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Chapter Six: Revealed Identity
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Loud music blared as the band played on the stage. On the floor, several people danced and partied to the beat of the music.
Abby stood in front of the payphone. Her hand gripped the phone while she kept the other pressed on her ear.
"John, it's me," she said. She tried to ignore the blaring music and focused on the voice on the other end.
Abby smiled. "Yeah," she said over the loud music. "Especially Susan. She's having the most fun."
Abby listened for a few moments while she unconsciously twirled the cord of the phone. "She wants me tomorrow?" She couldn't hide the disdain in her voice. "What time?" Again, her face fell, and let out a sigh. "Seven? Are you sure?" She glanced at her watch. It was already forty-five minutes past eleven. "Okay, I'll see you, then." After a few seconds, Abby finally hung up.
She walked over to their table, and found Susan and Chen engaged in an animated conversation.
"So, how'd it go?" Susan asked with a grin. She was evidently a little tipsy.
Abby shot them an apologetic smile. "Um, I have to go now." She gathered her purse.
"As in right now?" Chen gave her a curious look.
Abby nodded in response. "I suppose so."
"Why, does Carter miss you already?" Susan playfully drawled.
Abby rolled her eyes and laughed. "Actually, I just learned that I'm on at seven."
"I thought you weren't supposed to be on until ten?" Chen asked.
Abby shrugged. "Weaver asked me to cover Conni's shift. I think she's down with a flu." She made a motion to stand up, but she hesitated and glanced worriedly at the two. "Will you two be okay?" she asked.
Chen gave her a weird look. "Yeah, sure. Why?"
"Oh, I don't know. Susan seems kind of…drunk." She pointed out. She thought about it for a moment. Maybe I should wait for both of you to go home."
Susan shook her head. "Excuse me, I am not drunk!" Susan denied vehemently.
"Okay, tipsy then." Abby said. Susan continued to shake her head.
Chen waved her hand dismissively. "Nah." She looked over at Susan. "I can handle it."
"Are you sure? 'Cause you know, Susan mistook my foot for an emesis basin the last time." Abby said with a laugh.
Chen wrinkled her nose and groaned. "Oh, that's nasty!" Both Abby and Chen shared a hearty laugh. Susan didn't look too pleased.
"Okay, I really need to be going now," Abby finally said. She gave them a wave. "See you tomorrow," she said.
"Good night, Abby," Chen called out.
"Go, Carter's waiting for you," Susan kidded. "Careful Abby," she added. "Lot's of bad guys out there." She joked. No one knew how true it was.
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A lone man stood in the shadows by the alley. "Where the hell is she?!" he muttered to himself.
He rubbed his hands together. The wind felt chillier than usual, seemingly aware of the ominous things to come. He smiled at the thought.
His eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. A few more minutes of waiting, his victim finally emerged. A devious smile formed in his face.
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Abby's eyes nervously darted around the place. The street was almost deserted, with some people in the distant. She started walking towards the direction of the station. Unfortunately, the others were walking towards the opposite direction. She continued on, and slightly quickened her pace. And then she heard it: footsteps from behind. Abby furtively turned her head to look.
"Get a grip," she told herself. "You can't be the only one headed this way."
She heaved a sigh of relief as the footsteps soon faded. She squinted her eyes. The station was still about a block and a half away. A few seconds later, the footsteps again resounded, and this time, it came from in front of her. Abby's heart skipped a beat as he saw a man walking towards her direction. She slowed her pace. She contemplated about turning around, but she realized that it wasn't a good idea. 'No could possibly hear me scream there,' she thought as she remembered the almost deserted streets she just passed.
As the man neared, her mind thought of all the possible ways to escape the man, just in case something happens. The best way she thought was to distance her from the man and if he tries anything on her, she would come running towards the direction of the station. 'At least there are people there that could help.' She focused her mind and ran the scenario over and over in her head. Her whole body tensed in anticipation. 'What am I thinking?!' she furiously asked herself. 'This could just be a perfectly harmless man who is simply headed my way.' However, her guts told her otherwise. Something from deep inside knew that the man was far from being harmless.
She pulled her coat tighter around her, and looked up to see the man slowly approaching. She noticed that the man was coming directly at her now. 'Shit!' she cursed, as she realized that by distancing herself from the man, she had given him the opportunity to corner her to a wall. She was walking a few feet from the building walls, and it gave her little space to squeeze past the man.
A knot formed at her gut. Time seemed to slow down as the man neared. He was ten feet away, and then seven, and then five. She held her breath as she stood side by side with the man for what felt like eternity. In truth, barely a second has passed. She shot a quick glance, and noticed something: he seemed very familiar.
She took a quick step forward, but before she could release her breath, he had grabbed her from behind.
"What, no hello for me, Abby?" a menacing voice asked.
Abby took a quick intake of breath as she realization dawned her. "Brian?" she said, horrified.
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Okay, it might not be as long the others, but hey, it's still a chapter. Today is the official start of the science week of our university, and that means that there'll be no exams for the whole week (yippee!). ^_^ So expect another chapter soon. Thanks, everyone! ^_^