RUN - Episode 1
by Justine Perry
Did you even check the reviews for this place?
Of course, I did!
Why?
…I just pulled up.
What’s wrong?
Everyone said it was “quaint.”
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.
It looks more creepy than quaint…
Also, it’s literally just woods everywhere.
Aww, is my itty bitty little sister afraid?
😑
Come on.
What’s wrong with woods?!
I don’t know, just…
Remind me why we’re not staying in hotels?
🤦‍♀️
We talked about this, Jess!
BnB’s are so much nicer for the price.
Besides, who wants to drive through 15 states…
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.
She just lost her job.
So it’s not like they could afford a fancy hotel anyway…
Okay, okay.
You’re right.
I know I’m right 😏
Seriously, don’t worry.
It’s just the first-day jitters.
The next 2 weeks will be amazing.
Jessica rolls her eyes.
Even though it’s early…
It’s getting darker out.
Looks like a storm is moving in.
A raindrop falls on Jessica’s shoulder.
I’m going to head inside.
Did the guy say where he left the keys?
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…
That’s weird…
What?
The keys are in the box, but also…
There’s a note.
Ooh, that’s nice!
What’s it say?
It’s not nice.
Marissa, it says…
“Run.”
Run?
Yeah.
That’s weird…
But I’m sure there’s an explanation.
I don’t think I want to stay here tonight.
But the bus is dropping me off in 20 minutes!
Come on. I’ll be there in a second.
Jessica groans.
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…
You know what?
I’ll wait until you get here.
I don’t need to go inside right now.
🙄
How about this?
When I get there, if you STILL want to find somewhere else to stay…
…we can talk about it.
Fine.
Jessica steps off the porch, when suddenly—
Thunder rumbles above.
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.
And looks around.
The entryway is super dusty.
Like no one has been here in months.
But Jessica can see there’s a light on upstairs.
Um, I thought you said the guy wouldn’t be around.
I did.
He’s out of town all week…
And just left the keys for us.
The house should be totally empty.
Just then, Jessica hears the creak of footsteps.
And the light upstairs goes out.
Just breathe.
Jessica jumps at the sound of her own voice.
She didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Someone’s here.
What?!
Did he double-book the house or something?
I don’t think so…
Something isn’t right, Marissa.
Get out at the next stop, okay?
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.
And he’s smiling.
Jessica can see something in his hand…
A butcher knife.
She freezes.
Hello, Jessica.
Didn’t I tell you to run?
Jessica jumps.
She races out the front door…
Into the rain…
Towards her car.
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!
She opens the car door and jumps in…
Locking the doors after her.
She starts the car.
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.
Of course I’d get stuck in the mud!
She can feel her eyes burning.
Stay calm.
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.
The car rocks…
…but doesn’t move.
Jessica switches on the headlights.
She can’t see anyone.
She clutches her phone, tears welling in her eyes.
Listen, Marissa, I know I never say this, but…
I love you.
I really do. I’m so glad we’re sisters.
Jess, what’s going on?!
Are you okay???
My car’s stuck in the muddy driveway.
And the guy in the house has a knife!
He’s dangerous, Marissa.
I’m…I’m scared.
I’m scared I’m going to die.
You’re NOT going to die.
Okay? I’m like 5 minutes away.
Just stay calm.
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!
Her eyes fly open.
And she sees the man right next to her.
He has the huge knife in his hand.
It shines in the headlights.
Jessica SCREAMS.
She shifts the car into drive and slams the accelerator.
But it’s still stuck.
The man stares at her through the windshield.
Then he walks back toward the house, disappearing into the rain.
Jessica grabs her phone.
This guy’s trying to kill me!
OMG!
I’m calling the cops!
The man reappears, walking toward the car with a shovel.
No!
She looks around the car for something to defend herself.
Nothing.
He’s outside her window.
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.
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.
Are the cops coming?
On their way now!
I’ll be there in just a sec, too!
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.
Where’d you go, pretty girl?
Jessica can hear the man knocking away branches with the shovel.
He’s getting closer.
I thought you wanted to stay the night…
He’s nearby.
Jessica can hear leaves crunch underneath his feet.
No more games.
Time to come inside.
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.
Come out, come out, pretty girl!
You can run, run, run…
As fast as you can…
But I always find the pretty girls who run.
Just then, her phone buzzes.
Here! Where are you?
Jessica closes her eyes and inhales.
She can make a run for it.
She can get back to her sister…
And then what?
Will they be safe?
How will they get out of here?
A branch cracks just beside Jessica.
The man rounds the tree.
Gotcha!
Jessica jumps back.
She runs toward the house…
Desperately screaming at the top of her lungs.
Marissa!
Her voice sounds choked.
Marissa, where are you?!
And that’s when she hears a faint voice.
Jessica!
I’m in the driveway!
Jessica sees her older sister up ahead.
She’s only strides away from her.
The bus! Now!
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.
There’s no one to save you now.
Please! What do you want?!
What do I want?
He takes a step toward them.
And looks Jessica up and down.
I want you.
He points the shovel at Jessica.
And then lunges at her.
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—
Falling to the ground.
He lands hard, directly on his right shoulder…
Dropping the shovel.
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…
I love to catch pretty girls.
And I will…
Catch…
You!
The sirens are getting louder.
The police have to be close.
They have to be!
And then the man raises a fist to hit Jessica…
But Marissa appears behind him.
She’s holding the shovel like a baseball bat.
You stay away from my sister!
She swings the shovel at his head.
And he crumples to the ground…
Knocked out cold.
The 2 sisters stand over him, breathless.
Is he dead?
The next day
Newspaper headline
“Sisters subdue serial abductor before police take him into custody. Read more on page 2.”
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