The ordinary strangler - An original story part 4

There was no turning back now and he made sure that his doors were locked. He felt extremely empathic towards the people that lived in this area. Most of these people were homeless and prostitutes were very visible on every corner. 

He drove a little slower than usual, and his heart went out to an old man sitting on the sidewalk. He looked so pathetic and helpless and he wished he could do something to help him. 

How does someone get down to this level of living? Don’t these people have kids that can look after them?  Where are their families? How can anyone allow a family member to live like this?

Peter was totally enraged when he stopped at the red light. He was disgusted with humankind, but his disgust was short-lived. Two prostitutes banged on his window a few seconds later and he had the fright of his life. 

He checked his doors again just in case and just looked straight ahead and ignored them. He could hear the swearing and shouting as he drove away. He took a quick left turn and knew that he had to get out of the area as quickly as possible.  

His heart was beating so fast he decided to pull over to catch his breath. He never even thought about the crime in the area and when he realized that pulling over was not such a good idea, it was too late.  A homeless person knocked on his window and begged for money.  

He thought about just driving away but instead decided to give the man some money. There was nothing else he could do. He opened his window slightly to hand the man the money, and was just about to close the window again, when someone smashed his car window on the passenger side.  It was too late. Before he could do anything, an armed man jumped into the car with him.  

Peter was totally stunned but was able to utter a few words.

“What do you want, get out of my car.” he stuttered and tried to push the man out of the car.  The man was well dressed but looked like he was in a hurry to get away.   

“Calm down old man, nobody’s gonna get hurt if you do exactly as I say. Now drive.”

The man pointed his gun at Peter’s head while he drove. He had no other choice but to obey. 

His wonderful, calm, peaceful, and uncomplicated life flashed before his eyes. He could see the headlines in the newspaper, and he could see himself being murdered and found somewhere in an alley. 

Peter took a deep breath and drove exactly where the man told him to go. All the way he could only think of Sylvia and Jessie and everything that he still wanted to do in his life.  

 It felt like they were driving for hours before the man asked him to stop. They were in the middle of nowhere and literally no one knew where he was. He pulled over and the man told him to get out of his car.  

The man got out of the car and walked around to the driver side. Peter had no idea what was going to happen.  Was this man going to shoot him? He was not ready to die.