Ruthless

24

In a big crowd, nobody stopped me, even though I was wearing a hospital gown they handed out. Maybe they noticed but didn't care.

I took one last look at the hospital and walked down a lit-up path. The cold breeze made me hug myself as I left the hospital area. The night was super quiet—no cars, no people, no animals, not even the sound of insects. Just me and the sound of my footsteps on the pavement. It felt like everything stopped, and I was the only one moving on a never-ending path to who knew where it would lead me.

My stomach growled; I was hungry, and on top of that my eyes were getting heavy. I only had four hours of sleep last night. The pain in my body also reminded me of my injuries.

I looked up at the sky, trying to forget about my hunger. The full moon was there, so pretty. But instead of enjoying it, my eyes were stuck on the dark spot. It's like when things are tough, people usually see negativity in every aspect. I found myself doing the same, looking at the ugly side instead of appreciating the beauty of the moon.

*********

Emerging from my wandering thoughts, I absentmindedly glanced behind me and noticed a man in his late fifties leaning against a building, engrossed in the act of smoking. The deep lines etched on his forehead hinted at a world of his own.

Abruptly, his gaze twisted towards me, and our eyes locked. He slowly revealed a sly and unpleasant smirk, sending a shiver down my spine and chilling my blood. Haunting memories rushed back, but pushed them away as soon as they arrived. I couldn't allow my past to influence me.

He casually discarded his cigarette, crushing it beneath his shoe as he approached. Panic gripped me, and my heart picked up at a rapid pace, even my breathing staggered.

"Hey beautiful," his low, gruff voice shattered the silence.

Despite my fear, I maintained a composed expression, concealing my inner turmoil.

"Kinky, huh?" he commented, running his gaze over me.

His lecherous stare made my skin crawl, but I remained silent, though every fiber of my being urged me to escape. I had no idea who this person was – he could be a dangerous killer, and any wrong move on my part might trigger a violent reaction.

He bit his lips, revealing yellowed teeth in an attempt to appear alluring. I struggled to suppress a gag at the sight. Did he not brush his teeth?

Additionally, I became conscious of a strong pungent odor, mingled with the smell of smoke emanating from him. It seemed like he hadn't bathed in ages, and the thought intensified my desire to retch. I had to forcefully swallow the rising bile to avoid throwing up.

"Where are you going?"

Silence...

"Are you mute?"

Silence...

Weary from his persistent questioning, I decided to move past him, but he seized my elbow, halting my steps.

His touch felt like acid, a harsh reminder of yet again the unfortunate predicament.

"Come home with me. If you want, I can pay you."

Upon hearing this inappropriate proposition, an indescribable force possessed me. A surge of power coursed through my body, and without hesitation, my hand shot up and threw a blow on his face.

One turned into two and then, blow after blow, I unleashed my pent-up frustration and anger all in him. Each strike was punctuated by the echoes of his plea for mercy, but I didn't stop.

Powerful fingers enclosed my wrist, abruptly halting my furious outburst. Turning to the left to look at the person, I could only make out the silhouette of a figure standing before me through the fog of sleep deprivation and hunger.