The steady rain pounded the streets of Baltimore on a gloomy October night. Zoe was walking towards nothing, trying to escape everything in her life. Her husband, her so-called friends and even her own mind. In retrospect, that last thing was the most difficult to get away from. The omnipresent pull of her depression was enough for her to consider ending it all but her own fears of leaving someone to clean up the mess held her back. Regardless of how bad she was suffering, she wouldn't put another person's mental health in jeopardy by killing herself and leaving a catastrophe of a scene for them to find. Sighing to herself, she watched as her own breath hung thick in the air. The chilly wind accompanying the Nor'easter slowly blew it off to the East to dissipate in the darkness.
Zoe sighed again as tears overran her eyes and mingled with the falling rain. She stopped by the side of the road just as a car approached. Watching as the car stopped, Zoe half turned to confront whoever was intruding on her private misery. Despite the security lights installed by the County Government, the man was an enigma. All she could tell was that it was a very tall man sitting in the car, staring out at her in the rain.
"Hi, do you need a lift somewhere?" He said cheerfully enough. "It's a horrible night to be out on the street!"
Just then, he leaned into the light so she could see him clearly. His face was thin and angular but young and Zoe estimated him to be no more than his early thirties, just like her. She gave a nervous half smile as her pulse quickened at the perceived danger of going with the unknown man.
"I can't wait to get you alone, you know." The man said jokingly sarcastic. "I've got a whole night of murder and mayhem planned for you." He finished with a wink and a roguish smile.
Smiling, despite the threat, Zoe walked quickly to the car and got in. Her body was trembling with the boldness of her act. She smiled nervously as she looked up in the dark at the half-concealed face of the man who held her life in his hands. Leaning forward, the man reiterated his intention to kill her. His pale blue eyes a reflection of his serious intent.
"I know, and I'm at peace with that." Zoe said calmly.
It was the man's turn to sigh softly, his shock at her calm demeanor overwhelming him. Rather than ask her further why she was so anxious to die, he thought better to get her secure at his home before he delved further into her psyche and her body. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as she stopped trembling and, for all intents and purposes, made peace with the prospect of her own death.
The man followed I-95 South for a good forty minutes before turning off into a small town not far off the Interstate. He continued on for another half hour, driving further and further from civilization as the time passed. Casually, he looked over at the woman in his keeping and found her silently absorbing what little she could see in the car's headlights. The road was so dark, nothing could be seen on either side of the car. He smiled with relief as they neared his home. Pulling into the driveway, the man drew the gun from his holster and indicated the woman should get out of the car.
He needn't have bothered. She was so intent on dying at his hand, that he had to rush to keep up with her while she made her way to the dark outline of his farmhouse. Shaking his head, the man grimaced in disbelief that someone so young could have such a death wish and sought to gather the particulars of her fatalist story. Unlocking the door, the man ushered the woman inside and looked at her, nonplussed, when she began making suggestions as to how he could get away with the crime of killing her.
It was his turn to shake. The man made a decision to get to the bottom of the woman's story and put the gun down on the kitchen counter before marching her into the living room. Sitting her down on the couch, he sighed again before nervously running his fingers through his wavy blond hair. Direct, pale blue eyes appraised the woman next to him on the couch as he searched for a means of getting her to open up to him. He noted that she was small and dark, her eyes were dark brown and almond shaped, her skin a radiant medium chocolate and her hair, which was pulled back in a ponytail, was almost true black with reddish highlights.
"So, tell me why you're so willing to die?" He said, before adding. "My name is Patrick, by the way."
"Can you just get it over with please?" She asked, pained.
"Not until you answer my questions," Patrick replied, with a smile. "Let's start small then. What's your name?"
"My name is irrelevant. You're going to kill me. Let's just leave things at that." Zoe said, acidly.
"It's not irrelevant to me." Patrick said.
He could tell this was going to be like pulling teeth. Never before did he have a victim so closed off. Most of the people he'd kidnapped were willing to do and say anything if they thought it would free them from his plans. This girl was different, he could tell.
"Fine, my name is Zoe. Satisfied?" She sneered.
"Alright then, Zoe. Why are you so willing to die then?" Patrick asked, with a smile. Just then, Zoe attempted to jump up from the couch before being restrained by the much stronger man.
"Let me go!" She bellowed. "If you're not going to kill me, take me back where you found me!"
"Oh, I don't think so, Zoe." Patrick said, calmly, as she beat against his firm chest. "Are you saying that you want to live now?"
"No, I just don't want my time wasted. Either kill me or let me go." Zoe stated firmly.
"Not until you tell me your story. Something has made you so eager to die and I will have it out of you." He replied, his body reacting to having a woman in such close proximity after so long. Shushing her, Patrick held her close to his chest as he gently sat them both down on the couch.
