Stay Safe, Elora

Stay safe, Elora

I looked up from the crinkled paper in my hands, fear coursing through me. The unknown man had dropped another one at my doorstep. The promising words had been delivered in a deceiving envelope with a box of chocolate. I frantically ran towards the trashcan and dumped the goodies in it.

When would the notes stop? He expected my acquiescence and I had given it. This was a prodigious mistake, but it was never too late to correct it. This was reason I was making a visit today.

Torture clawed through my skin, ripping my heart out to where it seemed similar to dying. Waves of sweat poured down my body, and I rubbed my hands down my pants. The unyielding building in front of me demanded my honesty.

He tortured me every day. He, a singular person, had so much power over me. With three words, guilt seeped into my veins, and I was overcome with the feeling of utter resentment towards myself. I couldn't bare the weight of our sins anymore. It needed to end.

The massive, brick structure standing in front of me, was a symbol of integrity and justice, but those had become foreign traits to me. I precariously placed my feet, one before the other, until reaching the top of the steps. I was eager to walk inside and reacquire my values and morals. This desperation traced back to two weeks ago, on a faithful, cold night.

It had been a moonlit hour, and I was sprawled out at the park. I habitually approached my hidden sanctuary when caught in my thoughts. Lowering myself onto the ground, I greedily breathed the fresh, frigid air, and pulled my scarf tighter, encompassing my neck. My fingers slithered into my small purse and pulled out a box of cigarettes. Just as I was about to find my lighter, a voice stopped me. I set my things down and became hyperaware of my surroundings.

After a moment, my ears detected inaudible sounds and footsteps. I peeked through the trees, seeing a youthful woman and a man. The girl was wearing a tiny purple dress, very unfit for the current weather in our small Canadian town. This immediately intrigued me and I continued watching them from my secret location.

From the distance, they seemed to be arguing about something, but familiar with one another. The girl stumbled away from the male, while he tried to speak to her. The small woman flipped her hair over her shoulder and continued going farther and farther away form him. Clearly getting annoyed, the male yanked her wrist and whipped her towards him.

As I continued watching their interaction, I realized the man had a malicious intent. There was something about him that was the paragon of viciousness. His calculated stance looked ready to pounce at any second. Evil oozed from his pores, causing me to feel sick with apprehension.

When the male stalked closer to the girl, I elevated from my spot. I considered making myself known, and was about to shove my way through the trees. Prioritizing my own safety, I stopped and retreated.

My hand crawled into my rear pocket, needing something to grip. Resting in my concealed location safely between the trees, I resumed perceiving their conversation. The man stormed into the girls face, but then waved his arms around, exasperatedly. Regardless of being far away, the action made me rear back.

The man suddenly shouted and shuffled away. Although I wanted to make sure the girl was okay, my light orbs, on their account, followed the furious person. I saw him maliciously smirk at the retreating figure of the girl.

The guy climbed into an enormous truck parked on the side of the street. It was intimidating and scary, like its owner. I furrowed my eyebrows when the guy started driving without turning on the headlights. My intuition told me something bad would happen and to note his license plate.

The only way to accomplish this in the darkness was by using my flashlight. I took my chances, and pulled out my case clad phone. I prayed he hadn't seen the unnatural light coming from my phone when I had took the image, but a creepy gaze said otherwise. I felt dark orbs bore into my face, when the car passed by.

The vehicle slowly picked up speed until it was rushing past. All that remained afterward, was a girl's body, lying lifeless and bloody, in the middle of the road. I should have rushed towards her and stayed with her until ambulances arrived, but the haunting eyes persuaded my legs to move in the opposite direction.

I rushed away from the traumatizing scene and called 911, with the intentions of turning him in the next day.

However, halting my plans, in the morning, I received a message. It stated what would have appeared as a king message, but I didn't miss the underlying warning.

Throughout the last fourteen days, I itched to tell someone. My husband. Law enforcement. Anybody. What stopped me was the power the anonymous man had. Wrongdoers like himself, wouldn't think twice before harming others. I had seen this displayed so carelessly that night at the park. I refrained with the though of him coming after a loved one.

I found out a few days ago, that the poor girl he had harmed had finally given out. She left her coma, as well as left the world. Her loved ones. I couldn't live with myself, every night being restless and nightmare filled. The girl deserved my probity, and I would deliver it whether it was the last thing I did.

So, here I stand, two weeks late, the irrefutable evidence laid in the soft fabric of my coat pocket. Maybe my reasons are purely selfish, just wanting to demise the heavy burden on my back. Maybe I believed in fairness for that nameless, faceless female. Regardless, with the last ounce of rectitude in me, I stepped into the building.

The threatening words which previously made me tremble in fear had finally become my motivation.

Stay safe, Elora