Jessica
Did you even check the reviews for this place?
Marissa
Of course, I did!
Jessica
…I just pulled up.
Marissa
Everyone said it was “quaint.”
Marissa
Is it not quaint?
Jessica gets out of the car and looks up at the house.
The screen door is blowing in a breeze Jessica can’t feel.
Jessica
It looks more creepy than quaint…
Jessica
Also, it’s literally just woods everywhere.
Marissa
Aww, is my itty bitty little sister afraid?
Marissa
What’s wrong with woods?!
Jessica
I don’t know, just…
Jessica
Remind me why we’re not staying in hotels?
Marissa
We talked about this, Jess!
Marissa
BnB’s are so much nicer for the price.
Marissa
Besides, who wants to drive through 15 states…
Marissa
Only to stay in some generic hotel room every night?
Jessica leans against the car.
She can’t believe she agreed to this road trip with her sister.
As kids, they promised to drive across the country before they were 30.
And now that Marissa’s 29, she’s cashing in on it.
So it’s not like they could afford a fancy hotel anyway…
Marissa
I know I’m right 😏
Marissa
Seriously, don’t worry.
Marissa
It’s just the first-day jitters.
Marissa
The next 2 weeks will be amazing.
Looks like a storm is moving in.
A raindrop falls on Jessica’s shoulder.
Jessica
I’m going to head inside.
Jessica
Did the guy say where he left the keys?
Marissa
Check the mailbox.
The mailbox is right next to the swinging screen door.
Jessica shudders as she walks towards the house.
When she gets to the mailbox, she reaches inside and feels around for the keys…
Jessica
The keys are in the box, but also…
Marissa
Ooh, that’s nice!
Jessica
Marissa, it says…
Marissa
But I’m sure there’s an explanation.
Jessica
I don’t think I want to stay here tonight.
Marissa
But the bus is dropping me off in 20 minutes!
Marissa
Come on. I’ll be there in a second.
Marissa insisted on taking a bus to the first BnB.
That way, they could drive the rest of the way together.
Except Jessica feels like she’s been waiting for Marissa ever since she got out of college…
Jessica
I’ll wait until you get here.
Jessica
I don’t need to go inside right now.
Marissa
When I get there, if you STILL want to find somewhere else to stay…
Marissa
…we can talk about it.
Jessica steps off the porch, when suddenly—
And rain starts spattering down.
Jessica bolts inside the house just as the rain starts to pound down.
So much for not going inside.
Jessica closes the door behind her.
The entryway is super dusty.
Like no one has been here in months.
But Jessica can see there’s a light on upstairs.
Jessica
Um, I thought you said the guy wouldn’t be around.
Marissa
He’s out of town all week…
Marissa
And just left the keys for us.
Marissa
The house should be totally empty.
Just then, Jessica hears the creak of footsteps.
And the light upstairs goes out.
Jessica jumps at the sound of her own voice.
She didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Marissa
Did he double-book the house or something?
Jessica
I don’t think so…
Jessica
Something isn’t right, Marissa.
Jessica
Get out at the next stop, okay?
Jessica
I’ll pick you up.
Jessica puts her phone in her pocket.
She opens the front door…
And then hears footsteps creaking loudly.
She looks over her shoulder.
There’s a man at the top of the stairs.
He’s wearing a black ski mask.
Jessica can see something in his hand…
Man
Didn’t I tell you to run?
She races out the front door…
Jessica
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!
She opens the car door and jumps in…
Locking the doors after her.
And hits the accelerator.
But the car doesn’t move.
She presses harder on the pedal.
The tires spin, digging deeper into the wet ground.
Jessica
Of course I’d get stuck in the mud!
She can feel her eyes burning.
She looks toward the house.
Has the man followed her out?
It’s too dark and rainy to see.
She presses the accelerator one last time.
Jessica switches on the headlights.
She clutches her phone, tears welling in her eyes.
Jessica
Listen, Marissa, I know I never say this, but…
Jessica
I really do. I’m so glad we’re sisters.
Marissa
Jess, what’s going on?!
Jessica
My car’s stuck in the muddy driveway.
Jessica
And the guy in the house has a knife!
Jessica
He’s dangerous, Marissa.
Jessica
I’m scared I’m going to die.
Marissa
You’re NOT going to die.
Marissa
Okay? I’m like 5 minutes away.
Jessica shuts her eyes and tries to breathe.
But then there’s a clanking sound next to her.
Someone is trying to open her door!
And she sees the man right next to her.
He has the huge knife in his hand.
It shines in the headlights.
She shifts the car into drive and slams the accelerator.
The man stares at her through the windshield.
Then he walks back toward the house, disappearing into the rain.
Jessica
This guy’s trying to kill me!
Marissa
I’m calling the cops!
The man reappears, walking toward the car with a shovel.
She looks around the car for something to defend herself.
The shovel smashes against the glass.
It doesn’t shatter, but Jessica knows it won’t take another hit.
She dives across to the other side of the car.
And scrambles out the door.
Then she sprints for the woods.
The rain is freezing against her face.
Man
Come back, pretty girl!
His voice makes Jessica shiver.
Because it sounds like he’s smiling.
Like he enjoys the chase.
Jessica presses her back to a tree.
Jessica
Are the cops coming?
Marissa
On their way now!
Marissa
I’ll be there in just a sec, too!
Marissa
The bus driver is taking me directly to the house.
Just then, Jessica hears the man whistle.
This time, he calls out in a sing-song voice.
Man
Where’d you go, pretty girl?
Jessica can hear the man knocking away branches with the shovel.
Man
I thought you wanted to stay the night…
Jessica can hear leaves crunch underneath his feet.
Man
Time to stop running.
Jessica clasps her hand over her mouth.
She has no idea where the man is…
And needs to make sure he can’t even hear her breathe.
Man
Come out, come out, pretty girl!
Man
You can run, run, run…
Man
But I always find the pretty girls who run.
Just then, her phone buzzes.
Marissa
Here! Where are you?
Jessica closes her eyes and inhales.
She can make a run for it.
She can get back to her sister…
How will they get out of here?
A branch cracks just beside Jessica.
She runs toward the house…
Desperately screaming at the top of her lungs.
Jessica
Marissa, where are you?!
And that’s when she hears a faint voice.
Marissa
I’m in the driveway!
Jessica sees her older sister up ahead.
She’s only strides away from her.
They both run for the bus waiting at the end of the driveway.
The driver is standing outside the door…
Waving at them to hurry inside.
Jessica can hear sirens in the distance.
Suddenly, from the woods, the man jumps out toward the bus driver.
He swings the shovel, and the driver crumples onto the ground.
Then he turns toward the sisters.
Man
There’s no one to save you now.
Jessica
Please! What do you want?!
He takes a step toward them.
And looks Jessica up and down.
He points the shovel at Jessica.
Marissa screams, throwing her phone at his face.
It hits him squarely in the mouth.
The force of contact makes him stumble—
And he trips over a hidden tree stump—
He lands hard, directly on his right shoulder…
Jessica runs forward and kicks the man in the stomach.
But he catches one of her wrists, then stands.
His lip is bleeding where the phone struck it.
He squeezes Jessica’s wrist harder.
She can feel the bruises forming…
And then he hisses at her…
Man
I love to catch pretty girls.
The sirens are getting louder.
The police have to be close.
And then the man raises a fist to hit Jessica…
But Marissa appears behind him.
She’s holding the shovel like a baseball bat.
Marissa
You stay away from my sister!
She swings the shovel at his head.
And he crumples to the ground…
The 2 sisters stand over him, breathless.
Newspaper
“Sisters subdue serial abductor before police take him into custody. Read more on page 2.”
