Closing Time...Chapter 5

This is a continuation of a story began October 1, 2019. Find the first of the story on the right side of the page to read the story from the beginning.

Chapter 5

Todd stepped out.

Amber froze. Her body unable to move--her brain whirled at a thousand miles per hour.

"Todd?" she managed to say.

"Yes, Amber?"

"What are you...how did you...Todd?"

Todd walked down the stairs toward her. "Dear, you must have a million questions right now in the pretty little head of yours."

His voice disgusted her. Still paralyzed with fear, him calling her dear and saying he head was pretty (even though she herself sometimes considered her head little) enraged her. Instead of running back to her car, she felt like running toward him and kicking him in the mid-section.

But she remained where she stood. Todd continued toward her.

"Now, Amber. I can't believe you ran off like that at the parking lot. If I'm being honest, that hurt my feelings."

Todd stopped five feet from where Amber stood. Though a bright light from the police station shown directly behind Todd, hiding all his features showing her nothing but his silhouette, she saw his eyes shine through. She saw his deep blazing red eyes.

"Don't you touch me, Todd," Amber said, her voice more steady than she imagined it could be under the circumstances. "You do, and I'll--"

"You'll do what?" Todd interrupted. The oily sweetness in his voice only moments before vanished, replaced by distain, anger.

"You'll do what? Run off again? Go ahead--try it. You saw what I can do, didn't you? You saw me take care of that pretty hunky-boy thing you were flirting with."

Todd took a step toward Amber. She didn't flinch. Todd stopped, as if prevented by an unseen force.

"You did that to Bret?"

"So, you and pretty boy are on a first-name basis?"

How dare he? Amber thought, now madder than before. She took a step toward Todd.

"You pig!"

She no longer cared about her safety and she made sure Todd knew exactly how she felt.

"Amber, I'm getting tired of both this conversation, and of you."

"Help!" Amber screamed. "Help! Someone--anyone, please help!" Amber hoped someone inside the police station would hear her and come out to see who was screaming bloody murder right in front of their office.

"Oh, please," Todd said and lowered his outstretched hand. Instantly, no sound came from Amber's throat. She knew she was still screaming, but nothing came out. She put her hands to her throat--it didn't help.

"No one inside can hear you. In fact, no one in there will hear anything ever again."

Amber stopped her silent screams.

"My dear, it's time for you go to."

Instead of walking toward her, Todd's body transformed into a black cloud that slowly rose then directly descended over Amber, engulfing her, choking the will to live from her. She felt her life force ebb away.