Axe’s Fall(55)
She placed the receiver on the handset and wiped her fingers over her face. She probably should’ve gone down and joined them; it would’ve been better than sitting alone and imagining horrible scenarios with the killer.
She had to stop; she couldn’t let him have the upper hand. Being a victim again was not an option.
After crawling between the covers, Baylee opened her book, but it wasn’t long before the hum of the air conditioner lulled her to sleep.
She woke up with a start, the room pitch-black. Did she turn the TV off? She didn’t remember doing it. Something had woken her up. She held her breath, listening over the pulse booming in her ears. There, a rattling sound. What is that? Again, a little louder. It came from the door. Slipping out of bed, using the light from her phone, she tiptoed toward the front door then paused. The rattling sound grew louder. Someone is trying to get in! She covered her mouth with her hand, adrenaline rushing through her body. It sounded like someone was picking the lock and turning the knob, but she knew she’d locked the deadbolt and the security bar.
What should I do?
As she crept closer, the rattling stopped. She barely breathed, standing motionless as time passed. Nothing. Had she imagined the sound? After several minutes, she inched her way to the door and put her ear against it. Nothing. She exhaled forcefully.
Leaning forward, she grasped her neck and looked through the peephole. A piercing green eye stared back. She screamed and jumped away, the doorknob rattling and shaking as the person kicked the door.
Baylee ran to the phone and called the front desk, sputtering out her fear that someone was trying to break into her room. The clerk said security was on its way. She held onto the receiver like it was a lifeline, cold sweat trickling down her back. He was outside her door.
A loud knock broke her resolve, and the tears she’d been holding back flowed down her cheeks.
“Security,” a loud, male voice boomed.
How could she be sure it wasn’t a ruse? She walked back to the door, wiping her wet cheeks with the palm of her hand. She looked out the peephole again and saw two uniformed young men standing in the hall. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
“What’s the problem, Miss?” one of the guards asked.
“Someone was trying to break into my room.”
“Did you see him?”
“Yes. I looked through the peephole and he was staring back at me.” Recalling the horror of it, the tears ran down her cheeks again.
“We’ll take a look around. Lock your door.”
About ten minutes later, they knocked again.
“We checked the hallways and down the stairwell. Everything is fine. If you have trouble again, call us.” They gave her their direct phone number.
“Can someone pick the deadbolt?”
“Any lock can be picked, but it’d have to be done by an expert. The deadbolts are very secure, as well as the security bar.”
“Thanks.”
She closed the door then dragged the desk chair over, propping it under the doorknob as extra precaution.
Sitting on the bed, the lamp on, terror froze her. What if he comes back? Even with the three locks, the security guards, and the chair against the door, she didn’t feel safe. Without hesitating, she opened her phone and sent Axe a text.
Baylee: R u still up?
Two seconds later, her phone pinged.
Axe: Ya.
Baylee: Sorry to text so late.
Axe: Never be sorry, babe. Glad to hear from u.
Baylee: I need a friend right now.
Axe: What’s wrong?
Baylee: Too long to explain. Can u come over?
Axe: Sure!
Baylee: As a friend. I’m scared.
Axe: I’ll be there soon.
Baylee: Thanks.
She set her phone down and rubbed her throbbing temples. Her phone pinged, and she smiled.
Unknown: I’m watching you, Baylee.
Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach and she threw the phone on the bed, scooting away from it. Instinctively, she looked around the room then at the locked front door.
Another ping. She stared at the phone for a few seconds, willing it to be Axe who had texted. Slowly, she picked it up.
Axe: No worries. I’m on my way.
She exhaled then curled up in bed with the covers over her head, waiting for Axe to arrive.
A soft knock on her door sent her body in a downward spiral.
“Baylee? It’s me, Axe.”
His familiar voice brought tears of relief, and she rushed to the door, dragged the chair away, and looked through the peephole. His tall, strong body filled the view. When she opened the door, she flung herself into his arms.
“What’s going on?” he asked softy as he held her and led her back into the room.
All the fear and tension for the past couple of hours drained from her, and she broke down crying, her body rising and falling as he held her close to him, stroking her back and her hair.