So, I've been an RN at Metro General Hospital for years, working the 7pm-7am shift. I enjoyed working nights because I don't sleep a lot and I get tons of things done in the daytime.
One sunny evening I was on the way home from a lunch party for a friend. I was tipsy, probably drunk, and I felt good. I was outside my apartment door, trying to fit the key in the lock, giggling and singing a song I had stuck in my head.
I thought I heard a sound. The hallway felt heavy, as if I was no longer alone. I got goosebumps all over but when I looked around no one was there.
My hands began to shake. I dropped my keys and when I bent over to pick them up I saw him. He appeared out of nowhere and was suddenly right behind me. I saw a large pair of black dress shoes, they were dusty but new, I distinctly remember a lack of wear at the sole or creases across the toes. I also saw two legs encased in wrinkled red pants. Bending over made me dizzy, seeing someone so close behind me, having appeared so suddenly and silently, made me feel faint. Little silver dots swam before my eyes. I could not decide if I was awake or asleep.
I stood upright to face my creeper. When I saw him I decided I was asleep, in the midst of a nightmare. He was tall, I am 5'10," he had to have been 6'3." He was broad shouldered and solidly built. Not big like a football player, but fit and strong.
What stopped me was his face. He was white, literally white. He had on Kabuki-like make-up. Deep puckered scars decorated his entire face. His mouth was painted bright red.
He had piercing, dark green eyes and wavy, greasy hair which just touched his shoulders. His hair was blond at the roots and green on the ends. He had a giant smile on his face, his mouth was open. His teeth, though straight and even, were stained and discolored, they were almost brown.
The scariest thing about his face were his eyes. In another face they would have twinkled, been amusing, interesting, nice to look at. These eyes looked right through me, like he could read my mind, like he could see me naked. He looked at me like he knew me. The smile on his lips did not reach his eyes. He'd painted his brows and under his eyes black which made them stand out even more. They sparkled with intelligence, and madness. He had crazy eyes.
He looked at my face then up at my hair then slowly down my body. I dress sexily but not at all provocatively. Today I was wearing an ankle length dress, prairie style at the bottom and fitted to the waist. It had spaghetti straps and was a little low cut, showing some cleavage and my collarbones. I am black, dark-skinned, and the dress is bright yellow. The contrast is striking. I was wearing 3 inch strappy heels and simple white gold jewelry. My mid-back length locked hair was in a ponytail at the top of my head.
This non-verbal exchange could not have taken more than a very few seconds but it seemed like time had slowed down. The few moments in the hallway lasted an eternity. This man was dangerous. I knew I was in trouble. My heart was pounding, he was giving me that look. This was a fucking nightmare.
"Hello," he said simply, voice low and deep, he smiled even wider. At the time I was struck by the fact that his breath smelled good. I could feel the heat from his body, and he smelled like Twizzlers. He was painted, greasy, wrinkled and dusty but he smelled wonderful, clean and sweet like my favorite candy with an undertone of soap. He was a breathing oxymoron.
My mouth was dry, open. I could not speak. I wanted to scream. I wanted to reach up and pry my own eyes open. I wanted out of this bad, bad dream.
I moved without thinking, my right hand and foot moved as one, my intent was to stomp on his foot and poke him in the throat or eyes with my keys. Men are very protective of their cocks and balls so I didn't even bother trying to hit him there. I just wanted to buy some time to get away.
In one swift movement he took a step back and grabbed my wrist. He had a vise grip. He turned me around with his left hand, knocking me off balance as he pulled my back into his chest. He covered my mouth with his other hand and pressed what felt like a giant erection right into the crease of my ass. In my heels I was close to his height, we fit together perfectly.
"Now, now, we ARE going to fight, but not quite yet. If you scream," he explained "I will cut your tongue out. You will bleed like a pig, but you will not die. you will also never speak, or taste, again. If you behave, we'll have some fun and I will leave you alive and uncut. I like to cut, don't give me reason. Do you understand me?" He spoke conversationally, like he was giving me directions.
I nodded yes, trying to swallow past the lump in my throat. I felt sick. I could not accept that this was happening, to me. I was suddenly very sober.
He removed his hand from my mouth and took my keys from me. He didn't fumble at all. He chose the right key and got the door open on the first try. "Oh yes, I know which key to use. I know everything about you Sarah. I even know what you had for dinner last night."
He shoved me through the door, purposely tripping me as we crossed the threshold. I stumbled and fell to my knees, all wrapped up in my stupid, voluminous dress. I was stuck. I couldn't find my feet. I crawled forward, petrified. How does he know me? One could not ever forget that face or that odd purple and green suit. I could not process but I knew he was crazy and fully believe that he would kill me.