Many hours later, I was sitting at my desk placing new files into my briefcase. It was nearing the end of my workday, and I wanted to get out of that drab office as fast as humanly possible. Sneaking out was my only option as it was already late and if the executives were going to corner someone for midnight filing, there was a bad chance of that someone being I. My cubicle neighbors were already gone and probably sitting at home with their families eating a nice home cooked dinner. Gathering up my coat, purse and briefcase, I tiptoed to the elevators for a fast break. The light dinged as the elevator rested to a stop at my floor. My sanctuary was just behind the sliding doors. The doors pulled open but before I could hop on the ride to freedom I heard a singsong voice call my name behind me.

"Oh, Phoenix," The exec called in his smooth voice. "I'm gonna have to have some one stay and put some more files away. It shouldn't take more than a few hours." I mentally slapped my forehead and turned to face one of my bosses. It was already 11:00 and filing was a tedious job. "And seeing that you're the only person left up here, I guess that job goes to you." He continued. "Files are in the board room, and there should be some coffee left. Feel free to make yourself some more if you need it." I sighed and pushed my way past the exec, who happened to step into my waiting elevator, and into the glass paneled meeting room. 'It shouldn't be too hard.' I thought to myself. My feet stopped short, however, when I saw towers of files. Dropping my briefcase in frustration, I stalked to the break room make a cup of coffee and to get ready to buckle down and tackle the waiting documents.

------------------------------------------------------------
Numerous cups of coffee later, I sluggishly walked out of the building. Half smiling to the poor security guard who had the graveyard shift, I pushed open the glass doors and into the cool Chicago wind. Lone cabs whipped past me as I stepped to the curb, holding a hand out to signal for one of the speeding cabs. My heart beat a little bit faster each time an ignorant driver passed me. My signal eventually produced a bright yellow car to pull to the curb. I poured my tired body into the cab and told the driver my destination of home. Resting my head against the leather headrest, I closed my eyes and relaxed my beating heart. I always hated working later than normal hours. It gave me the creeps to go outside in the near morning by myself.

I saw out the front windshield that tenants who had arrived home earlier had taken all the parallel parking spaces infront of my building. Eventually the driver found a space to pull up a couple buildings down and grunted a payment amount. I paid my fare and slunk out of the backseat. As the cab pulled away, I made my way up to my building, purse and briefcase in hand. A large vehicle pulling up into the space the cab had vacated behind me drowned out my heels clicking on the cement sidewalk. My pulse quickened and nervousness came over me. I glanced behind me and saw two men get out of the lingering van. That van looked so familiar, but I couldn't place it. Then it hit me; it was the van from this morning. My steps quickened, as the doors to my building loomed closer. I shot another look over my shoulder and saw the two males were walking toward me. One of them, a more heavyset man, suddenly pulled out a gun. My eyes widened as he aimed toward me. I dropped my belongings and ran like the devil was chasing after me. My safe house was getting closer, but for all I knew, it seemed to grow farther away. The armed man's accomplice began to run after me. My briefcase popped open and out flew all of the papers it held. The chaser ran faster than ever, hurdling my dropped belongings and gaining distance on me. I ran faster than I think I ever had before and shot a look back to see where he was. The man stopped chasing me, as my building became only a few yards away. Maybe I was going to make it! The armed man and his partner grew smaller, but I could see the man who was chasing me nod to his friend. I whipped my head around to see where I was going and heard a shot ring out. A searing pain ripped through my arm as I stumbled and fell to my knees. The blackness quickly took the edges of my vision as I drifted from consciousness.

Falling to the cold cement, I saw both attackers stand over me. The darkness finally took over all of my vision as I swam in and out of perception, but as everything faded to black, I heard the chuckling of the men standing over me.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

R&R.

Pendragon4