She continued to stare through the trees where Andy had disappeared. She focused her eyes, praying they would discern something new.
Nothing.
Dark. Blackness. Nothing.
She realized she was biting at her lip.
Come on, come back.
She stared down at the gun in her hands.
“Just pull the trigger and I’ll come running.” That’s what Andrew said. If I fire the gun, he’ll come back.
She smiled and nodded to herself.
Yeah. He’ll come back.
She reached for the door.
Slowly unlocked it.
Pull the trigger.
Opened it carefully.
He’ll come running.
And then she saw the movement.
She let out a short, sharp scream as she slammed the door and locked it fast.
Fiona looked out through the window again, her breath fogging the glass, but she could see no one.
I know what I saw, she thought. It was out of the corner of my eye, but it was a movement, I’m sure of it.
She stared off to the right of the car, where she was sure she’d glimpsed something.
Or someone.
I’m sure of it.
And so she sat and waited.
And waited.
Too scared to move. Too scared to do anything.
Waited in the dark. In the night.
Gotta wait this out.
Just gotta.
Please, Andrew, please just come back.
Please let there be no one else out there. Don’t let tonight turn out all wrong and bad. Not tonight. Please.
She sat.
The wind blew through the trees. It was getting stronger, she was sure of it.
I can’t sit here all night. He has to come back soon.
Turning her neck, Fiona checked out the back windows of the car. Nothing.
No movement. No life.
Maybe it’s just the wind. Maybe I am just making it up. I’m too nervous, maybe that’s it. I need to calm down and try not to panic.
Sitting still and holding her breath for what seemed like ages, Fiona strained her eyes, darting from the front of the car to the side, looking for anything or anyone to prove she was right.
Nothing.
No one.
Shit.
She ran a hand through her hair and rested the gun on her lap.
Why’s he taking so long? Why hasn’t he come back?
And then she realized. Realized exactly why Andrew hadn’t returned.
No, no! I won’t believe it!
But she knew she was right. Andrew should’ve been back by now. It wouldn’t take long to scout in the bushes and come back to the car.
Unless...
Unless whoever was out there got to him first.
Fiona felt the fear spread down her spine.
Fuck. I knew he shouldn’t’ve gone. He should’ve stayed here. We should’ve stayed together!
She placed the revolver on the driver’s seat only long enough to button up her jeans and check her boots were on. Grabbing the revolver again, she unlocked the door and opened it quickly.
I can’t stay here by myself any longer. I can’t just wait for him to come and get me. I have to try and save Andy. I have to stop whoever is out there!
She climbed from the car and stood in the cold night. A shiver passed through her as she turned her head and checked to the side of the car once more.
Slowly, Fiona took a step towards the front of the car, closer to the trees.
Her boots sunk slightly in the wet underbrush.
They’ll get all muddy and need to be cleaned again. I should never have bought a white pair, she thought. Still, as long as they’re comfortable and functional.
Her eyes tried to slice through the darkness, but she couldn’t see anyone or anything.
The trees moved in the night, swaying with the wind.
Fiona listened carefully for any sound, any hint as to where Andrew was, but the wind swallowed it all.
“Hello?” It came out in a whisper, so she tried again, louder this time. “Hello? Andy?”
Nothing.
“Andy? You out here?”
She knew it was a stupid question, but she didn’t know what else to say.
She walked to the front of the car and leaned on the cold hood.
“Andrew? Where are you?”
Her voice disappeared into the night.
She tore her eyes away from the trees for a few seconds to check she still had the revolver in her right hand. She could feel her fingers gripping the handle, but she had to make sure with her own eyes.
She shivered again. The wind messed her hair.
I should never have agreed to come up here. I don’t know this area too well. It was a stupid, stupid idea.
“Bitch!”
She jumped at the voice. It was close. Somewhere in front of her. Somewhere just on the other side of the trees.
Fiona’s eyes darted from side to side. Her mouth opened to say something, but nothing came out.
“You fucking lying bitch.”
It was a deep, hate-filled voice and it filled her with total fear.
“I’m going to make you pay for all the fucking lies and the games you play. I’m going to cut you deep, cut you and make you hurt.”
Fiona wanted to run, but she was frozen to the spot. Only her eyes moved back and forth, trying to pinpoint the voice in front of her.
“I’ll cut the ears, cut the nose, and cut the tits off your body. I’ll make you beg for mercy and make you wish for death. I’ll gut you wide and slice right through that sexy little cunt of yours.”
“No,” she whispered first. And then her voice rose with her panic. “No, no, please no! Don’t hurt me, leave me alone! DON’T HURT ME PLEASE!”
Her whole body was shaking, her eyes darted in the darkness, the wind blew and the trees swayed. She tried to move, but couldn’t. She wanted to, but couldn’t.
“Then, just before you die, I’ll cut out your clit and make you eat it.”
And then he was laughing at her. She could hear it loud above the wind, a guttural, deep, manic laugh that didn’t stop. It seemed to be all around her now, surrounding her on all sides.
Stop it, stop! Leave me alone!
Fiona put her hands to her ears and closed her eyes, willing and praying for the sound to stop.
But the laughter continued, as did the wind and the sound of the trees all around her.
“Time to die, bitch!”
She opened her eyes just in time and saw him running towards her, out of the darkness from between the trees.
She fumbled with the revolver, took aim and squeezed the trigger.
The sound was loud and shattered the night.
She watched him jerk to a stop and then stagger slowly backwards, as the blood quickly grew on his chest. Her eyes met his as he reached out to her before falling backwards onto the ground.
Andrew hit the ground hard, partly disappearing back into the darkness between the trees.
No!
Fiona dropped the gun.
Oh, Andrew! Oh fuck! No! Please no!
The silence returned to the night. The wind continued its dance with the trees.
And Andrew lay dead in front of her.
All she could see were his feet and legs. The rest of him disappeared into the darkness.
What have I done? Andrew, oh shit, I didn’t know it was you. I thought it was him, I thought it was the person I saw out in the night. I didn’t know it would be you! I didn’t know. I’m so sorry! I didn’t want it to happen like this. Oh, Andrew, I’m so fucking sorry.
She found herself standing, no longer leaning on the hood of the car. Slowly, she took a step closer towards him. Carefully, she moved further into the night.