A Babysitter’s Nightmare

The moon was still out but slowly falling back into the horizon. I followed by moon light the various cracks in the road. My feet peddled hard causing a new days air to brisk my face. Though it was hot and dry the air felt cool on my neck. I looked at my watch, 5:20am. Still had ten minutes before I had to be there. As I rode down the road I thought of how mad my mother would be if she knew I was riding my bike so early in the morning.
“Rachel! What are you thinking riding your bike when no one can see you!? Someone can hit you and they probably wouldn’t stop since you wouldn’t be able to get their license…” She’d say and then go off on a tangent on safety. I mean I knew I was safe. I was after all only going a few miles to my old neighborhood to babysit, and I was wearing a helmet. Why should she worry?
I rode on and admired the dark clouded sky. Only a few stars broke through the blackness but it was still beautiful to look at. I couldn’t imagine the endless darkness beyond planet earth. How many stars were out there? Maybe even whole universes that we didn’t know about. Though I felt small trying to imagine it I also felt memorized by the glory of it. I lost track in my thoughts and found myself already riding into my old neighborhood.
I turned down the street, and as I did I felt a sudden chill of paranoia run up my back. Was there someone watching me? I turned my head but no one was there. Suddenly, I saw a large car coming around the opposite corner. I rode quickly to the door of the person I was to babysit for. I hid my bike in the bushes and ran for the front door, banging loudly as the paranoia turned into fear.
The door slid open and I pushed myself through. Mrs. Hudson looked at me curiously but went back into the kitchen to finish doing whatever it was she was doing. I ran for the front window and barley peeked through the blinds.
Outside the huge car (what seemed to be a fire truck) was sitting in park in the middle of the road. A large bulky man appeared dragging something very long. As he went passed a street lamp I could tell it was a small boat. His veins in his arms were predominant from dragging such a heavy object but he did so with out so much a single drop of sweat. He left the boat directly in front of the fire truck. Suddenly, a figure of what appeared to be another man started to get out of the boat. Though he attempted he was shot down by a blow to the head from muscles who stood over him probably growling under his breath or doing whatever scary muscle men do.
As he walked back to his firetruck he glanced towards my direction and I found myself dropping the blinds letting a small screech pass through my trembling lips. I should have stopped watching but curiosity got the better of me. Again I peered through the blinds. The man had gotten into the firetruck. As he revved the engine the truck seemed to nay like a sturdy steed, going up on its back tires as the front tires prepared for speed. Then the truck went full power running over the boat until it was nothing but broken and bloodied wood.
I could feel the terror surging through me. I knew I should have dropped the blinds or at least called for help but every part of me was frozen. I could not compel myself to move a muscle until I found muscles standing outside the truck staring directly at me. A knowing expression that I had witnessed everything on his grim face.
“Okay, we’ll probably be back around 10:30. The kids are sill sleeping but will be up -” I jolted around to see Mrs. Hudson and Mr. Hudson coming from out of the kitchen. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I tried to speak but my mouth was dry. “I-I- did you not hear any of that! A man just got murdered outside!” I stammered frantically pointing fiercely in the direction of what had just happened.
“What are you talking about. What noise?”
“A guy just ran another dude over with his car! Multiple times!”
“Okay…like I was saying the kids will be awake around 8. You can sleep on the coach till then or watch TV.”
“Are you even listening!? I’m pretty sure he saw me watching. What if he comes here!? We need to get the kids out of here!”
“Calm down Rachel. Just stay here and we’ll be back by 10:30,” Mr. Hudson said grabbing his car keys from the hook.
“See you later and make sure the kids are safe!” They called walking out the door, leaving me with my jaw agape and motionless. As they drove off I saw muscle man staring at me from the house across the street. When the car was out of view he started making his way towards me.
I could feel my eyes widen and the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I felt frozen to the floor but I managed to close the door. I had to get the kids out of the house. I broke into a sprint and as I raced up the stairs I could hear fiddling with the door. I reached the rooms and heard the door open. He was here. I ran into the bedroom but as I went to the beds my head started ringing. The noise pounded on my head and I fell to the floor. Through the ringing I could hear muscles coming up the stairs. Looking up at the bed I saw the kids still sleeping in their beds. Suddenly, a searing white light blinded me and I shot up in my bed entangled in covers.