Gone in the Dark

Part #1 - How it all started...

After finishing her visit to a friend a few miles away from the campus, Lindsey Stewart wanted to borrow her friend's car to drive back but the friend refused. 'Not gonna let you wreck it, duh!' said the friend. 'Oh, come on, Sarah! I cannot walk back to the campus, it's like thousands miles away! What if I got mugged?' said Lindsey.

'Alright, I'm not gonna let you take the car BUT I'll lend you cab money to get you home.'

'Aren't you the sweetest?'

'Just shut up.' Said Sarah, jokingly.

Sarah lent Lindsey twenty bucks to take a cab home. However, walking in the dark alleys and streets, Lindsey couldn't find a taxi, as though they all disappeared. Well, this is no New York... thought Lindsey, walking the cold nights of Utah back to the campus.

Shuffling because of the cold, Lindsey saw a luminous light approaching her, it must be a car. 'Taxi! Taxi!' yelled Lindsey with all her might. The car slowed down steadily and lowered the passenger's seat window. Lindsey stuck her head inside the car. 'Hi! Up for some hitchhiking?' She didn't mention the money, she thought she could play it cool and keep the money for herself. More money in the weed budget.

'Going somewhere, sweetheart?' Said the man in the passenger.

'Yeah! I'm going to the campus of Utah's university, have you heard of it?'

'Haha, yeah, I study there.' Said the man, 'law school... if you heard of it.' He winked.

'Oooh!' She noticed his little move and giggled, 'sure, I heard of it... Mr. Lawyer.'

'I'm going to the campus anyway, wanna ride?'

'Of course!' Lindsey jumped in the car and closed the door behind her.

The windy night made the quiet atmosphere of the car even more pleasant, the car was warm and muffled, even slight whispering is audible in the confined car. Lindsey was studying the man's face, not only because he was handsome, but because she's never seen him on the campus before.

'You're new to college?' Said the girl.

'Who, me? Nah, I've been studying for 2 years now, few years shy from graduation.' Said the man.

'Why, how come I've never seen you before?' She giggled, 'I'm a really social person, I must've known who you were.' She smiled.

'Well, um, haha, it's not your fault, I like to keep a low profile, you know... stay under the radar for a while.' He looked at her, 'not the party type, you know.'

'Uh, I see... but what is your name?'

He looked at her, and charmingly smiled, 'Or you would like to keep that a secret, as well?' Said Lindsey, smiling.

'Huxley... Tom Huxley.' Said Tom.

'Huxley...' Repeated Lindsey, slowly.

'Yeah, Huxley.'

The conversation made Lindsey forget the cold and long-distance of the ride, as she inspected the dark night, she noticed that she had reached the campus. However, she did not bother to tell him. He's a student, he must know where the campus is.

Her eyes were fixed on the sign hanging on the campus Utah's Univeristy Campus for Undergraduates. However, the car passed by and did not stop.

She turned her head to face Tom. 'You know we've reached the campus, don't you?' Now concerned about whether anything Tom said was true. He did not say a word, he kept driving ahead. 'Tom... Tom!' Shouted Lindsey, 'Tom, where are you taking me?!'

'Why did you take this ride...' It was not a question, he was berating her. It is a final warning. The calm little moments before the storm.

'Let me go!' Lindsey tried opening the door, but the handle was missing as if someone had removed them earlier. And indeed, Tom had done so.

'The handles... Who are you!?' She turned to face him. 'What'd you want from me? LET ME GO!' She began scratching and slapping him, Tom lost control of the wheel and the car started riding in a zigzag motion, after few seconds of losing control, a police car siren screamed behind them, thinking a drunk driver is driving.

No! Thought Tom, he faced Lindsey. 'You shut the fuck up, alright!'

'NO!' Shouted Lindsey, and yelled her lungs out, 'HEEEEEEEELP! HEEEEEEELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!'

The police car approaching faster. This is no drunk driver, this is a kidnapping operation taking place.

Tom sped up, dodging the police car. He turned off the headlights to go inconspicuous. The woods was a few minutes away from them and that was the only chance of escaping the police.

Lindsey kept shouting and scratching. Tom was losing control over the car, and given there would be a hill after another in few moments, he knew he had to shut her up. He produced a pepper spray and sprayed her off. She screamed bloody murder, the burning sensation eating her eyes out, she fell below the passenger seat, kicking and screaming, attempting to open the door with her legs. This gave Tom a chance to focus on the road.

Just before reaching the woods, Tom reached below his seat and produced a first aids kit containing Morphine and other sedatives, he began unwrapping the syringe and filled it up with the fluid.

'Hey, Lindsey!' Yelled Tom. She faced him, eyes closed and swollen, and he injected her with the tranquilizer.

It only took few seconds before she completely calmed down. She went to sleep after a minute.

Tom kept dodging the police car, he drove between the trees and bushes, and all the way around, he knew the woods like the back of his hand. He studied the place, every single loophole. He knew this would happen and thus was prepared.

It only took half an hour before the police simply gave up and drove away. Though the heat was still around the corner, Tom knew he had to do it fast. Do it quick. Though finishing prematurely, he knew Lindsey knew too much. And from now on, he won't be Tom Huxley.