you're mine

Chapter 60

Whilst running down the dirt road, Dry mud pushes up from under my feet and creates a cloud of brown smoke around me the more speed I pick up, my heart beating rapidly against my chest.

After a while of running in the pre- sunrise light, I could no longer see Luca behind me. When I looked back for the third time, I assumed he had passed out somewhere along the road due to blood loss, but I couldn't know for sure. After that, I didn't look back again, too frightened that once I turned back around he would he infront of me.

It worries me how easily he dealt with the pain of being stabbed multiple times, hardly even reacting to it at all. Then, all the memories he told me about his dad came flooding back and I started to feel sorry for him again. Looking back at him before I left the house, I almost didn't leave at all. But I can't let him get in my head; not again.

He didn't deserve anything that happened to him. But neither did I.

Now, as my body slows down on its own, the slight peak of sun shines against my bare feet, showing how black they have become from the mud.

The adrenaline leaving my body only intensifies my pain, and makes me realise how drowsy I'm feeling. I'm not sure if it's from the amount of running or from when I banged my head but it's intense and is leaving quickly; I won't be surprised if I fall asleep somewhere on this road and don't wake back up.

My feet stumble beneath me, struggling to keep myself upright. It's like I'm having the life sucked out of me; quickly. After only taking three steps forward, a small gas station comes into view.

My breath hitches in my throat as I stare at the rustic building. My feet pick up a pace and I start walking towards it. Before I know it, im running, desperately trying to reach the gas station.

It isn't close, but I don't care. That doesn't stop me from running towards it with relief streaming through me.

Many opportunities to leave Luca has been right in front of me, but I didn't take them. I thought we needed each other. And I think he does need me, after everything he's been through, but I don't need him. And I can't ruin my life and possibly have it end just to please him; just because I have empathy and he doesn't. I won't let my emotions get in the way of my safety.

The gas station comes closer and closer into view, revealing the telephone box that stands next to it. Mud pushes under my toenails and inbetween my toes.

Despite the uncomfortable feeling of mud everywhere, I am grateful the road is smooth, knowing that the tiniest uneven path would knock my unsteady body over.

My skin feels a warm sensation gliding against it as the sun rises higher into the sky, making the shades of blue lighten.

After what feels like hours, I reach the gas station. My body slumps down next to it and lays with the still mud on the road.

Everywhere is quiet, I can only pray that the store hasn't went out of business and just hasn't opened yet.

Realisation hits as I remember the rule of some telephone boxes. A lot of them, more new ones than old, let you dial emergency services for free.

I scurry to my feet, bolts of pain shooting through my body as I stand. I fall against the glass box, opening the door and standing inside, using the wall to prop me up. My eyes dart around until landing on a piece of paper with instructions.

Insert a 50 piece coin into the box.
Pick up the phone.
Dial the number you would like to call.
You have a maximum of five minutes on call.
Emergency service call also require a fee.

My exhausted eyes scan over the last line again and again, making sure it isn't a hallucination.

"Are you fucking kidding me!" I yell as loud as my dry throat allows.

Tears start to pool in my eyes. Maybe this is a sign. Maybe I'm meant to be with Luca.

How do I know I wasn't just thinking irrationally because he killed someone I liked?

Black dots start to form in front of my eyes. I attempt to squint them away but it doesn't work.

The black dots form together and start to swirl in different directions, making me sleepy.

"No." I mumble. Desperately trying to stay awake, I push myself forward. I fall into the phone box, sending the old phone spiralling down from its holder.

I look at how it hangs loose, bobbing up and down on the curly wire. At the top where it connects, smaller wires stick out where the thick white plastic begins to tear.

My eyebrows scrunch together in thought and my hand reaches out, gripping the telephone to pull it from the stand. It takes all my strength and more to disconnect it from the box, but eventually it comes loose and falls into my hand.

Not wanting to waste any energy and give the black dots in my eyes time to take over fully, I rush out of the small telephone box and towards the gas station. It only takes me a few steps to reach the building. I wrap the curled wire around my fist, swinging it back and forth a few times before letting it swing full force into the glass door.

Shards of glass spring everywhere, a few pieces land in my face but I don't even flinch.

A high pitch alarm beams from the gas station building, the sound rippling down the dusty dirt road into the rising sun.

Breaking the glass was the final energy burst I had, and now I'm left with none. My body slumps down to the ground and my eyes close.

I don't know what awaits for me when I open my eyes, but right now I let myself fade into the swirling black dots.