17
Sophia
After stabbing him with a shard of the mirror, I made a run for it. I’d meant to wait until the evening, when it would be dark and easier to disappear, but it was what it was.
“You bitch!” he screamed, already back on his feet.
I raced up the stairs, wishing I’d had enough time to lock him in the cage, which had been part of the original plan. But he was too quick, even with his damn bloody eye.
Fortunately, I made it to the top of the stairs and into the kitchen before he could get his hands on me. Heart racing, I grabbed a butcher knife from the counter just as Patrick appeared.
“Put the knife down, Sophia!” he snapped angrily. “Even with that thing, you’re no match for me. You know that. I swear to God, if you try stabbing me again, I will kill you.”
“I’d rather die than spend another moment with you, you pathetic fuck!” I hollered, trying not to look directly at his bloody wound. He’d managed to pull the shard out and there was blood everywhere. It had to hurt like hell.
His good eye stared at me with hatred. “Then die you will.”
I had to admit, even with the butcher knife in my hand, I was terrified and uncertain of my next move.
Patrick made the decision for both of us. He lunged toward me and tried knocking the knife out of my hand, but I managed to stab him in the side. He screamed again and slammed his fist into my face. I stumbled backward, but still managed to grab a cast-iron skillet that had been sitting on the counter. As he was trying to remove the knife from his side, I hit him hard in the face with the heavy skillet. He went down and I took off running again. Unfortunately, the back door was locked and a key was needed to get out. Not seeing one, I turned and ran down the hallway, but he managed to grab ahold of me. I tried fighting him off and we both stumbled, landing on the carpeting in the living room.
“You… little… bitch…” His hands went around my neck and he started choking me.
I tried pulling at his fingers, but even with his injuries, he was too strong. Unable to breathe, I slapped and clawed at his face as he stared down at me. It was then that I felt him getting hard.
Good God… he was sick and twisted!
Something inside of me refused to give up, especially knowing how much pleasure he was getting out torturing me. Remembering my updo, I reached into my hair and pulled out one of the large bobby pins I’d used to secure it. Like the razor and mirror, him agreeing to buy a few hair accessories had been another small victory.
“Die, bitch,” he growled.
Just as things started to get blurry, I managed to plunge the bobby pin into his other eye.
Screaming in agony, Patrick released my neck and cupped his eye. Unfortunately, he was still on top of me and I was trapped under his weight. I knew if I didn’t get away now, I was dead. But, I barely had any fight left in me.
Not knowing what else to do, I buried my thumb into his other injured eye-socket. He howled, the pain obviously excruciating.
“You bitch!” he cried, rolling of off of me.
Still gasping for breath, I managed to get to my feet and make it to the front door. Fortunately, this one was unlocked.
When I stepped outside, the fresh air hit me first and I almost started sobbing. I hadn’t been outside in weeks and I was now inhaling freedom.
“Sophia!” hollered Patrick, his voice drawing nearer.
Noticing an old pickup parked outside, I ran over and got in. Luck was again on my side—he’d left the keys in the ignition!
I started the engine and was about to back away from the house, when Patrick staggered outside. I had no idea of how he was able to see clearly, but he managed to move toward the truck holding his gun and waving it carelessly.
Shit.
He fired the revolver, but his aim was way off. He fired it again, this time a bullet hit the headlight, smashing it into pieces.
As I began backing away, I knew that if I didn’t do something drastic, he might eventually come looking for me again. Even with his injuries. I’d always be looking over my shoulder, terrified and uncertain.
I studied him as I drove backward. He looked so damn determined. I needed to end this shit-show now. I didn’t want to live in fear for the rest of my life.
Taking a deep breath, I put the truck into drive and floored it, now on the verge of madness myself. The last thing I saw was the look of shock on his face before I rammed him with the rig. He went down and I closed my eyes, sickened by the sound of the tires rolling over his body.
At least I was free.
Or was I?
The man had already survived both eye injuries and the stab wound.
Heart pounding, I opened my eyes and checked the rearview mirror, half expecting him to get up again, like the bad guys in the movies. But from the look of his mangled body, I knew he’d be celebrating the rest of his birthday without candles. Just fire and brimstone.
“Happy birthday, you crazy fuck,” I mumbled.
18
Sophia
Shaken and in shock, I drove until I made it to Flagstad, a town about twenty miles away. After driving around in a fog, I eventually located the police station and went inside.
“Jesus, are you okay?” asked one of the officers behind the front desk.
From his expression, I realized I must have been a sight. I glanced down, and that was the first time I noticed how much blood was
