Escape

My eyes shot open when I heard a creaking noise. I looked around me to make sure no one snuck inside my cell. It was pitch dark but I still felt the need to look around.

Was it him? Please don’t let it be him. My head was spinning from the lack of food and water and my throat  felt like I had swallowed a pound of cinnamon. My hands were shaking as I coiled backwards into the far corner of my cell. Darkness was my best friend now and the only time I saw the light was when he came in. I never sleep because every little noise wakes me up. I honestly believe that he purposely made noises to keep me up and in fear.

My wrists and ankles were burning with pain because of the cuffs that were tightly placed on them. I knew escape was very rare at this point and that the only way for escape was when and if, he took off my handcuffs. I was kidnapped by two men but only one of the men ever comes in. The other guy I haven’t seen since the day of my kidnapping, which I’m not even sure when that was anymore. Time faded away with my hope and as my fear grew.

The door opened and I was blinded by the sudden light that was turned on. I turned my head downward so my eyes could adjust to the light. The man walked in and knelt down so that he was eye level with me.

“Hey Sweetie.” He greeted with laughter and an evil smirk. He grabbed my filthy hand but I quickly ripped away from him, putting a frown on his face. His face would haunt me forever and would always be the center of my nightmares.

“Now, now, don’t be like that.” He demanded in a more stern voice.

I felt his lips touch my cheek and I retracted backwards that best I could. When I was first kidnapped, I would slap him but the chains on my wrists now felt like they weighed a million pounds and I didn’t want to waste my energy.

 I hated him so much that I refused to talk to him. He wouldn’t get the satisfaction of hearing my voice anymore. He chuckled softly and smiled as I continued to try and pull away from his touch. I hated when he touched me, he made me want to throw up.

“Are your wrists and ankles hurting? They look red and swollen.” He asked in his evil sympathetic voice which I hated tremendously.

I nodded slowly because of my lightheadedness and prayed that he would remove the chains.

“How ‘bout I take those off for a little bit?” He asked.

The man always tried to do things that would "make me happy" to try and get me to like him better but it never worked. My hands were really red and swollen though, so I was happy to have the cuffs taken off.

I nodded again, still refusing to speak. He pulled out several silver keys from his pocket as they clinked together and started to open my cuffs. I felt an enormous pain lift from my body as the cuffs fell off onto the dirt ground. Once the cuffs were off, I knew that this was my chance to escape. I didn’t even realize what I did until I did it.

I grabbed the cuffs that were lying on the ground in between us and placed one of them on his wrist and the other on my bed post, which was next to us. I got to my feet and ran out of the cell, leaving him in the cell cursing and yelling at me. I knew he had the keys so I had to hurry.

My legs felt like jello as I climbed the basement stairs. Upstairs, I found the front door and threw the door open. I felt the cool, fresh air fill in my lungs as I continued to run outside. I hadn’t seen the sunlight, let alone a tree, in what felt like forever. There were woods all around me and no one in sight.

I pumped my legs quickly as I weaved in between trees and over branches. There were just trees in all directions and a part of me felt hopeless as I pushed onward. I started screaming for help as loud as I could, hoping someone would hear me. I knew the chances of someone hearing me were slim, since I was darting through the woods, in the middle of nowhere, but I didn’t want to give up hope so quickly, even though a part of me did lose hope already.

 I dashed in and out of trees, trying not to fall and hurt myself. If I fell or hurt myself, it would be over. I knew he was close behind me but I didn’t slow down, I couldn’t. There was no way I could go back to that monster.

Tears filled my eyes as I got more and more exhausted from my escape. My adrenaline was racing through my weak body and it kept me going; that’s all I cared about. His footsteps got closer and closer until I could hear him commanding me to stop and that I was making a terrible mistake. I looked backwards, trying not to fall, to see him farther back. He must have fallen because he was cursing and wiping off dirt and leaves from his clothes.

“Help!” I cried one last time before my voice faded away.

Then in the distance, I saw black pavement and I knew it was a road! My feet began to move faster and faster until I reached the road. An old black pickup truck was coming my way. I quickly waved my hands in the air and shouted for help. The truck pulled over and I quickly jumped in the car. I slammed the truck door closed and never let my eyes leave the man as he chased after me. I wasn't sure who the driver of the truck was but at this point, I didn't even care. Once I caught my breath, I gasped, “Please, we have to go. I was kidnapped and I just escaped from him. He’s coming.”

“Are you sure you escaped?” The driver asked.

“What-” I stopped and turned to realize that the driver was my other kidnapper that I had only seen once but I would never forget his face.

“No!” I screamed as I threw open the truck’s door and tried to get out of the truck. He grabbed on to me and held me back as the other man reached the car. I kicked and fought the man as I tried to get out of the truck but it was no use. The other man got into the car and snarled, “Never do that again! We’re just lucky Nick was here to stop you from leaving us.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” I cried, tears streaming down my face.

I was mentally and physically exhausted and I just couldn’t hold back the tears anymore; I have been doing that way too long now.

“Because I love you Sweetie.” He answered softly.

I knew this was the end; there was no way I would be able to escape again. The truck took off, back in the direction I was running from and the man grasped my hand but I pulled away. He tightly wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear, “We will be together forever!”