Back to You (Sequel to Take Me Away From Here)

Chapter 20

Faith POV: 

The girls and I walk into the parking garage, while I try to cool down from the argument. They've all been dead silent, because they know I'm fuming. How ignorant can he be? I don't think that he runs through a damn thought in his mind before he spews it out. He's just completely reckless. 

I look down in my purse, sifting through it's contents while searching for my keys. The moment my fingers rest upon them, Audrey gasps, causing both Gracie and Maggie to turn around. I look up, before following their eyes behind me. I hear a small click, as a man pulls the safety of a gun that's raised to my head.

My heart sinks into my stomach, making me feel nauseous as all my defense strategies fall on deaf ears. I feel completely frozen... 

The man is thin... I mean, emaciated looking. He has an unruly beard, pinpoint pupils, and dark purple circles on his arms, showing possible drug use. His short sleeved gray t-shirt is stained, while his jeans are torn below the knee. He's covered in a thick layer of dirt, like he's homeless. His pale blue eyes stare a hole through me. 

"Give me your wallet." The man's voice growls, a low gravely sound to it. I blindly dig into my purse, my shaking hands struggling to find my fairly large wallet. "Come on!" The guy shouts, growing impatient. I flinch, before glancing down into my purse. I couldn't have forgotten my wallet... 

I did forget it... I left it lying on the kitchen table after giving Maggie her check for lacrosse camp... 

"I don't have it." I spit out, watching him narrow his eyes at me. "I left it at home, I swear." I reassure him, while trying to find something else of value. I find my keys, taking off the suburban key. "Take the car." I offer, feeling desperate. I hold out the car key, while his eyes rest on my shaking hand. 

"I don't want your fucking car." He snarls, while I begin to feel even more panicked. He looks at me from head to toe, trying to find something on me. He motions toward my left hand, where my wedding rings rests. I pull my ring off my finger, handing it over toward him without a word. He inspects it for a moment, before dropping it in his pocket. He stares into my eyes, while I stare back. I notice him twitching repeatedly, like he's high right now, making me even more uneasy. 

He suddenly raises the gun and fires a shot while looking me dead in the eye. I feel it strike me like a punch to the forehead, forcing my knees to buckle. I fall onto my back, completely numb, as the man runs away as fast as he possibly can. My eyes are open, but my ears keep ringing. I don't feel like I have control over my movement, but I can tell I'm moving. I can see my arm waving slowly in the air, while I hear myself groan. It's hard to hear myself though, over the girls' hysterical screams. 

Gracie rests her hand firmly of Maggie's mouth, since she's screaming the loudest, while looking in the direction the man ran off to. All three have tears falling down their cheeks, while Audrey simply sobs. Gracie's trembling, but seems to be the one in command. She slowly releases her hand away from Maggie's mouth, causing her screams to echo throughout the garage. 

"Mom!" She screeches, diving down beside me. Gracie looks around, seeming so lost. Audrey kneels down beside Maggie, grabbing my hand tightly. "Mom..." Maggie continues to howl, now rocking back and forth. Gracie's eyes catch on something, causing her to pale out. Her eyes follow it, before a shadow emerges over me. I hear him mumble something, but it sounds like someone has placed their hands over my ears. 

I'm feeling so tired... I just want to close my eyes for a while, just to gain some more energy. I'm sure that wouldn't hurt... 

"Faith!" I hear Tim scream, as he grabs onto my chin. My eyes force their way open, seeing him hovering over me. "Eyes open, you understand me?" He orders, while Gracie is on the phone with the paramedics. I stare up at him, unsure I can agree to his order. He looks back at Gracie, watching her, before she recites what the paramedics have said. "Her eyes are open." He replies to her.