Chapter Five
Kara walked down the stairs toward the office, having finally unclogged the coal chute. Where the hell was Paul’s replacement? This would not sit well with Jackson. As far as she was concerned, the guy should already be fired.
She could have used some help. She stopped at the top of the second floor, leaning over the railing and peering at the concrete floor below.
“Paige?” Her voice echoed in the open bay.
“How long can Joe go?” she mumbled, and headed toward the bathroom thinking about her own lack of a love life.
It had been so long since she’d felt any passion toward a man.
Dean had been a few regrettable minutes, and Daryl…
the passion had worn off with the first lie.
Kara didn’t have time for many moments of loneliness in her life.
She was driven by her desire to finish her course, get accepted to nursing school, and leave town; but now, with Paige and Joe together doing God knows what, a tingle of loneliness pinched her heart.
She reached for her phone, feeling guilty for the way she’d cut her mother off when she’d called earlier.
She knew her mom meant well, even if she was annoying at times, and it wasn’t her fault her husband was such a jerk.
Kara’s back pocket was empty. She’d left her phone in her bag.
She’d have to call her after she washed up.
Having written off the new employee, Kara mentally ran through the homework assignments she had to tackle as she worked her way through the maze of hallways on the second floor toward the office.
Biology was a breeze, all memorization, but anatomy was definitely not her thing.
She heard the drone of the rear elevator.
Paige. She turned around and headed down the dark, narrow hall that lead toward the rear of the building.
Why on earth would they use that elevator?
Paige hated the older side of the building.
The elevator doors opened slowly.
At first Kara didn’t understand what she was looking at in the darkened elevator.
An unfamiliar man stood in the corner, his face shaded by a blue hat.
Her heart jumped in her chest. Goosebumps dotted her arms. Then, a relieved smile accompanied the memory pulled from earlier.
Finally. “You’re Paul’s replacement?” She smiled, waiting for the man to exit the elevator.
He remained still.
“How’d you get to—” She turned and pointed toward the back of the building, shaking her head.
“Marissa.” His voice was low, calm.
“No, I’m Kara. Didn’t Jackson tell you I’d be showing you around?
You’re late, by the way.” She shrugged, relieved he was finally there, then walked into the elevator.
“We might as well take the elevator up to the office. You have to clock in.” She dug soot from beneath her nails.
“So, Jackson already gave you an ID card, I see. Any trouble getting past the gate?” She looked up.
The man kept his eyes trained on the ground.
Great, a weird one. She pushed the button for the third floor.
“I’ve…I’ve been looking for you,” he said.
“Oh, I know. The damn coal chute was stuck.” She waved her hand in the air, dismissing the concern. “No worries. It’s fixed, but from now on, we share that awful job.”
The elevator stopped. The doors didn’t open.
“Darn it. These elevators stink.” She pushed the buttons repeatedly. The elevator whirred to life, descending toward the basement instead of rising toward the second floor. “Great,” she said, sighing.
The man lifted his face.
Kara gasped and cast her eyes toward the floor.
The right side of his face looked like his skin had been warped or melted into uneven patches of disfigured skin, rippled and dotted with pink and red pits.
Her heart raced in her chest. She punched the buttons again, feeling the heat of his stare on her back.
The elevator landed with a jolt, as if it had reached the end of the cable before it had been ready.
The doors slid open, revealing a dark corridor, a single dim light mounted in the corner of the concrete wall.
Kara stepped hurriedly out of the elevator.
The man followed at a slow pace.
Kara’s nerves were afire. The hair on the back of her neck prickled. She walked quickly toward the back staircase. “The stairs are over here.” Her voice shook. She moved hurriedly past a heavy metal cart on wheels.
A heavy hand grabbed her shoulder. Kara spun around. His grip tightened, too tight. She twisted free, backing away.
He reached for her arms. “Finally alone,” he said.
“Wha—” Kara’s heart slammed against her chest. His eyes held a dead stare. His low, determined voice sent fear riddling through her. She spun around and moved quickly toward the stairwell.
He grabbed her shirt. “Marissa.”
Kara darted forward, breaking free of his grasp, and sprinted toward the stairwell. “Help!” she yelled. “Joe! Paige!” She ran as fast as she could.
She was no match for his long strides. He grasped her arm and spun her around.
Her bicep throbbed beneath his grasp.
“What do you want?” She tried to pull her arm free, flailing helplessly from side to side.
“Marissa, it’s me.”
“I’m not Marissa,” she spat, prying at his fingers. “Let me go!” Her screams echoed in the darkness. She punched his forearm, kicked his legs. His thick body was a mountain, his grip too tight.
He covered her mouth, pulling her back against his chest. “Shh,” he said in a slow whisper.
Kara bit his hand and he screamed.
“Bitch!” He covered her mouth again, pushing his fingers deep into her cheeks.
The taste of blood seeped onto her tongue. Her petrified squeals were muffled beneath his hand. She stomped her heel onto his foot.
He jumped back, tightening his hand around her arm and wrapped his other hand around her neck. “Marissa,” he said.
Seconds later Kara’s world went black.