Oracle Rising (3 page)

Well, he wasn’t.

The begging in his mind was distracting. The woman he craved was trying to stop him.

He wanted to laugh.

‘Hush’,
he whispered to her.
‘Your time will come. I promise.’

As the woman on her knees tried her best to get him off, it wasn’t happening. This wasn’t the way to do it.

She was failing.

When she looked up at him, sloppily devouring his erection, he couldn’t take it anymore. He pushed her from him.

“What’s wrong, baby?” she asked.

“You.”

She looked startled. “I don’t…”

That’s all she could say. Before the rest of the sentence trickled from her lips, he struck.

The blow was right to her face, knocking her head against the door. Then he was on her, his hands around her throat, squeezing and cutting off her air.

When her eyes rolled back into her head, he stopped. If he killed her now, she wouldn’t know true pain.

That was the last thing that could happen. So, instead, he zipped up and checked her pulse.

He wouldn’t have long, and he knew it. So, he reached under the seat to bind her hands and feet with duct tape. When she was secure, he dug around in her purse.

That’s when he found her license.

“I’ll bring you home, precious. Then, we’ll start. Oh, don’t feel bad that you couldn’t get me off. You will, but I need more than the mouth of a self-centered bitch to do the trick. I need flames.”

In his head, he heard her.

He screamed in rage. “STOP!”

The more he ordered her to obey, the less she did. It only added fuel to his anger.

“You’re going to pay. You’re going to pay,” he chanted over and over again.

She stopped whispering to him.

Finally, he had peace to concentrate.

Climbing over the seat to get behind the wheel, he knew it was time to get the hell out of there. Morning would be coming soon, and he needed to get the work done.

As he drove through the streets, he taunted his favorite little play thing. She was quiet, and he wouldn’t let her escape quite yet.

“Can you see me?” he asked, laughing sickly. “I’m one woman closer to making you mine.”

There were protests in his mind, and he couldn’t help but be gleeful. She was talking to him again, and that’s all he really wanted.

Well, that and her.

She was going to be the ultimate prey.

He couldn’t wait.

It had been a long time coming.

As he pulled into the woman’s driveway, he noticed that there were no other cars there. She must not have a roommate.

That pleased him.

It was a risk, but one he was willing to take.

Pulling down the darkened, tree lined path, he found the perfect spot to unload his cargo. Using her keys, he let himself into the house.

No dog either.

Perfect.

His gift hadn’t let him down. He knew she was the one the second she started to flirt in the bar.

Carrying her upstairs, he noticed she began to struggle. He was glad. He loved when they fought. It made taking them so much better.

Who wanted prone prey?

Not him.

He wanted a fight and the more violent the better. It only added to his pleasure.

Upstairs, he tossed her onto the bed. She stared up at him wide-eyed, shaking her head.

He laughed.

“It’s time for you to really get me off. Maybe next time, you won’t be such a bitch.”

She stared in panic.

“Oh, that’s right. There won’t be a next time.”

With that, he stripped out of his clothes. He could hear her screaming even with the duct tape across her mouth. As she tried to wiggle away, he simply knelt on the bed. His hand wandered, ripping the dress from her body.

The sound of rendering fabric filled the room.

“Let’s begin.”

He closed his eyes and focused on the woman watching him from the safety of her closet.

“This one’s for you, baby. I’m coming for you.”

Both women screamed.

With that, he began.

                                  
* * *
   O  R A C  L  E   * * *

Crosspointe

Across Town

She wept.

The chaos in her mind was making her insane. It was like she was right there in the midst of his murderous spree. It was all as clear as day.

In her mind, she could see all of his victims screaming for help. Juliett could hear them begging for their lives as he lit them on fire.

It was the worst thing she’d ever seen in her life. Add to it that he liked to have a conversation with her while he did it. That made it a million times worse.

He was connecting with her.

How?

She didn't know.

All Juliett did know was that he was hunting her. She felt like prey, and it made her want to run for her life.

That man in her head was causing so much pain, and someone had to stop him. It obviously wasn’t going to be her. The pleading for him to get help wasn’t working.

She was at the end of her rope.

What she wanted now was to disappear and escape him.

God knew she tried.

Juliett had exhausted every avenue available to her. She’d even gone as far as begging the police to believe her. She’d wept, gave them details, and shared what she knew.

Only, they didn't buy it.

They thought she was crazy. In fact, it got worse. In her home town, where the murders were happening, they actually were beginning to believe that she was the killer.

She could see it in their eyes.

That fight or flight instinct was kicking in, and she knew what she had to do.

Juliett didn't have any choice.

She ran.

Packing her few precious things, she raced out of the last two towns, trying to put time and space between her and the man killing the women.

That’s all she wanted.

Juliett just wanted the visions to end. She’d tried to help them, but when that failed, it was every woman for herself.

Now it was about self-preservation.

All of her life, she’d had visions, but never like this. They were never this brutal, horrible, or filled with death.

He was raping them.

He was hurting them.

He was burning them alive.

There was no remorse as he stole their lives. Instead, there was this sick sense of pleasure as he ripped their souls from them. It was like he was playing to her as an audience, and that scared her to death.

Here, she was being psychically stalked by a madman, and no one believed her. He was a terrible human being, and Juliett feared that he was going to find her.

She couldn’t eat.

She couldn’t sleep.

At night, she was afraid to close her eyes, for what she’d see. It was always him, laughing at her—
just like now.
He resided in her head, locked onto her. No matter what she did, he found a way to slip into her thoughts.

His lust was scary.

At first, she believed it was for the woman he was hurting. Now…she knew the truth.

He wanted her.

Juliett wanted to be sick.

While he prepared to take another one, much like he did every few days, he was mocking her with his twisted words.

It scared the hell out of her. It was why she ran each and every time.

For the last year, she was chased. There was no way she could stay and be focused. How could she?

A madman was haunting her steps. If she stopped, surely, he would be on her. That was the last thing she needed.

Juliett loved her life.

She didn't want to die.

If he had his chance, he was going to destroy her too.

Even at that moment, she could hear him. In her head, his sick laughter taunted her. It begged her to stop running, so he could make her one of his ‘girls’.

She wanted to weep.

When he whispered terms of endearment and love, her flesh crawled with goose bumps.

He was twisted.

She had to escape.

At that moment, there was a little reprieve. He was watching the one he wanted to take next. Until today, she believed Crosspointe would be safe. She really thought that finally…a town she could call home.

Juliett was desperate.

She was running out of money, patience, and time. If she didn't lose him, and soon, she was going to be at his mercy. Time was running out.

She knew the truth.

Juliett was going to be his victim.

He was going to catch her.

Tonight, she was being barraged by the vile images in his mind. They ranged from him raping and pillaging as he moved through the helpless women of the town. He was taunting her to leave the closet. As she sat there, knees tucked to her chest, Juliett prayed to anyone who was listening.

“Please save me,” she whispered over and over again. “I can’t hold on much longer. I need to be safe. Send someone to keep me from dying.”

She sobbed.

What Juliett needed was miracle, and there weren’t a whole lot of options remaining. At some point, in her heart, she knew the truth. He was going to find her. No matter what she did, he was going to end up winning this sick game.

She ran.

He chased.

She tried to ignore him.

He screamed louder.

She hid in her closet.

He waited…

Her options were running out.

Juliett’s time was coming to an end, and she knew it. Crosspointe was going to be her last battle, and likely her final resting place. In a short few days, she’d be flat broke. Already, she’d burned through her savings.

There was no hope, so why try
?

He’d find her anywhere she went, and he’d proved it, so what did it matter?

She didn't matter.

The universe was offering her up on a silver platter to a madman.

As she sat there, trying to stop the whispers in her mind, she heard laughter.

Only, it wasn’t his.

It was cool and like water running over her flesh.

For some reason, it blocked out all the horrors and wrapped her in its protectiveness.

Juliett didn't understand.

She didn't know what to do.

‘I’m coming,’
the female voice whispered.

“Who are you?” she begged, needing that one moment of reprieve to fight the battle ahead. This voice was calming her. It was giving her hope.

Then she panicked.

Was it a trap?

Was it one of his sick games?

Her heart began thumping in her chest.

‘I’m Oracle. We’re coming. We’ll save you. All you have to do is hang on.’

Juliett wanted to believe in the worst way. For the first time in a year, she was feeling better about what chased her. Could there be someone else out there who was willing to help her?

Was that possible?

“How will I know you?” Juliett asked out loud.

There was laughter.

‘I’ll know you. That’s all that matters.’

Juliett didn't know what, or who, Oracle was, but she felt a little better. For some reason, the voice in her head was soothing all the irritation.

The female’s voice was cathartic—almost hypnotic. Juliett wanted to drift in it, never resurfacing.

“He’s getting ready to kill,” she whispered. “You have to believe me. He has her right now!”

The laughter slid across her flesh like silk sheets on a freshly laundered bed. It offered comfort, peace, and calm.

‘I see him. You’ll know me when you see me. Stay calm. Stay brave. You will be fine.’

“Hurry,” she begged. “You have to hurry. I don’t have much time left. He’s going to find me, and when he does, I’m dead. I’m going to be burned alive.”

The voice offered reassurance.
‘We will be there. Stay hidden. He can’t find you if you don’t tell him where you are. Stay inside at night.’

Juliett would listen to the voice. What choice did she have? Ultimately, she had to trust the woman.