CHAPTER 3

My screams attracted the neighbors and soon a lot of them were standing in my yard. The emergency squad also arrived a few minutes later. Their flashlights everywhere as they checked the surrounding areas for the end of the trail.

Turns out it wasn't just a puddle of blood. There was a long trail leading to an unknown destination. My elderly neighbor Luana has wrapped me in a thick blanket while the men searched the area.

"I'll need to speak to you madam" he said to me and I nodded trying to stand up but Luana held me back.

"She's shaken up. Can't you see that"

"It won't take any of your time. I just need to ask a few questions concerning the incident"

"You..."

"It's okay Luana. I'll talk to him. Maybe I can be of help"

He smiled at me and I followed him to a corner, tightening the blanket around my body.

"This must have been a lot for you tonight but we have to know what happened"

"I understand" he was ready with a jotter and a pen.

"I've been at home since the early afternoon but I took a nap until this evening. I ordered for pizza and it was delivered. Just as I was eating it, I heard a sound outside. I thought it was someone knocking on the door so I ignored it"

"Why? Is there someone you didn't want to see?"

I nodded. "An ex"

"May I ask why?"

"He.... We broke up and he wasn't taking it well. I thought he had come to plead his case so I didn't open the door. But then I heard the sound again, this time it was louder. I called when I heard a scream. I was still waiting when I heard the sound of a car. I thought it may have been you guys and so I came outside. I saw a car driving away and then I stepped on the blood. I screamed and the neighbors came out. You showed up right after that"

He nodded and wrote on his notepad.

"Did you see the license number?" I shook my head.

"I didn't. It was too dark. I saw the blood after I stepped into it" he nodded and wrote something down.

"Are there any cameras around here that we could get footage from?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. We'll have to ask estate management" our estate was overly safe and secure. Most of the streets didn't have cameras because of how safe it was.

"I'll need a number to call so that I can speak to them"

"I don't have one but the security at the estate entrance could be of help" he nodded and wrote that down.

"Bladgen. Check the door for any evidence. Finger print or blood stains. She said she heard a noise on the door" he shouted and I watched a beefy looking man go to my door.

"Did something happen? Did someone get hurt?"

"We can't say yet. There's no body. I'm thinking of a possibility that someone was trying to scare you"

"Scare me? Why would anyone do that?"

"I don't know ma'am. Here is my number. Call me if you hear anything tonight and I'll suggest you don't spend the night alone"

"Is there something I should know about?"

He shook his head. "Just to be safe ma'am. We've gotten the evidence we need and everything will be cleaned up. I'll get back to you if there is any news" with a nod, he left.

"Are you just going to leave like that?"

"Yes" he said without looking back. The man he had called Bladgen passed by glaring at me angrily.

I frowned as I watched them leave. It felt like something was going on but they didn't want to tell me about it.

"Are you okay child?" I jumped at the sudden touch but relaxed when I saw it was Luana.

"Yes. You should return you your home now and go to bed. It's quite late"

"I'm not sleepy and you're definitely shaken up because of what happened. I can stay longer if you wish"

"No" I said quickly and she frowned. Luana was like my second mother. Always doting and caring but she needed to go to bed and I didn't want to bother her.

"Are you sure?" She asked again.

"Yes. Go to bed"

"Okay child. I'll see you tomorrow" she kissed my cheeks and returned to her home. I was alone in the yard now and I hurried inside. I remembered what the man had said about not spending the night alone. I considered calling Imogen but I decided against it. She was probably asleep now and I'll only be bothering her.

I sat in my couch and watched movies throughout the night with the lights on. The night dragged by and I fell asleep for a short while before I heard my phone ringing.

I swiped without looking.

"Hello"

"How are you doing girl?"

"Fine. Why are you calling so early?"

"Let's have lunch break together"

"Okay"

"See you then" I hung up and left the phone on the couch and got ready to go out.

The trek to the office building felt like forever. Someone bumped into me from behind and my bag fell to the floor. I dropped to my knees to pick up the things that fell out.

Whoever hit me didn't stop to apologize.

"Rude" I muttered as I glared at the back of his well ironed suit. I turned back to check if I had missed anything. I spotted another man behind me, leaning against a wall. He was dressed in a black suit like the man who had bumped into me earlier. I looked around and spotted another man.

Was I being followed? Was it the men from the emergency team yesterday or did it have anything to do with the blood in my front yard?

Feeling uneasy. I quickly grabbed my bag rushing towards the building while constantly looking behind me to make sure nobody was following me.

I was going to call the number on that paper before I returned home today. Something was definitely wrong and I could feel it.

I heaved a sigh of relief as I finally got to the building and entered inside. Behind the protection of the one way glass, I looked outside to check for any of those men dressed in black suits.

Like I suspected, there was a man dressed in black suit and he was looking straight at me.

I knew he couldn't see me but why did it feel like he could?