Jackson sat contently, whiskey in hand. The expansive windows to his apartment offered a magnificent view of the sunset two times during the year, during each equinox. On any other day one building or another would block his view of the sun over the lake, but not today. Jackson always made an effort to appreciate it.
A phone vibrated and Jackson’s hand went to his pocket immediately. It wasn’t his.
“Hello?” Jules always spoke quietly, betraying a bit of her history. Jackson glanced over to try and figure out who had called her. His sister was a thin, wiry woman with an angled face that always looked intense. Now, however, she just seemed frightened. She ended the call and muttered something under her breath.
“What?” Jackson didn’t want to be too intrusive, but something about Jules’s attitude was off. She gave him a look that suggested he shouldn’t have asked, then sighed.
“I said that’s the sixth time this week.” She fixed her gaze firmly on her own feet. Maybe if she reflected on the colors of her shoelaces enough Jackson would let it go. She almost thought that he would when the reply came.
“What is it? Guy troubles?” Jules could feel Jackson’s signature grin, the one that made her want to hit him. She knew that he was joking and just trying to make it easier, but she just wished he wouldn’t make that joke.
“No. I keep getting calls from different numbers, but all I hear when I pick up is breathing.” Jules felt pretty good about the amount of worry she kept out of her reply.
“All of them were different?”
“Yeah. It’s really weird.”
“Yeah.” Jackson looked out at the sunset again and Jules exhaled in relief. She hoped for the sixth time this week that the calls would stop, because she hadn’t been totally truthful. There was definitely breathing, but the person on the other line also had something to say.
You’re next.
As the sun finally disappeared beyond the horizon, Jules stood. Jackson did the same, hugging his sister goodbye. “Love you sis,” Jackson said, “be safe.”
“I will.”
As Jules closed Jackson’s apartment door, she caught sight of Michael further down the hall. He waved before disappearing inside his apartment. Jules gave a half-hearted wave on the off chance he would pop out for a moment, even though she knew he wouldn’t. Michael was a strange guy.
Outside the apartment building, Jules took a right and took a brisk pace. Part of her felt horribly unnerved still. Everybody was a threat. They were coming.
I’m next.
As Jules turned a corner and her townhouse came into view, she almost felt like she was home free. The thought of being safe inside her home excited her, dulling her frantic analysis of the people around her.
A shot rang out through the quiet streets. Jules hit the ground instinctively, covering her head. As she glanced about, she noticed that nobody else had dropped or reacted yet. There was blood on the sidewalk.
Time stood still for a moment as Jules tried to figure out where the blood had come from. Then she realized, and everything went black.
MrZakGuy 