Scene 6:
“Where are we going to go?” Mary was practically screaming. Jacob glanced over
at her. Her eyes were wide and she was darting her head from side to side.
“I don’t know. I just know we can’t panic.”
“How can you tell me not to panic? There is a madman trying to kill us and someone, probably said madman, has blown up the damn police station. I’d say it’s time for a little panic wouldn’t you?”
“Maybe but panic is just going to get us killed. Now, we just need somewhere to
lay low till the police can help us."
“What about your cousins?”
“He’s off on a hunting trip.”
“Dammit, of all the times. What about that coworker, the shop teacher? The one
who took you shooting that time.”
Jacob shook his head. “No baby, he’s gone, remember? He quit last year to travel
in that tiny, mobile house that he built.”
“Son of a…”
Something slammed into the car on the passenger side shoving it to the left.
Glass exploded and a piece sliced Mary above her right eye. Jacob felt the car begin to tumble. It flipped over and came to rest upside down.
Jacob hung suspended by his seatbelt. His ears were ringing and he felt like they were full of cotton. He reached over to shake Mary’s shoulder. Looking in her direction he saw two of her superimposed. Both had blood dripping from their heads. That image snapped him to full consciousness.
“Mary!”
He started scrambling for the belt release. When he clicked the button he fell the foot to the ground. Climbing to his knees he cradled her head in his hands. He gently patted her cheek trying to wake her.
“Baby. Open your eyes for me. Let me know that you are ok.
“Wha?” Mary’s eyes fluttered open but stayed half lidded.
“Come on honey” you have to open your eyes for me. “We have to go.”
She stilled struggled to keep her eyes open as she mumbled a response that he couldn’t understand. He reached up and undid her seatbelt catching her in his lap as she slid down. He cradled her head stroking her cheek.
“It’s going to be ok honey. I promise.”
He pulled the door latch but it wouldn’t open. Easing Mary down as best he could
he put his shoulder into it and pushed. It still wouldn’t open.
“Come on damn it! Open!”
He slammed his shoulder into it as hard as he could and it popped open.
“Finally.”
He crawled out before turning around for his wife. Catching her under the shoulders he slid her out. Blood was pouring from her forehead. The sight of it made his heartbeat pick up. When they were free of the wreck he collapsed to the ground. Every muscle ached from the crash and his head was throbbing.
“We’re probably both concussed.”
Something occurred to him and he began darting his head around. To his right was
another wrecked car. Front end smashed in. Smoke curling up from under the hood.
“Oh crap. Ok honey, time to go.”
She was stirring a little by this point and her eyes were open. Her gaze was still unfocused however. He pulled her up to her feet and draped her arm around his neck to support her. Setting his sights on the nearest house he started walking.
They stumbled as they stepped up onto the porch and fell to their knees. More blood leaked out onto the floor. Jacob heard a door slam open and footsteps. He looked up to see a little old man leaning over them.
“Help us please. Someone made us crash. He’s trying to kill us.”
The man wasted no time grabbing Mary’s other arm. “Quick. Get inside.”
The two of them drug her inside and laid her on the couch in the living room. The man locked the door behind them before turning back to Jacob.
“I have a first aid kit in the bathroom. First door on the left down the hall.
Go grab it.”
Jacob dashed down the hall to find it. When he returned to the living room the man had a towel pressed to Mary’s head. He looked up and held his hand out for the kit. Jacob handed it to him and he started bandaging Mary’s head.
“Just lay still honey. I’ll have you fixed up in no time.”
“Thank you so much for your help” Jacob said.
“It’s no problem” the man replied.
“I’m Jacob Scribner. This is my wife Mary.”
“I know who you are Mr. Scribner. My granddaughter had you last year for English. She loved your class. Lou Petrie. Army Medical Corps. Retired. Now who
is trying to kill fine folks like you two?”
“I don’t know. He calls himself Leon. He’s been after us all day. Can you call
the cops?”
“I’m afraid the phone lines are out. I don’t think anyone will be answering at the Police Station today and even if we wanted to call the Ouachita Parish Sherriff’s Department we can’t. Dang cellphone won’t even work. Must be something wrong with the tower.”
Jacob felt his heart sink. “Oh my God. He planned the whole thing. All this just
to come after us.”
Mary tried to sit up but Lou laid a hand on her shoulder to make her remain still. Lou’s eyes went wide.
“Do you really think he blew up a police station, sabotaged a cell tower and cut the phone lines all over town just to make it easier to kill you two?”
“I wouldn’t put it past this madman.”
They heard a knock on the door. The three of them froze and looked at each other. Lou put a finger over his lips and walked to the front door.
“Who’s there” he called.
“My name is Leon. You have someone that I am looking for. Please let me in.”
Mary gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. Jacob felt more adrenaline hit his
already overtaxed system.
“No one is here” Lou replied.
“Do not lie to me. I know that they are there. Let me in. I do not wish to harm
you.”
“You aren’t getting anyone today” Lou spat out.
“Very well.” A heavy kick slammed into the door.
Lou turned to the Scribners. “This door won’t last forever. You two go out the
back. I’ll hold him off.”
“What about you?”
Lou walked over to a buffet in the hall and opened the middle drawer. He pulled out a snub nose revolver and held it pointed towards the ceiling.
“If he makes it through that door I’ll be ready for him. But just in case get
out of here.”
Jacob and Mary looked at him a moment prompting Lou to make a shooing gesture at them. Finally Jacob helped Mary up from the couch and they made for the back
door. As they were running across the backyard they heard a crashing sound
followed by a shot. Jacob was tempted to go back but they continued on. He
didn’t hear anything further.