Curiosity Killed The Cat

I've been watching the new neighbors unpack the Uhaul for an hour or so now. Their furniture is nice. I'm personally not much of a people person but they seem pretty normal from my window.It looks to me like the children love their fathers and are as happy as can be. They are smiling and excited about being here.

Other neighbors have already brought them welcome gifts. What do these women do? Bake all day everyday? I swear the Susy Homemakers are strong in this town. I would expect in this world we wouldn't be doing that anymore. I'll just stay right here. Maybe say hello if I run into them. I'd hate to be disturbed if I was busy getting settled.

I poured myself a cup of coffee and went to my porch to sit as I usually do in the morning. I continued watching them. It was hard not to, they were right across from me. I think they could feel me watching because they both looked at me and waved. It was awkward and unsettling the way they smiled to tell the truth. I waved back smiling as a typical person would. Still not going over there though.

My days and weeks were as usual. The new neighbors seemed to mind their own business which was fine in my opinion. We said hello and traded niceties on occasion. I learned their names as they learned mine. I'd peak out my window and watch them fight at times but really all seemed normal and well. Until one morning.

This morning was different from the others. I woke up and made my coffee as usual. I opened my door and went to my usual spot but the neighbor was there. Scott looked disheveled. His eyes were wild. I sat next to him expecting to hear some neighborhood drama or to comfort him in some way because of his and Neil's fight last night that the whole neighbor could over hear. Instead he talked normally. Like he was wanting to get to know me. I obliged and he finally went home. It to me was an odd interaction.

I came home from work that evening to a package wrapped in brown paper. I wasn't expecting a package. There was no label to tell me who it was from. I took it inside and set it on my counter. Curiosity told me to open it. My gut said no. I poured a glass of Whiskey and coke to help me sleep as usual and just stared at it.

A knock arrived at my door. Scott's husband Neil was standing in front of me with tears in his eyes.

"Have you seen Scott today?"

"Yeah this morning. He spoke with me when I drank my coffee."

"I've not seen him since last night."

"Oh? I'm sorry Neil. Is there anything I can do?"

"No, but If you see him again, would you let me know?"

"Of course."

Days passed. I didn't see Neil or Scott. The package still sat on my counter. I finally decided to open it. On top was a letter from Scott.

It read:

Thank you for talking to me Sarah. Your kindness helped me understand that I can't live this life anymore. Tell Neil I love him and the children.

Scott.

Underneath the note was a map and a compass. An X was written in bright red. I instantly gathered the box and took it to Neil. I told him I was unsure why It was on my porch or why my kindness meant anything. Neil seemed distraught but not abnormal for the situation. I asked if I could help in any way but I was told I had done enough.

I awkwardly left the situation and went home thinking nothing of it. Knowing he needed time to process what was happening and hoping he could make sense of it.

A thunderstorm rolled in that evening. I laid in bed unable to sleep watching the rain hit my window. A flash of lighting struck and I could see a figure looking in on me. I reached for my glockenspiel in my night stand and my phone. I continued to stare back at the figure. My phone rang, it was not a number I recognized.

"Hello?"

I couldn't hear anything but the sound of rain. All of a sudden. Loud bang came from my kitchen and dishes fell to the floor. I dialed 911.

"911 what's your emergency?"

I whispered "there is someone in my home please dispatch someone quickly."

I saw a shadow move across the bottom of my door. I crept to it making sure it was locked. My phone began ringing. I ran to it as a body ran into my door trying to break it down. The text read; RUN. Nothing more Nothing less.

I clutched my gun and my phone hoping someone would arrive before the person broke down my door. I scrambled to the closet and hid listening to the banging of my door until it finally gave way. The figure was tall and nothing I could be a match for. I could tell by his structure it was a man. My phone vibrated in my hand.

"Sarah, you can't hide forever. I know you are in here, I heard your phone. I've been watching you." He said in a raspy unrecognizable voice.

He walked into the bathroom.

My phone vibrated again. I tried to look at the messages I had. One read "you are too late" I closed out and died 911 again.

He grabbed me by my hair and began dragging me down the hall before someone answered.

"You did this," Neil said. As he tried me up and began dumping gas all over me. I laid on the floor watching him prepare to kill me.

I saw red and blue lights begin flashing in my windows but I'm afraid they were too late. As he began to strike the match I heard a loud clang. And his body fell to the floor. I laid waiting for what would happen next, unable to move. The police lights stopped and I heard footsteps begin my way. Scott caressed my face and whispered it would be OK. He poured the gasoline that was left over Neil and carried me to their home. From his shoulder I could see the cop car sitting idle and the policeman laying lifeless. I watched from his kitchen window as my home went up in flames. He untied me and showed me the shower.

I rinsed the gasoline off as best I could. Once done. I tiptoed through the house looking for Scott. It seemed to be empty. I went to the phone and began filing 911 again but the line cut out.

"What are you doing Sarah, I already took care of the police?"

"But my home?"

"This is your home now, with us."

Scott handed me a cup of tea.

"Let's calm down. Neil is gone and no one has to suffer now."

I sipped on the tea and we began talking about the things he had been through with Neil. We watched as the fire department began dousing the fire.

"You know I can't live here Scott, you killed that police officer and Neil. I want to go. I need to go."

"You can't. End of story."

"Are you going to kill me too?"

"If I were going to do that I would have left you in the house Sarah. I hope you will learn to love us and be the children's mom."

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?"

"Shh. You'll wake the children. We need to stay calm honey. Maybe you should rest, let me show you the bedroom."

I was so unsure what to do. How could I get away from him? I began playing along. He showed me to a bedroom and I heard him lock the door behind me. I instantly checked the windows and they were locked too. I tried to get the attention of the firemen and police outside but with the hustle and bustle no one saw me. I searched for anything that could be a weapon. There was a child's hockey stick in the closet. It would have to do. I sat on the bed waiting for Scott's return and drifted off to sleep.

I was woken by shrill squeals of children running into my room.

"Mommy!" They screamed. As they hugged me tight. I laid there frozen as Scott stood in the doorway with a tray of breakfast. He set it on my bed.

"We made you breakfast."

I choked out my thanks. And grabbed a pancake and took a bite in order to please them. Scott took the kids and I heard the door lock behind him. I was a prisoner. Like Shrodingers cat I'm not sure if I was dead or alive. Scott brought me clothes and escorted me to the bathroom. I changed and peaked out the door. He wasn't in sight. So I tiptoed down the stairs. I found it odd that the house phone disappeared. But in today's age we don't really need them. However it would have been nice since my cell burned up in a house fire last night.

I saw the brown box with the map sitting on the counter and began shuffling through it. I grabbed the map and went for the door. Once I was able to slip out I ran like my life depended on it. I heard Scott yelling from behind me and a motor rev I quickly ducked into Mrs. Loraine's yard and beat on her door.

"Oh Sarah hello"

"Phone!? call 911 now!" I yelled

Scott stopped and walked towards me. Mrs. Loraine began talking to him, unknowing of what was happening. He acted so normal and like all was ok. He grabbed my hand and began pulling me to the car.

"Call 911" I screamed.

The little old woman couldn't hear right.

"Call Nina whan?!" She yelled back

Scott was already putting me in the car.He got me back to the house and tied me up in the basement.

"If you can't cooperate I guess we will have to do it the hard way." He said with a wicked smile.

He placed a syringe in my neck and pumped me full of something. I passed out.

My life has been peaceful until now. I wouldn't say I was as curious as others in the neighborhood but curious enough that now I was being held hostage by my new neighbor. I awoke in the same bed as before. Door locked. I was groggy. Like a game of cat and mouse. This is my life now. I gripped the hockey stick and waited. I always heard curiosity killed the cat.