| *the letter* |
| The purring was infectious. All Carrie could do was sit and play with the cat! She knew her work needed to be done, but Oscar would have to take priority for now. The soft fur like an expensive Persian rug, rubbed and twisted around her leg making it hard to walk let alone study! Suddenly, Oscar stopped and looked at the door. At first there was silence, but the harder she focused on it, the louder it got. Thud,...the papers hit the floor. Sipping her tea, Carrie sat down and began to peal the seal of one of the letters. The hand-written envelope had caught her eye from the kitchen. Who could it be from? She asked herself, the writing unfamiliar to her eye. As she pulled the singular sheet from it's sheath, she felt cold all over. She stopped for a second, and after about two (seconds that is) a shiver travelled down her spine. It was a sign, there was something not quite right about the universe, and it was all centred on this small Manchester kitchen. That's when she saw it, through the plain white paper, dark grey squares, lots of them. Gulping, in hope that it would give her strength, she unfolded the piece of paper. Mumbling to herself, she began to read; "My Dear Carrie, U think u're so big, clever don't u. Watch out, I'll get u. You wait, my love won't fail! Love, Stepwatcher" She read it slowly, over and over, not taking in a word of it. Her hand moved towards the phone, missing at first, she placed it to her ear. Still trembling, starring straight ahead, she dialled the only number she could think of. "Hello, Marc?" "Yeah. Hi Carrie! What's up?" replied a jolly voice. "Could u pop 'round? I need to talk to u." continued a now wobbling voice. "Is everything OK?" "I'd just feel a lot better if you were here." In a flash the phone was down and Carrie could go back to her fear and confusion. There was a knock at the door. Carrie's headed popped up like a jack-in-the-box. Sitting silently and as straight as any chair, her breathing became heavy, as if someone had placed a ten ton weight upon her chest. Standing up, she fixed her on the door, the figure on the other side becoming restless, wandering from side to side. She glided to the door, her steps no louder than that of a butterfly. Leaving the latch firmly attached to the door, slowly she opened it. Finally exhaling, she saw her Marc standing before her. With a worried smile she undid the latch and escorted him in. There it was again, the shiver. Carrie could tell in the back of her mind that Marc was just as tense as she was. Walking straight through to the kitchen, they both sat down at the table. She handed Marc the letter, still partly folded. As his eyes scanned the page, his eyes became wider by the second. Looking into the depths of Carrie's eyes, Marc placed the paper back on the table. "U got it then," a smirk began to emerge behind Marc's swollen eyes. "U mean, u knew about this!?!" Carrie couldn't believe her ears. Threatening letters were one thing, but getting them from ur best friend, that was a different story! "U've always known that I lliked u. When David appeared on the scene u became distant, what was I supposed to do...just let HIM have u!?!" He was getting angry now. His palms face down on the table, he was out of his chair in a flash. "Have u done something to David? Please, just tell me if something's happened to him!" Carrie couldn't keep it inside. Marc just smirked. Carrie was stunned, unable to move. Sitting there she watched him drift closer. This was totally out of the blue, and HE was out of his basket! "Well, if I can't have u...why should he, or anyone else?" Marc carried on, his eyes flickering with a determination that seemed to consume his being. Arms outstretched, Marc was on her in a moment. Carries struggled furiously, hearing her head buzzing as if it was going to explode any second. As he forced her to the floor Carrie's head filled with useless information. One thing that was presnet was a sudden wonder for the cat, where was he? It wasn't going to help her now, but the thought wouldn't vacate her brain. Then, suddenly Oscar jumped onto MArc's back with a hiss. Grabbing the cat and throwing it across the room Marc's hands left Carrie's neck, and as quickly as he had pounced, he collapsed in a blubbering heap on the floor. Carrie, still gasping for breath looked upon him with confusion. Head in hands, Marc knelt on the floor crying like an orphaned child in a cemetery. Although still afraid, Carrie found herself next to him, arms surrounding him. As his head hit her shoulder she could only make out the solitary words, I'm sorry........ |