<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic">'Sweet Jesus, I am doomed'</span>, Melinda thought to herself as she heard Thomas' footsteps. Her heart raced inside her chest, and cold sweat started pouring on her forehead. Fear. Cold, immense, and inescapable fear. Melinda could feel a cold hand grabbing her heart. If Thomas grabbed hold of her, she would be dead. That was a fact.<br/><br/>Knowing it was hopeless, Melinda kept on trying to climb the wall. Her delicate fingers got hurt, the tips bleeding, but she didn't realize it. Her little feet looked for a place to step on and pick herself up. If she managed to climb that wall... she would at least gain a few seconds. A few precious seconds before Thomas did Lord knows what with her.<br/><br/>And she did catch her foot. Just one second too late. The second her foot caught a firm brick, Thomas' hand closed on her neck. Melinda froze instantly. Waiting for the knife to enter her back. It was now. "Hail Mary, full of grace... the Lord is with thee... blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death."<br/><br/>Those words of a desperate prayer barely left Melinda's lips. She hoped she would be heard, because her time had certainly come. The girl was shaking like a leaf now.<span style="font-style: italic"> 'Any second now... the cold blade, and then the end'</span>...</div>