Free B008GMVYA4 EBOK by Rebecca Ann Drake

the line of darkness. The thudding of her heart echoed through her
ears and throbbed painfully in her head. A sense of complete hopelessness and
surrender washed down upon her. Realisation that she could not escape this kind
of danger was becoming clear. Her legs were like jelly and threatened to buckle
beneath her. The strain of running and sheer terror was becoming too much for Madison
and her weaknesses were beginning to show. She spun again, this time catching a
glimpse of something lurking within the pursuing darkness. Her heart jumped
into her throat, her sense became erratic and breathing increased with fear and
panic. Madison’s eyes scanned the alleyway frantically as she prayed for a
place to escape. Tears poured down her face and dry sobs croaked from her
mouth. Two hands grabbed at either sides of her arms and she was lifted from
her feet and pulled backwards so quickly that she didn’t have time to scream…
     
    “Miss? Miss?”
    Madison woke up with a jolt as she was rudely pulled back
from the dream world.  A bead of sweat ran down her cheek and dripped off
the tip of her chin. Her eyes were weary with confusion. She glanced at the
taxi driver, then back out of the car window before gazing back to the taxi
driver once again. Madison touched her forehead with the palm of her hand; it
was wet and sticky from the drying sweat. She eyed the Travel Lodge from the
window. A beam of white light spilled out into the car park from the full
length glass doors of the travel lodge. The taxi driver had stopped outside the
entrance of the travel lodge, the engine of the car still running. Warm, musty
air flowed out from the air vents of the car, causing Madison to feel slighting
nauseous. The Travel Lodge was a newly built compared to the Travel Lodges in
Thatcham, it was elegant and trendy and the reception walls were made
completely out of glass. A few cars scattered the car park, but mostly the
Travel Lodge looked nearly if not completely vacant.
    “Where here…” the driver said after a pause. He had twisted
the whole of his upper torso around so he was peering at Madison from the front
seat. His small pin-point eyes frowned at her suspiciously under two large
thick bushy, grey eyebrows. He was in his late fifties, slightly overweight and
had a very distinctive face with a large rounded nose complete with a thick
grey moustache.
    “Um…thanks” Madison said, still feeling disorientated.
    “That’s £18, please” he said.
    Madison unzipped her handbag and pulled out her purse, her
hands shook as she tried to pull open the zipper. The nightmare had affected
her more than she realised, it had completely unnerved her. Normally, when you
wake from a nightmare and realise it was just a dream the fear vanishes, but on
the occasion the fear still remained. The terrible feeling you get just after
you wake up from a nightmare still haunted her. Madison just about pulled out
at £20 not and handed it to the taxi driver.
    “Keep the change” Madison said grabbing the door handle and
pushing the car door open. The driver also got out of the car and met Madison
at the rear of the car - he pulled the large blue suitcase out of the boot and
placed it down on the concrete. In the dim light of a street lamp and overspill
from the entrance of the Travel Lodge, dark circles were visible underneath his
eyes. Deep lines creased his forehead and small wrinkles clung to either side
of his mouth. Madison felt compassion for the old taxi driver, it was clear
that he worked long hours trying to make ends meet and there was something in
his eyes that showed a type of loneliness that she could relate to.
    “Good night” he said, slamming the boot shut and proceeding
to get back into his vehicle.
    Madison watched him get back into the car, start the engine
and do a U-turn before stopping at the junction to pull out onto the road. The
night air was refreshing against her clammy skin; she inhaled a few deep
breaths and watched until