My body was jerked upwards, and Eric’s moderately strong arm holding it to his. He instantaneously moved his hand holding the knife to my neck, and I could feel goose bumps on my arms as the chillingly cold metal came into contact with my skin.

“TAKE ONE MORE STEP AND I’LL SLIT HER THROAT!!”

Eric’s voice came from his throat like a crazed beast, the harshness of it ringing in my ears seconds after he’d screamed. Through my tear filled eyes I could see Luke, standing at the top of the steps, an expression on his face in which I detected nervousness, but to Eric must have appeared quite calm. The hand holding the knife to my neck was shaking, and I silently prayed that Luke wouldn’t say anything or do anything to cause my cousin to snap, because that blade could slice through my artery in a split second, resulting in me bleeding to my death on the attic floor.

My eyes burned into Luke’s as he looked at me, pleading with him to somehow save me from a hopeless situation.

And yet, as hopeless as I was already aware that it was, I had an instinctive faith that the person standing there at the top of the attic steps would rescue me. I shut my eyes tightly as Luke’s looked back at Eric, who held the knife shakily and unsteadily in his hand.

“How do people in TV shows and movies get out of situations like this?” I thought to myself, trying desperately to keep a grip on my wits by engaging my mind in trying to think of an escape plan.
“The FBI agent or the rescuer somehow talks the crazy person out of murdering the innocent victim. So Luke is going to have to talk Eric out of killing me. Great. How he’s going to that I have no idea-“

My thoughts were abruptly cut short as a voice broke the stillness that’d seemed to be going on for hours.

“I don’t blame you Eric.”

I could feel the knife move a little as Eric tightened his grip on it. He was silent as Luke continued.

“I mean, I totally understand why you murdered Jayson. It makes perfect sense to me.”

I gulped as Luke took a
cautious step forward.

“He was getting in the way of you and Cora. Right?”

“Y-YEAH… YEAH HE WAS…”

Luke took another step forward. The knife remained where it was.

“You just wanted to have some fun with her, didn’t you?”

“YEAH, JUST SOME FUN…”

Eric’s voice came from his throat loud and crazed, but nonetheless, he was listening to Luke’s words.

“Well he can’t get in the way now, can he? And what’s a more perfect time for the fun you’ve been waiting for then now? Alone, with Cora- In fact, if you don’t object, I’d like to join you two.”

Luke glanced at me, his expression of sudden cruelness sending shivers down my spine. What was he saying…?

Eric’s grip on the knife loosened, as did his grip on me, and he spoke with a much calmer and controlled voice then he had a few seconds ago.

“Y-you t-think…”

“Of course, Eric. You, me, and Cora, of course.”

I bit my lip. Somehow, the way Luke was saying what he was saying didn’t seem quite right to me.

“Just let go, and we can have some real fun. What do you say, Eric?”

I felt Eric’s grip loosen on my more, so much so that I could slip out from his arm if I wanted to. But I hesitated, still unsure of what Luke was saying. Was he still persuading Eric to let me go, or was Luke actually siding with Eric on this?

Luke slowly walked up to Eric, until he was standing right in front of us both. Luke smiled, and then slowly raised his hand to touch my cheek. I looked at him, confused as to whether he was still trying to save me, or if he had just the same evil intentions as Eric, when I saw he hand dart quickly to Eric’s hand that held the knife just centimeters from my neck. I took the chance to get away and swiftly slid out from under Eric’s arm as he retaliated and began to fight back at Luke, who was trying to wrench the knife from his grip. I half ran half stumbled across the cluttered attic floor, blindly racing for the attic steps and the phone below. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I heard the sound of approaching sirens, my heart pounding in my chest at every strained breath. I heard crashes and yells, shouts of anger and blows being given as Eric and Luke fought behind me. I turned suddenly at the top of the attic stairs, hearing a pained cry from Luke. My eyes widened as I saw Eric on top, pulling a knife out of Luke’s stomach, and I crumpled to my knees with a choked sob. I heard a shriek seconds later, followed by another cry of pain, and I lifted my face to see Luke stabbing Eric with every last ounce of strength he had left. After the third stab, Luke paused, knife in midair, panting heavily, then he collapsed as the knife dropped to the ground.

The attic was still, the only sound being my heavy breaths and the loud sirens outside. I stared emptily at the floor yards in front of me where two bodies lay, one perfectly still, the other barely breathing.

“HELP ME! HELP ME!!!”

I screamed at the top of my lungs to whoever was downstairs as I ran to Luke at the other end of the attic.

“PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!! HELP
ME!”

I kneeled down beside Luke’s limp body, sobbing hysterically.

“Luke, Luke you’ll be okay, the police are here, the paramedics too, they’ll get you to the hospital!”

Luke feebly opened his eyes, and I frantically tore off a piece of his shirt, holding it to the gnash in his side that was bleeding profusely. I pressed as hard as I could, and I could tell it was getting harder and harder for him to breath.

“Cora-“

“Ssh, be quite, don’t talk.”

I swallowed a sob and screamed again as I heard footsteps near the attic door.

“UP HERE! HELP ME! HURRY PLEASE! HELP ME!”

I heard the attic door burst open and footsteps running up the steps.

I held Luke’s hand for a second, squeezing it comfortingly, then raised my head as I saw policeman and paramedics at the top of the stairs.

Luke was dying.

Author's Note: Hey guys, SO sorry I'm this late in writing chapter 16! I know you've been waiting awhile but my summer has been so very busy, I just now remembered it and had time to sit down and write. There will be one more chapter, POSSIBLY two, and I promise it won't be near as long of a wait this time. Thanks again for reading, you guys are really great encouragement for a writer like myself! Toodles!