Hudson ran.
He’d once played a character who fell victim to this monster.Not this time.
He shot through the open front door and slammed it behind him.The bulk of his pursuer thudded against the other side.Hudson reached for the key in the lock, but it wasn’t there.Keeping all his weight against the door, he searched for an alternative.There was a deadbolt.He twisted the knob, and the bolt shot into place.
The door held when he stepped away while the killer rattled the handle.
He drew a quick breath of air.His heart hammered and it seemed like there was no space in his lungs.Outside, the handle continued to rattle.Then the killer kicked the door.The whole frame jarred but held.It wouldn’t take him long to find another way in.
Hudson had a slim advantage.
He had to find Luke, if he was still alive.The alternative wasn’t an option.He scouted around for a weapon but found nothing in the hallway.
“Luke,” he yelled.
He was answered by a muffled sound.Upstairs.
He mounted the stairs two at time, yelling Luke’s name again, following the reply.
Please be all right.If that bastard had done anything to him, Hudson would kill him himself, or die trying.
The lights were off on the top floor.With the encroaching darkness outside, the landing was long and dim, filled with shadows and dark open doorways.
He found him in the bedroom.
It was another image from a horror film.
Luke lay on the floor.He was tied to the arms and legs of a chair and must have tipped it over in an attempt to get loose.He was naked except for a pair of tight white underpants.Just like in the movie.Just like Julian.Something had been stuffed in his mouth and fastened around in a makeshift gag.He stared at Hudson with wide, terrified eyes.
At least he was alive.
Hudson managed to pull the gag free from his mouth and down over his chin.
“Are you all right?”he whispered.
“I think so.”His voice was dry and raspy.
“He’s outside.He killed Rav.”He examined the bonds around Luke’s wrists.Plastic cable ties.No way he could pull them apart.“Do you have anything up here to cut these?”
“Bathroom cabinet,” Luke said, then coughed.“Nail scissors.”
Hudson raced to the bathroom, thankful that he’d been here before and knew his way around.The small room was dimly lit but he didn’t want to turn on the light and alert the killer to their whereabouts.He tore open the cabinet door, his hands shaking as he fumbled through the contents.Bottles and packets fell out.There was a clatter of steel on the floor.He dropped to his knees and finally found the small scissors.
They were tiny.Useless as a weapon, but they should be enough to cut Luke free.
He returned to Luke’s side.
It sounded like the killer was using his axe on the front door.It wouldn’t take him long to get inside.They had to work fast.If they could get out the back while he was still preoccupied, they might stand a chance of losing themselves in the fields beyond.Enough time to hide and call the cops.
He started working on the cable ties, the small scissors barely making an indent on the tough plastic.
“Do you know who it is?”he asked.“Did you see his face?”
“No.He was wearing the mask when he jumped me.It’s fucking Baby Face.”
The first tie snapped.Luke raised his hands, gripping his fingers while Hudson started on the second wrist.
“Is it Robbie Wiseman?”Luke asked.
