Chapter One. The middle.

She stared blankly into the darkness, waiting, wondering. Is he gone yet? She wondered, Is it safe?. Tears rolled down her face as she the pondered things that had happened that day...the horrible things that this man had done...but she couldn't think about that now. No. Not now. She cleared her head, closed her eyes and listened closely, holding her breath. She didn't hear his footsteps or the horrible ragged breathing that she had heard so frequinty. A sign that he was near. She opened her eyes, looking around the crowded coat-closet where she was hiding. She didn't appear to have company. Slowly, she stood up, cracking the door slightly to peek out into the hall. All clear. She stepped into the hall, limping slightly. The front door was opened and it was freezing inside the house. She closed it, stopping in her tracks when she heard footsteps behind her. She swung around quickly, her eyes wide. "You thought I was gone..." He rasped, taking a step foward. She darted toward the stairs, but he was faster, grabbing her shirt. She fell to the ground.