides again. I try to run down to keep myself from falling but my foot gets caught on a rock and I trip. Pain explodes in my ankle. I open my mouth to scream but no sound comes out. The next thing I know, my head hits something hard. Then I feel nothing at all.
