Night fell. I checked where he was (stood once more at the window, staring out at the nothingness) and picked up my bag. I knew he was watching my reflection in the window. I found an old dusty light switch, flicked the hall light on, and made my towards the back of the house. I could hear his feet scuffling behind me, not in a hurried way, more casual. After locating the bathroom, I pretended to look busy like I was serious about getting ready for bed. As soon as the door was bolted behind me, I checked out the old translucent window. It was just big enough for me to squeeze through, but when I turned the handle, the window wouldn't budge. I tried to push it, but still it refused to move.
Then I heard a creak just outside the door. He was listening, trying to hear if I was making an escape. I coughed a few times and grabbed my nightie. Looks like I was going to have to do a runner after all.
Once dressed, I unbolted the door. He was sat outside on the floor, chipping away at the floorboards with his knife. I stopped, unsure of how to move around him. He looked up, for once without his menacing grin.
"Room's over there," he pointed simply to a door. I went over and opened it. Just a boring old room. Double bed, small window over-looking the forest, old battered furniture. I judged the size of the window. It was easily big enough to climb through but obviously he might be staying with me in the room, and I couldn't just climb out in plain sight could I? Also, my experience with the bathroom told me that this house was very old, old enough for the catches on the windows to rust shut.
I sat down on the bed and watched the outside world. Nothing stirred, just a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. He came in behind me and sat on the floor opposite the bed.
"If you're looking for a way of escape it's not working," he stated, breaking the deafening silence between us, "I made a note of welding all the windows shut a long time ago," he chuckled darkly.
I found a response. My breath caught in the back of my throat, "You've brought people here before?"
"Oh yes. Used to be my main base…as you could probably tell from the stains in the living room, I've had…lots of visitors…" he pulled the knife out of his pocket.
"Are you going to kill me here?" I asked, feeling numb.
"Well," his grin deepened, his red raw gums visible through the slashes in his cheeks, "We'll see,"
He began to laugh crazily, but it was cut short by the sound of the front door opening and slamming shut.
"Shit," he cursed, getting up quickly.
"What?" I stood too, but he pushed me back down onto the bed.
"A complication. He wasn't supposed to be here for another few weeks…" he stormed out, knife poised and ready.
Be here? Did this house belong to someone that just so happened to be away for the time being? No, if Jeff had brought people here before, then it must be an abandoned cabin… I thought quickly. I knew of log cabins being let out over the summer. Maybe this one happened to be on a list, and some poor soul had booked it, and then turned up here tonight a few weeks early? But if it was abandoned... It seemed the only answer I could formulate at that time. Didn't matter anyway. Jeff had cornered the sap in the living room. I could hear screams and dragging noises, various thunks and clatters. And lots of swearing.
"HELP!" the man screamed. I saw Jeff drag him into the bathroom, the door being kicked closed in the commotion.
Screams erupted from the room, the sound of wet material slopping about, a gurgling choking noise, followed by quiet insane laughter. Jeff was ripping him apart. I stood shocked.
Shit, don't stand there, fucking run!
What if he comes out before I get out the house?
JUST FUCKING GO.
I grabbed my bag and coat in my arms and raced down the hallway, only just managing to grab my shoes on the way out the door. A slam came from behind me as Jeff ripped the bathroom door back, roared down the hallway and followed me out into the night covered in blood.
I screamed and pushed myself faster than I'd ever run, following the dirt road. The lights of the village were just visible through the trees.
Follow the lights…
Get to the centre, find other people…
I came finally to the head of the dirt track, and looked back. Jeff wasn't behind me, at least not where I could see. I stupidly stopped at the junction onto the road, scanning the dirt track behind me frantically.
As I turned, a fist came out from nowhere and smacked me right between the eyes. I stumbled back, hit my head off the pavement and tumbled into darkness.