Playing With Fire

Chapter 2

I must have only been out for about a minute before I regained consciousness. It was dark out, and the few lights from the center weren’t enough to fully illuminate the parking lot. My head was thumping and I could feel it in my chest, my back was probably going to be a deep shade of purple tomorrow morning. I groaned a bit, rolling on to my side and trying to get up. But my sense of balance was almost non-existent and I struggled to stay upright.

I was alone, those guys were long gone it seemed, although they might come back. Perhaps my immediate fainting had scared them; maybe they thought they had killed me. I hadn’t recognized them so the impact was unexplainable. Why the hell had they knocked me out? My head thudded against my skull.

I managed to take a few steps to where my phone laid, shattered. I cursed under my breath. Mom would be pissed, although this was all her fault for not picking me up on time.

I heard some shouts from somewhere in the dark parking lot and I clutched my phone tightly, hoping it would transform into a weapon of sorts, or better yet fix itself so I could call the police.

“Get the hell away dude!” a semi-familiar voice shouted. “What the hell man!” There were a few curse words and more shouts and the sound of a scuffle.

I took a deep breath. Half of me wondered if I should go over there split it up. But for starters, they had knocked me out and that was enough to reason to never ever talk to that group of idiots ever again. I started heading in the opposite direction, my feet moving much too slow for my liking.

The shouts of the scuffle were growing louder and I wondered if it had turned into a full-fledged fight.

“Run! That guy has a knife! Run!”

            The warning wasn’t meant for me, I knew. They probably thought I was still passed out, maybe dead. No, the warning was definitely not meant for me.

            I tried to move faster but I was still a bit dizzy from having passed out and my steps were wobbly and useless. The shouts were getting nearer and nearer and I couldn’t get away fast enough. I felt beads of sweat pop up on my hairline and my vision started to get blurry. I felt hot and sweaty all over and the strong sense of having to vomit came over me. I was trying not to panic and in result I was panicking.

            Two boys ran by me, pushing me out of their way. I lost my balance easily and fell hard on the pavement for the second time that day. I fell hard, my elbow cracking against the cold pavement. I cursed under my breath.

            The boys were disappearing into the night and I glanced back, wondering if the guy with the knife was following them.

            Fortunately it was quiet. Everything was quiet; no cars passed, no shouts, no steps.

 I puked in the bushes and wiped my mouth, looking around- making sure the danger was gone. The guy with the knife must have done his job, scared them off. I took a deep, shaky breath and let out a small laugh. The whole situation had given me a sense of exhilaration but the danger had passed.

I took off my jacket, checking on my elbow which was in fact, bleeding profusely. I cursed a bit, I felt no pain but I knew it would hurt a ton tomorrow morning.

I looked down at my shattered phone and wondered what time it was. “Turn on, turn on.” I muttered trying to get it to work. Nothing. I cursed it, tucking it into my pocket.

A car was coming up the road and I thanked my stars. Mom was here. I put my jacket back on and shuffled my feet, waiting for the car to come closer. But as it finally got near me I realized it wasn’t mom’s minivan. It was a dark car, sleek.

I started walking again, knowing my walk home was going to take twice as long as originally planned. I wondered if mom had tried to call me. Maybe I should head back to the center and wait?

The sleek car parked next to me and I swallowed hard.

The window rolled down and a voice said, “Get in.”

I felt compelled, I couldn’t say no and I couldn’t get away. I didn’t fight it. I got in.