Every Man For Himself (Slow Updates)

Three

Chapter Three

I stood frozen on the spot as I watched the one thing I dreaded come closer and closer as my eyes grew wider and wider. I couldn’t scream, my voice was caught in my throat, silencing any sound that came from me. I stood there like a statue, just staring at the jeeps turn from a corner onto the street I was on. It was like I’d been hypnotized, since all I could do was stare emptily at a jeep that was getting closer, along with men who would have loved to tear my skin apart and drown me in pain until I’d lost my voice to scream. 

A loud honk from the jeep was all that was needed to get me going. I ran down the street I was on and turned into the corner. It was difficult for me to avoid crashing into the people as I wounded in and out of the gaps I could fit through. Being the nice person I was, as I bumped into people I shot them apologetic smiles before sprinting off again. My progress was slow, and the scary men could tell. By then, three of them had gotten out of their jeeps and were running down the street to get me. Meanwhile, the two jeeps were still following us.

My heart started pounding again, and my pace fastened as the men got closer and closer. I hated that when I’m compared to the guys, I was this puny thing who’d take forever to get through the crowd while people would basically open up a path for them. I didn’t understand why I wasn’t reporting my case or yelling for help.

When I turned another corner, I looked back, bumped into some old woman and collapsed onto the floor. I clutched my elbow and knee in agony as I writhed on the floor like some pathetic worm.

For a moment there, I forgot all about the men chasing me because of the sheer pain. Even my palms were burning as I pressed them against my other wounds. My eyes were tightly shut as whimpers of pain left my mouth. My knee was burning, so were my palms. I just wanted to sleep through the disaster. I didn’t want to face the men and didn’t want to feel the pain. I wanted it to all go away, disappear from my life. But I couldn’t. I hated the feeling of not being able to get what you want.

“What are you doing sleeping on the concrete?”

I registered the voice and stalled as I tried to decipher the words. I was helped up gently, very much unlike how the bad guys would’ve done it. Opening my eyes ready to thank the person, I squinted at the owner of the car and was surprised yet relieved to see this face again.

“You,” I breathed. 

“Yes, me. Now, would you care to explain why you’re streets away from the bus stop where I last dropped you off at?”

My body stiffened. Right, I was supposed to ‘go home’, I thought. Rubbing my eyes, I replied, “Those guys came back for me. Fact is, we haven’t lost them.” 

The car owner looked at me then to the left and right and back again. When he looked behind me, his eyes widened and I saw a glint of fear in them mixed with irritation. He took me to his car a few strides away that I seemed to notice immediately since it was bright red compared to the dull gray and black ones parked on the road. By the time I was seated on the seat beside the driver’s, a commotion had started outside.

Ahead of the car within the hustle and bustle of the pedestrians, were the men who were chasing me. They were looking around, searching, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before they spotted me since I,  unfortunately, chose to meet a random person with an oh-so-bright-looking car. The engine of our car started quietly, and when the men had turned their back against us again, it whizzed off.

The car owner took many twists and turns as he tried to muddle the men who were way behind. I kept my eyes looking straight ahead when I suddenly remembered with much guilt, that after I fell I forgot to attend to the person I literally pushed down along with me. I fidgeted in my seat and looked out the window, still wondering what I should do with the wounds.