Page 6
"I've had a great time, Mr. Colbert," Amber announced cheerfully. "We should get together again some time soon."
"That's a wonderful idea," Max replied then looked at Sam. "Have you decided what I owe you for the photos?"
"I'll wait for you in the car," Amber informed Sam then left the house.
"It's not necessary," Sam said gently with a tiny smile. "Just pay for the film and processing. That'll be enough."
"Don't be ridiculous," Max remarked simply. "I'll get you a check tomorrow."
"I'll see you tomorrow then," Sam replied with a tiny smile.
They stared at one another a long moment. Max pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately on the mouth. Sam immediately returned the kiss. They pulled away slowly but remained in each other's embrace. Amber stood in the doorway and stared. She quickly turned and walked away with embarrassment.
"Good night," Max said softly and released her. Sam smiled and left the house.
Sam pulled up to Amber's house and stopped the car. She looked at Amber, who sat quietly in the passenger seat. "You've been awfully quiet? What's wrong?" Sam asked.
Amber glared at Sam with a fire in her eyes. "What's wrong? I saw you kissing Colbert," Amber snapped. "You knew I was interested in him. You didn't even want him until you knew I was interested in him."
"No," Sam replied. "I wasn't interested in him, because I really didn't believe he was interested in me. He really wants to see me, and I'd like to see him."
Amber sprang from the car and hurried up to the house. Sam got out of the jeep and ran after her.
"Amber," Sam called after her and ran onto the porch behind Amber. "You're not being fair."
Amber entered the house and shut the screen door behind her. "I'm not being fair? You knew I liked him, and you went after him any way!"
"But he likes me," Sam announced. "You like a different guy every week."
"Do not!"
"First there was Dawson, then there was that doctor you rolled in poison ivy just so you could meet him, that cop that you ran a stop sign for, and then the judge you had to appear before to contest the ticket," Sam informed her. "That was just in the last couple of months. If I waited for a man you didn't like, I'd never date."
Amber slammed the door and locked it. Sam groaned and walked off of the porch. "And then there's me who always seems to pick crazy friends." She approached her jeep. "My luck, Max will turn out to be a psycho." Sam paused before her jeep and looked at the back tire. It was flat. She shook her head. "What started out as a beautiful evening has quickly gone sour." Sam turned and walked back to the house. She promptly pounded on the front door. "Amber, I have a flat. I need to call my dad." There was no response. She pounded again. "Come on, Amber. You know I don't have a spare tire." Sam waited a moment longer then threw her arms in the air. "Fine! But this is it!" Sam stormed off of the porch and walked down the driveway.
Amber stood before Baxter's second floor bedroom door. She knocked urgently. "Baxter," Amber announced firmly. "Baxter, I need to talk to you." There was no response. She opened his bedroom door and looked around the dark bedroom. The room was a disaster, but it apparently always looked that way. "Baxter?" Amber left the bedroom and walked down the hall toward the stairs. "Baxter? Where are you?"
Amber walked down the stairs and headed toward the kitchen. The cloaked figure appeared from the darkened dining room behind her with a dagger in it's hand. The cloaked figure crept up behind her and raised the dagger in the air. Amber suddenly paused with an odd look upon her face. She turned around, saw the cloaked figure, and screamed.
Sam walked along the dark, back road and muttered lowly to herself while playing with her car keys. "Some friend," she snapped lowly. "Making me walk in the dark. If I get hit by a car, she'll never forgive herself, the bitch." Sam looked to the cemetery to her left and suddenly became concerned. "I must be insane," she remarked softly under her breath. She looked up the road. Max's house could be seen in the near distance. She picked up the pace and walked faster past the cemetery. She could see the police line around the crypt just up ahead to her left. "I'm never going to forgive her for this." Sam walked as fast as she could past the old cemetery.
A cloaked figure was seen running across the cemetery in the same direction as she was walking. Sam looked back to the cemetery, but there was nothing there. Dark shadows from the headstones lent an eerie atmosphere to the already creepy lot. Sam continued past the front open front gate. The cloaked figure appeared by the gate just as she passed. Sam looked back and saw the cloaked figure a couple of feet behind her with the dagger in it's hand. Sam cried out with surprise and began running. The cloaked figure ran after her. Sam was tackled to the stone along side the road. She screamed and flipped herself over as the cloaked figure coiled back with the dagger. Sam screamed again, slipped her foot in-between them, and thrust her attacker off. Sam scrambled to her feet in the loose stone and ran back toward Amber's house.
The cloaked figure sprang to it's feet and chased after her. Sam looked behind her. The cloaked figure was nearly on top of her again. The dagger was swung at her. Sam screamed and threw herself to the ground to avoid the large dagger. She scrambled to her feet. The cloaked figure backhanded her across the face. She was thrown backwards and struck the iron gate, hitting her head. She swayed a moment then sank down the gate.
Max paced the grand hallway with the cordless phone to his ear. He paused and smiled. "Hello, Mr. Krosby. This is Max Colbert. I hope I didn't wake you. I was just wondering if Sam made it home safely? Could I talk to her?" His smile faded. "Oh, she's not home yet." Max appeared disappointed then fidgeted. "Could you ask her to call me when she gets home? I just want to make sure she gets home okay." Max attempted a smile. "Thank you." Max disconnected the call and looked around the hallway. "If I only knew Amber's last name�" Max walked to the foyer door and stepped onto the front porch. He looked down the road and tapped his fingers on the cordless phone. Max walked back inside.
He shut the front door and looked at the clock in the hallway. He frowned and tapped the cordless phone again. "Why do I have this uneasy feeling?" he said softly then sank into thought. Max set the phone down on the small, antique table and removed his car keys from his pocket. He quickly headed out the front door.
Max hurried across the driveway to his Bronco and jumped inside. He started the Bronco and backed out of the driveway. Amber's house came into view. Max slowed down near the cemetery and starred at the parked jeep in the driveway. He appeared relieved. Through the rearview mirror, we see the cloaked figure in the back seat. Max gasped and slammed on the brakes. The cloaked figure sprang forward between the seats and grabbed Max by the throat. Max gasped and fought the hand on his throat. As they struggled, Max's foot slipped from the brake onto the gas. The Bronco flew forward and struck the iron fence surrounding the cemetery. Max was thrown forward. The air bag cushioned his blow. The cloaked figure struck the dashboard before hitting the windshield. Max appeared a little stunned. He reached for the door. The cloaked figure kicked Max with a work booted foot. Max's head struck the driver's side window, knocking him unconscious.
