From the Smoke Club to the Ridge, the Smoke Screen Unveils (Part 8) | 9 November 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2551 | Prompt: at the back of the shelf

Part 7

Outside, the weather outside was balmy and calm, unlike the atmosphere in the dark and foreboding cave.

I continued running until reaching the clearing back to where it all began. No sounds rushed toward me from behind me, so I paused long enough to look back.

Faint barking of dogs drew closer. Fear rose up from the pit of my stomach. Scouring the park, I frantically searched for signs of Jordan. That is, if he managed to escape their vicious attack.

So I limped toward the only place in close proximity in my mind that felt safe. Through sheer determination, I reached the front of my lake cabin. In a few weeks, it would no longer belong to me. But for today, it would serve as my sanctuary.

Bolting the front and back doors, I proceeded to the sitting room windows and repeated the procedure, surrounded by a false sense of security.

No way to call for help. All utilities were operating, except for the land line. It was a good thing I'd decided to maintain a few utilities as the cabin was under management preparing for an open house.

At the kitchen window above the sink, I stared blankly down the path I escaped twice from. Once from Melvin, and now Jordan. A thousand questions prowled through my thoughts. After several moments, I glanced down at the open wounds on my wrists caused by the suffocating ropes.

With cool water, I washed away the blood. A thousand questions rose back up from the drain. The most puzzling of all, who suspected, then discovered my whereabouts and brought canine support?

Remembering my movements from that morning, I realized I'd left a note for Detective Morrison who was assigned on the missing persons murder case. I couldn't recall the moment I knew that Jordan was a suspect. I reluctantly alerted Detective Morrison. Perhaps he discovered additional evidence and decided to warn me, despite my insistence that I was more than capable of handling my safety.

Better still. How could I have been so utterly stupid to live with a man for over a year and not suspect even one moment his true unnatural self? A killer of woman, men, and children; but mostly women.

Flashes of the man who originally attacked me crossed my eyes. Melvin now lay in the cave dead, according to Jordan. The mind games the two of them played on their victims unnerved me. I wanted, but wouldn't allow myself, to believe the monster was dead, even at Jordan's insistence.

But at that moment, I needed to survive and locate my mobile phone. No food. Only water in the utility cabinet, so I drank my fill not realizing the thirst.

Thirty minutes later as evening approached, I woke with a throbbing headache unaware I'd dozed off. I sat ramrod straight on the couch. It wasn't a dream. A loud knock at the front door sent my pulse racing. Before I could gather my thoughts, a single voice shouted out several times.

"It's Detective Morrison, Tracie. Everything's fine. I've got the situation under control. Let me in."

With no thought of deception, I rushed to the door, peered out the hole, then opened it. Detective Morrison stood in front of me.

As soon as the door opened, the detective fell to the floor halfway inside. Behind him was Jordan. He's used his ever reliable weapon: the axe. And the weapon was still in Detective Morrison's spine.

I watched in paralyzing horror as Detective Morrison's body lay within inches of my feet.

Jordan's nostrils flared. His fist clenched as I watched a splash of anger cross his face. It was when his lips curled over his teeth that he spoke with venom in his voice.

"Hello Tracie. Aren't you happy to see me? If not, there's no use in attempting to flee. This time, I won't allow you to escape. Don't you know by now that we're bound for life."*

Now Part 8:

Words wouldn't come.

None were required. We both knew how we'd come to this standoff. Fear compelled me to maintain eye contact. What pleasantries could you possibly share with someone chasing you with the intent to end your life? None I could think of at that moment.

So I just stood there resembling a retail store mannequin gazing into the distance in disbelief while Jordan's pinched handsome face turned frigid and mouth twisted into a sneer loomed larger than life.

I expected a rage-filled voice to berate me. Nothing. Just that venomous stare.

A prickly sensation shot up my spine at the same time my chest pounded with dread as it dawned on me that the man from whom I'd just fled had escaped Detective Morrison and his canines.

Several seconds later, self preservation kicked in.

My mind kept watch as my eyes darted from left to right. Any items in proximity I could grab quickly in defense would suffice. On the bookcase at the back of the shelf behind my favorite novel rest a hammer. No luck reaching that weapon in time. And the fireplace tools sat comfortably in the far corner of the sitting room behind me.

I gasped for air as adrenaline rushed through my veins. My mind ordered my quivering legs to run. But one was rendered inoperable, and the other unreliable. I'd no chance in hell of evading this madman.

So I continued to stand there motionless.

It didn't help that Jordan was familiar with every inch of my lake cabin, thanks to the fun times we enjoyed almost every weekend when times were good between us and his word and actions weren't suspect.

My eyes followed as he glanced furtively over his shoulder, then backed up until the door met him. He didn't dare look away; instead fumbling until the creaking padlock shut in place.

Too overwhelmed with terror to make a dash to the door, I froze. Any other option trying to hide in one of the rooms wouldn't work. I felt the blood drain from my face. I realized Jordan noticed it too.

I sensed that Jordan realized I'd recovered from the initial shock of seeing him. But before I could react, he stepped not over or around the detective but on top of him and reached for me with the same anger, this time rolled up into a ball of fire that leapt from his eyes. I could no longer see any glimpse of the man I once knew.

In that instance was truly the first time in my life I felt imprisoned by fear. I took in a long slow deep breath, but don't remember exhaling.

The end was near.

I don't know from where my strength emerged, but I immediately retreated a few steps. Only then when I felt Jordan's hand on my back did I propel myself forward and run toward the kitchen.

It was a tiny tool. But it would have to suffice.

Laying on the island counter was a paring knife. The kind with a straight edge, four-inch blade that tapered off. I headed straight for the weapon feeling Jordan's breath on my neck. By the time I reached it, he'd overtaken me and jerked me back.

He swung me around with a force that almost toppled me. As I slipped from his grip, I gathered both hands and knocked him back. The next moment, I lay on top of him.

I stabbed and kept on stabbing as deep and relentlessly as I could despite Jordan's hands around my neck. If I were going to die tonight, then he would need emergency medical treatment because his guts would be so torn up inside, he'd bleed out.

My satisfaction would come if I lie dying that he would suffer as much as he rendered pain to countless others.

Jordan went limp. I couldn't tell if he was pretending, so I threw the knife down and jumped up. My pain dispelled, I headed toward the sitting room and didn't look back.

The next moment, I stepped over Detective Morrison. With trembling hands, I frantically unbolted the door, rendered slippery from the blood on my hands.

Only then did I glance back. No Jordan.

I knelt and searched the detective's pockets for his mobile phone and keys. A temporary sigh of relief as I retrieved both.

Away into the dark I limped in pain down the path in front of the cabin back toward the clearing.

[to be continued]

For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the @daily.prompt's publishing of:

9 November 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2551: at the back of the shelf; and

23 October 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2534: tiny tool;

For your convenience if you'd like to return to the beginning of "From the Smoke Club to the Ridge, the Smoke screen Unveils" drama, I set out below Chapters 1 - 7:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Good luck everyone with whatever your endeavors.

SOURCES:
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d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
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g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/

English is my native language.
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.