Dennis Rivers didn't feel scared. "If your cops were worth anything, they would have caught me by now." You're pointing a gun at me, and nothing will change.
I was startled. Was the glum neighbor a police officer?
Dennis, too... Just what was he? Was he previously convicted of a crime?
Steel flashed before my eyes as my mind raced. Dennis brandished a kitchen knife at me.
I stumbled backward, terrified, and there was a gunshot.
"Oh, my hand!"
With a bang, the knife fell to the floor. Blood poured freely from a hole in his arm.
However, his facial craziness only grew worse. Reaching for the knife once more, he charged at him.
There was another gunshot.
The bullet passed through his hand this time, shattering bones and causing terrible skin peeling.
I nearly fainted from it.
The neighbor spoke in a cool, collected tone while slightly lowering his gun. "Dennis Rivers, you are wrong if you think this isn't self-defense." You are nothing more than a notorious torturer and murderer.
Boots suddenly slammed against the door. A squad of uniformed officers hurried in and promptly placed Dennis, who was bleeding on the ground, in handcuffs.
"Captain Cole, are you and the hostage okay?" Someone inquired.
He gave a headshake. "I'm fine." "Take her to the hospital right away."
captured. Were they referring to me?
Before everything went dark, the word kept repeating in my mind.
As I fell, I felt powerful arms snatch me.
The next time I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.
A nurse shoved me back as soon as I moved. "Don't move." An IV is in your system.
My voice wasn't very loud. "What happened?"
I got a cup of hot water from her. "You were dehydrated and had bruises when you arrived. The infant's heart rate fluctuated.
My hands immediately went to my abdomen. The infant continued to kick. A wave of relief washed over me.
But I was tormented by pain that night. My legs were covered in blood. The weight inside of me began to drop.
I pressed the button for emergency. Hurrying in, doctors and nurses wheeled me into the operating room.
In the end, I lost the baby.
While I was in the hospital for over a week, I watched TV numbly to kill time.
The news kept repeating the same story: an escaped criminal was apprehended. I was too familiar with his face. Dennis Rivers.
He was the primary suspect in a series of vicious killings of expectant mothers two years ago. Because there was no evidence, he had escaped punishment.
Then he changed his name and disguised himself as a food delivery driver to look for his next victim.
Four women had passed away before me. They're all expecting. They were all imprisoned and subjected to torture until they passed away.
I didn't become the Fifth thanks to Detective Cole.
When I got out, I saw him.
He had a short hairstyle now. He looked strong, sharp, and like a police officer instead of depressed and disheveled.
He claimed that the dejected expression was merely a means of approaching Dennis.
I gave a small smile. "Thanks, Detective Cole." Without you, I would be dead.
He gave me a direct look. "It's my job to catch criminals and keep hostages safe."
He asked, "What are you going to do next?" after that.
I gazed at the unclouded sky outside the window. "I don't know." Return home, perhaps.
I was not a city dweller. I came here just to find a job.
I got a piece of paper from him. A phone number.
"This is my number."Call me if you need anything at all.
Then he turned and walked away.
I left the hospital. My skin was warmed by the sun.
Everything I had gone through seemed to be a bad dream.
Now I was awake at last.
I grabbed my cell phone and dialed home.
"Hi, Mom... Your cooking is something I miss.