Game, Set And Match

Chapter 8

Another week dragged past. Ever since she returned to her place she slept poorly. Lorraine was officially exhausted between placating her existing customers and answering random questions from her wedding planner. The only thing that gave her peace of mind was the frequent calls from Phillip. Ever since her engagement to him was announced her stalker left her alone. She began to let her guard down and relax a bit more. Just having Phillip around kept the negative comments at bay. She sipped on a glass of baileys and watched a comedy before she would turn in for bed that night. When the program was over she turned off the television and the light and made her way down the corridor to her bedroom.

Lorraine gasped as a hand shot out out of nowhere and clamped hard over her mouth preventing her from screaming. A strong arm locked around her waist, dragging her by force, while their gloved hand muffled her screams. The person was dressed all in black and with the lights off they blended in perfectly with the encroaching darkness. Please God send someone to my rescue, I don’t want to die like this, thoughts like those thundered through her brain.

“Shut up bi*ch, and stop with the noise.” The voice was slightly muffled by the black stocking the stalker had over their face. The voice wasn’t deep and sounded vaguely familiar, where in the world had she heard that voice before. If she made it out of this alive she needed to remember all the tiny details that would help them find the stalker. She clawed at the silencing hand trying very hard to tear it away from her face. Tears unconsciously rolled down her face as she breathed hard through her nose while gasping for air. The person was pulling her away from the bed room back into the living room. The intruder wasn’t taller than her but felt heavier like they had on more weight.

She had to think fast, she had several vases in the living room if she got close enough she could probably grab the rim of one and smash it against her assailant, she had nothing to lose, it was worth a try. She didn’t make it any easier for the person to drag her as she wrapped her feet around a column. The intruder swore and let go of her for a brief second, she ran like her life depended on it but the stalker was fast and gained on her in no time, steadying herself she stuck to her plan and grabbed the large chinese vase, thank God it was a cheap model and swung it against her assailant. It didn’t even faze the person or slow them down they just kept coming for her.

She unleashed a scream that would wake the dead and the intruder lunged for her, Lorraine fell backwards taking the intruder with her, she had no choice but to fight to help herself, she grapple with the intruder, kneeing them like Phillip had taught her but it made no difference. The assailant punched her in the face and she saw stars for a second, the person was heavy on top of her, cutting off the circulation of her blood, her lungs felt pressured and it interfered with her breathing. She ignored the aching in her chest and fought for her life, if she died she at least wanted to see who was responsible.

Lorraine ignored the pain, fought for breath and used her hand to drag the mask of the intruder’s face. Imagine her shock when she saw that it was the prim and proper Rosie sitting astride her.

“You little bi*ch, it’s time you finally get what you deserve.” She punched Lorraine repeatedly in the face ignoring her cries and moans.

“Why are you doing this?” Lorraine sobbed.

“It didn’t have to come to this, I sent you so many warnings and you just wouldn’t listen you stubborn wh*re.”

“That still doesn’t explain why.”

“You stole my son, my friends and my man.”

“Your man?”

“Yes. I was all set to marry that handsome Phillip until you whispered lies in his head and stole him from me.” This woman was insane. Lorraine screamed and bucked as she tried to shake Rosie’s tight grip from around her neck. Her mouth became dry as it got harder and harder for her to breath.

Suddenly, the door flew open, Phillip and his men came storming through the door to her rescue. It was Steve who constantly monitored the house and alerted them to her rescue the moment the alarm was triggered. They had to pry Rosie off her because she refused to let go. Rosie had inhumane strength like she was possessed and fought off the men trying to take her into custody. All Lorraine could hear was the crashing of objects as the hellcat screamed and fought for them to let her go, so she could run free. Phillip’s priority was Lorraine and once he was certain that no bodily harm had come to her other than swelling and bruising, only then did he turn his attentions back to Rosie as his men awaited his decision concerning her.

“Breathe Lorraine, she’s gone, I got you.” The sound of Phillip’s voice was like a breath of fresh air in a smoke fog infested room. Lorraine could feel his panic as he took her somewhat weakened body from off the floor. Lorraine wanted to tell him not to worry she would be all right but she couldn’t find the words to speak when she was struggling to breathe properly. Her house was a mess, broken glass and pieces of vase everywhere, from the stuff they had knocked over while Rosie and Lo wrestled. It was funny how her mind could gloss over nonsensical things that didn’t matter when she had come so close to losing her life but a few second ago. Even though Rosie was nowhere near her, the aftermath still felt like she was on top of her with her hand around her throat.

She wished she could faint like in the movies so she didn’t have to deal with the pain and aches but her life was never anything like in the movies. The familiar feel of Phillip holding her in his arms, calmed her and helped Lorraine gain focus and put thing in perspective. It was sweet of him to kiss her forehead lightly and whisper sweet nothings in her ears. His cologne smelled real good too.

“Lorraine, I need you to breathe, I love you honey.”

Lorraine began to breathe easier, her lungs no longer struggling to work overtime, in competition with her racing heart as it did earlier. With her body responding, she gained control over her limbs moving her arms to cup Phillip’s face and lowering it so she could feel his familiar lips on hers.

“I’ll never leave your side again, we have each other now.”

Lo believed in him. She put her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. She felt his hot tears stream off his face on to her forehead. She had never seen a grown man cry before and her heart ached that she had caused him such deep pain.

He picked up Lorraine and carried her to the nearby sofa and switched on the lamp beside it. He sat down first and pulled her into his lap, his arms wrapped protectively around her.

“If you hadn’t come when you did…” Her voice trailed off as if all she could think about was her impending demise. Her entire body shook, and sobs racked her body, it felt like everything inside her had been released and flowed freely. “Oh, Phillip.” She cried, unable to stop the tears from streaming down her face.

“You are safe now.” He whispered while she curled up on him like a frightened puss. He was shaking slightly as well as he realized how close Lo had come to death.

“I Love you Lorraine.”

She responded. “I love you more Phillip.” Lorraine didn’t say anything more for a while, she just let Phillip hold her while she basked in his comforting presence. His hand unconsciously rubbed Lo’s back in a bid to make her feel better.

Rosie had triggered the alarms when she climbed over the banister and entered by the veranda. She had a key in her back pocket. That is how she was able to continuously enter the house undetected for months. She had duplicated the key she gave Lorraine when she got her the rental of the place. That was how she had been able to come and go without Lorraine’s knowledge. She later confessed that while Lorraine was at work. She would go into her place rifle through her clothes and make up and play dress up, all the time pretending to be Lo.