Chapter 1
Zoë Leavenworth was a nineteen year old freshman and was driving back home to Devils Base, Alabama. The town was small and the name was creepy itself but it was a nice town to live in. She got a scholarship to Troy University. Although it was two hours away she was fine with that. It was away from home but still close enough that she could go home on a visit. She missed her family, friends, and boyfriend back home and was glad to be returning home for the two weeks. Even though the town sounded creepy it still was a festive one too during the holiday season. She had the radio on and heard the weather forecast saying that they were supposed to get some snow and ice sometime after midnight tonight. The radio station started playing music again when the song was interrupted by a news story. “I have just gotten word that convicted murder Victor Gomez just escaped from the state penitentiary and is armed with a homemade sword of some sort. He is very dangerous so please do not approach him but call 911 instead.” the person said. She started shaking because she had to stop soon for gas and hurry and get home. Not only because of the storm but she was now afraid of being out there by herself with an escaped murder somewhere out there. She reached a gas station and pulled in. She just wanted to pay for her gas, fill up, and then leave. She needed something to drink but she would survive without it.
She grabbed her keys, wallet, and cellphone and got out. She started walking to the store and could hear the gravel crunching under her feet. She approached the windows and peered in to see if it was opened. When she did however she saw a gruesome scene. She screamed and ran back to her car and locked all the doors and windows. She had no idea what happened there but something did and she was not going to stay and see. She stuck the key in and tried to start it but nothing. “No.” she screamed and with shaky hands she tried again. She wanted to get out of there before something happened to her but her car wouldn’t start. She picked up her cell phone to try and text someone but her phone was dead. “Strange I charged it before I left and I haven’t used it so why would it be dead?’ she asked herself. She threw the phone in her purse along with her wallet and keys. She would hitch hike if she had to just to get out.
She had just threw her keys, phone, and wallet in her purse and was about to get out when a mangled and bloodied man came out of the convenience store. She saw that he was approaching her and she quickly got out and started running. She didn’t know where she was running too but she knew she had to get out. Something happened inside that store and whatever it was it looked bad. However she was not going to stick around and wait because she was afraid that whatever was going on something would happen to her. She ran the two miles down to the highway and was tired but knew she couldn’t stop no matter what.
Three hours earlier:
Michael McMullen was behind the counter of the convenience store and stocking up the cigarettes and things. He had the radio to listen to the weather report and heard the news of the escaped murderer. He wasn’t afraid though since the store was located along the highway in the middle of nowhere. He continued working and only turned around when the bell above the door chimed to let him know a customer was coming in. “May I help you?” he asked the guy on the other side. The guy looked kind of rough and not familiar too him but he didn’t think anything about it. “Give me all your money” he said to him as he pulled out the homemade sword and stuck it to his stomach. So with shaky hands Michael then opened the drawer and gave him the cash that was in there. “Give me the keys to your car.” he said to him. Michael than took out his keys and handed it to him. “Please don’t hurt me. I have a wife and a new baby at home.” he told him but it was too late the guy had stuck the sword into his chest.
As soon as Michael was down he was beaten with the handle of a hammer and brain matter splattered all over the wall along with the blood. Victor thought about dragging the body to the freezer but instead he just left the man lying there on the floor bleeding and fighting for his life. Victor than went behind the counter and found the gun that was kept there. He then shot the man one time for good measure and pocketed the weapons. He then got in the stolen car and left. Michael waited till he knew that the man was gone and called 911 and somehow he made it out of the store. There was a woman outside that he tried to approach but she screamed and took off. Michael than collapsed to the ground and died.
When she reached the highway she wasn’t sure which way she should go. She turned left when she turned in so she turned right to go down the route she had already gone. She was wondering why the convenience store was located in that spot but didn’t have time to figure it out because she was running for her life and trying to run from a murderer.
