Katie closed her eyes as the car screeched to a halt at the edge of the cliff. Biting her tongue, she silenced a scream. She popped her eyes open to shoot an accusatory look at Rick. “Are you insane? ” Katie asked as she gripped the car door. She tried once again to open the damn thing, but only the driver side door in Rick’s car worked, leaving her trapped. Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades as she contemplated her next move. “I can’t believe you! You want to break it off with me to go to him! Don’t deny it, I know you do! ” Rick’s hands gripped the steering wheel. He raced the engine before he slammed the car into reverse.

Katie’s head jerked forward from the force. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. He’s insane. I need to get away from this idiot by any means necessary. He proposed, I said no; why couldn’t he accept that? When he stopped the car not a hundred feet from where they just were, Katie opened her eyes and knew she had to lie. “You know, death couldn’t even keep us apart. I’d make a deal with the Devil to be with you forever. We will get married. ” His deep voice sounded eerie in the close quarters. Black eyes raked over Katie making her wish she’d never started dating him. Unease gripped her insides.

She kept a knife hidden in her boot for emergencies, but never had to use it. Ever since one of her friends was attacked by a guy on the street, Katie felt the need to have a knife with her just in case. No one knew it was tucked away in her sock because her ornate cowboy boot covered the bulge. Hoping she might be able to talk her way out of the situation, Katie batted her eyes at Rick. “It’s not like that, Ricky. Chris and I are just friends.

You know that. I just need some space. I thought you and I were getting too serious too quick. That’s all. Let’s get out of here and go get something to eat where we can talk about it. The words flew from her mouth in a vain attempt to placate him. She looked over at Rick’s profile with his black hair that curled at the nape of his neck. As he gazed straight ahead, she saw his muscles straining against his shirt. He whipped his head around and stared at her. Without removing his hands from the wheel, he pressed his foot down on the gas pedal once again. Katie thanked God he hadn’t put it back into drive. The sound of the engine echoed through the night. On the deserted dirt road, Katie peered out into the darkness and wondered for the hundredth time why she agreed to get in his car.

She wanted to end this relationship, that’s it. What type of guy threatens to go off a cliff because his girlfriend wants to break up? Goose bumps covered her flesh when she thought of his statement that even death wouldn’t keep them apart. The city lights loomed far below. If I could roll the window down … No, too obvious. “Let’s get out and walk around,” she said and tried to smile at her captor. “In the cold? We’ll stay in the car where it’s warm. ” Rick turned to look at her. Kaila’s blue eyes flashed angrily before she swung her blonde hair down over her face as she looked down. I just need fresh air, Rick. I could open my window if you don’t want to walk around. ” Katie didn’t care if she had to climb out the window, she intended on getting out of this car as soon as she could. “No, the window is busted too. ” He sighed loudly as he continued.

“Fine, let’s just get out. I need a cigarette anyway; do you have your lighter on you? I forgot mine. ” Rick opened his door, and all Katie saw was freedom. Cool night air rushed into the Trans Am as Rick made his way out. Katie slid across the front seat and contemplated her next move. “Did you hear that? Katie asked as she stared into the line of trees. The trees were outlined by the moon shining behind them. The tall pines were black and feathery against the sky. She breathed in a deep breath as she considered what to do next. If she could distract him, maybe she could run down the hill toward the city. Rick looked toward the woods. “Is anyone there? ” Rick’s voice boomed into the night. Not even a tree branch moved in response. “Katie, nothing is there. So what’s the deal? Come kiss me, let’s not fight. ”

Rick grabbed her arm and started pulling her toward him. “Let me go, Rick. Listen; did you hear that? Barely whispering, she peered into the tree line again. She didn’t think running would be enough now; he’d just come after her. She had to keep him here until she could find help to get him out of her life forever. He peered at the woods once again. “Stop playing these games, Katie. There is nothing there. Come here. ” He pulled her close and she lashed out at him. “Not now, Rick! Let me go! ” They struggled until Rick let go of her arm when she spoke again. “There it is again! Look! ” Katie pointed to the trees. She knew it was now or never to make her move and get away from him.

Katie grabbed her knife when he grudgingly looked away and stepped toward the woods. She jammed the knife into his back between his shoulder blades. With a grunt of pain, Rick fell to the ground beside the car. Katie didn’t want to wait around to see how badly Rick was hurt; she didn’t care. Taking off down the steep hill, she dodged branches, halfway sliding down the dirt. Her breath came in short gasps as she made it to the bottom. She stopped and looked back up the hill, but no one followed her. I should go find help saying someone attacked Rick. As long as Rick doesn’t get up and tell everyone it was me; hopefully he is dead.

Oh God, what if I did kill him? I just wanted him to leave me alone. Her eyes wide with fear, she ran toward the city once more. “Please, you have to help me. ” Katie ran into the police station, out of breath and shaken. A police officer stood up from behind his desk and helped Katie into a chair. “What’s the problem, miss? ” Tears of fear and exhaustion spilled from her eyes. Dirt and traces of blood dotted her clothing. “I was up on Lookout Hill with my friend. My ex-boyfriend. We were breaking up, but that doesn’t matter. Uh, there was this thing, it came from the woods. It was tall, dark.

I saw it had a knife and it attacked Rick, and I ran towards the city. ” The words tumbled from her mouth as the officer wrote down what she said. “Rick is your boyfriend? ” the cop asked as he looked up from his desk. “Ex-boyfriend. But yes, that’s his name. ” “This shadow … what did it look like? ” “It was dark. It was a shadow. It was big. ” Katie looked at the cop wondering when he was going to say they would send someone up there. “No other description? Okay. What does your friend look like? What were you driving? ”

“Black hair, tall, we were in his Trans Am. Aren’t you going to go up there? Her voice took on desperation. “Miss, I need a better description. Can you tell me what he was wearing? ” “Jeans … a dark shirt… I don’t know. ” Her voice wobbled while she held her head in her hands and started tapping her foot against the desk making a banging sound that echoed through the precinct. “Miss, are you okay? ” Other officers started walking toward them. No one waited for an answer; Katie heard the whispers of how they were sending someone to check out Lookout Hill. She accepted the blanket someone draped over her shoulders and sipped the coffee someone brought.

Guilt consumed Katie as she replayed the horrific scene again and again in her mind. What did I do? Oh God! She wondered if she should just confess to stabbing Rick. “Miss, is this your boyfriend? ” Katie jumped at being spoken to. She turned and saw a clean and spotless Rick standing next to the police officer who talked to her just minutes ago. “Rick! What are you doing here? ” Surprise etched her features. “I thought … the knife … the blood … ” Black dots appeared in her line of vision; feeling faint, she gripped the side of the desk for support. “You shouldn’t worry about it.

Let’s get you home, I’m fine. Thank you, officer for finding my girlfriend. Once she has her medication, she’ll stop hallucinating. ” Rick took her hand in his. “Wait a minute; where did that blood on her come from? ” the officer asked. “She cut herself earlier with a knife. She makes things up when not on her meds. Poor thing, she probably doesn’t even remember what she said here. We’ll soon be married and I’ll have a better eye on her,” Rick stated and the officer nodded. He didn’t stop them as they walked outside. “I don’t take any medication,” Katie whispered by the Trans Am.

I killed you or at least made you bleed. I wanted to get away from you. ” She shook her head. Fear wrapped itself around her. “Yes, but now you’ll be mine forever. I told you that. Nothing will keep us apart. ” Laughter laced his voice. “I really need that cigarette now. This has been one hell of a night! ” Katie reached into her pocket with a shaky hand to pull out her lighter. A sulphur smell wafted through the air. With the unused lighter still in her hand, Katie looked up at a satisfied Rick inhaling his cigarette and saw a single flame shooting from his fingertip.