The Stranger

     The dirt hugged my bare feet and anchored between my toes, trying to hold me down. The small stones dissected the soles of my feet, but what was one more cut? The road begged me to stop and stay. Or maybe I just wished I could.

     My body ached, every stride agonizing as my calves cried. The pain in my arm was stronger than ever. The pain served as a reminder that I was the first person she stabbed, and now I was the only survivor.

     At first, I thought it was an accident; people don't purposefully stab one another. But then again, people who can't throw knives don't typically ask you to be the human target.

     "Trust me," she had smirked, "I've never hit anyone. My aim is miraculous."

     I was stupid. Stupid for suggesting the spontaneous road trip, for skipping that dingy gas station only so we could get to the hotel sooner, and later, for suggesting we stay in what I assumed was an abandoned barn while it rained. Look what it got me, my friends are gone and will never come back.
And now I know I was the lucky one, blessed even, to only have my arm injured, Elijah didn't have arms anymore! With this flash, my knee buckled, forcing me to the ground.

     "Get up!" I yelled to myself (as if it would do anything).

     Tears ran down my bloodied, bruised face as I yelled again. The dirt in my ash brown hair slowly made its way into my eyes and stung like fire.. The sun made it even worse and I began to sweat. I dug my hands in the dirt to steady my shaking body.
"Why?" I had asked myself more than once, "Why us?" We were nobodies. Linnea had never met us before this. We had no previous quarrel, no hatred that needed to be avenged.

     But knowing why would not change the past. Knowing why would not bring everyone back.
"Breathe and smell the roses. Enjoy this," Valentina had smiled at me.

     I did, I enjoyed myself while she begged us to go home. When those beautiful eyes had filled with tears as she packed our bags.

     Delusional.

     I had called her that the last time I saw her alive. I will never be able to undo that. I led her to death's door and laughed at her as it opened. The story of us had ended. I closed my eyes, just for a second and once again followed her advice, I smelled the roses. Yet the road smelled like fear - sour - you could smell the screams, smell the torture that happened up the road. A house like that should never lead to what happened. Asking for a helping hand should not lead to what happened.

     I dug my nails into the dirt and dragged myself toward the ditch. I knew I wasn't getting up, but I could hide off the road. There was a tree across the road, all I had to do was get there and I could rest. I crawled, crawled like a child just learning how to. I groaned and bit my lip to stop me from screaming. Every movement was a punishment and every tear a cry for help. Finally, I reached the tree. It was a small victory, but after this weekend, it felt like I won the Olympics. I leaned my back against the trunk and began to rub my legs.

     "I'll only stay here for a few minutes, until I can walk again." I told myself.

     A few minutes turned into a couple, which turned into a while. I don't remember closing my eyes, or falling asleep, but I did. The engine was what woke me. It was unmistakable after I heard it run over Hadi. This time though, the truck came for me. I jolted awake and forced myself to stand. It was close, close enough to reach me if I didn't start running.
My legs had other things in mind. I tried and tried as the tires came closer. Finally, they obeyed and I ran as fast as I could imagine. The pain slowed me down, they cried to stop but I had to outrun her.