TAKING THE FALL

They were in bed.  her lovers arms around her as they rolled under the blankets Laughing. Kissing.

The candles flickered, she frowned. Had she lit candles? She raised her head, avoiding her lover’s kiss. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Unease slithered through her, raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

The candles flickered again. What candles? She never lit any candles. She pulled down the blankets.

The air had gotten chilly. “did you light any candles?” she asked.

“No, there was no candles.” he reached to kiss her. His mouth brushing her cheek over her ear. “Wake up.”

His whisper was barely heard.

She glanced down at him. “What did you say?”

“You need to wake up! Now!”

Bolting up in her bed, her heart pounding with fear Becky glanced around. She was alone. What had awaken her?

She turned on the light.

Swinging her feet to the edge of the bed, she stood up and walked a few steps to the bedroom door. Glancing warily down the hall, she inched out of the bedroom. The floor creaked. She froze.

Her hand on the wall, she felt blindly for the light switch. The floor creaked again.

Her heart was pounding, as fear bathed her in her a cold sweat. Someone was in her home. She turned back to the bedroom when a tall looming shadow lunged for her.

Fingers tangled in her hair, hauling her back. Becky opened her mouth to scream but her head smashed to the floor.

Agony throbbed in the back of her head, nausea swelling within her as she struggled to get up. Fingers clamped around her throat. Vision blurred, Becky reached out to claw at her attacker.

“Say goodnight, bitch!” a disembodied voice taunted.

“No…” Becky rasped it was too late. Darkness swallowed her whole.

Becky awoke sometime later, as nausea once more hit her. She rolled over and vomitted. Wiping her mouth, she felt around her for her glasses. They were at her feet. Putting her glasses on, she touched her aching head and gingerly sat up.

She wasnt in her room. But a tiny cell with barely enough room to move.  Where was she?

“You look so sad and pathetic” a woman’s voice murmured. “Like an abandoned dog no one wanted.”

Becky’s eyes shifted to the door. She couldnt see who was speaking. “Who are you?”

“No one in particular.” the woman’s voice seemed cheerful. “Like you.”

Becky tried to move but the room spun. A concussion. “Why am I here?”

“Well you see I needed an out.” the woman took a moment before speaking. “I have done some terrible things and needed someone to take the blame. And you, my dear, were the perfect candidate.”

Becky’s heart pounded in her chest. She didn’t understand. “What are you talking about?”

“There’s a man I loved, you see. But he left me for another woman. So, I did what any sane person would do. I killed her. But I didn’t want to go to jail for it. So, I needed someone else to take the fall.”

Becky’s mouth went dry. “You’re insane.”

“No, I’m not. I’m just doing what needs to be done to protect myself. And now, you’re going to take the fall for what I did.”

Becky struggled to stand, but her head throbbed with pain. “You can’t do this to me.”

“Oh, can’t I? I already have.” The woman’s voice faded away as she walked out of the room.

Becky was alone again, trapped in the tiny cell, unsure of what was going to happen to her. She had no way of knowing if anyone was looking for her or if she would ever be able to escape. All she could do was hope that someone would come for her before it was too late.