“Hello?” Rachel had asked, half sighing, of whoever had the nerve to call her at such a late hour.
That’s how it all started. That’s how an Ugly Betty marathon night turned into a nightmarish version of phone tag.
Rachel clenched her kitchen knife tighter, her knuckles turning white. She had never been in a fight, let alone had to defend herself against some psycho who got his jollies from terrorizing people seemingly randomly. Did she have what it would take to do what she knew must be done in the face of fear?
She held back a tear as the phone rang once again. She simply stared at it, not sure whether she wanted to give the scum bag the satisfaction of instilling more fear into her rapidly beating heart. She almost wished he’d just kick the front door in and get it over with.
She reached out with trembling hands and answered the phone.
“What do you want?!” She cried.
“Mrs. Benjamin, I’m officer Richard Holmes of the Jacksonville police department. Listen to me. We’ve traced the call, Mrs. Benjamin, and it’s coming from within the house! This is very important! I need you to quickly—”
Rachel left the phone’s receiver dangling off the edge of her side table and made a beeline for her front door. She ignored the sound of footsteps and the barely audible voice still emanating from her living room phone as she flung herself out into the cold winter night air. She sighed in relief, slamming the door firmly shut and locking herself out.
Safe at last.
That’s when her cellphone rang…
