Lost

Chapter 24: Run!

*mild trigger warning: a few characters would discuss rape and murder in insensitive terms*

FrozenFury, this is for you ^^

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Salma's P.O.V

"Come on! Come on, Asim," Salma muttered impatiently, tapping her index finger against the back of her phone.

She had started to really freak out by then. The sun was sinking fast over the horizon. It was getting dark as the sky changed colors from rich gold to orange, and from orange to pink. If she was not scared sick, she would have really enjoyed drinking in the majestic scenery painted across the sky.

"Darn it!" She bit her lip. Standing up from the fence she was sitting on, Salma started pacing restlessly. Her eyes kept flitting between the phone and the color changing horizon.

As the sky started turning a deep shade of pink, almost hitting red, Salma knew she could not delay her prayers anymore. Walking back to where she was sitting earlier, she found a relatively clean patch and got her bag off her shoulders. She spread the prayer rug, feeling extremely anxious and unprotected as she turned her back to the road. Not able to see what was behind her for the next five to seven minutes was going to be nerve wrecking. She kept imagining someone walking up on her, about to push her off the cliff. It took all she had in her to not break her prayers and turn around. The only time she did not feel goose-bumps was when she was in prostration. For some reason, she felt comforted and secure in that position.

The moment she finished her prayers, one of the phones buzzed in her pocket making her jump. The sky was getting dark, she was getting really late. As expected, the message was from Asim. Salma did not bother opening it.

"C'mon! Quick, quick, quick!" Salma urged, gripping the phone tightly in both her hands.

Asim called. She let it go to voicemail and waited. With the sun sinking out of sight, the sky lost its colours and the temperature dropped drastically. As another message appeared, Salma placed the phone in her lap, rubbing her hands together to keep warm.

"Hurry up!" Salma whispered to the phone. Her breath came out in a puff of mist. She started shivering in the sudden chill.

She was so engrossed with the next call that she almost missed the headlights appearing in the distance. Caught in the eye, Salma froze like a deer. The blaring lights disappeared as the car moved around a bend. Salma knew she should move and try to hide somewhere, but her feet remain rooted to spot. Pure, bone chilling fear gripped her insides, as she saw the beam of lights diffracting just around the corner. The vehicle was headed her way.

A sudden violent vibration shook her knee, making her snap out of her trance. Asim's second call came just in time to get her moving. Salma crawled a few feet towards a dense thicket and cowered behind it. The phone kept buzzing while Salma peeked through the bushes. The headlights appeared bright around the bend as the vehicle neared.

Not daring to breathe, she let the second call go to voicemail again. Her heart pounded against her chest as the distant rumbling of heavy engine became louder. The truck approached her, making the ground beneath her shake.

Praying with every fiber of her body and soul, Salma tried to stay as still as possible, hoping they would not notice her. Even if she did not know if the people in the truck were trouble, she still knew they were. She could feel it and she did not want to risk getting found by them.

Salma clamped her hand over mouth when a weak whimper escaped her lips. She had not realized that she was at the brink of losing it but when she heard the men's guffaws, her head started swimming. Salma knew she was either about to faint, or scream her head off if the vehicle did not pass by any quicker.