Run! Run! Run!

The sky was crying, the tears made the road slick. Daniel and I look out of our windows watching the clouds dancing with each other—the air heavy in the car. The heat warms our chill bodies. 

   “It’s raining bullets,” Daniel said breaking the long silence. He reaches over to touch my hand. I quickly move my hand away. He grabs my hand anyway; putting his face close to my face just enough to smell the alcohol on his breath.  Eyes full of anger “ God Miranda I wasn’t even drinking that much! Loosen up a bit!” My breaths are heavy, fear rests in my eyes. A knock on the window breaks his attention from me. A tall man in a police uniform stands outside. The rain is too heavy to determine his features. 

   “Is there a problem here?” The police officer said his deep voice barely audible over the rain hitting the pavement. Daniel releases his strong grip on my hand and turns toward the officer.  I can feel the officer's eyes search me up and down. The officer puts his hand on his gun.        “ Sir, please step out of the car,” Daniel's eyes widen in shock, and he starts to say everything is fine when the officer points his gun straight at Daniel. The door is forced open and the officer drags Daniel out of the car. 

   “ I didn’t do anything wrong! I promise! Please god no,” Daniel pleads. Lightning flashes as the officer's mouth turns up into a smile. He raises his gun to Daniel's forehead.

   “ I know, just wrong place, wrong time,” The officer pulls the trigger as I scream. I scramble to open my door. As it opens I fall straight to the ground. I race into the woods, wet branches smack my face as I run. The cold dense air burns in my lungs. I turn left I think. I stop and listen to the sounds of the woods. I strain to hear the distant sounds. Panic sinks its claws into me. In the distance, the officer shouts.

   “ Miranda! You and Daniel were star-crossed lovers doomed to die together!” I have to leave, but my body won’t move. Daniel is dead, I have nowhere to go. My body is slick from the rain. “ Miranda! Come on! We both know Daniel was a certain kind of confident!” The officer yelled. His voice rumbles through the forest. The rustling of bushes next to me makes me jump. I need to move and I need to do it now. I took off in the direction opposite of the rustling. My fight or flight takes over as I sprint farther into the woods. 

   “Miranda! I picked a beautiful ripe red rose for you! Come to me and you will get it!” The voice is closer now, he is right behind me. He was to be. “Miranda! Stop running from me! I see you! Stop running!”  Footsteps begin to pound behind me. I run faster trying to escape his reach. He is gaining on me. Faster! Faster! Faster! I tell myself. I run and run until I get to a clearing. I turn desperately trying to find a place to hide. Realizing there was nowhere to go I picked the nearest weapon I could find. I grab a tree branch, the bark damp and cold against my hand. I wait there forever before he steps into the clearing. The moon high above us shone a dim light down. He approaches slowly. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. I could see his features now: his cold black eyes, his wide nose, His full lips, and the awful way he looks at me. Like I’m prey and he is the hunter.  

   “ Hello Miranda,” He stops and glances at my weapon. Fake fear crawls across his face. “ I-Is that your weapon? Now I’m scared.” He laughs this horrible awful deep laugh. Anger flows through me. I’m not going to let this man get the best of me. I have to strike. I ran up to him and hit him with the branch. He staggers a bit. I swing up to hit him again but he punches me in the ribs sending me to my knees. He puts the gun to my forehead. I stare into his black eyes trying not to show any fear. He doesn't need to know that satisfaction. 

    “ Any last words?” I don’t answer. “ No? Ok well just know this you might have fought hard but you will always be a coward. Also a tree branch? Pick a better weapon next time sweetheart.” I spit at him. He hits me with the but of his gun. Blood floods my mouth. I looked back up at him as I heard a loud popping sound then everything went back.

~

Welcome to Greenland news, Breaking news Mr. Rose struck again this time killing 23-year-old Miranda Homes and her boyfriend 25-year-old Daniel Facts. This is the fourth double murder in the past six months found with a rose on the victims. We urge the public to give us any information you have and stay safe out there.