Prisoners [H.S]

Part 2

Hallie

Leaving day.

The day finally arrived. The day before, I had done my final checks for the journey, filling up the water bottles I'd stashed in my room with water and zipping my bag up for one last time before leaving.

I waited until the sun started to set and I knew my parents would have gone to bed. It was 10pm when I left. I probably should have gone an hour or two later but I couldn't wait any longer, each day inside that house felt like the walls were closing in on me further and further. 

I'd made it half way across town within the first hour, I aimed to be a few towns across before morning.

I took every step with caution, listening to all of my surroundings, only shining my torch in places I knew it wouldn't be seen and hiding within shadows of buildings and trees around me.

It was warm, but not warm enough to take off my hoodie. I was glad I bought it with me.

I was on a high, I felt as if I could walk for miles. The prospect of a new chance at life kept me going and every step closer I got I felt larger than life. It would take weeks to get to where I needed to be, but I didn't let that thought stop me. I tried not to consider how risky this really was and worry that the chances of being seen at least once over the coming weeks was really high, no, I needed to do this. I needed to get out. 

I come to the dark alley that went on for a little while, one that I knew I'd be safe in as there were no people around. No buildings either side to spot me and a large coverage of trees.

I stopped to take a drink as I hadn't done so for a while and thought I heard some rustling in the leaves behind me. It didn't last long and wasn't heavy so was probably a mouse or some small animal looking for something. I didn't think too much of it. 

I knew the alley was was long but it felt longer than I could imagine. I was beginning to tire out and my legs were starting to ache. Not leaving the house meant not walking very far and my body was definitely feeling the effects. I was hoping to build some stamina over the coming weeks, I would need it. 

I checked my surroundings quickly, avoiding shining the torch too far around just in case there was a chance this alley was being patrolled but the coast seemed clear, so I stopped walking for a moment. I leant against the left hand side and relaxed for a few moments before continuing.

What could have been no more than 5 minutes felt like a life time and I felt the world stop when I felt a large pair of hands either side of my hips from behind. The presence of another human, much taller than me was daunting and I could hear them breathing behind me. Fuck.

"Make a noise and I pull this gun out of the waistband of my jeans and shoot it through that pretty skull of yours." A man. His deep voice sent shivers down my spine as his hands didn't let go of my hips. My body was trembling and I was terrified of making a sound. I knew screaming wouldn't help, no body would help me, no body could hear me and no body would care.

"You're going to follow me, without any fuss, and we're going to make this situation nice and simple for me." The man spoke again, his voice hushed. I was terrified to turn around and face this person who was egging me to come with him. I could tell from his voice that this wasn't an old man but one perhaps older than me.

I nodded at his words and felt his hands slowly release from my hips. My first instinct was to run but if he'd managed to follow me so quietly and catch up to me the entire way I doubted I would get very far. He was skilled at this and I sensed he'd done it before. "Now turn around." He urged.