Page 56 of Done Waiting

Lost in thought, I choose random roads, not having any destination in mind. As I stop at a red light, reality crashes down around me. Looking around for familiar landmarks, I realize I’m about ten minutes from Falls Creek College.

A shiver courses through me as I think about Katie Michaels, the girl who was assaulted and strangled to death in the woods behind campus. A once peaceful college town is now in upheavalover the gruesome murders, the girls’ bodies left in the woods behind campus.

There’s been no updates on Brittany Smith, who was last seen on campus.

I notice a familiar vehicle as I wait for the light to change. My heart pounds, my hands gripping the steering wheel.Is that Ben’s car? What the hell is he doing here this late?

Glancing at my radio, the time says 2:45 a.m. My brow furrows.Why would he be heading toward campus at this time of the morning?

Uneasiness grips me. Although I tell myself I shouldn’t, when the light turns green, I press the accelerator, following his car. I stay a safe distance behind him so he doesn’t realize it’s me.

As he turns onto campus, I see someone in the passenger seat. My heart thuds inside my chest as I slowly follow, a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Finally, he pulls into a space in front of a large, imposing building. There are only a few buildings around this area of campus, and none of them appear to be residence halls or the library.

Locating a space in the back of the lot, I turn my headlights off and back in. My car idles as I duck in my seat, peering over my steering wheel to watch him.

Ben gets out and walks around the vehicle. Opening the door, he extends his hand, and a blonde steps out. Her movements are clumsy, and she staggers in her heels. He wraps his arm around her, holding her up.

Is she drunk?

They head toward the building but follow the sidewalk around it instead of going inside. I don’t know what possessed me, but I shut my car off. Grabbing my keys and cell phone, I exit my car, quietly shutting and locking the door. The cold October air cuts through me, sucking the air from my lungs. I shove mykeys and cell phone in the pockets of my hoodie, keeping my hands inside for warmth.

Briskly striding across the parking lot, I head in their direction. My eyes are on them as I huddle inside my hoodie, the breeze blowing my hair away from my face. I’m not sure how the stumbling blonde isn’t freezing in that short dress she’s wearing that bares so much skin.

They follow the sidewalk around the building, the blonde staggering against Ben. He tightens his grip on her but doesn’t slow his pace.

Geez, what a gentleman.

Rolling my eyes, I continue around the sidewalk. Since I’m a considerable distance away, I lose sight of them when they turn the corner of the building.

Increasing my pace, I hurry after them. Once around the corner of the building, I look around in confusion, not spotting them anywhere. It’s as though they vanished.

As I look around, weighing my options, trepidation fills me. The large building casts long shadows over the area, giving this part of campus an eerie feeling.

A short distance ahead is a forest, the imposing trees swaying gently in the breeze. Looking up at the moon, I shake my head.

I should turn around and go back to the car.

A faint noise hits my ears, and my gaze returns to the woods. My heart beats wildly inside my chest as I strain, listening intently.

A shrill scream pierces the night.

My feet carry me toward the woods without a second thought. Although my father taught me to help when someone is in need, doubt plagues my mind.

But I push it away when I hear the scream again.

As I step into the dark forest, I pause. I can barely see anything. Stopping, my hands shake as I pull my phone from my pocket, turn on the flashlight, and point it toward the ground.

Listening intently, I quietly make my way through the woods. My ears perk up when I hear eerie sounds in the distance. My pulse hammers inside my ears when I realize the noises are not from pleasure.

In the distance, I spot two figures on the ground ahead. I quickly step behind a tree, shutting the light off. My body shakes as I try to control my breathing.

What if I lost Ben and the blonde only to stumble upon the serial killer?

Letting my eyes adjust to the darkness, my fingers dig into the bark of the tree as I peer around it.

My breath freezes in my lungs as I see the blonde on the ground, her body writhing and twisting. The man on top of her has his pants pulled down, exposing his ass, as he thrusts wildly inside her.

---