I wiped my eyes and smiled as I watched two cops enter the front door. Mark was removing the door hardware. It clanged on to the wooden floor and Mark burst into the bathroom. "Come on Vanessa, we have to go." Mark grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the bathroom. "It's too late Mark. There are policemen surrounding the house!" I told him. Mark stopped moving and looked at me. Sweat glistened on his brow. I could tell he was thinking of a way to get out of the house, with me. Seconds later, Mark smiled. He looked truly evil. He shoved me hard into a cluttered closet across from the bathroom. I lost my balance and fell into a broom and some old metal hangers. Mark quickly locked the closet and walked away. The closet was pitch black. I felt around and found a string hanging from the closet ceiling. I pulled it. I heard it click but the no light illuminated. I felt around in the darkness. The closet was cluttered, small and stuffy. The smell of old cedar was overwhelming. I felt like I had no air and began to get light headed. My eyelids felt heavy and I couldn't keep them open. I fell on to my knees, and sideways into something metal. That was all I remember. "Vanessa, wake up." Someone touched my cheek. I slowly opened my eyes and blinked. Slowly, the image of a young policeman filled my vision. I couldn't speak. "Don't worry Vanessa. My partner is downstairs. He has Mark in custody. You're safe. He won't be hurting you anymore." I was unable to speak. I smiled weakly at his kind face. The policeman helped me out of the closet and up on to my feet. He held my arm as we walked downstairs. Only a few more feet to the front door and safety. I could feel the cool air on my face. "Where do you think you're going?" Mark stepped in front of the door. His dagger was in one hand and he held a gun in his other hand. Beside him lay the other policeman, the partner. He had a hole in his head and blood pooled on the floor. I looked at the policeman who still held my arm. "Run," he mouthed and squeezed my arm. I made a movement to run. I heard a gun cock. Mark fired and the policeman fell beside me, clutching his chest. I looked at Mark. He cocked the gun again and pointed it at me. I heard the shot.
To be continued