Random Act

Something about the woman walking a couple of metres ahead of her along the corridor got Claire’s attention. Few other people moved about in this part of the building as the majority of the offices were still to be occupied. Generally she could walk from her office to the cafe at the other end of the building, without meeting a soul. She wondered if that alone was what drew her focus. But a few minutes later she realised it wasn’t. After watching the woman turn to the right into an adjacent corridor, what surprised Claire was that it came as no great shock when she came abreast of the corridor, and saw the woman collapsed in a heap on the ground. 

She rushed to the woman’s side and knelt next to her “are you okay?” she asked a little ridiculously as it was clear the woman wasn’t okay.

The woman didn’t respond. Claire turned her over and saw her eyes were closed. Putting her bag down she pulled out her phone to call for help. But before she could dial the woman’s eyes snapped open and zoned in on her. The woman’s brown eyes were hard and focused and Claire realised with dismay that she didn’t look dazed or confused as you would expect someone who had just passed out to be.

The woman snatched her phone out of her hand “I don’t think we need to call anybody.”
She then jumped off the floor with surprising dexterity and drew a knife out of her sleeve, “give me your wallet.”

Claire didn’t make a sound as she fished in her bag and handed over her wallet, her eyes glued to the knife.

The woman took her wallet and emptied the contents into the pockets of the jacket she was wearing before tossing it aside. Her eyes moved back to Claire “and the jewellery.”

Claire took off her wedding and engagement rings, the watch her mother had given her for her birthday and the gold necklace that had been a surprise gift from her husband. She handed them to the woman.

“Empty your bag onto the floor” the woman ordered, her eyes flicking around, checking there was no one coming.

Claire emptied her bag. She didn’t ask questions and she didn’t move except to fulfil instructions. Her heart was racing and she could feel sweat running down between her shoulder blades, but she did her best to remain calm. She knew her best chance of getting out of this in one piece was doing everything that was asked of her without argument. Nothing was worth risking injury or worse. She could replace things.

The woman sifted through the contents on the floor with rough movements. She found nothing of interest. Then with a last look each way down the corridor she squatted down in front of Claire and with a smile said “you made this really easy. I wish they were all like you.” She then leant forward like she was going to whisper something to her and her smile widening, she moved back, rose to her feet and sprinted down the corridor. 

Claire let out a breath as the woman moved out of sight. It was over.  But as she tried to take in enough air to fill her lungs again she felt a searing pain in her chest. She became aware of something wet on her hand. It was lying in her lap. Puzzled she looked down and watched with surprise as blood gushed out of her chest. Lifting her head again, Claire stared down the corridor, in the direction the woman had fled, and slowly, like someone using a dimmer switch, everything faded away.