• Black-Eyed Susan

    ~ Chapter One ~

    Lisa Klade, age twenty-one, ducked out of the way of low hanging branches as she slipped pass the right side of a smooth green gate. On the other side was an old, abandoned cabin.

    Her best friend, Rachel McCoy, age twenty, hesitated. “Ummm…Lisa…”

    The pink-haired woman stood on the other side of the gate, hands on hips. A smile spread along her lips. For a moment, her emerald eyes met with her friend’s. She affectionately teased her. “Jeez, what’s the matter with you?”

    The blonde gulped and scanned the area with nervous ruby eyes. “Are you sure we should be doing this? Isn’t this…like…trespassing? Won’t someone get mad?”

    Lisa turned around with a careless shrug. “Alright fine then. Have it your way.” She began to make her way towards the cabin, but as soon as she rounded the first corner, out of her friend’s sight, a set of strong, muscular arms wrapped around her shoulders and a hand covered her nose and mouth.

    Hot breath brushed her left ear as a deep male voice reached her eardrums. “You’re a nice one.”

    Her heart leapt into her throat and she fought against the mysterious man’s strength. No!

    A grin spread along his greasy lips. “Heh-heh, little birdy can’t fly away.”

    Lisa’s movements faded as her strength weakened and her vision blurred.

    Everything went black and the man swept up her into his arms and carried her away.

    I’ve got a bad feeling about this! Rachel hopped from one foot to another. A squirrel rustled the leaves in a nearby tree and a frigid chill seeped into her backbone. Low hanging branches scraped the top of her head and the leaves tickled her exposed flesh as she rushed pass the right side of the gate. “Oh, wait for me!”

    Rachel’s eyes widened and she froze, heart beating overtime. Where’d she go? “Lisa?”

    A gentle breeze rustled the leaves in the trees and the sky turned overcast. Her voice carried on the wind. She felt the heaviness of the moist air and smelled rain on the way. “Come on, Lisa, this isn’t funny!”

    The emptiness of her surroundings hit her full blast and she collapsed onto her knees, tears gathering in her eyes. She trembled and her voice came out in an unsteady whimper. “Wh-What should I do?” I don’t know what to do! I’m scared!

    Lisa opened her eyes with a groan. “Rachel?” It took a moment for her vision to focus. It smells musty. She sat up and looked around her, confused. The memory of being grabbed from behind and knocked unconscious smacked her into reality. She stood and frantically rushed towards the top of an oak staircase. Her feet barely met the faded red carpeted steps and her heart pounded as her chest heaved with each gasp for breath. I'm scared, I'm scared; I'm scared, I'm scared!

    She rounded the right corner of the hallway, stopped and closed her eyes. Tears wet her lashes and rolled along her cheeks. I can't take this, I can't take this anymore! With a deep, shuddery breath, she raised her arms and placed one hand on each side at the top of her head, then, entwined her fingers with her hair and struggled to scream, but to no avail.

    A strange sensation spread throughout her body. It was like that of a painful bolt of lightning after cherry blossoms in the gentle breeze. For an instant, she wanted to give up, but then she realized she had to fight in order for her to survive. She forced herself to run.

    A door vastly approached her and she held her arms out in front of her as a shield. Her palms smacked the door. Hands shaky and sweaty, she fumbled in her attempt at trying to turn the doorknob and push the door open. When the door finally opened, there was the loud sound of tearing, like that of wet paint that had dried in the crack between the door and the bottom doorframe.

    Footsteps echoed along the hallway and Lisa entered the room, spun around and slammed the door shut. Scared out of her mind, she slowly backed away. Is this it? Is it game over for me? Will I die? Will my life end like this?

    She stared at the door with wide eyes and everything slowed down and she heard every sound clearly. The doorknob turned and the door opened as the mysterious man entered the room. When he let go of the doorknob, there was a click. He approached her, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a knife. Every part of her screamed in agony and warm, crimson liquid blanketed her vision.