New York City
It was nearly two in the morning. The fashion show had ended hours ago, but Beth was just leaving. She hadn't meant to stay this late, but one thing led to another and… well, Jim wouldn't mind anyway. He was used to her getting in late. She tried to hail a taxi outside the building, but there weren't any nearby. She shrugged. Her apartment was only a few blocks away. She would walk.
She started briskly in the direction of her home. The warm night air was a refreshing relief to her lungs after breathing in the stagnant air inside the building all night. She smiled in satisfaction. This feeling of success always heightened her awareness of the world around her, and she loved it. The summer breeze, the bright lights of New York, and the staccato sound of her stilettos on the sidewalk all mingled together to create a sort of song for Beth. This was the feeling of accomplishment, and she relished it.
After a moment she began to hear a new sound: footsteps that weren't her own. Heavy, determined footsteps. They were behind her, and she could tell they were moving quickly in her direction. That was strange. This area was usually deserted at night. She glanced back and saw a dark figure walking purposefully toward her. His hands were thrust in his pockets, but his face was locked on her figure. She felt, more than saw, his eyes on her. She couldn't make out any of his features, but the sudden chill that ran up her spine told her this man was dangerous. She quickened her pace, trying her best not to let fear grip her heart. Three blocks, she told herself. The apartment is three blocks away. I can make it. Don't panic.
But she was panicked. The footsteps were growing steadily closer, despite her quickened pace. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest, sending adrenaline streaming through her veins. She glanced back again. The figure was closer now. No more than twenty feet away. His eyes were hooded, but she could see his determination in the grim set of his mouth. He was after her.
Her breath stopped. Before she was fully aware of what she was doing, she yanked the stilettos off her feet and fled down the street. She heard the man break into a run behind her. He was faster than she was. He was barreling down on her. She screamed. The sound pierced the night like a knife, but nobody was awake to hear her.
She felt his fingers twist in her hair, yanking her down against his chest. One arm curled around her waist, while the other moved to her mouth. A huge, gloved hand stifled the scream, simultaneously stopping any airflow into her lungs. She bit down hard on his fingers. He bellowed in pain and yanked his hand away. She took advantage of his distraction and elbowed him as hard as she could in the face. She felt a bone crack. The man faltered, loosening his grip on her body just long enough for her to break free from his grasp. She turned and fled. She shrieked as she ran, praying somebody would hear her.
It didn't take the man long to recover. Within moments he was behind her again, quickly closing the gap between them. A stream of profanities raced through his lips. She urged her body to move faster. One block left. One block. She thought through her panic. She could see the apartment building in the distance.
"Jim!" she screamed, "Jim!"
The man lunged at her, slamming into her body and knocking it to the ground. Her breath whooshed out of her. She gasped, trying to force her crushed lungs to take in air. The man lay on top of her. "Shut up," he hissed.
He quickly stood and yanked her to her feet, half pulling, half dragging her down the street.
"Jim!" she screamed again, "Ji…" The word was cut off by a fist smashing into her face. For a brief moment she saw stars, and then the faces of her husband and son flashed in front of her eyes. They were the last good thing she saw on this earth.