"Don't move, don't breath. Just listen. I want you to walk over to the
couch and have a seat." Eric said as he nudged Jerrica in the side with the
gun. She walked over to the sofa which lined the far wall and took a seat.
"Good girl. Now listen carefully. I'm sick and tired of being a poor nobody. It's all your fault you know. First you take my music company away. The company I earned. Then The Misfits turn on me and The Stingers quit. All because of you." Eric yelled. He nervously paced in front of the couch.
"You think that was my fault? What are you talking about? You.." Before Jerrica could finish a hand came crashing down on her cheek, knocking her sideways into the arm of the couch. She held her cheek and glared at Eric.
"Shut up. I need to think." Eric said as he held his head in his hands and continued to pace.
"All I want is Starlight Music. Sign it over and I let you live." he said.
"I will do no such thing. Get out now." Jerrica screamed defiantly. Another blow struck her other cheek.
"Is this how you want to keep playing it? I can go on forever." he threatened.
"So can I." Jerrica said. She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. All the while she stared straight into Eric's hate filled eyes.
Eric began to pace again , waiving the gun in the air. "Why are you being so stubborn? I've got the gun. I'm the one in control. You have nothing. Why are you holding out?"
"Why do you think? This is my families business. So it looks to me like you're the one with nothing."
Eric stopped pacing and took a seat next to Jerrica. She slid as far away
from him as she could. Eric followed and leaned in close to her. He put his
free hand on her knee and used his hand which held the gun to stroke her
hair.
"Sweet, sweet Jerrica. I know how you broke it off with Rio a while back
and how everyone you loved moved away. It must be awfully lonely for a
woman with your beauty and intelligence all alone each night. What if we
became partners, in love and business? We could turn Starlight music into a
worldwide success. Together we could be very happy and very wealthy." he
said as he leaned in to kiss her. Jerrica turned her head in time for him
to miss her lips and get her cheek instead. She put her hands between them
and pushed him away.
"Dammit Eric I'm engaged." she yelled.
Eric pulled back and stared incredulously at her.
"To who?" he asked.
"Not that it's any of your business but I'm engaged to Riot."
"Riot?" Eric said as he burst out laughing. "Riot loves Jem. He wouldn't
give a boring nobody like you the time of day."
"He's changed over the years. Unlike some people. He's not the man you
knew." Jerrica said as she held up her hand to show Eric the ring. "Take a
look at the picture on my desk if you don't believe me." she challenged
him.
Eric stood and walked over to her desk. Among the pictures of her family
and friends sat a picture of Jerrica and Rory on the beach. Eric knew right
away she was telling the truth.
"I see." he said. His blood was beginning to boil as he realized he was
running out of leverage.
Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Jerrica, your late for your meeting." her secretary called from the other
side of the door. "Jerrica is everything alright?" she asked as she tried
opening the door only to find it locked.
Eric walked over to the couch. He held his finger to his lips in a gesture
of silence. Grabbing Jerrica by the arm he pulled her up and whispered in
her ear.
"Tell her to cancel the meeting because you don't feel well. Tell her
everything is fine and that she should hold all of your calls. If you don't
do as I say I'll kill her first. Then I'll find your boyfriend and kill him
too. Understand?" he asked calmly.
Jerrica just nodded as he led her to the door. She unlocked the door and
opened it. Eric stood behind it with the gun to her back.
"Beth please cancel my meeting and apologize for me. I'm not feeling verywell. Also, hold all of my calls." Jerrica said.
"What about if Mr. Llewelyn calls?"
"Tell him I can't talk."
Beth was beginning to get concerned.
"Okay. Before I go can you sign this memo? It needs to go out today."
"Sure." Jerrica said as she signed the memo.
Beth left as Jerrica closed the door behind her. As she walked back to her
desk Beth glanced down at the memo in her hand. She stopped dead in her
tracks. Instead of Jerrica's signature was the words: has gun, get
police. Beth took off at a run for her phone.
Inside Jerrica's office Eric drug Jerrica back to the couch and forced her
to sit down again.
"This has to end Eric. Leave now and we can forget the whole thing."
Jerrica said.
"Shut up. If you would just cooperate we could both get out of here alive."
he said, beginning to pace nervously again.
"Go to hell." Jerrica screamed. Before she could blink a hand came crashing
down on her face. Then another and another. Tears mixed with blood as Eric
rained down blow after blow on her. Once she realized he wouldn't stop she
lifted her leg and kicked him away. While he was knocked off balance Jerrica
made a dash for the door. Just before she could get it unlocked Eric
grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back. He threw her to the floor and
before she could react he was beside her. His foot came down on her throat,
cutting off her air supply. Eric smirked in triumph as Jerrica squirmed on
the floor, struggling for breath.
"You think your better than me? Your nothing." he yelled. Eric released his foot long
enough for Jerrica to get one good breath before he straddled her chest and
wrapped his hands around her neck."It should have been mine. You took everything from me. Because of you I had to work for The Misfits and The Stingers. Then when they were through with me Pizzazz made sure no one would hire me. She told people I was
crazy. Convinced them that I was a lousy manager. Had me locked away in that place. I have nothing." he screamed as Jerrica scratched and clawed for her life.
This went on for almost a minute before Jerrica was able to stretch her
arms up high enough and dig her fingers into Eric's eyes.
"Gaaagh" he screamed as he rolled off of Jerrica, clutching his eyes.
Jerrica rolled onto her stomach, trying to catch her breath. While still
trying desperately to get more air into her deprived lungs, she began to
crawl toward the door. By now Eric was able to see enough to realize
Jerrica was moving across the room. He began to crawl after her, his vision
still too blurry to see well. When he was close enough that he felt
confident he reached out and managed to blindly grab her ankle. As he
dragged her back Jerrica kicked with her other leg, missing him by half an
inch. She then managed to rollover onto her back and kicked again.
With her strength depleted she only managed to clip his ear. Meanwhile, Eric
managed to pull her close enough where he could climb on top of her. He
inched forward until he was mere inches from her face.
"That hurt. You made a big mistake. Now you will know what pain is." Eric
hissed. Putting his hands to either side of her face he pulled her head up
just before smashing it back to the floor. Jerrica screamed out in pain.
Rory arrived at her office just as Beth was hanging up with the police and
preparing to leave. He came off the elevator just as he heard the scream.
"Mr. Llewelyn. Something is wrong. I called the police and their on the
way." She said as he ran past her to the door.
"Jerrica?" Rory called as he tried to open the door.
"Rory." she cried as loud as her horse throat would allow.
"Shut up or I'll kill you both." Eric quietly whispered into her ear.
"Jerrica? Answer me I know your in there." Rory called.
"Rory." she cried a little louder.
"Stop it." Eric said angrily as he covered her mouth with his hand.
Rory turned to Jerrica's secretary.
"Maybe you should wait. The police are on their way." Beth pleaded.
"No. Is there a spare key to this door?"
"Yes, I have it." Beth said as she quickly walked to her desk and retrieved
the key. "It's for emergencies."
"This is most definitely an emergency. Now listen very carefully. Go down
to the lobby and wait for the police. Tell them I went in after her so they
know." Rory directed. Beth nodded her head. She then grabbed her personal
belonging from her desk and ran to the elevator.
"Good girl. Now listen carefully. I'm sick and tired of being a poor nobody. It's all your fault you know. First you take my music company away. The company I earned. Then The Misfits turn on me and The Stingers quit. All because of you." Eric yelled. He nervously paced in front of the couch.
"You think that was my fault? What are you talking about? You.." Before Jerrica could finish a hand came crashing down on her cheek, knocking her sideways into the arm of the couch. She held her cheek and glared at Eric.
"Shut up. I need to think." Eric said as he held his head in his hands and continued to pace.
"All I want is Starlight Music. Sign it over and I let you live." he said.
"I will do no such thing. Get out now." Jerrica screamed defiantly. Another blow struck her other cheek.
"Is this how you want to keep playing it? I can go on forever." he threatened.
"So can I." Jerrica said. She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. All the while she stared straight into Eric's hate filled eyes.
Eric began to pace again , waiving the gun in the air. "Why are you being so stubborn? I've got the gun. I'm the one in control. You have nothing. Why are you holding out?"
"Why do you think? This is my families business. So it looks to me like you're the one with nothing."
Eric stopped pacing and took a seat next to Jerrica. She slid as far away
from him as she could. Eric followed and leaned in close to her. He put his
free hand on her knee and used his hand which held the gun to stroke her
hair.
"Sweet, sweet Jerrica. I know how you broke it off with Rio a while back
and how everyone you loved moved away. It must be awfully lonely for a
woman with your beauty and intelligence all alone each night. What if we
became partners, in love and business? We could turn Starlight music into a
worldwide success. Together we could be very happy and very wealthy." he
said as he leaned in to kiss her. Jerrica turned her head in time for him
to miss her lips and get her cheek instead. She put her hands between them
and pushed him away.
"Dammit Eric I'm engaged." she yelled.
Eric pulled back and stared incredulously at her.
"To who?" he asked.
"Not that it's any of your business but I'm engaged to Riot."
"Riot?" Eric said as he burst out laughing. "Riot loves Jem. He wouldn't
give a boring nobody like you the time of day."
"He's changed over the years. Unlike some people. He's not the man you
knew." Jerrica said as she held up her hand to show Eric the ring. "Take a
look at the picture on my desk if you don't believe me." she challenged
him.
Eric stood and walked over to her desk. Among the pictures of her family
and friends sat a picture of Jerrica and Rory on the beach. Eric knew right
away she was telling the truth.
"I see." he said. His blood was beginning to boil as he realized he was
running out of leverage.
Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Jerrica, your late for your meeting." her secretary called from the other
side of the door. "Jerrica is everything alright?" she asked as she tried
opening the door only to find it locked.
Eric walked over to the couch. He held his finger to his lips in a gesture
of silence. Grabbing Jerrica by the arm he pulled her up and whispered in
her ear.
"Tell her to cancel the meeting because you don't feel well. Tell her
everything is fine and that she should hold all of your calls. If you don't
do as I say I'll kill her first. Then I'll find your boyfriend and kill him
too. Understand?" he asked calmly.
Jerrica just nodded as he led her to the door. She unlocked the door and
opened it. Eric stood behind it with the gun to her back.
"Beth please cancel my meeting and apologize for me. I'm not feeling verywell. Also, hold all of my calls." Jerrica said.
"What about if Mr. Llewelyn calls?"
"Tell him I can't talk."
Beth was beginning to get concerned.
"Okay. Before I go can you sign this memo? It needs to go out today."
"Sure." Jerrica said as she signed the memo.
Beth left as Jerrica closed the door behind her. As she walked back to her
desk Beth glanced down at the memo in her hand. She stopped dead in her
tracks. Instead of Jerrica's signature was the words: has gun, get
police. Beth took off at a run for her phone.
Inside Jerrica's office Eric drug Jerrica back to the couch and forced her
to sit down again.
"This has to end Eric. Leave now and we can forget the whole thing."
Jerrica said.
"Shut up. If you would just cooperate we could both get out of here alive."
he said, beginning to pace nervously again.
"Go to hell." Jerrica screamed. Before she could blink a hand came crashing
down on her face. Then another and another. Tears mixed with blood as Eric
rained down blow after blow on her. Once she realized he wouldn't stop she
lifted her leg and kicked him away. While he was knocked off balance Jerrica
made a dash for the door. Just before she could get it unlocked Eric
grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back. He threw her to the floor and
before she could react he was beside her. His foot came down on her throat,
cutting off her air supply. Eric smirked in triumph as Jerrica squirmed on
the floor, struggling for breath.
"You think your better than me? Your nothing." he yelled. Eric released his foot long
enough for Jerrica to get one good breath before he straddled her chest and
wrapped his hands around her neck."It should have been mine. You took everything from me. Because of you I had to work for The Misfits and The Stingers. Then when they were through with me Pizzazz made sure no one would hire me. She told people I was
crazy. Convinced them that I was a lousy manager. Had me locked away in that place. I have nothing." he screamed as Jerrica scratched and clawed for her life.
This went on for almost a minute before Jerrica was able to stretch her
arms up high enough and dig her fingers into Eric's eyes.
"Gaaagh" he screamed as he rolled off of Jerrica, clutching his eyes.
Jerrica rolled onto her stomach, trying to catch her breath. While still
trying desperately to get more air into her deprived lungs, she began to
crawl toward the door. By now Eric was able to see enough to realize
Jerrica was moving across the room. He began to crawl after her, his vision
still too blurry to see well. When he was close enough that he felt
confident he reached out and managed to blindly grab her ankle. As he
dragged her back Jerrica kicked with her other leg, missing him by half an
inch. She then managed to rollover onto her back and kicked again.
With her strength depleted she only managed to clip his ear. Meanwhile, Eric
managed to pull her close enough where he could climb on top of her. He
inched forward until he was mere inches from her face.
"That hurt. You made a big mistake. Now you will know what pain is." Eric
hissed. Putting his hands to either side of her face he pulled her head up
just before smashing it back to the floor. Jerrica screamed out in pain.
Rory arrived at her office just as Beth was hanging up with the police and
preparing to leave. He came off the elevator just as he heard the scream.
"Mr. Llewelyn. Something is wrong. I called the police and their on the
way." She said as he ran past her to the door.
"Jerrica?" Rory called as he tried to open the door.
"Rory." she cried as loud as her horse throat would allow.
"Shut up or I'll kill you both." Eric quietly whispered into her ear.
"Jerrica? Answer me I know your in there." Rory called.
"Rory." she cried a little louder.
"Stop it." Eric said angrily as he covered her mouth with his hand.
Rory turned to Jerrica's secretary.
"Maybe you should wait. The police are on their way." Beth pleaded.
"No. Is there a spare key to this door?"
"Yes, I have it." Beth said as she quickly walked to her desk and retrieved
the key. "It's for emergencies."
"This is most definitely an emergency. Now listen very carefully. Go down
to the lobby and wait for the police. Tell them I went in after her so they
know." Rory directed. Beth nodded her head. She then grabbed her personal
belonging from her desk and ran to the elevator.