The last words a girl hears before she dies |
With a sigh escaping my tired body, I settled onto the sofa. After a hectic day, I was looking forward to relaxing with hot cocoa and a good book. In a few minutes I was engrossed in the story. Without warning, the door flew open, crashing into the wall. “Mom must be home from work,” I decided, not bothering to look up. Freezing air poured into the room, making me huddle under my blanket. “Why doesn't she shut the door?” I muttered, glancing up. The door stood wide open. No one was in sight. Leaping off my couch, I peered out into the darkness. I could just make out the shape of Mom's car parked in the lane. But where was Mom? Grabbing my boots, I hurried out into the darkness to investigate. Just as I rounded the corner of the house, a sharp beam of light stung my eyes, blinding me for a moment. “Stop right there,” a deep voice barked. Stopping in my tracks I demanded, “What's going on?” Hands of steel gripped my wrists. I lunged to get away, shrieking at the top of my lungs for help. He swore in anger and pulled a knife from his belt, its blade gleaming in the darkness. “No!” I cried, but it didn't help. A terrible pain cut through me as he plunged it into my side. I was falling, falling, and I hit the ground as he melted into the shadows. Everything blurred in front of my eyes and I felt myself fading away. And then footsteps came around the corner and my stomach tensed. My mother's scream filled the air and the last thing I heard as I drifted into unconsciousness was my mother saying, “I'm calling to report a murder...” This story was written for the Daily Flash Fiction contest. |