Snippet #1705446

'That man...that horrible man, he...he killed Monica!' Esther dried her tears with her handkerchief. Her tears were not shed for the tragic blonde beauty, however. It was foolish to pretend she liked the girl. It was obvious the two did not mesh well...but dead? She didn't deserve that fate. None of them did. But Tom had killed her. Tom Oliver. The creepy, hollow-looking man who said little and watched everybody from the corners of the room. Esther's blood pressure rose as his haunting face came to mind. Her heart raced in both fear and outrage. He was dangerous. Unstable. And now someone innocent was dead because of him. Someone was dead, and for what? So that he could rest peacefully in bed? No. He was a killer. And he would kill again...

It was but less than a half an hour ago that Esther heard the voices in the hallway. She cracked her door open slightly to eavesdrop on Drake and Deget. That's how she learned of Monica's death. She wasn't safe. No one was - especially with Tom still around...

Esther found herself alone in the hallway once more. It appeared that the other guests did not seem to care for her much, but that may prove to be a blessing in the grand scheme of things - and what a scheme it was. She looked down at the faded brass doorknob that led to Tom's room. She toyed with the idea of touching that knob. Of putting her hand on it and feel its coldness in her palm. Perhaps she would turn it. Turn it and then push on the door ever so slightly. Just a little push and - crrreeeaaakkk!

The girl stepped into the room and shut the door behind her without a sound. The room was furnished much like her own. On the bed in the corner lay Tom, his arm crudely stitched. It looked putrid and disgusting, which made her hate him even more. Her heart was pounding so hard now it echoed in her skull and gave her a headache. Despite the fear, she cautiously approached the bed. Further and further she walked until she was practically hovering over the man. Was he unconscious? Was he even asleep?

And there Esther stood. Looking down at him. Silently watching him, the way he had watched the others...