Story contest

Battling My Demons

May Prompt

What if he comes here too? What if he finds out where I am? all these thoughts where running in my mind. Suddenly, a bang. I shuddered in my place and looked at the door to find my friends standing at the door.

" Aadhira yaar. Why are keeping that frown? You look ugly," said my friend Hasmita. Behind her stood my other friends Divya and Shanu.

I smiled a little and straighten up on my bed. They all came near me. Divya stood beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder and assured, " Stop thinking about that *******. We came here for a change and you are still thinking about that stuff."

She is right. My parents send me here for some peace of mind, for a change and for my safety. I know how worried they are about me and I don't want to be another headache for them at this age.

"Ok. Let's not spoil the mood. Let's watch the new thriller movie and enjoy. Come," said Shanu and lit up our moods. I nodded and went to the hall. I am glad I have these amazing friends in my life. They arranged the couches, popcorn, chips, cool drinks, and what not. We had a full feast on the table.

They started to play 'Drishyam 2' movie. It's the recent blockbuster. We finally settled ourselves and watched the movie. Even I got involved in the movie for the first few minutes, but later got drifted back to the same old thoughts, cause the situation of the girl in the movie is related to mine. Even she is overcoming the pain of blackmail and threats and am coping with them too.

Then I remembered my past. It's all because of him that my life turned upside down, or is this my fault that I am good looking? My beauty has become my biggest sin.

He is my college senior and also comes from a influential family. That is one reason why none helped me or even tried to understand my situation. No matter how hard I stressed the point that he is forcing me to accept his so called love, stalking me, blackmailing me and to the least trying to abduct me.

When my life almost turned in a mess, when my mental health breakdown, when everyone started calling me and my family names, then people believed me. They stood by me after all this happening. Why couldn't none believe me at the first place only? Is this because I am not as influential and powerful as him? Or is this because I am girl?

I wish I was never born as a girl then. No girl should live a life like this, always bound by chains.

"Aadhi?" Hasmita jerked me when I got zoned out. I know I cannot focus on the movie or anything for now, so I stood up and said, "You guys carry on with the movie. Am sleepy."

Saying this I left to the room again. Fortunately, they didn't stop me from leaving. I went to the bed and talked to my parents before sleeping. They sounded so strong, yet worried. I am feeling very guilty for making them suffer like this because of me. These days sleep has become a rare occurrence as whenever I sleep nightmares grips my brain and twist me so badly that I cannot breathe properly.

Anyway, with many thoughts running in my mind, I slowly got drifted in sleep.

****

I am running. I am running very badly with bare foot in some weird place. It looks like a forest. I can here one person running behind me, shouting very loudly and then I heard a loud bang....

"Ahhh..." I shouted and woke up with a jerk. I am sweating very profusely and my heart is beating at a fast pace. I looked at the time in my phone and it showed 6:15. I turned around to not find my friends with me. Are they still watching movies after movies? I thought and went out to fetch some water.

As soon as I opened the door, I collapsed on the floor. My breathing got heavy again. Over there I saw blood on the wall and a gun was lying on the table, where we kept all our food yesterday.