Pissed off

The story continues from "She turned, startled, to face him."


Leila banged her fists on Grace's lower back a second time. Grace screamed in agony while Leila, her legs still under Grace's, reached over and twisted Grace's right foot until the ankle broke in two. She extricated herself from the mess of blood, vomit, and tears, running into the apartment. Dark and haunting, she knew it not at all, only from what Howard had told her. She ran into what she thought was a high armchair, knocking over a floor lamp. She turned left and her arms felt an open doorway -- the kitchen! Howard had told her about the living area, bathroom, and kitchen. Had to be the kitchen! She reached down for the light switch and flicked it on -- no light. Damn, the electricity was off.

Panic rose. No time left. She heard sirens, the police were coming, she could relax! Then she felt a leathery hand grab her neck from behind. Grace! She screamed anew, twisted around and elbowed Grace in the chin. She heard Grace's jaw crack. Grace fell backward and brought Leila down with her. Grace squeezed her hands about Leila's neck, too strong for a woman of 110 pounds. Leila kicked her in the vagina, knowing she'd pass out soon. She felt the pressure release from her neck but then it mounted again.

A door swung open and made a heavy bang in the distance. Leather-soled footsteps made their way closer to them. Grace refused to surrender, squeezing ever harder. The dark room becoming smaller and smaller to Leila. Why'd she ever fuck Howard? She hadn't meant to come between him and his blonde wife. Now this, Howard dead. She didn't want to die, she just wanted to be home, call her parents and tell them everything would be okay. Everything will be okay, Mama and Papa. She heard a loud noise and then her mind swirled down a black vortex and she felt nothing.

She awoke in a strange, white place lying on her back and looking up at the ceiling. White lights everywhere, her vision too fuzzy to know where. A hospital? She'd lived! She hadn't died. She looked around, two blurry images in front of her. Her vision cleared and she saw Mama and Papa standing above her.

"Lie still, my dear," Mama said. "It's all over. The police shot and killed Grace when they arrived. Two days ago."