The Cement Wall - Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty-Three1

Lefay awoke early the next morning to find Eddie and Roxanne no longer in the living room but she expected that. With a little leap in her heart she opened the door to Roxanne’s room and a smile danced upon her lips as she saw them wrapped in each other’s arms. They had finally found happiness, but they still had a long way to go. The battle was never over, and sometimes it felt like it had never truly started because of that. She felt odd, like nothing mattered to her, not in a depressive way but in a way that left her feeling refreshed. 2

After throwing on a pair of jeans and a random shirt, which she later found to be a dark blue shade with a black design lining the seams. The sun felt odd upon her skin, almost as if it didn't exist. As if she didn't exist, but she knew that must be a ridiculous thought brought on by too much beer the previous night. Lefay stopped on her way to nowhere in particular at a coffee shop and bought a large, extra sugar, black, blueberry coffee. It was a strange flavor that she had never tried before, but she felt it was necessary to try something new this one time. 3

The smells from the coffee shop followed her down the street, even as a sense of dread fell upon her heart. It was a beautiful day she had no reason to feel so much complete sorrow, she reminded herself of this at least ten times. Lefay hardly even noticed that she had managed to walk down a street under construction, only one or two stores were open and looking haunted still. 4

It happened suddenly, to quickly to be a dream but in slow motion like a dying memory. A hand came from behind her holding a cloth and the next thing she knew, the void engulfed her. 5

Bright light flooded her vision, she wondered for one split second if she had died and was experiencing the afterlife. What ruined her moment in the next realm was the jerking of her body, and the sounds of a car speeding across pavement. Shutting her eyes she tried to focus, tried to find a way to survive. What was happening to her? She had to find out, and soon. 6

The vehicle came to stop and she rolled forward, slowly she opened her burning eyes. That’s when she noticed that her lungs, her eyes, and everything in her was burning slowly in hidden flames. Her eyes were watering, and it was not fear she felt but sheer determination. 7

She blinked her eyes three times, and then looked around her. Everything was still blurry and nauseating. After blinking six more times the blur faded but a pounded in her skull was prominent. Two doors in the back of the van opened quickly, sunlight poured in over her aching body. 8

A silhouette of a person formed in the middle of the opening. Her capture wore all black and their face was hidden in a shadow cast down from the sun. Lefay felt her body being jerked around until finally she was standing in the broad daylight. The person took a firm hold of her, made sure her hands were firmly tied together, and then untied her legs. 9

“Now listen bitch, your going to do exactly what I tell you to do. Got it? Good.” The voice was defiantly male, Lefay decided as she was forced to walk straight. The surroundings seemed familiar at first and now she knew why. They were at the school; she was going to be killed at the school. How can I not be afraid? How can I roll my eyes at the irony of this when I’m about to die? Is this enlightenment? Thoughts were flowing through her mind at a selfish rate. 10

  When the two stopped walking at the very end of the wall behind the school, her gag was removed. She began talking immediately “How do you expect to kill me when we are in a public place? How did you even get me here without someone noticing?” 11

She received a punch to the stomach causing all the air to flow out of her lungs in one burst.  Lefay glimpse up from her crouched position and realization struck her. “…Connor?…” 12

The killer’s heart leaped at the name, and then quickly folded in on itself. The real question now is, how should I kill her? As he pondered over this predicament, Lefay tried to calm her mind.  It might not be Connor; I mean after all, he is wearing a mask. But if it is Connor then what will happen to Roxanne and Eddie once I’m dead? 13

With jerky, sweaty hands Lefay was shoved into the very corner of the cement chamber surrounding them. She raised her knee suddenly in an attempt to get him down, but it was anticipated. Dying eyes looked upon the reapers unmask face, and what she saw in those last few minutes – made time freeze. Blood flowed from the throat as the man walked away with a chip on his shoulder, and a mission to finally end. 14