Where Have You Been

Chapter 5

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Zoë’s’ POV

I rushed off the stage without looking back, my cheeks pink with embarrassment. That one guy, Niall kept staring at me. I tried to tell myself that I was mad because of this, but I couldn’t seem to rid my head of his goofy smile, and short blonde hair. The same stagehand patted my back gingerly as I walked by her, whispering into my ear.

“Good job sweetie. Next time, take the flowers and try not to look so nervous!” I guess I was pretty frozen with terror out there. I couldn’t have made it easy for the guys. I rushed back through the maze of backstage, and open a door, expecting to be let back into the arena. No such luck. Instead, I was hit with a sudden blast of icy air. A lone streetlight illuminated the ashen snow that covered the alley. Before I could rush back inside, the door closed. From the telltale “click” it was obvious that the door was locked behind me. 

I slid slowly down the door, slumping into a heap at the bottom. The cold snow seeped through the denim of my jeans, forming goose bumps on my skinny legs. I let my head slump into my clammy hands, and ran my fingernails sharply through my thick hair. I could feel tears pooling in the corners of my eyes. The emotions of the day overwhelmed me, and I realized that I may not be able to find my mom and Taylor. The tears began to flow openly down my face, pooling on the bed of my chapped lips. The tears turned to heaving sobs, and my hunched shoulders bobbed up and down through my sweater. A hooded man approached me, reaching out his hand. I started to reach for it, hoping it was someone trying to help me out, but immediately snatched it back in suspicion.

“Hello girly girl. What you cryin’ for?” He droned in a choky, high-pitched voice. In the dim light I could make out his stubble-ridden face, and sunken eyes. My heart began to pound. This time, my fear was rational, but I couldn’t quite seem to remember those self-defense moves. I crawled back in a weak attempt to escape him.

“Who are you? Go away” I whispered. I mentally slapped myself; what murdered/rapist/hobo/creeper would walk away just because I told them to? I cleared my throat and started to scream.

“Help-“ I began, but his muggy hand clamped my mouth shut.

“No one needs to know, sweetie” he grinned a toothless grin, and inched his face closer towards me. I thrashed in his grip, trying to scream through his palm, but managing only a few strangled gasps. I could hear the arena quieting, and that was the moment I knew any attempt of escape was hopeless.