The window in the second bedroom had been higher than the one in the first. He clambered through it clumsily and fell heavily to the floor below.
For a moment he was winded. Pain seeped through his body and he curled his knees up to meet his chest. Mouth open and eyes screwed up against both the pain and the wind, he rocked back and forth gently until the pain began to ease.
Clawing himself to his feet he hunched over for a moment, hands on knees, breathing deeply. Then, straightening up, he began to walk.
The undergrowth at the side of the house had a slightly wild look to it – as though it hadn't been trimmed back for some time – and caught his feet as he stepped, tripping awkwardly.
Turning to the front of the house he saw the car. It was illuminated from within, glowing like a beacon in the darkness as he approached it.
He advanced on the car slowly; resisting the urge to run, to achieve what he desired that much quicker. But every extra second was that much more to savour.
Keep hidden, He thought to himself
Don't ruin the surprise…
He smiled.
Games were so much fun.
Edging forwards he crouched low to the ground, letting the darkness cloak his approach.
When he was in within reach of the car he lifted his head to look within the car. He gasped.
The woman had gone, leaving the blond man on his own.
Eyes wide, he was incredulous.
Could this be real?
Could they really have made it this easy for him? Maybe it was a trap.
Maybe, he thought, Maybe they're waiting to jump me as soon as I open the door…
He turned on the spot, squinting into the darkness, determined that if they were waiting for him he would see them first and not be taken unawares. But the darkness had not yet broken and he couldn't see.
After a moment he could fight the urge no longer and he progressed to the car.
So what if they are waiting for me. I could take them all…
Despite his self-assurances he peered intermittently over his shoulder, a twitch of nervousness clenching in the pit of his gut.
He extended one shaking hand and traced his fingers lovingly over the window; the trail of his fingers leaving a clear path on the dripping window that was immediately filled by the spidery web of raindrops.
The excitement he felt was almost palpable and he ran his hand lower until it found a resting place on the door handle. He closed his eyes, relishing the moment that had finally arrived in pure unadulterated ecstasy.
Gripping the handle he hesitated for a moment, enjoying the knowledge of what was to come, then finally, he pulled.
Nothing happened.
He pulled again.
The door was locked.
"NO!" He roared, unable to control the absolute frustration he felt at this new development.
"God damn it! NO!!!" He pulled on the handle again and again, managing only to rock the car from side to side.
His outburst was carried on the wind, dispersed into the atmosphere, completely unheard by the insentient Jesse who was sealed safely in the car, so close but out of reach of the man who had attacked him.
In his temper, the man placed two hands onto the car window and head-butted it frenziedly, whether in an attempt to smash the glass or merely through the totality of the defeat he was feeling, he was unsure.
The action served only to reopen the wounds on his forehead that Steve had inflicted earlier and small rivulets of blood began to seep down his face.
Breathing heavily he peered in through the window at the small man and a small glint of hope flickered in his mind.
He could detect no movement.
None whatsoever.
A small smile played at his lips.
Could it be? Could it be that he's already dead?
It surely couldn't be that simple. That he had died already?
But there were no perceptible movements; not even the merest of actions were discernible. He was motionless, his chest failed to rise and fall, his eyelids were still, lips blue.
He's dead.
The euphoria was immense.
Now to finish the rest…
Entering the hallway a cold blast of air met Steve full on. The chill managed what nothing thus far had, succeeding to rouse his senses to a level that enabled him to comprehend what was going on around him.
"Amanda?!" He snap, suddenly and harshly.
Amanda turned her head sharply to face Steve, stopping in her tracks.
"What? What is it?" she said, her voice at a slightly higher pitch than was the norm.
"Where's Jesse?" he looked at her with a strange expression on his face.
"He's… he's in the car," Amanda frowned back at Steve, unsure of what he was getting at.
"You left him alone?!" Amanda had no doubt about the accusation in his voice this time.
"I… I had to… you left. Both of you. I didn't know…" she was cut short by Steve.
"How could you leave him alone?! There's a complete psycho wandering about?!" His anger was apparent and left Amanda stunned.
"I… I didn't know. When you didn't come back, then Mark left… What was I supposed to do?!" Her voiced broke with emotion as she yelled back at Steve, a deep sense of doubt creeping into her consciousness to join her immediate reaction of indignation.
Steve made to continue his tirade, but was stopped by Mark.
"Stop it. The pair of you." His voice carried the harsh authority of a parent and stopped both Amanda and Steve in their tracks.
"There's no point throwing accusations at each other. We need to get out of here right now, so lets leave the arguments to later shall we?"
He was right of course.
Amanda and Steve eyed each other warily, each still angry with the other but embarrassed at the rightful telling-off they had both received.
Steve was first to break the uneasy silence.
"Sorry… we'd better go, yeah?" he ran a hand wearily over his face, and gave a lopsided smile. Amanda forced a smile back, the action feeling alien to the muscles in her face; the evening she had just experienced leaving her little to smile about.
Heading the group, Mark led the others along the hallway at a somewhat hurried pace, his mind whirring through all of the things that could still go wrong.
What he saw next hadn't even entered his mind.
Standing at the bottom of the steps was a man. His gaunt body silhouetted by the scarcest ray of light that heralded the morning sunrise; illuminating not new hope, but renewed threat.
Mark threw out one arm to prevent Steve and Amanda progressing any further; Steve stumbled at the sudden hindrance, but Amanda emitted a gasp when she saw the cause for Mark's actions.
Haggard but set in determination, a man stood blocking their path. Dripping with water, his face hidden in the dying shadows, he postured his body in such a way that it left nothing about his intentions to the imagination. Arms dropped to his sides, one hand moved in a subtle clenching motion that highlighted the large blade clenched in one fist, glinting ominously.
Silence lingered for a tense moment.
"He's dead you know…" The voice came in a low rasp, quite unlike the high-pitched cackle Steve had encountered earlier, heavy with menace and tainted with spite.
"I came back to finish him, but time had done it for me." He smiled, clearly delighted by his own words.
Amanda staggered forwards into Mark, who gripped her tightly.
Steve felt bile rising in the back of his throat, sickened to his very core. A battled immediately commenced in his mind; despair in its purest form and an enraged wrath fought for prominence.
The man sighed.
"He doesn't matter anymore… nothing does. Only you… All three of you. You're all that matter. But not for long."
He took a step forwards so that his face was no longer hidden. A smile played on his lips.
"Now… who's first?"
Author's note: Just a quick word to say thank you to everyone who's reviewed and that I hope you're still enjoying the story!
Sarah