NO ESCAPE
By Jane Scoggins
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After a few minutes, when Jackie had returned to her reading,
the man leaned-in slightly towards her, and in a soft voice in a foreign accent
said
'' I have a gun, so
don't move, don't speak, don't scream. Stay still and silent''
Turning slowly to
meet his gaze, Jackie was shocked to see his face. It was neither beautiful or
handsome as she had anticipated. His dark eyes were cold and his lips had a
cruel twist. His jaw was set in a way that compounded her rising terror. Her
slight involuntary move away prompted him to push something hard and gun like
into her side between the adjoining seats. Surprised she was able to speak at
all, and in her shock momentarily forgetting his hushed words to keep silent,
she ventured in a whispered stammer
'' What do you
want?''
''Nothing. Just sit
tight until we get to Kings Cross. I will tell you what to do''
He paused before
continuing in a thick measured possibly eastern European accent. He was
cool, professional, coldly dominant.
'' You will walk
with me from the train when we arrive at Kings Cross, and then with me through
the barrier. I will hold your arm as if we are friends, or partners, and you
will say nothing, and will not draw attention in any way at all. I will tell
you what to do after that. Just be ready to do exactly what I tell you, and
when I tell you. If you do not follow these instructions I will shoot you dead
and let you drop to the floor, and walk away amidst the crowds. The gun has a
silencer so you see it will be very easy for me. I have used a gun many times
before, I am very good, and very accurate.
So do not think for one minute, or even one second, that I
will not do it.''
He smiled with menace close to her face, to confirm his
confidence and his intent, leaving Jackie under no misapprehension that he
would not carry out his threat. To make sure that the horrified young woman was
crystal clear about his intentions he pulled the gun away slightly from her
side, enough to give Jackie a glimpse of the weapon, and confirm to her that it
really was a gun. He then pushed it more purposefully back into her side.
To maintain Jackie’s terror the man continued to whisper
cruel threats, and to describe tortures and rape. Jackie had no idea whether
any of this was to be his intention for her, or whether he was just enjoying
the gratification of telling her and to watch the terror on her face.
As the train got
nearer to London Kings Cross railway station Jackie’s thoughts turned to the
canvas bag at their feet. Did it contain a bomb she wondered? Was
this man a terrorist? What was going to happen to innocent people
milling about in their hundreds on Kings Cross station when they arrived arm in
arm, him carrying a canvas bag in one had and a gun in the other pressed into
her side and ready to shoot her and maybe others, dead. She tried not to
think of her family, her dear kind parents and her sister. They would be
devastated. So frozen with fear she could do nothing but sit rigidly in her
seat and wait for instruction from her captor, and pray to God that she, and
possibly others would be spared a terrible ending.
As the train pulled into one of the largest busiest railway
stations in the country, there were so many passengers getting their belongings
and suitcases ready to get off as soon as the train stopped at the platform,
that no one noticed as the man helped the woman from her seat and with bag in
hand guided her like a friend or lover from the train, and along the crowded
platform towards the barrier, tickets ready. Jackie moved as in a dream. The
man reminding her constantly to look ahead, not speak or draw attention. His
grip on her arm was vice-like just in case she tried to pull away or faint in
terror. He continued to steer her zombie like through a crowd of football fans
even when they were through the barrier. No one took any notice of them, Jackie
felt completely invisible. In such shock and fear as she was, and had been for
the last hour, it was a few seconds before she realised when the vice like grip
had loosened. In fact it had gone. Standing still she realised that the man
beside her had disappeared, somehow melted into the chaotic throng of
passengers on the station concourse. Still unable to move, and terrified of the
man’s return or what he had gone to do, Jackie remained motionless for
sometime. Then turning slowly on the spot she looked around her. She could not
see him, but dare she move. After a minute she moved slowly away to stand by a
group of people checking a timetable. After some time and feeling a bit more
brave about observing her surrounds she saw a Community Police Officer but did
not feel safe enough to approach him initially. Eventually she attracted his
attention when he walked close by, but was still in so much shock she didn't
know what to say, or how to say it. Realising the woman was upset or
traumatised, he guided her to a quiet area and in faltering words of one
syllable Jackie indicated her situation. The police officer quickly escorted
her to a private office and phoned for help to interview her. This all took
some time and although officers were dispatched, the man Jackie had described
had long gone from the station. He had disappeared. Even CCTV was not helpful.
The man was clearly a professional and knew how to camouflage himself and cover
his tracks.
Six months on and the
man had not been found or even identified. Jackie remained in an acutely
anxious state from her ordeal, knowing he was still out there. Taking
medication and receiving counselling Jackie was unable to return to her job.
Instead, she took part time work in a small office where she could walk to and
from avoiding the use of public transport. She knew that for some time to come
she would not escape her fears. Looking for Mr Right was put on hold.
Copyright Jane Scoggins