A Woman’s Point Of View
The Noose: A Mystery Novelette by Dawn Gena
Hmm, I don’t know, maybe readers would prefer a woman? It doesn’t seem as if anyone had anything to say about Scott Coleman, a male, being the main character of The Noose. Let’s see if anyone wants to comment on the lead character being a woman. Frankly I think a woman would be great. After all, woman are resourceful, tenacious, intelligent and let’s not forget passionate.
The Noose by Dawn Gena
An account of events as told by Loraine Barton:
I came to on the floor, wedged between the back seat and the front seat of what I thought to be a passenger van or SUV. I was lying on my stomach with my right arm pinned under me. My jaw was throbbing from the hit I had taken from that Neanderthal who had walked up to me outside of the airport terminal. Though the windows seemed to have a dark tint, the sun’s rays were doing their best to fry my back.
The vehicle wasn’t moving so I wasn’t sure whether we were still at the airport or if I had been driven some place else. I was about to raise my head when the driver’s seat shook a little and the door opened causing the small chiming noise of the car door to sound off. I closed my eyes and tried to slow my breathing as much as I could to make them think that I was still unconscious.
“I’ll get us some food and water.” A woman’s voice said from the driver’s seat. Her voice reminded me of the woman who had approached me just before I had been punched.
“You gas up and keep an eye on the package. Notice I said eye. Don’t you dare lay another hand on her.” The woman threatened.
The package? Were they referring to me? The front passenger door opened and the vehicle bounced and swayed as if something heavy was being removed. My guess, it was the massive monster who had slugged me.
The smells of gasoline, grilled meat and heat rushed in through the door the monster had left open. I could hear car doors opening and closing, children laughing and an occasional car horn honking. We seemed to be at a gas station. A very busy gas station.
My head was at an awkward angle that had the bottom of my chin resting on the floor mat with my neck craned back. I was about to move my head to a more comfortable position when everything went dark. I no longer felt the sun’s heat on my back. The overgrown troll must have been looking in the back window at me. I held my breath and froze. The last thing I wanted was for him to know I was conscious. It seemed like forever before the sunlight returned. The troll had moved away from the passenger right rear window.
By then, my neck was screaming for relief. I had to move my head. I heard the door of the gas tank spring open and then the twist of the gas cap. The troll was still on the right side toward the rear of the van or SUV. I finally thought it safe enough to move my head. As I did, pain shot from my neck, then my shoulders, ending at the back of my head. I tasted blood from my lip as I bit down to stifle my groan. Now, through my left eye, I could see more of my prison. From the look of it, I was in an SUV. The logo of the automaker was emblazoned in a small corner of the door between the window and the armrest. I also had a limited view out the rear right side window. I saw no sign of the troll. I could, however, hear him fumbling with the gas pump nozzle in the tank every now and again.
I had no idea where they were taking me or what they wanted. What I did know was that I probably wouldn’t have a better chance, than at that moment, to try to escape. I tuned my ears to listen for the slightest noise as I slowly slid my left arm up my side and past my head. My knuckles grazed along the left door panel until they made contact with the door latch. I stopped and listened to make sure the troll was still filling the gas tank. As if on queue, the springs on the right rear of the SUV lowered as the Neanderthal leaned against it.
I grasped the door latch and slowly pulled it toward me. The door opened with a faint pop. Sunlight blazed through the crack in the doorway blinding me. I pushed the door wider and raised myself on my hands and knees as I began to crawl toward the open door.
The SUV was higher off the ground than I had anticipated. I moved so quickly through the opening I had no time to brace myself for the two-foot drop to the ground. My hands came down hard on the oil stained cement. My arms buckled and my head smacked the ground. The rest of my body tumbled out with one of my feet still caught in the doorway.
I heard a sharp gasp and looked up to find a woman quickly guiding her children around me as she stared at me in horror.
“Call the police!” I called after her retreating back. The woman and her children disappeared around the front of the SUV without a backward glance. Ignoring the shards of pain, I hurriedly untangled myself and was about to stand up when I heard a voice directly behind me.
“Going somewhere?” I turned around, knowing it was none other than the troll. From where I crouched, my line of sight fell on his kneecaps. I gathered my breath and opened my mouth to let out the loudest yell I could manage. The cry locked in my throat as the troll stepped closer and placed the barrel of his big gun in the center of my chest. My eyes climbed his large rumpled frame until they came to his mouth. What I saw there did not encourage me to venture any further. The troll’s wide mouth was twisted into a cruel grin that bared a lot of big white teeth. Too stupid to halt there, my eyes met his. His green eyes were vacant yet somehow managed to convey the layer upon layer of maliciousness that vibrated through his being.
“Sneaky bitch,” he sneered. For someone so large, he could move quickly. Before I could register what was happening, he drew the gun back and clubbed me on the side of my head. Damn, that was going to leave another bruise. Miranda was not going to be pleased…
Note to self: Did I mention I was going to kill the bastard?
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