13
“Mom, mom,” someone shouted.
After some time she began remembering things, like Ben, and Johnny. It all came flooding back to her.
“W-What is it Johnny?”
“Mom, I’m scared. Ben was just on the phone. He said he was coming over, he sounded angry, and then the lights went off!”
“What honey?” Ellen looked around at the dark sitting room. “He said he was coming over, you’re sure?”
“Yes, please don’t let him in. I don’t want him to hurt me again.”
Ellen stood up and walked over to the fireplace. She picked up a log.
“It’s okay honey, it’s okay. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She pulled him close and hugged him. He was shaking. Headlights appeared out front and came up the driveway.
“It’s him!” Johnny whimpered.
Ellen grabbed his hand and ran into the hallway, pulling open the cupboard under the stairs.
“He won’t look in here, quick get in and be quiet!”
They stood in the dark cupboard. She could hear the rain and wind thumping against the front door, making it rattle on its hinges. Then the door handle was forced up and down as Ben tried to open the door.
Hopefully he thinks were not here and just goes away.
It was silent for a few moments and Ellen began to relax, when there was a loud smash and glass fell onto the floor. The lock clicked and the door handle turned, the door creaked open as the hallway filled with the full roar of the storm. Footsteps entered the hall and the door closed.
“Ellen,” she heard Ben call. “Ellen, are you here?”
The footsteps came up the hall. They were cushioned as they entered the living room. After a few moments, they returned to the hall. Ben passed them by, heading towards the kitchen.
“Stay here,” she whispered.
She turned the handle slowly, willing it not to creak. It opened quietly and she slipped out of the closet. She shut the door behind her and crept towards the kitchen. She could smell whiskey in the air, which worried her more than anything. Something moved, it sounded like-
No, god please no…
Peeking around the doorframe, her fears were confirmed. Ben was stood reaching into the cutlery drawer. He pulled out a large knife and held it up, turning it in the moonlight. He shut the drawer and walked towards the backdoor.
He opened it, stumbling back and then ran out shielding his face. She tip toed over the kitchen floor, towards the door. Looking out the window, she could see him running at speed down the garden.
Ellen looked down at the log in her hand, she wondered if a knife would be more suitable.
No, it’s not going to come to that.
She ran after Ben. The wind blew her hair against her face. Her nightdress was instantly soaked and clung to her.
As she got came to the end of the garden, she slowed, creeping through the rain. The small woods loomed above her, glimpses of a thousand eyes stared out from between the bushes when the lightning flashed.
Ducking under branches, she tried to avoid the puddles and large roots. Ellen could make out Ben’s silhouette up ahead. She crouched lower, raising the log over her head.
“Ellen!” he screamed over the storm.
The emotion in his voice almost made her reply, she wanted nothing more than to run to him and hug him, but that time had gone. She could see the knife glinting as the bolt of lightning arced through the sky.
She brought the log down as hard as she could against the back of his head. He went limp and hit the mud, face first.
“See mom, I told you he was coming!”
Ellen jumped.
Turning around, she saw Johnny standing there. She couldn’t see his face as he had the hood of a rain jacket pulled up.
“Don’t do that! Don’t sneak up on me!”
“Sorry.”
“Here, hold this,” she gave him the log. Crouching down beside Ben, she turned him over.
“He’s out cold,” she muttered to herself. “Let’s get him inside, we can tie him up and call the police.”
“You think you can move him?”
“We have to try. He’ll get ammonia out in this storm.”
“Bad decision,” she heard Johnny say.
“What?” she turned and looked up at him, the log came down hard, hitting her in the side of her head, knocking her unconscious.