Markayla sensed Jack’s awkwardness and momentarily felt sorry for him. Just why did she insist on attending the fundraiser at a local country club anyway? So she could hope to see Shane? Yeah, probably, though it cost them extra money they didn’t really have since they weren’t about to show up at a fundraiser without a donation. But while she knew the people she greeted and that came up to her, poor Jack didn’t know a soul.
She scanned the room in search of Shane but tried to do it discreetly so she wouldn’t arouse Jack’s curiosity. She hoped someone would engage Jack in a conversation that would distract him, but she knew it would be rude of her to turn her attention elsewhere as she left him to chat with virtual strangers.
The night wore on and she became progressively bored. She never did see Shane either.
At one point, she glanced over at one of the long refreshment tables that were set up and spotted a woman gorging on donuts. She was huge. She was above average height, had short dark wavy hair, and had to easily weigh over three hundred pounds.
A much shorter woman with straight, cropped red hair that was heavy, but not severely obese, approached the giant woman and gently guided her away. Obviously, the woman had a serious eating disorder and based on her mannerisms and the shrill tone of her voice, probably some emotional issues as well.
The woman laughed, mouth wide open with a wad of partially chewed food visible. Markayla was repulsed and she could tell the woman’s friend was rather disgusted as well. Still, the smaller woman simply shrugged and gave a shy, awkward smile of embarrassment at those whose attention was roused by the large laughing woman with the mouthful of chocolate mush.
Markayla had never seen them around before, so she assumed they had accompanied someone who worked within the building. Poor soul, whoever they were.
Finally, she had to use the restroom and told Jack, who started chatting with a couple about the projected winner of the 2016 Presidential Election, that she’d be right back.
He gave her a half-nod and resumed the conversation as she was turning toward where the restrooms were located. She left the main room and entered a long, narrow hallway. She spotted the signs to the restrooms toward the middle of the hallway and headed into the ladies’ room.
When she was done, she stepped back into the hallway. Despite the voices from the partygoers down to the left, she heard male voices arguing toward her right. She knew she should mind her own business and return to the party. But her curiosity got the better of her, and she made way toward the voices.
“We agreed we’d split half,” one guy said.
“I know. That’s not the issue. The problem is that you want to take too much of the money. If we do that, they’ll be onto us in no time.”
She didn’t recognize the voices, though one had a distinct Mexican accent.
The voices grew louder as one guy insisted that the other put the money back or they would cut them out of the deal completely.
“Oh, yeah?” she heard just as she peered around the edge of the doorway and into the kitchen, where they stood bickering. “Try it!”
Markayla’s jaw dropped in horror as one guy plunged a knife into the midsection of the other. Everything after that happened in slow motion. The guy withdrew the knife. His head snapped toward Markayla. Markayla turned to run. She heard the other guy gurgle and groan as he slumped to the floor just as the killer’s footsteps sounded behind her. She turned left and headed for the main room when a large serving cart suddenly blocked her way.
“Whoa, lady, watch where the hell you're going!” a woman shouted.
“A man just killed someone and he’s going to kill me, too!!!”
“What!” She heard the woman shout as Markayla spun in the other direction before the killer could trap her against the cart.
She ran for the exit and hoped to hell it was not only unlocked but that it would also sound an alarm as it opened.
She lurched forward, reaching for the push-bar as fast as she could. She burst through the door and into a darkened alleyway. Though she didn’t hear any alarm sound behind her, she was aware of the killer’s shouts as well as shouts from others. They all seemed to blend together in a symphony of chaos, but she continued running without looking back.
Then a series of loud pops rang out through the night. Seconds later, the pain came, followed by total nothingness.
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.