There's A Man in My House (Part 2)

I could hear him talking in the background and then his voice came through the my phone loud and clear. His voice was deep and menacing.

“If you go to the police, she dies.” He whispered.

Suddenly, the call dropped. He hung up on me. I froze, losing grip on my phone and it fell out of my hand and crashed on the floor of James’ truck.

“I know what you're thinking.” James put his hand on my knee. "Don't-"

I opened the door, forcing him to stop his truck and I jumped out. I ran full force back towards the house.

I heard the slam of his truck door and knew that he was chasing after me. He was faster than I was, catching up to me quickly. I tried to ignore him but he grabbed me, wrapping his arms around my waist and picked me up.

“No!” I shouted, kicking and flailing. “Stacy is in there! I can’t leave her!”

“I can’t let you go in there!” His strength was like pushing against a brick wall. I was no match for him.

“She’s in the house!” A sob broke through my lips.

“If you go in the house, he’ll kill you too.” His voice softened and his grip on me lightened.

“I can’t leave her behind.” I whispered, my heart aching to reach my best friend.

“The police will get her.”

I shook my head. “He’ll kill her!” I broke free from his grasp and ran toward the house.

“He’ll kill you, Jess!” He yelled after me.

I stopped and turned around. “Why does it matter? You’ve got Carlie.”

He stared at me in awe. I could tell I touched a nerve. Hurt was written across his face. He opened his mouth as if to say something but, quickly shut it.

I turned and ran. I had hoped he’d come with me but, I heard the slam of his truck door. So, I kept running.

I snuck up to the door, and looked through the corner of my eye through the window. No one was in the living room. Then I heard a scream come from a room on the top level of the house. It was Stacy. As I opened the door I felt arms wrap around my waist and turn me around. He pushed me against the wall and held my face in his hands. He pulled me close, adrenaline rushed through my body as he pressed his lips against mine. His taste was familiar. I knew it was James. My fingers found their way into his hair as I pulled him closer. But, just as quickly as he came, he pulled away, leaving me aching for more. I looked into those familiar blue eyes, his hands still holding my face.

“I thought you left.” I said staring into eyes.

“I love you, Jess, only you. Carlie grabbed me and kissed me against my will. It only lasted one second and I pushed her away. I promise that’s what happened. Please, please forgive me.” His eyes looked pleading.

“I’ll think about it.”

“That’s fair enough.” He smiled. “Let’s go save Stacy.”

“Alright.”

He let me go and opened the door. Slowly, we entered the house. We crept passed the kitchen, my textbook still opened on the table, and to the stairway that lead to the upstairs. We took on step at a time, careful not to make any noise. When we made it to the top, I looked both ways down the hallway, like crossing the street.

I heard sobs coming from the bedroom at the end of the hall. Cautiously I made my way down the hall, James followed close behind. All the doors were open and sure enough the man was in there, talking to Stacy. I backed against the wall, out of view, to listen.

“You aren’t going to win.” She said in a trembling voice.

“Are you sure about that?”

“The police will come find you and you will get what you deserve.”

I craned my neck just enough to see him pacing. Stacy sat on the floor, streams of mascara staining her cheeks. Her arms wrapped around her knees.

Suddenly, he stopped and let out a laugh. Then he knelt down in front of her. After a moment, his arm cocked back and he punched her in the face, sending her to the floor.

I gasped, clutching my mouth. My eyes began to burn with tears. Fear and then anger washed through me. I clenched my fists, the anger, like ice in my veins. 

James placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, grounding me. He didn't have to say anything but, somehow, all it took was his touch to calm my nerves and clear my head.

The man reached down and wrapped his big hand around her hair and lifted her up. “If the police come, you will die.”

“I’d rather die than let you get away and kill more people.” She gasped.

He dropped her and she cradled her face. Blood began to trickle from her nose and the corner of her mouth. “Then you will die anyway.” He climbed on top of her as she struggled to get away from him. He held her down grasping her neck. She struggled to breathe as the veins bulged from her forehead, her skin turning a shade of purple. Tears streamed down her face as she clawed at his hands. Suddenly, she went limp. 

I looked on, like a deer caught in headlights, unable to move, unable to think. I saw Stacy's chest begin to rise an fall, and relief washed over me. Thank goodness. She only passed out.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I broke from James and ran through the doorway. Instantly my body collided with the intruder's, sending us both rolling on the floor.

“Get your hands off of her!” I screamed.

He overpowered me, grabbing my hands and threw me off of him. I ran out the door with him chasing me.

I was wondering where James was when he jumped, colliding into the man, landing on top of him and punching him in the face several times.

The man kicked James off of him and pushed him against the wall. Punching him in the stomach and then throwing him down the stairs.

“James!” I screamed.

“Come here stupid girl.” He turned his sights on me.

I had nowhere to run, except for into rooms where he could corner me. I ran into the room behind me. I grabbed everything I could and threw it at him. A lamp, books, a couple of vases, anything and everything. It all came crashing down at his feet. 

He tackled me to the ground holding my arms down with his knees, his weight causing my fingers to tingle. Then grasped my neck with his hands, stopping the air from getting to my lungs. I struggled to breathe. I kicked and squirmed but his strength was too much for me. My vision started fading in and then fading out. My mind screamed at me to give up. I knew I was going to die.

Just as I was about to drift away to unconsciousness, I saw an arm reach around his neck and pull him off of me. It was James. He was alright!

I gasped for breath, my head throbbing.

James punched him and pushed him out the door. I saw something in James’s hand it was sharp and jagged. It was a small steak knife he must have gotten in the kitchen. He held it up to stab the man but, the man grabbed his hand turning the knife around to stab James.

James screamed as the knife dug into his side and blood began to stain his t-shirt.

“No!” I screamed. I tried to get up but my body couldn't move, my head still reeling from the loss of oxygen. Tears began to stream out of the corners of my eyes.

James fell to the ground and the man turned to walk down the stairs. A smirk on his face, thinking his work was nearly done.

I stared at James. Just when I thought he was dead, he reached over to his side and pulled the knife out. He gasped as the blade exited his side. He staggered and struggled to stand up but, he got to his feet.

The man paused at the second step down.

James tapped him on the shoulder.

The man turned around and James stabbed him in the chest, twisting the blade.

“Don’t ever touch my girl again.” He whispered before pulling the blade out and sending it into the man's chest again. Then, with as much force as he could muster, he pushed the man down the stairs.

Finally, everything stopped spinning and I got up and ran to him, wrapping my arms around him.

He wrapped his arms around me. “It’s all over now.” He whispered into my ear. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, dialing 911.

Stacy gained consciousness and crawled over to us. “Are you guys alright?”

“Yeah.” Sarcasm in his voice, he winced as he put pressure on his wound.

“Come on.” I said, putting his arm over my shoulder to help him down the stairs. Stacy grabbed his other arm and put it over her shoulder.

We got to the bottom steps, passed the intruders limp body. A pool of blood formed beneath him. We walked towards the front door and out into the rain, to wait for the police.

I lifted up James' shirt to see how bad he was injured. It wasn’t too deep. I was happy to see that it wasn’t bleeding too badly.

I hugged him again, instantly forgetting about his injury, and then pulled away. 

He winced.

"Sorry." I said, embarrassed.

He smiles and put his arms around my waist. "It's okay."

“I forgive you.” I said softly.

He held my face in his hands again. “I love you.” He brushed his thumb against my cheek, wiping a tear away.

I put my hand on his. “You better.”

He pulled my face close to his and pressed his lips against mine.

THE END