Posted this a while back on THR:
I was in a public mens room in some building, finishing up, washing my hands and drying them. The mens room was empty; it was after normal working hours. The room was rectangular in shape, with a couple of sinks, a urinal or two and a stall. At one end of the rectangle was at the exit door, which was around a little wall that they build in public restrooms for privacy purposes, I guess, so you cant see inside from the outside, and conversely, you cant see the exit door from inside the restroom.
As I rounded the corner to leave, I was surprised by a very large man, just standing there. He was maybe a half a foot taller than me, and fifty pounds or more heavier- he just seemed like a really big guy. And he wasnt moving. He wasnt even looking at me, although he was facing in my direction, he was just sorta looking off to the side of me a little.
Of course, I instantly went into condition red, wondering 1) Why didnt I hear this guy come in? and 2) Why is he just standing there, not getting out of my way? I was a few feet away, standard personal space distance that means please get out of my way so I can leave the restroom . There were some other things about him that I instantly noticed and that caused me to not think This guy is really dumb but rather there is something seriously wrong with this guy . He was dressed sort of sloppily. His body motions were still and unusual. He was big, and he had a facemask of some sort on.
I didnt say a word, other than maybe uuhh.. as I backed away a couple more feet. I dont need to tell you that my heart suddenly tripled its pace and I could feel the adrenaline rushing into my system as my mind knew I was trapped and it was going to be at best, a socially awkward situation, and at worst&&
I cant remember exactly what he said, he said it slow, and he mumbled, he sounded like a cross from that guy from slingblade and Jason from Friday the 13th- retarded, dangerous, remorseless. It was right out of a horror movie almost. Its time for me to kill you , or maybe Its time for you to die now. I dont remember clearly because as he was saying it he turned off the light switch by the door, and as the restroom became entirely and completely black, he flicked some kind of switch on his goggles that made them light up red, and that was all I saw. He still hadnt moved, other than to manipulate the switches in a strangely slow purposeful way.
When the lights went out and those astoundingly scary and puzzling red goggles came on, I went into even higher than condition red, it seemed. There is almost nothing in a public restroom that can be picked up and used as a weapon, so I shifted my hip a bit to see if I was carrying (yes, in this moment of stress I actually could not remember if I was carrying or not). I felt the pressure of my carry gun, a small Colt Pony Pocketlite in .380, IWB at 4 oclock or wherever it ends up after a day on my belt.
When I felt that, I felt the same way a drowning man must feel when he reaches a ladder- a ray of hope! A lifeline! I knew that although I was not out of the woods, I had a pretty good chance of getting out of the restroom alive, at least. The relief of knowing that I had that was almost indescribable, it was like an escape hatch opening up in a flooding submarine or something. I got ready to pull it out, knowing that in a few seconds, I was absolutely, positively, and without any remorse whatsoever, going to draw it, put the front sight on this guys COM or face, and pull the trigger. My hope was that I would not have to, because the noise in that small, tile enclosed space was gonna be pretty loud, and I hate loud noises. I reached back, pointed it at him, and screamed with all I could, right from the diaphragm, MOVE! MOVE!! I just wanted to get out.
Woke up then.
Love, James
