Ruthless

3

My eyes fluttered open, and a sharp, piercing pain immediately shot through my body. I tried to recall where I was or what had happened but I couldn't piece together anything. I lay still there on the ground with confusion clouding my mind.

Blinking away the haze, I looked around, and my gaze landed on our van, now covered with dents and scratches.

Suddenly, it all came rushing back – the accident. Fear gripped me like a vice, and I needed to know if everyone was okay.

I tried to get up, silently praying that my friends were safe, but the pain held me down. With a determined effort, I pushed through the agony and struggled to my feet. Limping toward the van, my heart sank when I saw it was empty.

A pang of betrayal hit me. Did they leave me behind? I knew I'd been thrown from the van during the crash, hidden by the bushes, but I wasn't impossible to find.

The hurt turned to fear, and I couldn't help but wonder if something terrible had happened to them.

The area stood silent around me as I stared at the blood-splattered van, my fear intensifying at the gruesome sight. I began to glance around, hobbling slightly due to my injured leg. Despite searching for what felt like an eternity, I couldn't locate anyone, not a single person, let alone my friend.

Defeated and with tears in my eyes, I made my way back to the van. I tried to convince myself that someone had seen the van in such a dreadful state and had taken Kelly and the others to the hospital. It had to be the explanation, because how could they just vanish like that?

I moved to the back seat, the one where Kelly and I had sat earlier. Seeing her empty seat made me break down in sobs. But I clung to the hope that they would return to me. It was the only thing that kept me going in that desolate place.

My stomach suddenly rumbled in need of food. I knew Kelly had shopped for snacks but wasn't sure if she had eaten them since I had fallen and slept in the middle for fifteen minutes, so I decided to take a look, hoping for some to eat.

I gently unzipped Kelly's bag and was relieved to find a bag of chips inside. My heart lifted a bit as I reached for it. It was my favorite. Without hesitation, I tore open the bag and was met with the familiar scent of potato chips.

I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I took the first chip. The crispy, salty taste was like a small burst of fulfillment, a brief escape from the worry of being stuck there. I kept munching, chip after chip, until the bag was empty.

Then, my throat felt dry. I searched Kelly's bag for water, but all I found was a warm can of soda. I grabbed it anyway; I needed something to drink. After finishing the can, I reclined on the seat, hoping and praying that when I woke up, everything would return to normal.

The surroundings around me was pin drop quiet, and I lay in the back seat of the van, eyes shut tight, trying to get myself to sleep. My body, however, had other plans. It ached all over, like a run by a speeding train. I let out a sigh of frustration and sat up after a bit of struggle. Rubbing my face in frustration, I let out another sigh.

I knew Kelly always had a little medical pouch with her. I didn't have to search long; it was right there. I pulled out a painkiller and carefully placed it back as it was. Kelly didn't like it when her things were out of place, and the thought brought a sad smile to my face.

There was no water to swallow the pill with, so I just put it in my mouth. The bitter taste nearly made me gag, but I managed to swallow it. Laying back down, I closed my eyes. Images and thoughts raced through my mind for a while until, without realizing it, I drifted off to sleep.

****************

I awoke to the soft murmur of voices, the world around me slowly coming into focus. My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was the cold, metallic ceiling of the van. My heart quickened with the hope that help had arrived.

The voice outside grew louder, but the words remained a jumble of muffled sounds. But they were two men, that's for sure. A flicker of relief washed over me, thinking these voices might be my savior. I propped myself up on my elbow, ready to call them out.

But then, a chill ran down my spine as one man's words pierced through the haze, "We've hit the jackpot here. Selling all these will fetch us a good amount."

Fear gripped me, and I sank back down, flattening myself against the seat once again. One thing was clear, these men were no rescuers.

Thoughts raced as I tried to understand the situation. Were they connected to the accident? Or had they merely stumbled upon this abandoned van and believed they had struck the lottery by sheer chance?

I strained to listen, realizing that staying hidden was my best choice. I couldn't risk being discovered by these men, especially not knowing what they are capable of. As I lay there holding my breath, I considered the possibility of my predicament. The voices continued. I silently prayed they would leave soon, offering me a chance to escape the situation and uncover where my friends were.

The men's voices faded into the distance, and I sighed with relief, hoping they had departed. I cautiously rose from my seat, aware of the need to move carefully in case they were still nearby. Suddenly, the van shook violently, and I was thrown back into Janet's empty seat. I gripped the seat tightly to avoid falling, as the van continued to jolt and sway. They were clearly taking us somewhere against our will.

The thought of jumping out of the moving vehicle crossed my mind briefly, but I quickly dismissed it. I knew I wasn't some kind of superhero, and attempting such a risky move could result in serious injury. I also had no idea how dangerous these men were; the fear of being discovered and subjected to unimaginable horrors made me shudder.

As I clung to the seat, my mind raced with fear and uncertainty. I had no choice but to endure this unknown, terrifying journey to an unknown destination.

The ride was surprisingly short, only about 15 to 20 minutes, and we soon arrived at a massive gate with a majestic design. Inside, there was a long driveway leading to a grand mansion at the end.

The van moved again, and I was so engrossed in the scenery that I nearly screamed. We stopped once more. The two men got out and chatted with the guards by the main door, sharing a laugh before all four of them walked away, leaving me behind.

The surroundings were quiet. I couldn't stay hidden in the van forever and had to do something and, moreover, had to act fast.

I carefully looked around for any signs of life outside through the window in the van. I felt relieved when I saw no danger.

Slowly, I moved toward the van's sliding side door. My heart was racing. My trembling hand reached for the door handle, yet I felt a sense of determination.

I gently opened the door, ensuring it made no noise. It slid open smoothly and looked outside again.

My thoughts raced with worry about the danger that I could come across. Things could go wrong, but I had no other choice; I had to take this risk. Staying hidden in the van was only a temporary solution. Eventually, they would discover me.

With each step away from the van, I chanted to myself inwardly, preparing to face the challenges that lay ahead.

The walls of the breathtaking mansion gave silence as I walked carefully from one room to another. The hallways were long. Honestly, I don't know why I was here and just had that feeling something important was going to happen. It was as if the house had secrets that wanted to be found.

You didn't know exactly what you were looking for, but you had a strange feeling that you were meant to be there.

While you explored the mansion from one place to another, I couldn't get but be mesmerized by everything. Don't know where such money comes from.

I was still exploring the mansion when I heard it - unmistakable crying, not too far away. I followed the sound, which grew louder and more distinct with each passing moment. It led me to a closed door. I hesitated. Fear clawed at me, but my curiosity won out. I had already taken risks; what was one more?

Reaching for the doorknob with my shaky fingers, I opened the door slowly. My eyes widened, almost popping out of the socket from what I saw inside.