Fan Fears: A collection of fear based stories by Michael Bray Read Free Book Online

thousand miles away. She started towards it, but could already hear the enraged grunts of Ashba behind her. She realized that the news crews that had been hounding her for the last week could well now be her saviours. She didn't think about what was going on behind her, or even that she might be wasting her time. All she was sure of was that she didn't want to die, and she was determined to fight as long as she could. She fumbled with the keys which were still in the lock. She was sure something would go wrong, that they would break or fall out, but the key turned smoothly and the door unlocked. She wrenched open the door and stepped outside, much to the surprise of the half dozen or so reporters and camera crew who were waiting. She screamed out, but it was cut short. Ashba grabbed her from behind and pulled her back into the house, kicking the door closed. Even so, the reporters had seen it. One crew had even got it on film. By the time Ashba had dragged Colleen back to the kitchen, the police had already been called.
     
    FIVE
     
    The hour hand on the clock made two more full rotations before either Ashba or Colleen spoke again. He had barricaded the back door where he had broken in and leaned the upturned kitchen table against it. The front door had been locked and the keys were in his pocket. Both of them sat in the kitchen watching the television coverage of the siege. For Colleen, it was surreal to see her own house from the outside illuminated by the flashing blue of the dozen police cars. The press too had increased its presence. The news report was replaying the footage of the moment Ashba had pulled Colleen back inside the house and they were now speculating on what would happen next. 
    “They’ll kill you, you know,” Colleen said. Everything was harder now, breathing, thinking. Everything seemed slow and lethargic.
    “Save your energy. You’ll need it.” Ashba snapped, still watching the television screen. He glanced over at her. “By now, you will feel like the equivalent of a mountaineer halfway up Everest. Breathing will be a struggle as your heart begins to slow. The natural response of the body is to slow down other motor functions. It won't be long now.”
    She didn't answer him. She knew it was pointless to try and argue anymore. It was clear that the decision had been made and they were both tied to their fate. She looked at the TV screen, which was now an aerial shot from a helicopter of the house ringed by police cars, a growing crowd behind tape some distance away. The ticker at the bottom of the screen said armed police were making preparations to go in.
    She knew she should save her energy, but could see the fear on Ashba's face as he watched the screen. “I hope you survive and they arrest you. I hope they hold you responsible for everything you’ve done.”
    “They won't,” Ashba said. He reached into his bag and pulled out a gun. “This is my insurance policy.
    “You could have used that on me at any time,” she gasped, struggling to breathe. “But you let me suffer.”
    “I'm not proud of it,” Ashba said, glancing at her. “None of this is personal, you understand. It’s just necessary.”
    “What if you don't see it coming? What if they take you down without you having the time to kill yourself? What If they take you out before I die? Won't that ruin this for you?”
    Ashba considered. He looked at the gun, then at her. “You’re already dead. That’s irreversible now. I'm not worried about that, it’s just a case of when. As for the police, well, thanks to the media and the real-time coverage, I’ll know when they are coming.”
    She again chose not to answer. It felt as if someone was sitting on her chest. Every breath was a huge effort, the spaces between them growing longer as her body systematically shut down. She thought about how cruel life was, how the botched operation back in ninety-eight resulted in her having to live life with a pacemaker. This would be her