Kaltain

6.Who is she?....

She knows my name! The thought whirled through Ava's mind, sending her into a spiral of confusion and fear. She racked her brain, trying to remember if she had ever met someone with eyes like hers, but her memory yielded nothing. How did this girl know my name? What could they possibly want from me? Money?

Ava didn't think she looked like someone who had loads of money to steal. Perhaps they were just desperate thieves targeting an unfortunate passerby. Her mind raced with possibilities.

"So..." The guy's voice trailed off, hanging in the air like a heavy shroud, suffocating Ava with uncertainty. Her breath quickened a panicked rhythm that matched the frantic beat of her heart. What if they demanded money? She would have no choice but to surrender whatever meager possessions she possessed, a paltry sum that held little value.

Her grandmother had mentioned before Ava left for the diner that she would be gone later that evening, implying that no one was waiting for her at home. With no one waiting for her at home, she felt the weight of her vulnerability pressing down on her like a crushing weight. She fumbled for reassurance, feeling the faint bulge of coins in her pockets. But why wait for me to awaken and threaten me for money when they could have easily pilfered it while I lay unconscious?

Ava's mind spun, trying to make sense of the situation. Panic clawed at her, but she forced herself to remain as calm as possible, searching for any possible way out of this nightmare.

Perhaps they had realized my dire financial situation. But what if they followed me home? The thought gnawed at Ava's mind like a relentless predator, stalking her every move. If they followed her, she would be forced to surrender the meager stash she had carefully amassed over time. It was all she had. She couldn't bear the thought of being left destitute and vulnerable for an entire month until her next paycheck arrived.

Her mind churned with fear and desperation until she was jolted back to reality by the sudden removal of the cloth covering her lips. A quivering breath escaped her parched lips, a fleeting moment of relief as she reunited with the open air. But it was swiftly replaced by the suffocating reality of her situation. She couldn't even try to reach for her cell phone, still nestled in her jeans pocket, but her hands remained bound by the rigid rope tied tightly around her elbows, rendering her powerless and helpless.

The weight of her predicament bore down on her like a heavy burden, threatening to crush her spirit beneath its oppressive weight. She was trapped, ensnared in a web of uncertainty and fear, with no escape in sight.

"Who are you?" The girl standing before her demanded, her voice tinged with exasperation. Ava sensed the simmering annoyance radiating from her, and she knew she couldn't afford to further provoke her. Who knows what they might do if pushed too far?

A sudden hush enveloped them, the only sound was the soft rustle of leaves and the distant howl of the wind. The night stretched out endlessly before Ava, a vast expanse of darkness and uncertainty. Confusion clouded her thoughts. Who am I? Why is she asking me that? Didn't she just say my name?

Silence lingered, heavy and oppressive. Ava licked her parched lips, parting them to respond, but a sharp pain shot through her head, causing her to wince. The sensation was minuscule yet palpable, a warning of the impending headache that threatened to engulf her. She furrowed her brow in a sliver of distress, bracing herself for the discomfort to come.

A hand seized her dark chocolate brown hair in a tight grasp, wrenching her head back until it collided with the unforgiving bark of the tree behind her. Her eyes squeezed shut instinctively as a soft whimper escaped her lips, the searing pain coursing through her scalp like wildfire. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, a heavy rhythm threatening to shatter her rib cage as her chest heaved with each labored breath. The fingers tightened around her hair, the sharp nails pressing into her scalp with a merciless intensity, not ample enough to draw blood, but enough to convey an intention.