Chapter 3 - The Burner Phone
The heavy wooden door completely splintered off its metal hinges, crashing violently onto my living room rug.
I quickly slammed the pantry door shut and stepped into the kitchen, gripping my wooden cane tightly.
Adrian stormed into my apartment, his eyes wild with absolute, unadulterated rage.
"Where is she," he screamed, aggressively kicking a side table and sending my ceramic lamps crashing to the floor.
"I have already called the police, you violent maniac," I lied boldly, standing my ground despite my trembling knees.
Adrian ignored me entirely, tearing through my bedroom and bathroom like a wild animal hunting its prey.
When he realized the apartment was completely empty, he stopped in the center of the living room and glared at me.
"You are going to regret helping her, old woman," Adrian threatened, his voice dropping to a lethal, terrifying whisper.
He turned around and marched quickly out of the ruined apartment, heading straight for the main stairwell.
He was going down to the parking garage to cut off her escape.
I waited exactly ten seconds before I rushed out of my apartment and headed toward the emergency fire escape attached to my bedroom window.
I climbed out into the freezing city air, carefully descending the rusted metal stairs three stories down to the alleyway.
My knees ached terribly, but the sheer adrenaline pumping through my veins kept me moving.
I reached the ground and sprinted toward the rear entrance of the underground parking garage.
I found Lucy exactly where I told her to wait, hiding behind a massive concrete pillar near my dusty Buick.
"Get in the car," I ordered, unlocking the heavy doors with a trembling hand.
We scrambled into the old vehicle just as the elevator doors across the garage began to slide open.
Adrian stepped out into the garage, holding a heavy steel tire iron in his right hand.
I slammed the key into the ignition, desperately twisting it to start the engine.
The old Buick coughed, sputtered, and completely refused to turn over.
Adrian saw the car shaking, smiled a sinister smile, and began walking slowly toward us.
Lucy screamed in absolute terror, covering her baby with her own body to protect him from the glass.
I reached into my purse, pulled out the old burner phone I had prepared, and dialed the three digits I had been saving.
I pressed the phone against my ear and shouted over the sound of Adrian's approaching footsteps.
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"This is an emergency, there is an armed man in the parking garage at 405 Elm Street, and he is trying to kill us."
Suddenly, the deafening wail of police sirens echoed from the street right outside the garage.
