PROLOGUE

       Rattling past the thorny bushes and sprawled twigs with weeds within, a startled young lady in blue yelped out. She scrambled breathlessly with her chest, heaving like one whose pulse would recede any moment and wave a goodbye to the world afterwards. Her black boots skidded the floor, wracking some plants and buds which were about to bloom; she stamped her feet on the ground as the glimmering sun spluttered its rays on her forehead while it shone and glittered like a gold hidden parcel discovered after decades.

            "Oh Jeez!" She mumbled, scuttled more and gasped convulsively. She turned abruptly and averted her eyes to the road, walking down a narrow lane. From all indications, there was no glimpse of who was running after her yet she ran more - cringing with fear  and a headwarmer hoisted on her head. She felt sweat trickle down her knees and under suppression, her ankle give a shrilly creak. She mounted a dunghill, jumped over a tall fence raptly; gasped with her mouth - half-opened and her lips parting, she heard her name echoes. Her face portrayed a sign of gloom and shock, with great fear she gritted her teeth and dashed through the bushes running as fast as she could.

    The sun had went back to laze like a teetotaler would resort to a bar after being subdued by life's worries, an hectic day and daily hustle; the wind blew noisily like an heavy thunder, ripping off dry leaves from the trees. Her stomach rumbled as an anvil and hammer at work as she grunted surly realizing at at a glimpse, the blood oozing from her right leg.

          "Damn it, a cut!" The young lady swore, stopped and breathed heavily. Slipping her hands into the pocket of her jeans, she raptly brought out a napkin. With her right leg flanked by the napkin, she sighed and bent over. She crouched, glancing at the direction which she had passed earlier on. The voice that called out her name fainted slowly. Her heart pounded. Where could he be? Should I keep running or stay to rest? He could be far away she thought wistfully, her fingertips drumming her legs in awe. At a flash, a fist with green veins spluttered on it cupped her neck - flashing a glinting pen knife at her throat while she blatantly struggled, her legs kicking off dust from the ground.

         "Let's start all over again. I miss you Linda, I do. We can be together, me, you and Franca " The man's voice echoed as he smirked with his damp and cracked lips placed on her soft neck, dropping the glimmering pen knife on the muddy floor.

            "Franca! Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!" Linda screamed, throwing off pillows and quilts as she sat upright, gasping. With her forehead glinting with sweat, she clasped her nighgown tightly - her cleavage, bare. It was a nightmare, she had series of mares and strange dreams which had left her subdued to tremulous fear over the past years. She was the one on the run and Kevin - the chaser just as it was before discordant tunes interfered.

       Linda stared dreamily, averting her gaze at the door. She heard a loud pattering crash outside her room while she shrieked with her right hand placed on her bosom. What could that be? Who could it be at this time of the night? She thought, switching on the lamp beside her king-sized bed.

           Plodding forward, she turned abruptly with her legs in her rabbit-fur slippers. She dashed towards the door, the key clenched in her right hand and before one could say Jack, darkness overshadowed the room while she stopped abruptly, contemplating whether to step further or not.

         "The lamp?" Linda asked, directing the question to none.