The Man With A Dagger In His Hand

By Emme Chau

Dear whoever is reading this letter,

Stop whatever you are doing. I need your help. He is gone at the moment. But I am certain he will come back anytime soon. This is all that happened. 

It was precisely 22:00 on a Thursday on a long, deserted street. The night wrapped itself in heavy silence, the air filled with a sense of eerieness, seeming like the world was holding its breath. Occasionally, a gust of wind gently blew onto my back, nearby trees rustled and birds chirped. A subtle and faint glow came from an abandoned streetlight on the edge of the street. 

I had just finished buying supplies; bags of detergent, cleaning wipes, bleach, and a 15-inch steel cooking knife hung on my arms, leaving dark imprints on my skin. I felt an unsettling, odd presence behind me, as if someone had been tracking me, following me, through every step I took. I glanced behind me and I could not believe my eyes.

There he was, a man with a dagger in his hand four blocks behind me. The dagger was as sharp as a shark's teeth, held by the man’s pocket. The man was dressed fully in black from head to toe. A hoodie, sweatpants, a ruffled mask, a buttoned belt, and leather shoes were all in black. He ran towards me, and so did I. 

A rush of anxious thrill submerged me. I ran to him with all the speed I possessed. I opened the plastic bag, pulled out a 15-inch steel cooking knife, and opened the packaging. I dropped my bags and gripped the knife tightly, my hair gliding past me. I planned to stab him with all my might, but before I could even stab him, the man with the dagger in his hand stabbed me straight in the leg. 

I am now in a room; from my torso and down, my body was tied to a chair with manila rope, and my mouth was firmly secured with duct tape. I managed to break out of the duct tape that was once tied to my hands. I was and am in hot, piercing pain. The more blood I lost, the colder it grew. 

Oh gosh, I hear the footsteps of him. His shoes produce a sharp sound with each step he takes. It is too late now. The man once with a dagger in his hand is here. Goodbye. 

Rationale: This letter-inspired story tells a tale of a person who finds themselves in a kidnapping situation and shows the importance of self-defense and always being prepared.