AN: Here's Chapter 20. Please Read, Review, and enjoy!

Chapter 20: Got to go to the Mile

Freddie was alone at the moment, in the middle of the night, climbing over an elongated wooden fence. He struggled to climb every now and then, but he managed to climb over the fence without making a single sound. Once he reached the other side, Freddie dusted off the dirt from his pants; he looked up, and gazed upon a country house in front of him. Freddie was a smart man, but sometimes common sense did not compute. He was on a farm; these people only had a semi fence for decoration; he could have used the open driveway.

Freddie quietly made his way to the front porch; he climbed the steps, and gently grasped the door handle; he twisted, and pulled it ever so slightly; and then a small clicking noise was heard. The door was unlocked; Freddie was not surprised. Freddie slowly pulled the door open; there was a large creak. Freddie squinted and winced, hoping that no person heard the man. Freddie did not bother closing the door; for he feared that someone would hear him. Freddie waited a moment or two; he gathered himself together; hearing for a stir amongst the house, but the house was silent. The young man was on his toes; searching and then finding the nearest bathroom. He checked his hair, and fixed his clothes. Freddie was dressed in a prison guard's uniform; the one he stole weeks before. Freddie planned to go to the mile tonight, but it was odd. Why would he go back to the very place that wanted to murder him? Indeed, it was odd, but at this point, Freddie no longer cared. It seemed like all of these recent events that were caused by the madman were no longer created for entertainment purposes, but for vengeance; vengeance against the men, who he sees, are murderers of mankind.

When he deemed himself prim and proper, Freddie exited the bathroom and turned the corner, finding a staircase. He climbed it cautiously; and to his surprise, the stairs were well maintained, and didn't make a single sound. Once he reached the top of the staircase, he took a glance both ways, and searched for a room full of living bodies.

He peered into one, finding only a single sleeping body. It wasn't his target. Freddie tiptoed inside, moving closer to the individual, and scanned the body further; it was a woman. He then stared beside the woman, and noticed that the other side of the bed was not stirred. With a slight grin, Freddie carefully made his way towards the woman's bedside. He sat by her feet; she was sound asleep. She was a lady within her thirties, acquiring golden brown hair, with very little wrinkles, and beautiful; however, it was unfortunate that she was the wife of a certain E block officer; one that Freddie despised the most. Composing himself from excitement, Freddy quickly pulled a small velvet case from a medicine bag attached to his belt. The case popped open, and Freddie pulled a long syringe from the velvet case. He attached a different head for the needle, and raised the entire deadly device to the level of his eyes. He then grasped a vial of fluid from the back of his pocket, and applied it to the syringe; it was a dull-yellow color. After filling the needle with the solvent, Freddie raised the needle back up to the level of his eyes, and squirted a bit of the solvent; some landing on the bed sheets. Freddie leaned in closer to the fine lady, and stared at her peaceful expression. He was inches away from her face, unfortunately, he breathed too heavy.

The woman opened her eyes.

Quickly panicking, the woman screamed, but not for long; for Freddie didn't hesitate to grasp her mouth, and push forwards. He held the woman in place, his eyes shifting from side to side. Freddie stared into the eyes of the poor woman; she was terrified by the sight of the man; for she did not know who she was dealing with. With only her eyes, she pleaded for her life, but Freddie ignored those silent cries. He said in a whisper:

"Where's your husband?" He threatened, "Tell me, or you are going to be dead within minutes."

The woman shook her head, and struggled. She attempted to scream once again; even with a hand covering her mouth. Freddie pushed forwards, keeping the woman still.

Freddie repeated, "I need you to calm yourself, woman. I'll say this again, tell me where your husband is."

When the woman finally relaxed, Freddie slowly released her from his grasp, and lowered the needle to his waist area. The lady's bottom lip quivered, and tears rolled down her cheeks. It was a struggle to speak, but chopped words managed to escape off her tongue

"M...m...my...h...husband?" she hiccupped.

Freddie nodded slightly, "Yes, where is your husband, Paul Edgecomb? You are his wife, Jan, are you not?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Good," Freddie said in a sly tone, "Where is he? Oh, and while you are telling me that bit of information, it would be helpful if you could tell me where his other friends are; Mr. Stanton, Terwilliger, and Howell."

Jan Edgecomb grasped her bed sheets tight; she was full of anger now. She would never betray her friends. Jan shook her head, "I do not! I won't tell you where Paul is; neither would I tell you about his partners' whereabouts either!"

Freddie stared at her, like he was in the home of the bewildered. He then glanced towards the left, noticing undisrupted sheets. He looked back at Jan, "Paul Edgecomb isn't home yet, is he?"

Jan did not answer his statement; instead, Freddie answered it for her.

"He's still at the mile," he said. Then, Freddie quickly snatched Jan's arm, and pulled her close. He held her forearm firmly in place, and sneered, "I'll make sure that I give him a little surprise when he gets home. Finding his dead wife killed by –

BANG!

Freddie yelped as he was hit in the shoulder with a large bullet. Small pieces of clothing, along with some skin, were now peeled from his body. Blood spurted along the sheets, some dripping on Jan's hand. She shrieked as the scene unfolded. Freddie's hand spasmed; dropping the needle onto the ground. In a state of shock, and terror, Freddie found an escape route; he glimpsed beside him to find an open window. Desperate, Freddie climbed out of the window, and jumped just as a second shot was fired. Freddie fell ten feet; only twisting his ankle. Paul Edgecomb, Jan's saviour, hustled to the window, and peered downwards, to find Freddie running away from sight. Paul fired two more shots, hoping to drive another bullet into the man; but only hit the ground. Dirt spattered by his feet. "Shit," Paul mumbled.

After the few seconds of terror, Paul raced towards his wife; first embracing her, then grasping both sides of her face. He pulled her close, and attempted to calm his distraught wife.

"Jan, are you alright?" he asked, "Did he hurt you?"

"No," Jan responded, "But, I think he was really after you. H...he...was dressed in a prison guard's uniform, like you. I...I think he's planning to go to Cold Mountain." Then a sudden realization hit Jan. "Who...who's at the mile tonight?"

"Brutal," Paul answered.

Jan shook, "I think he's in trouble. You have to call the others, and Hal; let them know what's going on, and get someone over to the mile right away; the police, perhaps!"

"Yeah," Paul said, clenching his fists together. He held his revolver firmly in place, and opened the chamber, stuffing six bullets inside. He cocked the firearm, after, placing it deep into his belt, "Yeah, I'll call, but I'm going over to Cold Mountain too. Local police will not be able to carry out this job, and reach Brutal in time. I must go, and stop him."

"W...what?" his wife yelled, "You're crazy! That man is dangerous! You cannot go there without aid!"

Paul turned around, and jabbed a finger at Jan before leaving, "No one attacks my wife, and lives to talk about it!"

"Hal!" Paul screamed into the phone.

Hal Moores winced, "Paul, why are you calling me at one in the morning?"

Paul answered quickly. "Freddie, the loose convict I was talking about before, broke into my home, and attacked my wife. She's fine, but upset. Hal, this man is after us. I...I believe that he is heading to the mile at this very moment."

Hal breathed heavy, "Are you sure that he's targeting E block?"

Paul answered, "100 percent! He's got a guard's uniform on, and he's wounded in the shoulder right now. This might be the climax of our adventures with this man. He's either going to live or die tonight; there will be no sitting on the fence with this man! I want to end this. Phone Dean and Harry; I want my guys to end this with me."

Paul hung up the phone. He then picked it up again, and dialed a new number.

Chapter 21 is next...