This story is by CC Sullivan and was part of our 2024 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Hazel stood with her back to the diner’s entrance, listening to the murmur of conversations behind her. Maude chattered about her upcoming weekend, sharing how Fred planned to whisk her away to a luxurious cottage nestled in the majestic mountains. Hazel was happy to stay in this town with the coast and the ocean at the end of the street. This place was her haven and the perfect place to hide. Her life depended on it.
A cool April breeze blew through the opened front door, sending chills up her spine. It ruffled the napkins, and she slammed her hand down on the pile before they flew off the counter. With a quick glance behind her, she could just make out the figure of a man entering.
“Maude, you take this.”
“I hate dealing with strangers.”
“Sweetie, use your magical charm.”
It always came as a surprise when a stranger visited their establishment, considering this town wasn’t a thoroughfare. Just as she turned to face the outsider, he spoke.
“Hi there . . . Maude. I need your help.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Well, I’ve been driving from town to town looking for a friend. Her name is Nikki. Here is an old photo of her.”
Hazel froze at the sound of the familiar, deep, resonant voice. Laboured breaths escaped her, and she gripped the coffee mug with such force she feared it might explode in her hands.
In her peripheral vision, Maude leaned forward, her curiosity piqued by the photo. Then Hazel caught the sharpness in Maude’s tone when she answered him.
“I’ve never seen her. Hazel?”
Hazel’s heart hammered in her chest. “Nope. Her name doesn’t ring a bell.”
As she slinked to the kitchen, she could feel the weight of their gaze on her. From behind the kitchen shelving, she peered at the man. John? How was it possible? She had taken care of every detail—to erase her past—before arriving here. A wave of despair washed over her as her heart dropped into the depths of her belly. Nervously, she twisted her engagement ring.
Her flight instinct kicked in, urging her to run. She grabbed her handbag and searched for her car keys. With a sense of urgency, she dashed out the back door and slid into the driver’s seat. The cold leather sent a shiver up her spine, and her eyes welled up with tears. Again, her dream was being torn away from her.
When she lay in that hospital bed, her primary aim was to survive. After dodging danger and the clutches of death, escape was the best thing she could do for herself. They arrested Cody and threw him in jail, but not for long. Even though she was the one with stitches, a broken arm, and a shattered jaw, his entire family sided with him. Four weeks later, still half broken, she fled from the hospital in the dark of night.
A motorcycle whirred past, and its noise jolted her back to reality. She blew out a puff of air. Just when she thought she had left her past behind, it would resurface, haunting her once again. However, self-preservation was still a powerful motivator.
Hazel turned the key in the ignition. The engine coughed and sputtered. She tried again. It wheezed and stopped. She slammed the steering wheel repeatedly with the palms of her hands. Why was this always happening to her? An unexpected knock at her car window made her jump. Through the haze of tears, she recognized Maude.
“Jesus Christ, Maude. You scared the hell out of me.”
She stepped out of the car, quickly brushing away her tears. Maude stood with her arms crossed.
“Where are you going?”
“Nowhere, apparently. I had a prescription to pick up.”
Maude bit back. “Don’t bullsh*t me. What does this man want from you?”
“Who?”
Maude exhaled. “Hazel—or is it Nikki?—I have known you long enough to tell something’s wrong.”
“Nikki? What are you talking about?”
“Stop lying to me!”
Hazel panicked. “Please keep your voice down.” Her voice cracked, and her eyelids fluttered. “It’s a long, terrible story, but he must not find me out. Do you understand?”
“Did you kill someone?”
“Of course not! I thought you said you knew me.”
“Well, now I’m not so sure. Explain, please.”
Hazel rubbed her forehead. “He’s my ex-brother-in-law. After our divorce, Cody, my ex-husband, attacked me one night and left me in the hospital with broken bones.”
The colour drained from Maude’s face. “That son-of-a-bitch. I swear if I see him—”
“You don’t understand. I have to disappear again. If Cody finds me, he’ll kill me.”
“This town is on your side, and what about Tom? Are you going to run away from him, too? Look, we’ll figure something out.”
Maude called out to her from the diner. Hazel fiddled with her silk scarf, which she wore to hide the scar that zigzagged its way around her neck. She slinked past Maude behind the bar. Coffee was percolating, and she poured a fresh cup with a trembling hand. Her heart raced like horses thundering across the plains as she walked to a table.
When she moved past John, he didn’t give her a second glance. Maybe her changed appearance had fooled him—a fresh hairstyle, a changed hair colour, not to mention her facial reconstructive surgery.
She set the coffee down, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught John’s gaze turned toward her. As she returned, he examined her scarf.
“Nice scarf . . . Hazel.”
He slid the photograph toward her. “You’re sure you’ve never seen this woman?”
Hazel leaned forward to peer at the memorable photo. She wanted to run. Instead, she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.
“I’m certain.”
“She has a long scar along the side of her neck. Hard to miss.”
Maude jumped in again. “Neither of us has seen her. So, either order something or run along.”
John’s stare remained unwavering. “I’ll have a Reuben sandwich, please.”
Hazel’s body shuddered. She was confident that he recognized her.
“Maude, I have to get napkins from the storage.”
Hurrying through the corridor, she was caught off guard by a shadowy figure following her down the dimly lit hallway. She bolted into the nearest washroom and locked it. Her gaze darted to the window as she rested her back against the door. With a foot on the toilet bowl, she lifted the window and hoisted herself up. A loud thwack at the door startled her.
“Hazel?”
It was Maude. Next, she heard a scuffle, a muffled “oh sh*t,” and the rapid retreat of footsteps. Was Maude in trouble? Was Cody here? She opened the door, ready to protect her friend, when an unexpected obstacle stopped her in her tracks. John stood in the hallway, his imposing figure creating a barrier.
“Where’s Maude?”
“There was a problem out front.”
“Is it Cody?”
He frowned. “No.”
Hazel’s breathing became jagged as she struggled to find a way around John’s obstructing presence.
“Get out of my way. If you’re going to tell Cody where I am, go ahead. This is my home now. I have friends and a man who loves me. I’m done running. Done with it.” Tears streamed down her face. “I was left to deal with him alone.” She choked on her words.
John’s gaze shifted to a spot behind her. “I’m truly sorry.”
“Sorry? Your family turned its back on me, knowing what he’d done.”
“I was too young and didn’t fully comprehend that Cody was a bully.”
“A bully? He’s a monster! You saw what he did to me.”
John nodded. “After you left, he became worse—obsessed with finding you. I came upon a trail of research and a map he kept on his laptop in his attempt to locate you. I made him believe I wanted to find you too, so he took me with him whenever he found a lead. That last time, he left without me. I caught up with him and tried to delay him, so you’d have time to escape.”
“So, I’m supposed to thank you now?”
“That’s not why I’m here.”
John shifted his weight. Behind him, Maude had returned and hovered with a hand behind her back, the tip of a knife sticking out.
The blood in Hazel’s fingers ran cold. “He’s in town, isn’t he?”
“No.”
“Well, what is it?”
He wore a peculiar look that she couldn’t decipher.
“Cody’s dead.”
As Hazel locked eyes with John, a million fragmented thoughts flashed through her mind. Then a sudden, bone-chilling cry erupted. When she realized it had come from her, her knees buckled, and uncontrollable sobs overcame her. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps as her chest spasmed. When John took her in his arms, she lacked the strength to push him away.
He whispered in her ear. “You’re finally free, little sister. I’ve made sure of that.”
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