The Target - Chapter 3

Chaper 3: Hope

Samantha frantically looked left and right, with blurred vision, as if searching for some lost hope…

In those few heartbeats to death, Sam’s gaze fell on the security alarm button – that her overprotective, yet distant brother installed all over the mansion a couple of months back - on the adjacent wall, only a few inches closer to her than the open balcony door…

Sam took one last look at the advancing dark figure, before she threw herself, with her newfound hope, at the black button. That move was regarded with a soft laugh from behind her. Turning around, with an expression of surprise more than fear, Samantha was met with that cold voice once again. Only now, her attacker was an arm-stretch away…

“Did you really think I was that foolish, Samantha…? I’m disappointed in you … How do you think I got all the way up here in the first place?”

It was only then that Samantha noticed the absence of the alarm’s deafening shrieks. What worsened her situation even further was the painful burning sensation in her chest that grew with each ragged wary she took. She knew it would only be a couple of minutes till the attack hit her full-scale… from her other attacker…asthma…

But as the seconds ticked by, with neither occupant of the room moving, Sam’s predicament made her more focused rather than utterly and helplessly shattered. It made her take in her surroundings all over again… She studied her assailant and couldn’t help but feel that she’d met him before. Well, he would have to know her or Nick to know about the security procedures at the mansion, and how did he know it was her birthday today…? The tattoo on the back of his right hand seemed familiar, too. Then she noticed how the man’s coat was completely bathed in blood.

‘How many did he kill?’ Samantha couldn’t help but replay Anna’s death over and over in her mind when she saw the red stains…

‘Is he going to kill me…? Now..?’ The girl wondered, ‘he’s so close…’

“It was just too easy…” The harsh voiced announced, dripping with arrogance.

‘Okay. Focus’ Samantha told herself. ‘There has to be another way out of this’

“Father will be proud of me… now that I’ve shown him my worth…” He continued, with his chin up.

‘His father? Never mind…The balcony door is open… But then I’ll be stuck there, just delaying my- ’

“Any last words, Carter?”

‘Unless I jump to Nick’s balcony, and then if I can somehow pull myself up and into his wing maybe-’

“You know what?”

‘What if he follows me?’

“Out of courtesy, I’m going to let you choose… axe or pitchfork?”

‘NO… I can’t afford to think like that right now’

“You know it’s rude not to answer, don’t you? Or didn’t that dead brother of yours teach you any manners?”

“Wh-What did y-you do to N-Ni-Nick?”

“Nothing…yet”

Relief gushed through Sam’s body. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long-lived, as mystery man restated his question.

“So what will it be? Axe or Pitchfork? I don’t like to be kept waiting!”

‘I guess it’s now or never… but I need to buy myself some time. Just enough to run out…’

“ANSWER ME!”

Sam forced her insubordinate muscles to take a step closer to the man. Then she stomped his foot forcefully while shielding herself from the weapons with raised arms. The dark figure gasped and Samantha took that as her cue out…

Running to the balcony on wobbly legs, the dark-haired girl realized that her chest had constricted further, strangling her burning lungs even more. It wouldn’t be long for the asthma to take full charge of her body…

‘Just a little bit more…’ She pushed herself as she neared the balcony.

A gruff “Don’t be foolish!” could barely be distinguished from the drumming of her heart, followed, soon after, by heavy footsteps…

Without any sensible debates with her mind, Sam climbed to the other side of the marble railing with a determent look in her hazel eyes.

As soon as she heard her pursuer shouting out: “Come back here!” she held her breath and took the leap of her life, reaching for her brother’s balcony…

“I made it!” The dangling girl whispered in awe, adjusting her sweaty fingers for a tighter grip. But as she hung limply from the railing, she felt her resolve melting… giving way to all the exhaustion and pain…

Samantha knew she was in no condition to pull herself up, so she simply stopped trying… She needed that inhaler then more than ever… The asthma attack had reached its full height, causing a nauseating feeling in her pits. It also started pulling her away from reality… and into a distorted world, where – due to the lack of oxygen in her brain – the bright afternoon sun was blanketed with darkness, and her own breath whispered warmly into her ears. She heard her pursuer telling her to “Hold on!” in a gentle, concerned voice, and, as her palms slipped, she made no effort to grab onto the railing…

To be continued…