The stranger jumped off the bus. He’d been watching the girl for
several stops and when he was sure no one was meeting her he quickly exited
through the rear doors. He waited.
Watching her walk briskly down the busy street checking for other
pedestrians.
The teenager bopped down the sidewalk to her own internal rhythm, a
small smile playing at the corners of her full lips, oblivious to the danger
that followed so near. It was a little
after ten and although the sun had retreated for the day its lingering warmth
still hung in the air. She was going
home after finishing her volunteer work at the nearby leisure centre.
Happy because the boy she had a crush on had finally noticed her this
evening and had stopped to chat for several minutes. Her feet were light with the joy particular
to new love. Her thoughts tumbling, imagining, making plans, and
playing with all the possible what if scenarios this small encounter could lead
to.
He let her get almost a block ahead before he began his hunt once again.
His heart raced with anticipation. She was a young, fresh faced girl,
with the body of a woman. He crossed his fingers and hoped she would turn
off the main road soon. She was heading
towards the residential area up ahead. A
smile split his lips to bare his teeth but did not reach his eyes as he
quickened his steps to match his preys'. He pulled the bill of his dark ball
cap lower on his brow and scrunched his shoulders upward so the collar of
his coat would cover his lower face.
Shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his black leather jacket he
checked up and down the street. It wouldn’t do to have some nosy
do-gooder with great night vision able to make out any of his features.
Letting her mind play and replay their brief conversation, she let her
feet find their own way home. Wandering without thought down her daytime
path - the one she never used at night because of the numerous bushes and
lack of good street lighting. The happiness filling her psyche needed more of
an outlet so she lifted her feet to skip a ways as if she were a young child
once again. Laughing at her silliness under her breath, she slowed to a brisk
walk once more, anxious to get home and share her news with her best friend.
He missed a good spot to grab the girl but she had startled him when she
had begun to skip and then laugh. He thought she had seen him and had ducked
behind the concealing lushness of a nearby bush. Slowing his breath, he darted
his head out briefly to see where she had gone. Frustration filled
him when he saw the distance between them had grown. Deciding the time was now to make his move
before she reached the brighter lights ahead he started a half jog to close the
gap and secure the girl.
Her head snapped up at the sound of her name. She could see her
house still a block in the distance and her mother standing in the middle of
the front yard waving wildly at her. She
called back to her and began to run the last bit home when her mom motioned her
to hurry. Her mother embraced her and turned
to look back down the street.
“He’s gone now.” Her mother was shaking as she led her towards the
house. “I had the most awful feeling that something had happened to you.
Your dad wouldn’t come out here and wait with me and he thought I was
being silly. But I was so sure something was wrong. I’ve been waiting here. When I saw that
strange man running towards you I was so scared. I hollered your name and
as soon as you waved back he turned and ran away. Thank God for that
crazy feeling that made me watch for you.”
True story,
Rain
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