Family Ties (Rewritten)

Fighter

Hope hobbled through the dark woods like a wounded deer, her bare feet sliced and bleeding from the sharp limbs and rocks beneath her.

She knew she couldn't stop for even a moment, no matter how bad the pain was. If Vincent found her, he would kill her. The moon had been blotted out by thick clouds. She could hardly see her hand in front of her face. Finding her way to the road would not be easy, but she had to try.

For herself, for Emily.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of vehicles speeding down the road. Had she gotten closer to where the isolated road met the highway? She shakily inhaled another breath and limped towards the sound.

"You bitch!"

She didn't have time to process the words.

She was tackled to the ground, her face shoved into the dirt and leaves. "You're going to die," The cruel voice said, mashing her further into the dirt with each word, "I've given you ample opportunity to cooperate with me, and you squandered it."

Vincent turned her body over and forced her to look at him as he displayed his pocket knife. Taking her wrist into his hand, he raised the blade in one swift motion and cut off two of her fingers.

Her screams echoed through the woods.

He didn't bother to silence them.

"You crazy bastard!" Hope cried, becoming sick as she watched blood squirt out of her fingers. She could see the bone beneath her skin.

"Such a shame. Your nails were lovely."

Hope's screams faded into sobs. "Even if you kill me, you'll never get to Emily. Don't you get that?"

"I'll get to her. She won't know you're dead."

"Leave her alone!!"

"Are you still talking? Perhaps I should cut your tongue out before I dispose of you."

"Before you do, may I say one last thing?"

"Certainly."

"Go to Hell."

With those words, she hocked a huge green loogie right into his eyes. The knife fell from his hands. He desperately tried to wipe the spit and mucus from his eyes. "You disgusting little cunt. I'll-" The hard kick to his balls shut him up. He groaned and fell on his side, clutching his genitals in a fetal position.

Hope rolled away from him and climbed to her feet, kicking him in the ribs before running as quickly as she could towards the road.

"Help!!" She screamed, clutching on to her bleeding fingers. "Someone please help me!!"

Her heart pounded as she made her way to the main high way.  She saw a single pair of headlights in the distance headed straight her way.  "Help!!!"  She cried again, waving her arms like a madwoman on the side of the road.  "Please!!!  Stop!!!"

"Get back here!"

Hope didn't falter when she heard the voice behind her. She waved her arms faster as the eighteen wheeler made its way close to her. She must have been a frightening sight-wearing pajamas, her face and hair filthy with dirt, covered with blood-but she prayed the driver would stop regardless.

And he did.

The driver parked and climbed out of the truck, looking like he'd just seen a ghost. "What the hell is going on here? Are you okay!?"

His eyes landed on her fingers.  "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!  Who did this to you!?"

Hope ran into his arms, laying her head on his burly chest as he reluctantly wrapped his arms around her. "We...we have to get out of here. He's going to k-kill me."

"Who, honey?  Who's going to kill you?"

"We have to go!"

"Alright, come on." The trucker scooped her into his arms and carried her to the passenger seat, buckling her in and assuring her she was safe.

As he climbed back into his seat and started the engine, he never saw the figure in the woods watching them, shaking his fists at the heavens.

***

"Can you tell me your name?"  The trucker asked after driving three miles away from where he'd found Hope.  Her fingers were wrapped in a piece of one of his blankets, but he knew he had to keep her talking so she wouldn't faint.

"I'm so cold."

"Hang in there."

He picked up his radio and called for help. "This is an emergency. I'm on highway 60 right outside of town with a girl who's badly injured. I need an ambulance and the police immediately."

"Copy that," A voice responded, "Is the girl stable?"

"Barely. Some sick sum' bitch cut her fingers off, and she's lost a lot of blood. I'm almost to the Stop N' Eat Diner. Can someone meet me there?"

"Yes. Help is on the way."

Hope looked over at the trucker and forced a weak smile on her face. "Thank you. You saved my life."