Karen D . Bradley excerpt from Shattered Illusions
Gena was getting up when Terry ran by , grabbed her hand , and headed for the stairs . Terry pulled Gena slightly to get her to move her butt . They were not far from the top stair when Gena tripped . Terry turned and caught Gena before she hit the ground , steadying her . The assailant , right on their heels , lunged at them . The force of his body connecting with theirs sent them tumbling down the stairs . Terry woke up in a daze . Where am I ? She remembered . Gena ’ s . Oh no . She tried to sit up too swiftly and got light-headed and had to lie back down . She sat up again , slowly this time . Her head throbbing . She was slightly dizzy . It didn ’ t feel like anything was broken . Once she looked around , she found the assailant knocked out next to her with Gena face down over part of his chest . Terry felt faint as she stood but she walked over to Gena anyway . She knelt next to Gena then leaned over . Terry shook her ever so slightly and whispered in her ear . “ Gena ! Wake up ! We need to get out of here before he wakes up . Oh lord , Gena , get up .” Terry was scared to move her . She rested her hand on the floor next to Gena as she checked the pulse in her neck . She exhaled , relieved she was still alive . Terry tried to use the hand on the floor to push up to stand . Her hand slipped a bit . Glancing down , she saw liquid was on the floor , a small pool of blood . “ Oh , no ! God , no .” Her heart beat wildly against her chest as she ran to the kitchen . She picked up the phone and dialed 9-1-1 . The dispatcher answered the phone and Terry started speaking rapidly . “ Miss , we need you to slow down and repeat what you said .” The voice was calm and steady . Terry took a deep breath and clearly stated . “ My sister has been stabbed . I need an ambulance at 212 Bell Oak . Oh !” Terry cried out in pain then hit the floor , landing on her knees . With the phone muffled against her , her head fell forward onto her lap as she wrapped one arm around her stomach trying to stop the pain . “ Miss ! What ’ s wrong ? What ’ s happening ?” The dispatcher ’ s voice rose slightly to indicate her concern but not enough to sound alarmed . The pain was so severe , Terry struggled to speak . She ignored the dispatcher ’ s questions . She held her head to the side so that her voice wouldn ’ t sound stifled . “ I also need the police . The assailant is still in the ...” Terry looked up and saw the assailant standing above her with his finger on the hook , cutting her off
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NKLC Magazine | 95