Bad Games

56



Maria Fannelli’s headphones were ripped from her ears, waking her instantly. She was seated in her recliner with someone standing behind her. Someone with one hand wrapped around her forehead and the other holding the blade of a kitchen knife against her neck.

To Maria’s great surprise, the stranger was a woman. A woman had broken into her home and put a knife to her throat.

The stranger’s demands were odd to Maria. The strange woman had first begun to yell at the ceiling for someone named Arthur to come downstairs. Now, the stranger insisted that Maria should be the one to yell—to yell for this Arthur to come and help.

“Call him,” the stranger said as she pressed the blade hard against Maria’s skin. “Call him and ask for help. Tell him you’re scared and that you need his help.”

Maria’s voice caught. She coughed once, cleared it, and barely spoke above a whisper. “Help. I need help.”

“Louder. Tell him you’re scared.”

Maria swallowed and her throat bounced against the blade. “Help! Help I’m scared!”

“Louder!” The stranger pressed the knife harder against Maria’s soft skin.

“Help! Help I’m scared! Please help!”

Silence followed. The stranger was breathing heavy and seemed to be listening for sounds above them with great intent.

“Arty, you f*ck!” the stranger yelled. “I know you can see me! I’ll cut her throat, I swear to God!”

Maria wanted eye contact with the stranger behind her. Wanted to read her face, understand what was going on. She tried to turn her head. “Why—”

“Shut up,” the stranger said, forcing Maria’s head back around. “Shut up and I won’t hurt you.” The stranger paused and listened again. A brief shuffle of footsteps from above. “ARTY, GODDAMNIT! GET THE F*ck DOWN HERE OR SHE’S DEAD!”

And just as the stranger was about to repeat her threat, a man with dark hair and dark eyes appeared in the doorway, holding a gun to a little boy’s head.