Forlot: The Car on the Side of the Road - Book Forty-Two

Chapter Eleven

The entire long ride to the only other gas station within town - I would have paid attention to just how long had my aching head not been on the verge of exploding like a volcano - I had my arms crossed and stayed quiet and mostly still, staring out the front window. I did not join the many boring discussions and ignored questions for me. One of Carrie's questions was "Why do you have to give us the silent treatment?" I badly wanted to answer the question. I wanted to make a smart remark, even if it sounded dumb. But I shut my eyes and tried thinking of all the positives in my life. Only negatives flooded in, though. How could I be positive when I was technically being kidnapped?

When we reached the gas station, I would run and hide in the woods. My kidnappers did not take my phone, so I could contact my parents while in hiding. Or while all my kidnappers were distracted, I would quickly explain to an employee at that gas station my perilous situation and beg him or her to help. Rick and his friends should at least be arrested and hauled off to the police station.

Why did I not call the police when Orion was "shot"? It would not have been my fault for a false call. The police would have had a serious discussion with them. I know now why Rick's minions were keeping me from calling. If I did have a backbone...I would have beaten them up until they were too weak to fight back or unconscious. I then would have squeezed Rick's shirt collar and yelled in his ear to return me home or else.

Do you think that I should file charges against them?

My luck would change once we arrived at our first stop. For the better and the worse.

The gas station was mostly empty as if it were deserted. The only other vehicle was a spotless car parked on the opposite side of the small building. The car had to have belonged to an employee. If I sought the worker's help, only he or she was the only person out in the middle of nowhere who could help me out of this nightmare.

A different worker may have ridden with the car owner or parked his or her car behind the building. More than one employee needed to be present. It was surprisingly still morning. This vacation would have been agonizing if not for a sweet ride.

"When are we getting breakfast?" Mavis barked as Rick pulled up next to a pump facing the empty road. Not as empty as Rick's brain. Nothing will be emptier than his head. I wished to tell this to his face!

Rick cut off his motor and twisted his body to glance at the backseat's occupants. His grin almost caused me to puke. I wiiished that I did. I would have puked my guts all over Rick's new shirt. Then I would have threatened to repeat the gross process on his face and his brainless friends if they did not turn the van around and take me back home.

Should I still have them arrested even if they return me home? Why did God make me too soft?

"I told you more than once during the ride," Rick said.

"Told us what?" Petra asked. "You said plenty of stuff."

They were born without a brain, I swear.

"We will stop at a nearby store or restaurant right after this. What I left out is that Ella is choosing the place."

His last sentence unfortunately made me finally speak. "Huh? Did I hear you right? You will let me pick where we have breakfast?"

"You are a huge reason why we are taking this trip. You are the guest of honor."

I was still too furious to appreciate the amazing title. "I am the guest of honor, eh? I do not feel like it."

Carrie's hands clutched the passenger seat's shoulders. "You are letting her choose not because she is the guest of honor, but because she is your girlfriend."

I will not be his girlfriend after I am faaaaar away from you dumbheads.

"Ella can name the places, and we will say either yay or nay," Petra suggested. "Surely, she will like one that we all like."

I finally dropped my hands in my lap. "I am unfamiliar with the places in nowhere."

"Search the address on your phone," Rick stated. "Your search engine will show you the places nearby."

"What is the address?"

"We are on a highway between the woods."

"I asked the name of the address."

"Type in what I just said."

"Just give me the gas station's address."

"The one downtown?"

I finally snapped. Before I could understand what I was doing, I lunged out of my seat and clutched the front of Rick's shirt. My forehead's veins were pulsing, pushing on my skin. I felt as if I were about to have a stroke. All my blood vessels were ready to burst. If something bad happened to me and I unfortunately died in the middle of nowhere...my blood would be on Rick's and his little minions' hands. Hopefully, they would be charged with murder.

Rick's grin vanished. "Ella...?"

"I am on this trip against my will. I am in your van only because you tricked me. You used a serious situation to lure me in here. I was worried about Orion. I was about to call the hospital. I actually thought that he got shot." I glanced at each friend.

"We would not have gone to that length had you gotten in when Rick pulled up," Petra said.

"Are you saying that it is my fault for scaring myself?"

"Pretty much."

My attention returned to Rick. "Unlock this van. I need some fresh air."

"No way," Carrie said. "You will run into the woods and hide."

"Why do you care?"