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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Fearful (08/23/07)
I have an escape route. I haven’t told anyone, but I do. I should be safe; you have to have a card and the proper clearance to get into my part of the building. But, I have an escape route, just in case.

I don’t think he’ll come here, but if he does, I should be able to get away. As long as I hear him coming before he gets to my office, I can get away and he won’t be able to catch me. All I have to do is go out the back door of the office, slip through the printer room, cross the computer room, and go up the back stairs and out the door. Since he doesn’t have a card or clearance, the doors to the printer room and computer room would slow him down. Except, what happens if he finds me outside? Would I have time to get to my car? I don’t drive the same car now. I should be okay, unless he sees me.

I’ll just carry my cell phone in my hand, and then I can dial 911 if I need to. I’ll put my keys between my fingers as a weapon. I’ll be ok. I can’t survive without pockets. I have to have my phone and keys on me, you know, in case I have to run.

But, it’s a secure building. I should be ok.

Jenna jumped slightly at the sound of her boss, Joe, entering the office where she was working on updating a layout of the security cameras in the building.

“How’s that coming?” he asked, leaning over her shoulder to look at the screen. She stiffened slightly at his invasion of her personal space, but he failed to notice.

“I should be done with it before the end of the day today,” she replied, the steadiness of her voice hiding the roiling emotions that caused her muscles to stiffen.

If he doesn’t move back, I think I’m going to SCREAM! I won’t, not really, but I don’t like this! He’s TOO CLOSE!

“Good deal. Put it on my desk when you’re done,” Joe said as he moved on through the office.

I wish he wouldn’t do that. I DON’T LIKE people that close to me. I can’t handle it. Is he really just that clueless, or … no, I can’t think that of him, he’s a nice guy. Just because one guy was a creep doesn’t mean that all guys are creeps. But still, I wish he wouldn’t do that.

A slight shudder of nervous energy rippled through her as she settled back into the job at hand. Since manipulating objects in a drawing program requires a steady hand and intense concentration, she shoved her thoughts aside to focus on getting the lines as they should be. An hour later, the work was finished and she sent it to the color printer on the second floor. She retrieved the document from the printer and stopped by Joe’s office to put the document on his chair so he would be sure to see it. It would get lost in the paperwork piles if she put it on his desk. She headed back to her desk, and the last hour of work of the day.

What was that noise? I wonder who just came through the door out there. I wish I wasn’t so jumpy. I wish I wasn’t so paranoid. How long before I finally feel safe again?

She shut down her computer, said a cheerful goodbye to her coworkers and headed out the door. She scanned the parking lot around her as she headed toward her car. It was empty. She disengaged the lock on the door, and slid into the stifling heat of the car. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she gave a slight sigh. She had survived another day on the job. Her mission now was to get home safely.
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This article has been read 1085 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
c clemons
09/02/07
Yep, the title was appropriate, the MC was a prisoner to her fear. Unfortunately this is how too many believers live. This was just a slice of an 8 hour day, one can only image the other 16. Good job.
christine bastow
09/03/07
What a terrible way to have to live each day. I felt her fear all the way through. Congratulations on a great story. chris x
Marilyn Schnepp 
09/04/07
Wow! Talk about paranoia?! Such a creative way to show unnecessary fear taking over somebody's life. Obsessive? Compulsive? Whatever, it kept me glued to the story from beginning to end! Great job!
Deborah Engle 
09/04/07
This was an very effective look into the mind of someone who has been traumatized. I can understand that kind of fear, although have never been subjected to it. How blessed I am!

Good job.

Debbie
Dee Yoder
09/05/07
I'm guessing this is an article about an abused woman whose EX is stalking her. You so richly describe the constant fear this kind of scenario creates in a woman. I've known women who have had to live their lives this way, at least while their stalker is not in jail, prison, or has found another woman to "master". Your writing on this subject is so good, I felt I was watching a movie. Excellent! I'm glad you threw a brick to this entry for I would have been disappointed with myself for missing it this week!
Sherrie Jackson
09/05/07
You've done an incredible job showing what life can be like with persistant fearful thoughts. It really is neverending survival mode. I hope this is fiction for you! Great job, and good luck.
Jan Ackerson
09/05/07
My heart went out to this poor, fearful woman. Good writing.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
09/05/07
You made the fear palpable and the story filled with suspense. I was sure "he" was going to be in the back seat of her car. "Too many movies." Good job for "fearful."
LaNaye Perkins
09/05/07
You did a great job expressing how fear can hold us prisoner if we let it. Well done!