Chapter 56th

As I bolted, time dragged, my feet dragged, never as fast as I needed them to be. I saw Chris rise fast, ready to give chase. With urgent determination, the cop threw himself at him again, wrapping his own torso around his feet to bring Chris down once more. At that stage, I was already at the top of the stairs, pulling the door open, refusing to let myself dedicate one last stare to the scene unfolding down there in the dark basement I had just broken out of… But I could still hear it, through my blood-shot ears: muffled kicks and wet groans, Chris kicking him mercilessly in a fit of fury.

Thinking happened fast then – I paused, but only to weigh my options: on one side, the corridor, the front door, the bunch of keys lying there on the floor from my last attempt at escaping. No time to pick them, no time to sift through them for the right one and unlock the door. Knife in hand, I ran to the other end, to the kitchen, the back-door, the shattered glass opening the way.

I kicked the biggest shards that still clung to the bottom frame, I used the knife to slash the net on the screen door next, and just as I heard Chris yanking open the basement door, I threw myself in there – through the bottom frame of the door, out the slashed screen door, rolling down the two steps and tumbling onto the dirty grass of my tiny backyard, gaining my freedom under that moonlit sky and chilly night air I hadn't breathed in what felt like so long!

Shaky, frenzied, I picked myself up, I prepared to run… then I heard a clicking sound. Instincts recognized it – it silenced all the other noises of that night, it silenced even the blood rushing past my ears.

I looked back into the house to see Chris standing in the center of my kitchen, arm stretched ahead, pistol in hand, pointed at me. He panted, recovering his breath… sweat clung to this forehead, moistening his hair… his lips parted when he breathed. He was nervous, at last! Agitated, finally! What a strange thing to be proud of!

"Don't move!" He cried angrily, then softened his tone, certain of my compliance "not one step!"

But he didn't move either… he didn't take a single step, knowing, as I knew, that if he moved, I just might run, my body prepared like a stretched rubber band. We watched each other eagerly.

"Uh-uh!" he called at the threat of my bending forward "if you try, I'll put a bullet through your heart!"

I looked at him, at his gun, at our distance.

"Now…" he moved slowly, putting his other hand to the handle of his pistol and bending his head, as if adjusting the aim "…get back in here!" he cocked the gun, beckoning me.

I looked around myself, at the backyard, the open space and natural light. At gun point, and still so close to him, and yet… I felt so free! It was as if victory was already mine, and I only indulged him by delaying myself.

"Come now…" he prompted, his voice more collected, more soothing… "…you don't wanna leave it at that, do you? Your friend… he's still alive. I haven't killed him – yet. Will you leave him behind?"

Joe was still alive… what a relief! And what a burden, too! I paused, thinking.

"He'll wake up and wonder where you are, and why you are gone while he's still down there with me. That's not fair, is it? After all…" a smile threatened to stretch at the corner of his mouth "…It was never part of my plans. He only came here to save you!"

The wind blew – it chilled me… scared me. The night seemed suddenly dark and dangerous as the lazy pull of surrender whispered in my brain.

"Hey…" he called, his voice softer, more civilized "It should have been just us. Don't you think? Just you and me, settling our scores. Now you're walking away, and leaving him in your place. I know you don't want that. I've gotten to know you quite a bit, and you're nobler than that: You'd switch places if you could; you don't like other people cleaning up your mess, and you know he didn't ask for any of this. While you…" that wicked smile flickered through his lips, irresistibly. "Here! I'll throw you a bone: you come back inside, and I'll let him go."

I guess I was noble, after all… I'd take that deal. I felt it in my heart, in how it warmed up to the idea of letting Joe go free and unscathed, to undo his involvement in this hole I dug myself into. …But I wasn't dumb. Not that dumb, not again, not when it came to Chris. He wouldn't let any of us live, if it was up to him. It was not in his interest to be merciful… not his m.o. I took a deep breath!

"Abby!" He sensed my imminent flight "Don't take a single step… or I'll shoot! And I'll kill him…" he fussed "and you'll both be dead!!"

I heaved, hyperventilated, felt the wind…

"Abby!"

Then I ran!

"Son of a bitch!" I heard Chris curse, break his poise. He didn't take that shot, as I anticipated. Instead, he ran the other way, too big to follow me through the broken door.

I ran around the house, parallel to the wooden fence, through the narrow space separating the brownstones. I gained the street, tripped on a trash can, but stood up and recovered quickly. I looked briefly around, around the houses, looking for people, open doors, lights, cars cruising by – all too briefly, too little time to spare if I wanted to stay ahead… there were no signs of potential help. And there was no sign of Chris.

Bones rattling, agitated, aching to run, I loitered in the middle of the street, in front of my house, looking in through the big windows, looking for him, teasing him, wishing he would come, wishing to keep him away – away from the cop, fearing what he might do as the despair of losing me to the streets struck.

But finally, I saw him through the small panels on the door. I saw his angry scowl, his agitation and his uncertainty… I tried to breathe calmly, and I waited for him: watching, as coolly as I could muster, while he looked down, probably sifting through the keys, and finally unlocking the door, pulling it open slowly, then taking a calculated step my way, wondering what I would do, trying to guess what was on my mind, growing confident… Another step. His size… how it intimidated. His athletic build, his legs twice my size… how could I possibly best them? I began pacing back as he slowly marched my way, slowly but ready… his hands open in the air, his gun tucked away in his pants, nothing to stop him from chasing me down and gaining on me soon enough. But I was still ahead, still standing a real chance if I found someone – anyone – fast enough. I could actually do this! – the realization hit me, and filled me with energy. I turned and started to run, having made sure Chris was after me.

Because as long as he was after me… the cop was safe!