The lowering of the fading sun cast a shadowy presence over the towering structures upon the street as Laura scurried on the pavement and her heart thumped and paced.
She pressed her palm to her ribs as she gasped and was frantic. Laura reached out with her fingers to grab her handbag, which she knew contained money for a taxi to take her away from Fred and the troubling incident that had her head in confusion.
Her hand met nothing but the fabric of her dress, and a sick realization washed over her. She'd left her purse on the counter, right there, right where Fred could still be lingering. Her heart sank like a stone.
She couldn't go back; the idea of facing him again filled her with dread. She looked around, feeling trapped as shadows crept across the sidewalks, swallowing the street in a dim, unsettling haze.
In a hurry, she rushed to the sidewalk's border and settled herself into a battered wooden stool placed outside a shut shop.
Clutching the edges of her head, she attempted to search for a possible escape but was only engulfed by the evening cold that enveloped her almost completely, and the burden of powerlessness that ground her still.
The pavements were still empty of activities and instead had a weird calmness that caused her to remember her lonely existence in this strange neighborhood.
Minutes ticked by, and her mind spun in exhausted circles.
Her body, drained from anxiety and adrenaline, finally gave in. Before she knew it, her eyes fluttered closed, and sleep slipped over her like a dark veil.
A distant voice cut through her dreams.
"Hello… Hello…".
Her eyelids parted suddenly, and she shot up straight but was still confused as to her whereabouts. A man was standing in front of her. He looked down at her with a worried expression, his brows furrowed.
"Oh my God!" she gasped, heart still racing from her abrupt awakening. "Please… I need your help," she said, her voice trembling as she met his curious stare.
The man took a step back, holding his hands up in a gesture of reassurance.
"What's the problem, miss? And how may I be of help to you?" He asked.
Laura swallowed, fighting to steady her voice.
"I - I left my purse at a coffee shop a few streets away, and I just... I couldn't go back," she stammered, shame and worry intertwining as she spoke. "Everything… my phone, my money, it's all in there. "I should call my number to check if anyone has picked it up yet."
The man smiled and dug his phone out of his pants pocket to hand it over to her.
"Take it. You can use my phone. It seems… you are in a hurry," he offered in a kind tone.
"Th… th… thanks so much," Laura said, looking at the phone in her hands as she was shaking and dialing the number against her chest, hoping it would go through.
With each ring, she felt her chest tighten until the answering machine picked up. The ring tinged in her ear, as sweat formed on her palms, and she pressed the phone closer to her forehead, thinking about the possibilities of what could be.
"I'll try once more," she said to the man who noticed her tension. He stepped aside and gave her clearance.
She attempted it again, this time she closed her eyes as it commenced ringing and chose to remain oblivious for a few seconds.
"Hello?" A voice at the other end finally spoke and almost caused Laura to faint from joy.
She fought back the tears; she held the phone unto her ears as though it was a life-clicking button.
"Yeah! Yes, please... you have my handbag and my cellphone. Uh where are you right now, so I can get it back from you?".
There was laughter on the line.
"Calm down, it's me, the waiter from the cafe. I saw you left your purse and kept it safe."
"Oh, thank goodness," Laura exhaled, her voice a mix of relief and tears. "Can I come get it? I… I need it urgently."
"Of course. I'm off duty now, but I live nearby. You can come to 631 Academy Street. Just ask them for Jerry Hills, people around will direct you."
Laura scribbled down the address in her mind, but as soon as she hung up, reality crashed back over her. She had no money to pay for a cab, and she could feel her cheeks redden as she turned to the stranger once more, shame written all over her face.
"I - I'm sorry to ask again," she began, her voice barely a whisper. "But… would you be able to help with a taxi fare? My money is also in the bag," she quickly added, as she felt embarrassed.
He regarded her for a moment, and a glance of pity came to his face. After a beat, he sought in his rear pants pocket and produced a small ball of bills.
"Take this," he said as he shoved the money into her outstretched palm. "Don't concern yourself with the repayment. You look like you've been through enough."
Tears stung her eyes as she clutched the money.
"Thank you," she managed, her voice barely holding steady. "I - I don't know what to say."
He simply nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "Take care of yourself, okay? And… good luck."
She watched him walk away, feeling a surge of gratitude toward this kind stranger who had appeared in her darkest moment.
A whisper left her lips. "Good people do exist."
Moments later, a cab pulled up, its headlights cutting through the growing darkness.
She flagged it down, hastily sliding into the back seat as the driver turned to face her. "Where to?".
"631 Academy Street, please," she said, gripping the seat as she gave him the address.
As the taxi pulled away, Laura sank back, closing her eyes as she felt herself inching closer to safety, closer to reclaiming control.
But a nagging thought lingered. As the street lights flickered past, she couldn't shake the image of Fred's unsettling smile from her mind even though her focus was getting her purse back, reclaiming her sense of peace.
***
The taxi stopped 30 mins later…
"Ma'am, this is your stop," said the driver, looking at Laura through the rear-view mirror.
As soon as the vehicle touched the ground, Laura dashed the fare through the window and shouted "Thanks" as she jumped out.
Laura alighted from the vehicle on an eerily calm street with cool air, which sightseeing was pleasant, and made a circle to locate her target.
They only provided patchy bursts of illumination to the road and as there was space between the lamps, darkness made it hard to find one's way.
She swallowed, feeling her nerves flare up again. She needed to find someone who could point her to Jerry's house.
Spotting an elderly woman standing across the street, Laura darted over, her voice hesitant but polite. "Excuse me, ma'am?".
The woman turned, eyeing Laura with mild surprise. "Yes, dear?".
"Do you know where Jerry Hills lives? He's a waiter…. I believe he stays around here?" Laura asked, her voice betraying her hope.
The woman's eyes lit up with recognition. "Jerry Hills? The waiter?" she asked, a slight frown knitting her brow.
"Yes, ma'am! The waiter," Laura replied, nodding quickly.
She was anxious about the possible response from the woman and hoped that she was on track.
The woman paused for a second and seemed to be trying to add the pieces together.
"Ah, Jerry. Just walk two houses down from here. You'll see a big black gate, that's his place."
She paused, studying Laura with a hint of curiosity. It was strange for someone to be seen looking for him at this hour.
Relief washed over Laura, and she managed a grateful smile. "Thank you so much, ma'am. I appreciate it."
With a small wave, Laura hurried down the street, her eyes fixed on the houses as she counted off the steps.
Darkness had deepened, but she kept an eye out for the landmark the woman had mentioned.
"Big black gate… big black gate…" she murmured, repeating the words to herself as she squinted into the shadows.
She felt a rush of relief as she finally spotted the imposing structure ahead of her.
"There it is," she whispered, her nerves slightly easing as the familiar address came into view.
She walked up to the gate and knocked, feeling her heart skip a beat as she called out, "Jerry! Jerry! It's me, Laura… I'm here!" She pressed her ear to the gate, trying to catch any sound of movement.
Her eyes scanned the property, taking in the magnificence of the house within.
The exquisite landscaping, well-kept lawns, and clean glass surfaces that sparkled under streetlights were stunning; it was much more luxurious than she had expected.
The thought crossed her mind: What kind of person, living this way, would take on the job of a waiter?.
The gate creaked open, and Jerry stepped out, his expression a mix of relief and concern as he took in her disorganized appearance.
"Laura! You made it," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "You must've had quite the ordeal getting here."
She sighed heavily, a little confused, yet thankful for the ordeal.
She smiled but weakly uttered, "I don't think you would understand," as she reached for her loose hair tucked behind her ear.
"Come in," he gestured for her to enter. "Let me take your purse so that you do not have to wait outside for long. I am aware you have an early morning tomorrow."
Jerry went inside, and Laura took a step back gazing reluctantly in through the courtyard.
She gasped as she moved her head, looked around the courtyard, and said to herself, "Oh my God… what is this place? So big. So gorgeous."
She was looking at several things, the tender light from the lamps distributed on the lawn, the high fountain that was gurgling at the corner of the garden, when suddenly she heard the sound of a door being opened somewhere.
"Here's your purse", she heard Jerry's voice from behind which drifted her back into the present.
Turning around, she was thankful and reached for it, only for another voice to interject at that exact moment.
"Jerry, who is she?".
The voice was firm, masculine, and eerily familiar. Laura's blood ran cold. She looked up as a tall figure stepped out from the house, shadowed by the doorway's light.
Her heart dropped as the figure moved closer, and the face of her worst nightmare came into view, Fred Walker.
Every nerve in her body screamed to run, but she was rooted to the spot, her wide eyes locked on Fred's piercing gaze as he approached them.