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See part 1 for disclaimer...

Ch. 2

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April 22nd, 2000

Dear diary,

They're shouting again and this time it's really bad.

Last time, I had just gotten home from school to find that all

that remained of my room were scattered remnants of an

explosive blowout. The snow globe that my Mom bought me for my first

day home lay shattered on the floor, obviously after coming into

contact with the bedroom wall. For minute or so I allowed

myself to indulge in the weakness of tears, but soon got up to

clean the huge mess. In my experience, it's better to pretend

that nothing has happened. And I knew that if Jim came home and found

this mess, I'd have had hell to pay.

But now they're downstairs and all that stands between them and me is

a thin door with a tiny deadbolt on it, which Linda

managed to persuade Jim into putting on last night. I want Harm and

Mac to be here with me now, to tell me that everything's

going to be all right, because even when things were at their

worst, they were always there to catch me when I fell. But now

they're not here to help me and I'm scared, scared and alone.

As the noise dulled, Catriona cautiously opened her door an inch and

peered out. Jim and Linda were still arguing in the

hallway, but at least now they were keeping their voices below

the ten-decibel level. They were talking ten to the dozen and

Catriona couldn't catch what they were talking about, but it

was obvious that both of them had been drinking. Cathy quickly

assessed the situation as very bad when, as Linda turned towards the

light, she saw that the woman was crying. This was

definitely a very bad sign. Linda never cried. Then Linda

disappeared from view, taking sanctuary in the living room.

This was common tactic she used, if she wanted to diffuse the

building tension, which often resulted in an all out fistfight

or a china throwing match. However, Cathy noticed, Linda stayed in

the living room but a minute, then returned to the hallway,

holding a sight that chilled Catriona to the bone.

"Suitcases? No, no, this can't be happening!" Cathy thought to

herself.

"No, please don't leave me here with him!" Cathy pleaded

silently, emphatically shaking her head.

If someone had thrust a knife through her heart, Cathy would nothave

known any different. Without another thought, Linda

picked up her suitcases and walked out into the darkness,

kicking the door shut with her foot. Jim did not attempt to

stop her, but just stood silently in the hall, staring

unseeingly at the door. After a moment or two, he turned

around, shooting Cathy a look of such loathing, such hatred,

that Cathy thought that her legs might collapse underneath her.

"Get in your room, now!" he spat at her.

Back in her room, Cathy couldn't have explained what had

possessed her to do what she did, but something within her

screamed at her, "Get out of here!" Cathy simply knew that she must

do what her intuition told her to. She must get out of

here. Without a second of hesitation, she threw her bedroom

window open and climbed out, perching on the narrow ledge.

Locking her eyes on the nearest branch of the tree opposite her,she

lunged out, focussing on nothing else but the branch. She

knew that she was far from the ground, but she did not let any

shadow of doubt into her mind. However, luck was not on her

side and the tree limb was slick with ice, easily escaping from her

grip and sending her plummeting to the ground below.

Stunned, but extremely wound up with adrenaline, Cathy quickly

picked herself up and ignoring the pain in her ribs ran towards

Linda's car. The car was now on the road and picking up speed

and Catriona knew that her whole life might depend on her makingthis

escape. However, Linda began to speed up more and Cathy

realized that, at this rate, she would not be able to make it tothe

car.

"No Linda, No! Please don't leave me! Please!" she screamed

with all her might, at the car. Linda, however, made no attemptto

stop or even to slow down. Cathy continued to run, chanting the same

mantra over and over again in her mind;

"Please don't leave me, please don't leave me!"

Her arms and legs pumped, propelling her faster and faster,

until Cathy thought that she just might make it to the car

door.However, at that moment, she hit a patch of ice, which slid

her legs out from under her and her head impacted hard with the solid

ground. The lights of the fast retreating car dulled, as the

comforting darkness enveloped her.

When Cathy came to, she was lying on the kitchen floor, her

aching ribs and pounding head making her feel so queasy, she

thought that she might throw up then and there. Once she had

gotten her senses back, she cautiously turned her head to the

side, to see that Jim was standing at the kitchen counter,

drinking bourbon straight out of the bottle. The floor around

Catriona was littered with empty beer cans, which made a sudden noise

as Catriona attempted to sit up. Jim's gaze snapped

around to her and Catriona saw the look of a madman in his eyes.He

reflexively reached over and grabbed a knife from the knife

rack. Cathy tried valiantly tried to get up, but the blow to

her head had disoriented her and Jim pounced on her within

seconds, pinning her on her back, the knife poised above her.

Without her any hesitation, he thrust the knife down towards her head.

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