Page 87 of Alluring

There were no neighbors in sight. It looked as if this were the only house for miles. No one would hear gunshots fired. There goes that scenario.

The front door made a loud creak as she opened it. She entered a large, empty room that had a lone, straight back, wooden, kitchen chair sitting in the center of it. The room was overly bright. Large, uncovered picture windows looked out into an unkempt and overgrown backyard. The floors were hard-wood in need of refinishing, and the walls were a dingy white with nothing adorning them, but there were square patches of brighter white where pictures must have hung at one point.

Alexis's eyes were drawn to the lone chair once more. She knew that if she sat in that chair she'd be tied up, and then she wouldn't be able to save herself. She had to act now. Surprise would be on her side. Sabrina wouldn't be expecting an attack.

She quickly turned on the balls of her feet, then ran full out at Sabrina, head-butting her in the stomach, and toppling them both to the floor.

"You stupid bitch!" Was shrieked in her ear, right before she felt something cold and hard hit the side of her head. And that would be the gun, Alexis thought, right before she passed out.

Alexis came awake suddenly, her heart racing. It took her a few seconds to remember why. The stalker had her. Her head pounded and the bright light hurt her eyes. The angle of the sun hadn't changed much, so she knew she hadn't been unconscious long.

She was firmly secured to the chair—Alexis looked down at her ankles—with duct tape. Her arms were stretched behind her and attached to the chair's back. She tried wiggling them, but they were securely taped.

"It's about time you woke up."

Sabrina came into view. Alexis squinted, trying to bring her into focus. Guess that hit to the head did some damage. She also felt slightly nauseous. She swallowed a few times, hoping it would pass.

"Now what am I going to do with you? Should I make you dig your own grave or would that be too cruel?"

Was she supposed to answer? She didn't want to dig her own grave, then again, she didn't want Sabrina digging it, either.

Sabrina walked a circle around her chair, then once again stopped in front of her. "I honestly don't see what Jack finds so fascinating about you. I mean look at you. All that frizzy, brown hair, fat face, even fatter ass. You're simply hideous."

Alexis knew not to let Sabrina get to her, but hideous. Really? In a flash of foolish anger, Alexis sneered, "You're not so hot yourself."

The slap was unexpected and whipped her head painfully to the side. She tasted blood in her mouth.

"I'm perfection personified."

Alexis thought it best not to comment, but she did open and close her jaw a few times, to make sure it still worked.

"As soon as you're out of the picture, Jack will be all mine. He'll marrymeand we'll live happily ever after." Alexis watched her pace a few minutes. "Now, how shall I kill you?"

Alexisreallydidn't want to answer that question.

"I don't want to simply shoot you. Where's the fun in that? I want to drag your death out, painfully and slowly."

Think. Think. Think. Alexis. In the movies, they always get the psycho killer to keep talking until helps arrives. Surely, Jack is out searching for her. She didn't know how much time she could stall, but she had to try. She needed to get Sabrina to talk about her fantasy life with Jack. Bet she could go on and on about that for hours. "Sabrina, what are you going to do with Jack once he's yours?"

Sabrina stopped pacing, an enormous smile filled her face, and her eyes took on a glazed look. She then proceeded to tell Alexis about her and Jack's future. In detail.

Alexis smiled inwardly. Perfect.

* * * * *

Stan got Jack back to the hotel in record time. Stan and Steph decided to stay at the hotel, checking other leads in case this one didn't pan out. Jack rushed to the roof and the awaiting helicopter. He willed the pilot to hurry. It seemed that too much time had passed since Alexis was taken. Surely, time was running short. He refused to believe he wouldn't make it in time. Hope was his only ally.

They were up in the air in a matter of minutes. The sun shone brightly through the helicopter's window, blinding him momentarily. He didn't have his sunglasses. They were in the Range Rover back at Steph's apartment.

The ride seemed ridiculously short, and for that he was grateful. The helicopter landed in an empty field beside an old, decrepit house. He jumped out of the helicopter and raced to the front door, losing all his usual finesse, in his haste to discover if Alexis was inside.

He stepped over the threshold. Alexis was tied to a chair. She faced away from the door, so he couldn't tell whether she was okay, but her body wasn't slumped, and he took that as a good sign.

Sabrina stopped herself mid rant as he walked through the door. Her eyes got wide and a smile lit her face. "Jack!"

Alexis turned her head. Blood was matted in her hair and dried on her ear. Her face was red and swollen. But she was alive and he thought she never looked more beautiful. The relief that swept through him was all consuming and he stood there a minute and simply stared at her, trying to convey to her with his eyes that everything was going to be alright.

Jack carefully shut the front door, then slowly walked farther into the room. He didn't want to make any sudden movements and startle Sabrina, who held a gun. Her movements were jerky and she had a crazed look in her eye as she watched him approach.

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