C2 LOVE CRIMINAL

She can‘t help her thoughts that seem to be flying everywhere but to nowhere. She felt nervous and felt her skin pores releasing sweat she seems not to have control of now. But with a shivering mouth, she demanded, “What do you want—” she was eager to start a conversation, a conversation she believes may give her a lead on what the intention of the man with the cracked voice behind her wanted from her. Her limbs were tired now, and the thought of sitting down came, but she quickly pushed it out for fear of getting on the nerves of the man, who was not only making her nervous but threatening her existence.

“Who cares?” He didn’t let her finish.

“Who the hell are you?” Annie yelled, “And why are you doing this to me?” Annie's voice started climbing.

Now a few people around the mall were getting suspicious about what was going on between the two lovers. But the more they look at them, the more difficult it was for them not to believe it was only a minor argument between two lovers who were just close up on each other, one at the front and the other from behind.

The pistol was not seen but it was only felt by Annie from behind. She knew if she raises an alarm, the man might pull the trigger and run away and she will suffer for her folly. She better shut up and sees the end of this.

“Raise your voice one more time, I shoot you right behind your back and you lose. And do you know who is else after you? I am sure you have no idea but listen and listen well; it will be your daughter, Karie. And who follows next, your husband Donald? I will kill everyone and put flowers on their graves”. He laughed quietly and that got Annie feeling dead already.

Who is this monster?

He seems to know her family and is now on his danger list.

She felt so terrified and felt like collapsing for the tension within her was becoming too much for her to handle.

Annie felt her stomach releasing acids that seem to be spreading all around her body producing so much heat to cut off her breath and suffocate her instantly.

She knew their conversation must go on; otherwise, she may not have an idea of what the man who seems to know her family so well wanted from her, “You know me and my family and you are doing this? What have I done to you?” she whispered fighting hard not to raise her voice.

“If I kill you now it would be painful to me. I need to wipe everyone out—” His voice came dangerously low once more, and there was something in his voice that seems to scare Annie that she cannot figure out.

Maybe the way he talks with so much passion in it like he wants to make good his threat, or perhaps his cracked voice that seems to have some ingredients of madness in it.

“W—what do you mean everyone” she interrupted stammering. Her heart pounding fast against her chest, and her breasts kept bouncing too in fear. Ignoring everything happening to her body, she felt, she needed to engage the stranger who seems to know too much about her family.

“What is your benefit? Death is once and that’s all and everybody must go through it and that includes you—” Annie knew she has to play with his intelligence and see how brilliant he is about the life he is toying with right now.

“Yes I know and that is why I want to make it more painful for you, it will get to everyone.”He whispered and that pierced deep into her eardrums. Her hands drum nervously beside her for a while as she struggled to process what he just said in her head.

“Everyone,” Annie muttered.

What is he talking about?

Will he kill me and then Donald and Karie?

The news a few days ago reported that six criminals undergoing psychiatric evaluation escape the facility. And now the police are after them.

And one of them may just be the one behind me or—

Her thought swells, but then, how did he get to know Donald and Karie?

Who else does he know?

Grandpa Tony!

Now the thought of fighting him off and then shouting for help came strong within her, but as soon as the voice came again, her fast-piling thoughts dropped, and she stood frozen to a spot.

“You must cooperate to live or die and others, die with you.” The cracked voice came once more. This time it was more tormenting than ever. She swallowed her saliva nervously and her eyes narrowed in shock.

The others!

Who were the others?

He spoke like a professional criminal but yet something seems to be giving him away. Perhaps the way he selects his words and struggles to make them sound frightening or there was something not too natural about the voice that seems to be betraying him.

Annie knew Grandpa Tony as a retired police officer when he was alive and often say to them when they were teens. “A criminal says less and does more because he is always running out of time and he knows that. He will either be robbing you or doing you harm and all you get without a word of sorry—”

Annie struggled to catch a glimpse of him through her right eye but yet again the voice stopped him.

“Don’t even dare—” he knew what she wanted to do, but with the pistol squeezing right behind her, he threatens.

“What do you want? Is it my car? I have money in my purse; you can have everything and let me go. I did some shopping too, you can—” Annie was interrupted angrily.

“Shut up and don’t be smart on me.”He flared. “Let you go? You must be out of your mind.” he was mad at her now and Annie could feel all of it and even his foul-smelling breath that tell her he is a drug addict.