Undeliverable Package

One town in every state has the one mysterious unsolved murder that everyone knows and talks about on the anniversary date each year.  And on this date the media covers the details and ends with the usual plea, if anyone has any information regarding this tragedy please call crime stoppers.

The tragedy took place on a rainy night in small town USA, it was the middle of autumn when the leaves, if not raked blanketed the sidewalks. On this particular night the leaves weren’t crunchy, but soggy and acted like a slick carpet under foot. The suspect was rumored to have stalked the victim and followed her for blocks, when a wry twist of fate happened. When the suspect, responsible for a streak of unsolved murders in a tri-state area turned into a victim.

She remembered all too well that night. She could sense someone was following her when the hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she shivered despite the blustery wind and chilly rain.

She hurried down a street that was away from her home, though it was early evening there wasn’t a sole out, zig-zagging her way around corners she couldn’t even say where she was anymore.  She spotted an alcove and prayed it was unlocked, as she pulled the handle to check the man bounded up the stairs and put his gloved hand over her mouth. Her first instinct was to scream, but she kicked and elbowed and flopped down on the ground.  She wanted to get up to run but the wet leaves made her foot slide away from her and she had no traction. She tried to crawl away but the man yanked her ankle and pulled her back to him. Still kicking and wallowing on the ground, with every bit of effort she could muster, she fought for her life as the abrasive sidewalk peeled her skin off parts of her body. The man was bigger and stronger and pulled her back to him, he muttered something she couldn’t comprehend. 

She saw the knife as the street light glinted off the silver blade. She knew she wasn’t going down without a fight, with the last ounce of her energy she lifted her knee and slammed it into her attacker’s groin. As he grunted and bent to cover his genitals the knife fell free as he fell to the ground in a fetal position, again groaning something unintelligible.  She grabbed the knife and plunged it into her assailant again and again too many times to count.  When he was no longer moving and groaning she ran. She ran as far and as fast and she could go.

She wondered how the media would react and what story would be told when, if ever, the package containing the murder weapon, she sent to a fictional person at an unknown address in a town that didn’t exist, was ever opened.

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