Free He's Watching Me by Wesley Thomas Page B

beyond frightening; it was totally baffling. Even worse, how could they escape with the psycho clown in their path? If he didn't move, they were trapped. Laura was circling in a pool of worries, doubts, and the uncertainty of her future. She sat choking on regret: thinking about her father, about the mistakes, the amends she wished she could make, the people she wanted to talk to, and apologize too. In what felt like the final moments, Laura was in a vice like grip, having life thrown in her face, a chocolate bar dangling just out of a child's reach. The things she will never again know: happiness, accomplishment, goals, fun, joy, even experiencing anger, and resolving conflict seemed more appealing than this nightmare. She'd never felt the touch of a man, that kind of touch that changes your identity, takes a person's virginity. So many parts of life yet to be explored, marriage, kids, finding a career, growing old. All the things taken for granted and assumed a right not a privilege. Some that people moan and complain about. All the while choosing to ignore just how fragile existence is. Everything could change in an eventful second. She was guilty of not appreciating the value of life, which would be confessed to God, if heaven was real. Out of her reflections a phone started to ring.
     
    She yelped like a dog, yanking it from her pocket. How had she forgotten about it?
    “Hello?” she cleared her throat.
    “Laura?” a voice asked.
    “Yes this is Laura, is that Officer Thompson?” she asked, endowed with a new hope.
    “Yes, one of our men is at the front door and has been knocking for a while now, he can't get in. Where are you? In the panic room?” he asked.
    “Yes, the clown is outside the door; I can't get out. And Toby has passed out as he was stabbed,” Laura looked at him and felt his chest again. Still breathing. Silver linings. But time was of the essence.
    “Oh God, okay, I will tell him to find a way in. If the clown moves get out of there, and close the door behind you to keep Toby safe,” he commanded.
    “Don't I need the code?” Laura asked.
    “Don't worry about it, I can engage the door mechanism remotely.”
    “But what if he dies?” Laura felt tears rushing to her eyes.
    “He won't, not if you keep monitoring that camera, and when he moves, run. Go to the front door, I will have one man waiting at the door, and another trying to get in another way.”
    “How did you know I can see him through the surveillance?” Laura became aware of his knowledge, which she wasn't sure she had shared with him, or maybe she was becoming delirious, paranoia being one of the side effects of pure fear.
    “Dr Anderson, he and I worked closely on the security of the castle, as I warned it would attract burglars who were very gifted and were in it for expensive items, and the owner of such a castle was clearly going to be very wealthy. So I know a lot about the ins of the castle. But I also assumed Toby would get the laptop out and monitor the cameras. He is a very smart kid that one. But it is kind of assumed when trapped in a panic room you will get to the surveillance,” he explained.
    It seemed plausible. But Laura couldn't deny that trust had been dented slightly. Amidst her thoughts her eyes wandered and fell on the monitor, noticing the vacant space in front of the panic room door. The cameras revealed the floor below in the bedrooms and hallways were also clear.
    “He's gone, and I have just checked the floor below quickly, and he is nowhere to be seen,” Laura was actually excited. That she didn't expect. She figured anything was better than being stuck in there, with no chance. At least by running there was a shot of prevailing all this.
    “You have to be one hundred percent sure Laura, are you?” Officer Thompson left no room for compromise in his voice. Implying the grave importance of her observation.
    Laura caroused the cameras again, and each room was vacant. But then each small square