The Bloody End Chapter 38

It's Time

A few days later I'm sitting at Leah's house, laughing and joking in her bedroom, both of us pretending everything is fine. It's a bit refreshing really to be out of the house and distracting myself from everything that's gone on lately. I haven't received any more texts or phone calls since that night of hearing Dom's name, so I'm rather relieved I'm not being subjected to the torture for a little while. I know it probably won't be long until it starts back up again but I'm trying not to think about that just now. I'm concentrating on having a good time with my best friend and I'll think about the Stalker later when I likely get more messages.

We're both just acting so casual and more or less acting like none of this ever happened. Leah hasn't once mentioned her injuries or what happened that night and to be honest, I don't want to pressure her by asking. I know she just wants to move on and I should be a good friend and let her do so, but I can't help but wince every time I get a proper look at her wounds. The bruises have begun to fade and of course all the blood is gone but she still has stitches in her head and a couple of missing teeth. But she seems happy and that's all that matters, although it will take a while before she steps foot outside again. Especially at night. Especially alone.

"I just can't face it right now", she sighs sadly. "Is that stupid?"

"Of course not. It's totally understandable. I just wish they'd catch the fucker who did it."

"Me too. It's scary to think he or she is still out there."

I agree- in more ways than one for me.

"I'm just thankful anyway. I'm still alive. Unlike poor Catherine. I just can't believe it still. I know it was a while ago but..."

"Its horrible. I know", I mumble, lowering my head slightly in shame. Of course I never killed Catherine but I know who did.

"Who would do something like that?! Why did they want her killed?! She was such a nice girl."

"Some people are just....mad", I say, praying that she'd switch the conversation topic.

"Mad? A bit more than mad. Sick, moronic, brainless, demented, murdering, scum-"

"Leah!"

I shout it a bit louder and more violent than I intended but I couldn't help it. I feel both rage and shame consuming me. Rage that she's talking about Jeff like that essentially, saying all those things about him. It makes me think back to when Yuna did the same and I wanted to tear the bitch's throat out! But I also feel shame because not only deep, deep, deep, DEEP down do I know she is right and right to be angry, I feel ashamed that I'm more angry at Leah talking about Jeff like that, rather than being angry at the fact he killed my friend.

I notice Leah is staring at me, looking a little shaken. I realise what I did and clear my throat a little.

"Look, it's still a bit raw to me. I don't want to talk about her."

"Yeah you're right. Sorry."

"She was murdered. You were beaten up. I just want to forget about all that. Talk about something else."

"Yeah. Like...Oh my gosh! You should have SEEN the Doctor who did check ups on me everyday!"

Bingo. Standard Leah talk. I smile warmly. Normally not a topic I'd be thrilled about hearing but not only does it drift away from Catherine and Jeff but it makes things feel normal. Proper. Like old times when there were no worries.

***

It's around 5:30 pm by the time I leave Leah's house. I walk home, hood up and hands in my pocket trying to keep warm out of the cold wind. My phone beeps with a text message and my stomach tightens but I breathe a sigh of relief when I realise it's just my mum asking if I'll be home for dinner. However just as I am in the middle of texting back telling her I'm on my way home, my phone beeps again, another text message arriving. It's not from mum this time. I hope it's maybe Leah telling me I've left something at her house or Derek asking me to work but when I back out of replying to my mum and have a look, the number sets my heart hammering.

But not as fast as it does when I read the message.

"I've kept you waiting long enough, haven't I?"

I stop in the street, suddenly not caring about the cold harsh wind blowing at me. It blows my hood down and my hair is going wild but like I give a shit about that. I look around desperately to make sure nobody is hiding round any corners or ducking down behind cars or peering out their windows in a suspicious manner. Nobody's around. Nobody I can see anyway. I just stare back at the phone. Are they waiting on me responding?

I wait a few moments longer and text back.

"What do you mean?"

The moment I hit the send button I'm starting to feel the butterflies in my stomach and I'm breathing heavy. "I've kept you waiting long enough..." What does that mean? Waiting for what exactly?

They are taking ages to reply. I realise I haven't replied back to my mum and I know she'll be getting pissed off so I quickly message her back telling her I'll just make my own dinner when I come home. I still haven't moved an inch. I'm not far from Leah's house so if she looks out of her bedroom window she'll probably be able to see me. She'll think something's wrong or I'm playing a prank on her or something. Unfortunately, neither of the two.

"...Kept you waiting long enough". Kept me waiting for what? Waiting to be killed? Is this finally it? My moment of doom? I always suspected it'd be coming up soon considering everything that's happened lately. I peer around again expecting someone to suddenly launch at me from round a corner, spring at me from nowhere, even pounce on me from the sky. I actually look up foolishly just to make sure they're not hanging from a street light or perching on a roof or something.

My phone beeps in my hand. For a moment I'm hoping it's just mum sending another text I instantly see the infamous number appear on my phone screen and know my hopes are dashed. Well, I've been waiting on the answer long enough, I better see what this is all about now.

I take a few deep breaths, give myself a little pep talk to try and calm myself down before I fall over with anxiety, mentally scold myself and then press the button to open the text message.

I read it.

And this time I actually do fall over.

"I want you to meet me."

I can't believe it. After all this time, all this worrying, thinking, accusing, debating and believing. I think this is finally it.

Standing back up, I read the 6 little words over and over again, not quite believing what they are saying. I'm getting to meet my stalker, face-to-face.

I shouldn't do it but...like I have a choice?

This is what I've been waiting for. This is what I've been wanting/needing to figure out for so long.

And this is where I put an end to it once and for all.

So with determination I reply with;

"When do you want me to meet you?"

Instead of waiting for ages, I get a reply almost instantly. But after feeling confident and determined, all of it is instantly flushed away when I read the reply and I suddenly feel sick. My face goes pale and my legs turn to jelly.

"Now."