On Purpose

Midnight struck the clock as Mia put her daughter to bed. She sighed as if another night went by, she wouldn't have enough money for even groceries. Closing the bedroom door quietly she crept into her living room and turned on the news. "Weather with Sandra Hernandez..." Click. "This week on Food Network Star..." Click. "Tonight, John Stephan has escaped prison, police were on a high speed chase as John committed grand theft auto and is on the move. Rushing into the woods police lost him, I would like to advise the public who live in the Winston district to lock your windows, doors, and turn off all your lights..." Click. Mia's face stricken with horror as she looked out of her window. Her house was surrounded by woods, a few neighbors were down the dirt road but except for them it was just her. Turning back to her now shut off t.v. she wiped her eyes and took a big sigh. "Surely he won't come here," she said to herself trying to not remember his face. John and Mia were high school sweethearts, she was a preppy art student and he was president of the debate team. It was a sweet relationship that lasted years until John proposed. But after Mia said yes, that's when John's true form showed. As Mia discovered she was pregnant with her daughter John didn't hesitate with throwing a fit. He threw things at Mia, shoved her against the bathroom mirror, and drove her car off the bridge. It wasn't until after she snuck out of her own home, to live with her parents, that she filed for a divorce and pulled up a restraining order. John tried his very best to track her and her newborn daughter after a few months. A year even went by but eventually John had found Mia at an apartment complex. He kicked down the door and stormed into the home as soon as Mia put the phone down from contacting the police. John broke Mia's ribs and while she was on the floor he took many of her personal items. Luckily the police caught him sneaking out of the complex. John was sentenced to prison for assault on a spouse. Most spousal abuse charges are misdemeanors with jail time of six months to one year, with probation of up to two years. But around 2 months John escaped dramatically. That's when Mia turned off the t.v. and sighed. Getting up she checked all the doors and windows, shutting the blinds, but leaving on all the lights. Feeling paranoid she checked on her daughter. Creaking open her door was a sleeping angel. She smiled and closed the door again. As the lights flickered she gasped. It was only a few seconds but it felt like a sign. Mia shook it off and grabbed a book to take her mind off of everything. Reading the first chapter she felt better. Romantic books were her favorite. The lights flickered again and with a click they suddenly shut off. Mia set down her book and went to look outside. Looking around, the woods were quiet, no one was awake. In the distance she could faintly see her neighbors house, their lights were on. Her breath started becoming heavy, she could hear her heartbeat in the silence of the house. Walking to her daughters room she opened the door quietly. Quickly she picked up her daughter and went to her room. Mia laid her daughter in her own bed and lit a few candles. Staring at her phone she decided to call her mother. Dialing the number she rubbed her daughters head. The phone rang through the house. "Hello?" Her mother answered. "Mom, hey, it's me. Look John broke out of prison, I saw it on the news, I don't know what to do." Mia said. Hearing a sigh from her mother she waited for a response. "Drive down here, just for your safety, get in your car and don't stop for anyone alright?" She said, the phone line getting static. "Alright I'll pack up and head over." Mia said about to hang up. "Alright...love you.....be....sweetie." The end of the phone started to cut out until the ring of an empty line rang. "Hello? Mom?" Mia said until setting her phone down. She got out of bed and packed some clothes in her bag, heading to her daughters room to do the same thing. She stopped immediately when she heard creaks on her back porch. There are only creaks when something, or someone is stepping on it. Mia walked over to the window and slowly opened the curtain, slightly so that she was able to see out onto the porch. No one, not one thing, was out on the porch. Maybe she thought she heard something. Closing the curtain she sighed. Heading back to her daughters room she heard another creak. This time it was on the front porch. Her breath started increasing as she sat down next to her daughter. "Sweetie wake up we have to go to grandma's." Mia said waking her daughter up. Whining that she was tired, her daughter climbed out of bed. A crash came from the window as Mia shrieked. "Alright sweetie, hurry to the car." Mia whispered pushing her daughter to the back of the house. Another crash came from the front of the house as Mia and her daughter went out the back. Grabbing her keys she slowly closed the back door. A yell came from inside of the house. It was a low, male voice. Scary but strong and powerful. It shook Mia to her core as she grabbed her daughters hand, and ran to her car. Unlocking it she put her daughter in her chair and climbed into the front. More crashes were heard as the man ran around the house searching for something. "Mia!! You can't hide forever darling!" The voice yelled. Mia knew right away that it was John. She tried to start her car, but it wouldn't start. "Please start." Mia whispered to herself. Finally it started as she looked up from her ignition she saw the face of John standing in front of her car. He was smiling. She heard her daughter crying in the back. "Mommy?" She said. "Hush darling, I'll be right back, if something happens remember what I told you. Run as fast as you can." Mia said. Slowly opening her car door she got out. As she closed her car door she turned to John. "What are you doing here, I'm with my daughter, please leave." Mia said shaking. He smiled but shook his head. "Mia, you don't understand, I'm here for you and my daughter. I know you missed me." He said taking a step toward her. Taking a deep breath it took all of her courage to get back in her car and leave. But she didn't get in the car, instead she yelled at him. "John, you will leave now, i'm going to get in my car and leave and I expect you to do the same. I never will miss you, you belong in jail. I hate you so much." Mia said as she opened her car door. John moved quicker than she thought he could, as he shut her door. She gasped. Mia could feel his breath against the back of her neck, it made her shiver. Mia pushed him off of her as a gunshot sounded. Her daughter screamed. Mia fell to the ground. John ran. Sirens rang in the background as darkness fell over the woods.