A quick glance at my watch told me I was late. Packing was proving to be more tedious than I had anticipated. It was the middle of summer and it was swelteringly hot. My top was clinging to my body from all the sweat despite having just showered. A loud banging on my door and a shout from the other side interrupted me. “WHAT?!” I shouted back. My stereo was blasting Linkin Park so loudly I couldn’t even hear myself think. When I got no response, I returned to my packing.
Today was my last day in this pathetic town I had called home for 23 years. Despite having endless childhood memories here, I had grown to hate it. It was a suffocating little town with nothing to do for entertainment, not even a cinema. After high school my parents couldn’t afford to send me to college and my grades weren’t good enough for a scholarship. I settled for a 9 to 5 job at a fast food outlet while all my friends left for bigger cities and better lives. Years later, I was finally on my way out too. The fast food company I worked for had opened a new branch in Golden City and I was being transferred. I finished off packing and rushed to the car, dragging my suitcase behind me. I kissed my mother on the cheek and gave her a tight hug. I didn’t want to leave her but I had to. My sister got me to the bus station just in time. I blew her a kiss as the bus set off, furiously blinking away tears. I was finally free.
The bus was scheduled to stop at a Motel on the way to Golden City since the road was too dangerous to manoeuvreat night. We arrived at the Motel just before dusk. An ancient, well kempt building. I headed straight for the front desk and collected the key to the room I had pre booked. The Motel was so dimly lit I could barely see where I was going. As I walked down the corridor squinting at the numbers on top of the doors, I bumped into someone.
“Sorry!” I squeaked.
“No worries.” He replied, bending over to pick up my traveling bag. “You need help?” he asked. I couldn’t make outhis facial features.
“Yes please.” I replied. “I’m looking for room 208.”
“Go straight down the corridor to the end and turn left, first room on your right.”
“Oh thank you! I’m Lucy by the way!”
“And I’m just a stranger.” He responded plainly.
I let out a slightly nervous giggle. “Well thank you stranger,” I replied and walked off.
I hurried to my room, eager for a refreshing, cold shower to get rid of the smell of sweat. It was a simple room with aqueen sized bed sandwiched between two wooden drawers. On top of the drawers were two lamps giving off a warm, orange light. I put my bag down, grabbed my toiletry bag and rushed to the bathroom, pulling off my sweat soaked clothes on the way. As I stepped into the cold water I let out a deep sigh, savouring the moment. Slowly, I drowned in my thoughts about what life in the big city would be like.
A loud knock on the door interrupted me. I turned the water off and quickly wrapped myself up in one of the towels on the towel rack. I made my way to the door, dripping water all over the wooden floor. I opened the door expecting refreshments but instead, standing in front of me was a tallman holding a familiar phone in his hand. I looked up at him in confusion. His facial features were much clearer now. He had a well-groomed beard that did very little to hide his prominent jawline. His hair was cut so close to the scalp he was almost bald.
“You dropped this,” he said, handing me the phone. Flustered, I stretched out my hand. I was certain I had put my phone in the inner pocket of my traveling bag. How could it have fallen out? I thanked him hastily and tried to shut the door but he threw out his arm to stop the door from closing, pushed it open and let himself in. Gently, he shut the door behind him.
“Are you really going to send your knight in shining armour away without a proper thank you?” he asked.
I took a step back, shocked. “Please leave,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “I would like to sleep,” I added more firmly.
“And I would like a proper thank you,” He replied.
“Please leave or I will call the police.”
“How? I took the battery out of your phone and no one will hear you even if you scream.”
Instinctively, I bolted for the door but before I could get therehe grabbed me by the waist and lifted me up slamming me into the wall. He lowered his lips to my ear and whispered, “I want my thank you.” The feel of his hot breath against my neck sent a chill down my spine. I kicked and punched at every inch of him I could reach, which only seemed to excite him. He ripped the towel off my body. For a second, he was completely lost in thought staring at my bosom. I took the chance, kneed him in the groin and he fell to the ground, wreathing in pain. Before he could recover, I grabbed anearby lamp and smashed it into the back of his head. Immediately he stopped groaning and lay still in a pool of his own blood. I watched as the life slowly drained from him. When I was sure he was dead, I went into the bathroom, washed the blood off me and put on a fresh set of clothes. I grabbed my bag and left the motel, an unapologetic murderer.