When Terror Strikes Part 1
By: Stacy L.
PART I
It was a typical day for Gary Hobson, a day chalked full of saves and helps. Gary receives a special newspaper every morning that tells him what’s going to happen, tomorrow’s news a day early. With his early edition of the Chicago Sun-Times in his hands and a head full of creative stories and ways to help people he faces the busy city of Chicago. His job sounds simple enough: read an article and go stop it from happening, change it for the better… Sounds easy but, in reality, the paper is a huge responsibility that is very time-consuming and very complex. Something of this magnitude takes a very special person to deal with it. The person who was given the paper was selected long ago by the former owner…Gary was the next recipient. Some days he loved his job while other days he hated it. Today was one of those days he hated, everything that could’ve possibly gone wrong had and now it was evening. Gary had one more save to make before he could sleep, but the paper was being very demanding. Sleep was very hard to come by lately…
“WOMAN FOUND BRUTALLY MURDERED IN GRANT PARK.”
Gary read that horrible headline yet again. He had to stop this from happening. He had raced around to try to get to Grant Park before it was too late. Now that he was here he caught his breath. He wondered why a woman would be alone in a park when it was nearly midnight.
Gary rarely had to make saves this late at night. By his watch it was now approaching midnight, often referred to as the witching hour. What would ever possess a woman to be out and about all alone this late at night? Gary kept asking himself that exact question again and again but still his question remained unanswered. He read the article once more:
‘Around 11:30 late last evening twenty-nine year old Amanda Riley was found brutally beaten to death in Grant Park. Police have no leads on the suspect as of yet…’
As he read that headline for about the hundredth time he felt ill. How could anyone kill another or even beat another human being? Gary liked to believe that everyone deserved to be saved, and everyone deserved a second chance. He liked to believe that people were inherently good, but sometimes may do horrible things to one another. It sickened him to know that often people would resort to violence to get what they wanted.
As he entered Grant Park he wondered if maybe he should’ve called the police first, but he had somewhat of a negative rap there. Most police officers believed that he was either a nut case or a psychic. Either way when he entered the Chicago Police Department he often got many looks and could hear a lot of whisperings… He preferred not to involve the police unless he had absolutely, positively no other choice in the matter. He usually managed to weasel his way out of any police involvement…usually.
He continued walking searching for any signs of disarray, and again glanced at his watch. It was eleven twenty-five. The paper didn’t give an exact time of death only an estimated time so Gary wasn’t sure when the incident would occur. He continued walking when he suddenly heard a shrill scream that caused the blood to drain from his face and his body to freeze up. The scream was a woman’s. Quickly Gary’s need to help the woman superseded his momentary paralysis and shock. He took off at breakneck speed racing against time praying he’d get to her on time. As he rounded a set of trees he froze. There on the ground was someone striking another. Gary didn’t have time to think as he was filled with rage at the assailant and fear for the victim.
He launched himself towards the assailant effectively knocking him off of the woman. He heard the man groan as they both fell onto the ground with Gary landing on top of the attacker. The assailant reacted with speed and agility as soon as the temporary shock wore off. He struck out at Gary with great force catching him right on his ear. Gary screamed and flew backwards cupping his now ringing ear with his right hand. When the assailant succeeded in stunning Gary he jumped to his feet and took off at a dead run. Gary yelled, “STOP!” then tried to unsuccessfully grab the person around the ankle in an attempt to hinder their progress. When the ringing in Gary’s ear combined with temporary confusion finally began to subside some Gary looked for the victim. He saw a young woman curled up on the ground a short distance from himself. He immediately went to her, but as he touched her she screamed. Gary questioned, “Are you all right, ma’me? Excuse me ma’me, are you okay? Here let me help you up.”
He gently gripped her around her upper left arm. She reacted instantly screaming she rolled onto her back and drove a kick right into Gary’s midsection. Gary felt the air whoosh out of him as sudden pain came alive in his stomach. He fell to his knees, bent painfully over at the waist, clutching his stomach and coughing violently. When he finally felt well enough to move he looked up to check on the woman, but she was no longer there. She had taken off running. Gary yelled in frustration, “YOU’RE WELCOME!”
He was tired and cranky. His gut and ear now hurt from the strikes, a perfect ending to a perfectly lousy day. He shakily got to his feet then made his way back to McGinty’s, paying close attention to his new injuries.
When he finally made it to the bar he went upstairs, stripped his clothes off of himself and jumped into a nice hot shower. By the time he was finished it was nearing 1am. Gary was tired, exhausted actually, and could only focus on one thing: sleep. Blessed sleep was all he yearned for right now. The paper has been extremely demanding lately giving Gary little time to sleep or relax. He’s been running on overdrive making saves and helping people from sun up to sun down. Needless to say, he was totally exhausted, emotionally spent and very close to psychological burn out. Gary knew he couldn’t keep going on like he was. Eventually it would all catch up to him. He just hoped that the paper would soon provide him with the much needed vacation he’s been yearning for. Gary’s best friend Marissa Clark continuously tells him that the paper has a reason for everything it does. He was just having a very hard time trying to figure out what possible reason the paper could have for driving him so much lately. He moaned in frustration as he realized that he’s exhausted but his mind wouldn’t allow him to sleep. He needed rest so badly! He’s been very nearly sleep walking every day, yet here he was lying in bed unable to sleep at all. It was so damned frustrating! He pushed up onto his right elbow then punched his pillow with his left hand hoping to make the pillow more comfortable. He only succeeded in renewing the pain in his tender stomach where he was kicked only an hour or so earlier. He mentally cursed feeling the sudden stab of pain threaten to steal his breath away again. He’s been running himself ragged for people and his only repayment thus far has been people accusing him of being a jerk or just simply in the way. Well that was gratitude for you! Sometimes people could be so nice and polite while other times they could be downright nasty and drive you crazy! Gary lay on his back staring up at the ceiling for several long minutes. He then shut his eyes and before he even realized it the heavy veil of sleep descended upon him sending him into a deep, dreamy and peaceful rest.
* * * *
“Good morning Chicago…”
Gary vaguely heard the alarm screaming in his ear. He groaned in frustration then muttered, “No let me sleep!” He clicked the alarm off without even opening his eyes pulling the covers up over his head with the sole intent of tuning everything out and going back to the blessed oblivion of rest. Just as contentment threatened to engulf him he heard a shrill insistent, “Rowl.”
Gary nearly screamed in outrage yelling, “GO AWAY! Come back in about five hours!”
“Meow.”
“Damn! Why don’t you give me a day off or let me sleep in just once, please? I beg of you cat, have some compassion for an exhausted man!”
“Rowl!”
Gary grunted in disgust slowly opening his eyes. Then he jerked the covers violently off of himself and jumped to his feet. He shouted, “All right, all right I’m up! I’m coming! Don’t get your fur in a knot!”
Gary went to the door, throwing it open, he glared at the intrusive feline then said, “You’re a slave driver you know that? All I ask is for one stinkin’ lousy day… Hey, I’d take even one hour…please just give me a break…”
He noticed the cat simply watched him. Gary sighed heavily then said, “I give up cat. You’re impossible! Get in here and help yourself to the food since I’m now wide awake.”
The cat jumped to his feet, meowing as he darted into Gary’s home eagerly preparing for his breakfast. Gary glanced briefly at the front page of his newspaper. He was so tired, so exhausted, but he knew many people relied on him. He couldn’t let them down; he had to keep pushing himself. For most of those people he was their last hope, their only hope. That one simple little fact kept him going and kept him motivated.
He casually flung the paper onto his counter then entered his bathroom clicking on the shower. He’d feel much better once he showered. He knew he would. He took off his clothes then stepped under the heavenly streams of constant water. He just left the water pound his flesh and pound the stiffness out of his body. The shower was hot, just like he preferred it. He could feel the tenseness and sleepiness slip away as the water created a miracle. After just standing and allowing the water to beat down on him he started to lather up his body and scrub himself clean. Then he began to wash his hair. He wondered about the woman from the previous evening. Who was she? The paper had listed her as Amanda Riley. Gary never got a real good look at her. Her picture had been in the paper last night beside the article pronouncing her death. Gary had noticed that she was fairly attractive with long strawberry blonde hair that flowed down past her shoulders. Her eyes had been the most vivid blue appearing like the color of the ocean. Her skin had been fair. She was a very attractive person. He had only seen her picture; he could just imagine how she looked as flesh and blood. He hadn’t really gotten a good look at her last night. Her hair had been tangled and was draped over her face like a veil when he had first approached her inquiring as to her condition. He had no sooner touched her then she turned on him, lashing out with a very painful well-aimed kick to the gut. One harsh enough to steal his breath and knock him to the ground giving herself just enough time to flee. He had been angry with her, still was. He had tried to help her and she only repaid him by kicking him. He had known that she was scared. Her fear of being hurt was probably why she reacted to his touch in such a violent way, but he still felt angry.
Gary flicked off his shower and stepped out onto a towel. He grabbed another towel up then began to dry off his body. As he dried his body and his hair his mind still focused on the woman. Who was this Amanda Riley? Why had she been in those woods so late at night? She had to of known just how dangerous that was. Gary sighed in frustration. Thinking of the woman wasn’t helping him at all. He decided just to put her, and his unpleasant chance meeting with her, out of his mind.
As he dressed he heard a knock at his door followed by a feminine voice yelling, “Gary it’s me.”
Gary smiled at the sound of that voice yelling back, “Come on in, Marissa! I’ll be out in a sec just let me finish dressing.”
He heard his door close and his friend’s footsteps, along with the distinct pounding of her cane striking his floor, as she entered. Gary quickly dressed then combed his hair. He entered the living room saying, “Good morning Marissa. How are you?”
“I’m fine but what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Gary…”
“I’m fine.”
Marissa knew that response was a total lie. Her friend was anything but fine. She could hear the straining in his voice, the tiredness. He hadn’t been sleeping well, still wasn’t getting much rest, thanks to that paper of his. She knew that the paper would take care of Gary but was afraid it might just be a little too demanding for her friend right now. She knew that he was pushing himself and has been pushing himself a lot lately. Marissa questioned in concern, “What time did you get in last night?”
Gary cleared his throat. He could tell by her voice that Marissa was very concerned for his well-being. He didn’t want to worry her more so he simply answered, “Late.”
“How late Gary?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Come on Gary.”
“Okay…around midnight, why?”
“MIDNIGHT? Gary what could’ve been so important that the paper would’ve kept you up that late?”
“A girl…actually a woman was supposed to be beaten…to death in Grant Park last night.”
“Oh Gary, is she all right?”
“I suppose.”
“You don’t sound too concerned.”
“She was well enough to kick me and run.”
“She kicked you?”
“Yeah…took my breath away.”
“Well, she was probably scared.”
“Yeah and decided to kick the person offering to help her.”
“Gary she probably didn’t even notice you weren’t her attacker. She was probably scared and confused. She probably thought you were the assailant coming after her again.”
“Yeah I know. I thought of that too…”
“But you’re still angry, aren’t you?”
“Not really angry more like…frustrated. Marissa why… What reason would someone…a young woman no less, have for being in a park at nearly midnight?”
“Nearly midnight?”
“Eleven-thirty…but still that’s late.”
“I don’t know Gary. She had to have had a very good reason.”
“Maybe but I just… It doesn’t make sense. What if…?”
“What Gary?”
“Well, I don’t know. What if…her attacker followed her…waited until she was alone then…”
“Could be a possibility. It’s over with Gary. You saved her life, end of story.”
“What if he tries to kill her again? What if…?”
“Gary stop.”
“What Marissa?”
“You can’t think that way. It was probably just a random act.”
“But what if…”
Her friend was struggling. She could hear the struggle between uncertainty and assuredness in his voice. Why was he being so indecisive? Why was he questioning this rescue so much? Marissa inquired, “You sound worried. Gary what is it? Is there something you’re not telling me? Talk to me Gary.”
“Marissa, did you ever get this nagging feeling in the back of your mind that something just didn’t seem right?”
“Sure Gary, but what’s your point?”
“My point is… I have that feeling now. I don’t think this attack on her was random. I…I don’t know. I could be reading too much into this. Just forget it.”
“No don’t forget it. Trust your instincts Gary. Maybe there is something more to that rescue then you realized. Eventually you’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah I suppose you’re right. Would you like some coffee?”
“Coffee? Gary how much rest did you get last night?”
“Plenty of rest. I’m fine.”
“Plenty of rest, uh? How much is plenty?”
“About seven or eight hours.”
“Gary,” Marissa said that in a stern tone of voice. Gary winced. She always could see right through his lies. It amazed him still that she could see so much, even without her sight. She could read him like a book. He knew he couldn’t lie to her, but he still tried on occasion. He hated to worry her all the time. He spoke up after a brief silence saying, “I went to bed early.”
“But did you sleep?”
“Sure I slept…”
He glanced up at her just catching her common tilt of her head when she knew he wasn’t being totally honest but had all the patience in the world to hear the real answer, that tilt of her head sometimes unnerved him. She saw so much. He gave up knowing that Marissa wouldn’t move from that spot until she got her answer. God blessed her with all the patience in the world. Gary wished he could have that kind of patience at times. Shaking off that last thought Gary continued, “All right…all right, I got about four hours. Are you happy?”
“No Gary, four hours is nothing. You are exhausted physically and mentally. You can’t keep running like this or you’ll collapse.”
Gary glanced up again first at his friend then at the cat before saying, “Yeah well try to explain that to the cat.”
He fell silent. Marissa broke the silence by asking, “What does the paper have for you today?”
“I haven’t really looked at it yet,” he replied while pouring himself a cup of coffee. He then questioned, “Are you sure you don’t want a cup?”
“No thank you.”
Gary leaned back against his counter casually crossing his legs at the ankles. He took a sip of his coffee then closed his eyes. God but he was tired. He was beyond tired. His eyes burned and watered insistently. He needed to sleep. He knew the dangers should he continue going at full throttle like he’s been. The less sleep he had the more reckless he became. The more stupid mistakes he would make and the more problems he’d have convincing others of danger.
He kept his eyes waiting for the burning and wateriness to subside. The burning of his eyes was one of the main symptoms that his body gave him to let him know that he needed to rest. He craved rest but couldn’t sleep…not just yet. He had too much to do, too many lives to save and too many accidents to prevent. The city of Chicago and its people needed him. He wouldn’t let them down. He took another swig of his coffee waiting patiently for the caffeine to do its work of making him more alert. Marissa cut into his thoughts, “You know coffee will only give you a small burst of energy. The caffeine will wear off rather quickly and make you even more tired.”
Gary opened his eyes and glanced at his friend with lines of confusion creasing his face. He responded, “How do you do that?”
Marissa only smiled. Gary was referring to her keen sense. Her incite into him and others around her. She knew without seeing whether he was tired or not, whether he forgot his jacket or not, and she knew that sometimes her keen sense spooked him but her friend was used to that now. She never answered his question and he never expected an answer from her. He just accepted that she had a knack for seeing without actually using her vision. She continued, “Gary you need to get some rest. I’m serious. You’re running on fumes. You can’t do that…”
“Marissa, I have no other choice. I get this paper and with this paper I have to go help people, regardless of whether I’m up to it or not.”
“But Gary you…”
Gary glanced at his paper lying on the counter. He caught the tail end of an article heading. He jumped up sitting his coffee on the counter before gathering up the newspaper and opening it to the front page: “WOMAN MUGGED IN PARK”. He glanced at the article under that heading: ‘At 8:30 a twenty-nine year old woman was mugged…’ That’s as far as he read before glancing quickly at his watch and informing, “Marissa I have to go.”
“But Gary…”
“I’ll be back later.”
“Gary wait…”
Gary was already yanking on his jacket, paper in hand, rushing for the door. She heard the door open then shouted, “Be careful!” hearing her friend’s footsteps as he raced down the stairs and into the bar.
Marissa just shook her head. Gary wasn’t up to this. He needed a break, some rest and relaxation. She prayed that he would be fine.
* * * *
Gary headed for Grant Park. As he entered it he couldn’t believe the extreme sense of déjà vu that swept through him. Didn’t he just leave this place? Wasn’t he just here only a few short hours ago? His thoughts were not pleasant as he recalled the events of the previous night. He glanced up just then as he saw a woman…with strawberry blond hair? No, that couldn’t be the woman from last night could it? Nah that was just too…bizarre. No it couldn’t be. If she was attacked here last night this would be the last place that she’d be walking…wouldn’t it?
Gary stared at her when out of his peripheral he saw a man running towards the woman. The mugger! Gary reacted on instinct running towards her just as the man grabbed her purse. Gary chased after him, tackling him to the ground. He wrestled her purse from the man’s hands and looked directly at him. He felt a little unnerved as the man looked almost like the assailant from the previous evening, but that was impossible wasn’t it? He hadn’t really gotten much of a look at the man last night to even pick out any distinguishing features…
Gary put an end to his thoughts as he noticed the man was now staring intently at him and began to feel very edgy. He felt as if the guy was trying to quote his features to memory. Then just as quickly as he had appeared the man took off at a dead run. Gary quickly recovered from his temporary surprise then got to his feet and walked back to the woman. As he looked at her face he froze. She looked identical to the picture of the woman who was supposed to be murdered last night. The woman reached for her purse and her simple pull is what brought Gary back to his senses. She muttered a soft, “Thank you so much.”
“Su…sure, no problem. Are you all right, ma’me?”
The woman froze staring at Gary with a look of horror on her face. She paled then questioned, “Wha…what did you say?”
“Are you all right, ma’me? Excuse me…”
She didn’t know how to react. Her attack last night in the park shook her up badly. This stranger’s voice sounded very familiar, like that of the man from the previous night. What if this man before her was her attacker? She quickly replied, “I…I’ve got to go.”
“Wait, ma’me…”
“DON’T TOUCH ME!”
She took off at a dead run, and Gary cursed. This day was beginning to be just as lousy as yesterday. Gary rolled his eyes then started walking, scanning his newspaper for the next event he must change. A car accident was going to occur at 3:03 pm followed by an ATM robbery. Nothing seemed to be occurring before three. Good. It was about time the paper gave him a small break…
“Excuse me, sir? Excuse me?”
Gary turned, responding yes when he saw a uniformed policeman standing in front of him. The man said, “I’m going to need you to come down to the station with me and answer a few questions.”
“Why? I haven’t done anything.”
Then Gary saw the young woman standing off in the background to his right. The same woman whose purse he had just saved, and the same woman he had saved from being killed last night. Great, this day just keeps getting better and better! Gary was watching the woman feeling a tad bit angry at his rotten luck as of late. He definitely didn’t need this. The paper was finally giving him some time off and he was going to be spending it at the precinct. Gary focused as the officer’s voice cut through his thoughts, “You can either come with me willingly sir, or I’ll arrest you.”
“Fine” was his only reply.
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