Beyond The Lie

Chapter 68: "No way!"

Adeline.

I sat frozen in my car, my eyes fixed on the person lying on the road. A man. Blood was pooling from his body onto the asphalt, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. My mind was a jumbled mess, unable to process what I was seeing. I was alone on this deserted road, with no signs of life anywhere. It could be anything - animals, or worse, humans. But I'm human, too. I have to do something.

I slowly opened the car door, and the cool night air hit me like a slap in the face. This was really terrifying. A man, lying on an empty, creepy road at night, bleeding. I walked closer, my eyes scanning the surroundings. The place seemed abandoned, the only sound being the distant hum of crickets. My hands started to shake, and my heart rate spiked. This didn't feel right.

As I got closer, I saw that the man was lying in an awkward position, his body twisted at an unnatural angle. It looked like he'd been hit by that speeding vehicle that had whizzed by just minutes ago. My mind was racing with questions. Who was this man? What was he doing out here all alone?

I bent down a bit, keeping my distance, and asked the man if he was okay. "Hey, are you okay?" My voice was barely above a whisper, and I wasn't even sure if he could hear me. But I had to try.

The man didn't move, didn't flinch. I waited for a response, but there was only silence. I looked around, feeling a chill run down my spine. The darkness seemed to press in around me, making me feel trapped and vulnerable. I swallowed hard, trying to push back the fear.

I turned back to the man, wondering if I'd been too quiet. Had he even heard me? I asked again, my voice a little louder this time, but still barely above a whisper. "Hey, are you okay?" I doubted myself, wondering if I was loud enough.

I took a cautious step closer, my eyes fixed on the man's face. I asked again, my voice a little louder, a little clearer. "Can you hear me? Are you okay?" But there was no response. No movement. No sign of life.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering what to do next. I thought about checking his breath, seeing if he was still alive. But before I could make a move, I heard a noise behind me. Footsteps, crunching on the gravel.

My heart skipped a beat as I spun around, trying to see who - or what - was behind me. But before I could turn, everything went black. A sack was yanked over my head, covering my face. I tried to scream, but my voice was muffled by the rough fabric.

I felt a surge of adrenaline as someone grabbed me from behind, their arms wrapping around me like a vice. My hands were tied behind my back, and I was lifted off the ground. I kicked and struggled, but it was no use. I was trapped.

A rough, coarse fabric was pulled over my head, blocking out the light. I couldn't see anything, and my breath caught in my throat. Panic set in as I realized I was completely at the mercy of my captors.

I tried to scream, but my voice was muffled by the fabric. I wasn't even sure if anyone would hear me. My heart ached with fear and pain as I thought about my friends, my parents, and Eryx. We'd planned dinner for tomorrow, and now...now I didn't know if I'd ever see them again.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I struggled to move. But it was no use. I was trapped, and I was at the mercy of my captors. The thought sent a chill down my spine.

As I lay there, helpless and afraid, I heard the sound of the engine roaring to life. The vehicle started to move, and I felt a jolt of fear. Where were they taking me? And why?

***

The sack over my head and the cramped space in the trunk made me breathless, and I felt myself getting lightheaded. I was on the verge of passing out, but somehow, I managed to stay conscious. My mind was racing with fear and uncertainty.