Rumours had made their rounds in Jacksonville until they were exhausted. Maria didn’t pay much attention to them. She was determined to start a new life. She walked down the streets unashamed, she worked in the diner unafraid of what people would say to her, but she had gotten some surprising reactions. Some women came up to her and whispered congratulations on getting rid of the woman beater, others wished her well in her freedom, others gave her fake condolences, but most asked her what she did first, knock him out or set him on fire. It amused her how people got a high out of gossip, but one thing she appreciated out of the whole mess was that men had a newfound respect or fear for her. In the past few months no one dared grab her ass or make scummy remarks towards her. Those who did were quickly warned on how she had burned her boyfriend alive for beating her.
But it got old, and people didn’t care anymore, Ricky was quickly forgotten and everything that surrounded her went back to normal. The new talk was about several burglaries around town. Maria was grateful they hadn’t hit Jane’s house. Jane had insisted they move in, until their house was reconstructed. She said it would be cheaper for all of them if they lived together and shared the expenses. Maria felt awkward about it at first, but with time she felt right at home. They were one big happy family. Tom was enjoying himself too, and he didn’t have to take double shifts anymore giving him more time to spend with his family. It was working well for all of them.
As JJ was walking out of the diner, “Jane and Maria, you two are closing up tonight.” Maria stared after him as he walked away, irritated by his arrogance.
Maria picked up the basin and walked around the empty booths filling it with dirty dishes. “Would it hurt if he asked once in a while? All he has to say is Jane and Maria would you please lock up today?”
Jane followed Maria, wiping the tables she had cleared, “JJ polite, that’s like expecting a cow to milk itself.”
Maria turned to face her, “Thanks, for everything and for letting us stay in your house.”
“No biggie, that’s what best friends…” Jane stopped, interrupted by a noise in the kitchen. They turned to face the kitchen door, neither of them making a move. Jane took a step and stood next to Maria, her eyes glued to the kitchen door, “I need to call Tom,” she put her hand in her apron pocket and pulled it out cursing quietly, “I left my phone behind the counter.”
Maria moved forward, “I’ll go get it.”
Jane pulled her back. “Are you crazy? Let’s just get out of here!”
“What if they are covering all the exits? Let’s just call Tom and the Sheriff.” Maria pulled her hand out of Jane’s hold and walked quietly to the counter. She crouched down and searched for Jane’s phone.
“Maria!” Jane yelled. The fear in her voice made Maria freeze. She felt her heart race and her throat dry out. She hadn’t felt that kind of fear since Ricky died. She stood up and slowly turned to the shadow next to her.
“Hello honey, did you miss me?”
Maria’s heart raced faster, and her body tightened. She fought the urge to curl up on the floor and cry desperately. She thought she had rid herself of this nightmare. She was right the first time, nothing could save her from him, not even death.
“You did this to me.” He hissed out pointing to his face with a disfigured finger. Maria hadn’t bothered to really look at him. When she heard his voice, the same scary, angry face popped into her head, but now she really looked at him.
The left side of his face and neck was burnt and the skin was folded up. The edge of his lips and his left eye were drooped down. His arms were covered, but his fingers exposed more burn marks. He let his hair grow out to cover his forehead and his ear. Maria looked at him sickened. All she could think about was the character Two-face in the Batman movie.
Moving closer to Maria he roared, “I disgust you, don’t I?”
She moved back and bumped into the counter. There was nowhere to go.
“Answer me, do I disgust you?” He roared louder.
Maria looked at him, the familiar fear creeping inside her. She jumped on the counter, but Ricky pulled her down before she could get over it. She fell back, crushing into the glasses and the liquor bottles behind her.
***
Jane watched Ricky for a moment, shocked that the dead man was still alive. He had been laying low for three months, healing and planning his revenge. She should have known. Evil people are usually harder to kill. When Maria went crushing into the glasses, she picked up a stool and knock Ricky over the head with it. He fell over Maria like a ton of bricks. Maria screamed, pushing Ricky off her with her bleeding hands, Jane grabbed her phone and her purse and followed Maria out of the diner.
Maria got in the car and opened the driver’s door for Jane. She felt dizzy, but she wasn’t going to allow herself to pass out. She lifted her bloody fingers and touched the throb at the back of her head. It stung and she pulled her hand away, her hand wet with blood. She turned and looked at Jane rapping on the phone as she drove like a maniac. She hung up and dialled again, it was Tom. She didn’t have to say much, she uttered his name with so much emotion, tears running down her cheeks, and then she nodded and hung up. Maria felt guilty. She’d brought her nightmare into her friend’s home. She placed her head on her knees and cried, frustrated that she got only a few months of freedom and happiness. When something felt too good to be true, it usually is.
Jane looked at her crying friend and felt sorry for her. She had finally started living a scared free life only to be robbed of it again. She brushed her hand over her hair. She felt the sticky liquid and lifted her hand, her palm was red. Jane panicked when she seen the blood all over the back of Maria’s shirt. She drove faster, pushing the car hard, feeling the urgency to get home fast. She pulled into her driveway, Tom and Edna was waiting for them, their faces anxious.
Jane got out of the car and ran to Maria’s side, “She’s bleeding all over.” She pulled the door open and carefully pulled out the crying Maria.
Edna rushed to her daughter and supported her into the house and put her on the couch. Jane brought the first aid kit and helped treat her cuts. When she took Maria’s shirt off, she saw more cuts on her back glass inside some of the cuts. While Jane tended to those on her feet and arms, she carefully pulled out the glass in her back and tended to the deep cut on her head. When they were done, Edna dressed Maria in a loose shirt. They wiped the blood off her body as she sat there in a daze.
Tom walked into the room with the phone in his hand and a gun tucked in his belt, “Nate is coming to get you out of here.”