It's raining

A loud thunder was followed by storm and rain. Her footsteps echoed through the silent and deserted street. Puddles of water were splashing over her shoes, wetting her cold legs. She accelerated the speed of her steps followed by her rapid breathing. Someone had been following her for days and was now just behind her. When she got in front of her building, she leaned on the wet and cold wall of red bricks, trying to find some kind of shelter.

Through whispers she uttered a plea when she felt cold metal leaning on her head and the short click of the gun announcing the shot through her head. The last thing before she collapsed on the wet asphalt she saw was her sister's face.

ONE WEEK EARLIER

"Sam?"

Selena unlocked the door of the apartment and called her sister's name. Samantha is her older sister. She is two years older than her. She works as a police officer.

"Sam?"

She repeated again when she walked into the kitchen and saw her sitting at the kitchen table working on something on the laptop. She was so focused on what she was doing that she noticed her when she stopped in front of her.

"Hey, sis."

She smiled at her closing the laptop. Selena gave her a smile and took a seat, taking the apple from the bowl that was on the table.

"You came earlier today?"

Samantha nodded, standing up. Selena noticed for the past few days she had been looking absent and she would often stare thoughtfully somewhere.

"Is everything okay?"

Samantha turned around and looked at her sister leaning on the kitchen counter.

"It has been awful in the station for the past few days."

She knew how much her sister was devoted to her job, so she stopped with the questions.

"I am going out tonight with Steve and Judith. I will skip the dinner."

"I am going out with you as well."

Samantha looked at her shocked at what she had just said.

"You want to go out with us?"

God only knows how many times she asked her to go out with them, to relax, but she always refused, saying that was just a waste of time.

Samantha nodded and smiled at her sweetly.

"Fine, I am glad you finally decided to go out and relax a bit."

***

"Cheers."

Judith shouted, raising her glass. Steve and Selena smiled and Samantha joined them.

"Cheers, girls."

Steve winked and took a sip of his drink. Judith and Steve were Selena's best friends. Judith was feminist, hating men, looking for them only when she felt the need for an orgasam. On the other hand, Steve loved men. Being gay was easy for him. He managed to find hot ones frequently and even sometimes set them up for Judith.

Selena placed a kiss on her sister's cheek.

"I am so glad you came."

Samantha smiled and hugged her.

"I am really enjoying it."

The night was really great, the music was loud, drinks were great, the guys were hot and Samantha finally relaxed and danced with them through the night.

Steve laughed loudly when Judith stumped over the rock and almost fell down.

"Fuck you Steve!"

She screamed at him, grabbing him by his hand.

"Let me help you, hottie."

He talked to her, sweetly grabbing her by her ass. Judith slapped his hand and laughed. Selena and Samantha were walking next to me laughing.

"You guys are crazy."

Steve approached her and placed a loud kiss on her lips.

"And we are glad you finally decided to come with us."

Samantha smiled at him. Her sister's behavior and her friends were unknown to her, but it felt good. She always wanted to have friends like that.

She stopped for a moment and turned around looking behind them. There he was again. That same man. When he realized she saw him, he took a turn left and disappeared. Another wave of worry and fear shook her body but she turned around and kept walking behind them.

***

Tomorrow morning, Selena woke up with a headache and when she walked into the kitchen she found her sister leaning on the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee in her hand. She smiled, feeling terrible.

"Good morning, sis."

Samantha lifted up her head and looked at her.

"Is it normal to feel like shit after a night out?"

Selena laughed, pouring herself coffee.

"Welcome to the club, sis."

Samantha smiled, rubbing her forehead.

"Well, I have to work anyway. When are you coming back from work today?"

Selena sat down at the kitchen table taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Probably a bit later, I have some articles to finish up before Monday."

Samantha nodded, left her cup on the counter and approached her, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"I will see you later, then. Bye, love ya."

"Love you too, sis."

Selena shouted before her sister ran out of the apartment.

She finished her sandwich and coffee and got ready for work. Despite the headache caused by too much alcohol from last night, she was getting up with her work the way she wanted. By the lunch break she was almost done when Judith and Steve walked into her office.

"Let's go, I am hungry."

Steve approached her and took her by her hand, forcing her to stand up. Selena laughed and followed them out to the restaurant that was across the road from their building.

When the waiter brought them their food, the smell of it reminded her how hungry she was.

"I have to tell you something."

Judith looked at the two of them with a devilish smile on her face.

Steve rolled his eyes and looked at her.

"Let me guess, you got some cock."

Selena laughed and Judith looked at him looking offended.

"Why are you jealous?"

He rolled his eyes again and took a bite of his fish.

"I am not. Let me hear."

Judith poked him with her manicured finger and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Too bad that you are gay."

Steve pulled her and placed a kiss on her lips.

"Too bad you are not a guy."

Selena raised her hands and laughed.

"You two stop it. Let her speak, Steve."

Judith blew her a kiss and started talking.

"My new neighbor, oh my God. He is like perfect. I heard him last night. He was banging someone. I think I will have to try him very soon."

Steve leaned to her and whispered.

"Maybe he would like me better."

Judith caressed his cheek, smiling at him.

"Or maybe both of us."

Selena pushed Judith on her shoulder.

"For God's sake, Judith!"

Judith rolled her eyes.

"Come on, Selena. When was the last time you had sex? As much as I know last year. You should find something for yourself as well."

Selena didn't want any kind of relationship, not even optional sex. Her main focus right now is her career. Her last relationship took too much from her.

"You know I don't do that kind of stuff, Judith."

She took her by her hand and smiled at her.

"I know you have been hurt, but I am sure you will meet some when you least expect it."

Selena sighed, giving her a smile and then looked at Steve.

"If I end up alone by my forty you are going to marry me."

He smiled, looking at her lovingly.

"For you, I would even become straight."

They all laughed and enjoyed their lunch before they went back to work.

***

The working week went by really quickly. Selena was the one who stayed last in the office and decided to finish everything she had. It was around eight o'clock when she got out. Rain was pouring. She was wet when she got in her car. She found her mobile phone and tried to call Samantha but she wasn't answering. Selena wanted to pick her up but she had probably ended her shift by now. She turned on the car, driving herself home.

"Oh, God."

Selena sighed heavily when she stepped in the puddle of the water, wetting her shoes and her dress.

"Shit, shit, shit!"

She cursed juicy and locked her car, running towards the building, but she suddenly stopped when she approached the building and saw her sister. A man ran from her, she collapsed on the asphalt and, even from far away, Selena could see red spreading around her head mixing up with the rain.

Screams echoed through the silent street and tears of fear and panic started falling down her cheeks when she kneeled down next to her sister and the scene in front of her made her scream even louder.