«Something horrible is about to happen! »

A man is walking up the dune path. He moves slowly, his gaze fixed on the ground. Marina has noticed him: just few minutes ago, he was sitting on the wind-swept beach, motionless, ambiguous. The only dressed one among happy families in swimsuit, children building sandcastles and chasing each other along the shore. He was watching the women, including her. With great discomfort, she felt his gaze on her bare body.

She is in the sea, supposed to play with her children and their friends. They are making noise, tossing a ball, or diving in. Her attention is no longer on them, she must stare the stranger’s path.

To the left, a house rises from the profile of the dune, overshadowed by iron-gray clouds. She hears distant thunder, sees the rain falling like a dark shadow drawn across the sky.

At each step of the man, she feels more certain. In her mind, sees what is about to happen. The stranger will ring the doorbell of that house, where a blonde woman, like her, will open the door. With an excuse, he will manage to enter, leading to the kitchen. Then he will take a knife and hurt her. Very badly.

She is struck by the red ball, losing her thoughts, but the anguish remains.

«Mama, will you play with us? »

The kids laugh, calling her. She retrieves the ball and throws it half-heartedly.

«It’s cold. I’m going out. Be careful. »

She must do something, cannot allow him to hurt her. Tries to controls herself to avoid running as she heads to her cabin. Exiting the water, she shivers, sure that it’s not just the wind.

She wears her t-shirt, almost forgetting the sunglasses. Putting them on makes her feel better, anonymous, an observer outside the scene.

She arrives on the path, but no longer sees the man.

Has the crime already happened? Did the lady manage to save herself? Perhaps she didn’t open the door. Or understood something and called the police.

A sense of urgency makes her rushing. She doesn’t even notice the stones jabbing into her flip-flops, hurting her foot.

In a few minutes, she reaches the top of the dune. She stops just outside the fence of the house: it is dark, silent, seeming empty. The storm is close, she can smell the rain.

«Are you looking for someone? »

A deep male voice, behind her.