Lost

Flashing lights

Slowly I opened my eyes. The cool air around me sent a shiver through my body. I reached to turn up the heat dial.
"Cold?" Harry looked over at me from his spot in the drivers seat.
"Yeah. God, how long have I been sleeping?" I asked, looking out into the dark night air. He chuckled.
  "About three hours I think." I  stretched my legs as best I could in my cramped car.
  "Want me to take over?" I asked with a yawn.
  "I think you should sleep." He said, looking over at me and smiling.
  "I like your dimples, you have a nice smile." I said, half asleep. He laughed.
  "Go to sleep Samantha. I'll pull over if I get tired." I nodded and dozed back off to sleep.
  I woke up again as we pulled into a gas station. "Hey Sam?" Harry looked over at me as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
  "Yeah? What's up?" I sat up in my seat and unbuckled.
  "Exactly how much money did you save up for this trip?" He asked.
  "Um, about 6,000 dollars." He looked a little relieved.
  "What happens when we run out of money?" He asked.
  "We stop. I guess. I didn't really think about it." He nodded and started pumping the gas.
I went inside to use the restroom. As I washed my hands I looked up to face myself in the mirror. My hair was a disheveled mess and dark bags were forming under my eyes. Suddenly, I felt very self aware. I ran my fingers through my long brown hair and splashed some water in my face.
Walking out of the bathroom. One of the employees stopped me. He was a thin, forty-something guy, with yellow teeth. "Aren't you Samantha Toms?" He asked. I looked at him questioningly. He pointed his finger to the wall behind me and I turned to see another "missing" poster. How many of these were there?? How did in just one day my face get plastered all over the east coast?
I faced the man again and took a step back. "No. No, sorry you got the wrong girl.." I backed away. Before quickly turning and running towards my car and Harry. I jumped into the passenger seat and looked at Harry.
"We got to go now." I said, looking up to see the guy on the phone. Probably calling the police department. Harry stared at me blankly. "Now! Harry!"
He pulled out of the gas station and back on the highway, headed north. "What happened?" Harry asked, with concern.
"Th-the man in there. H-he.." I stuttered.
"Take a deep breath babe." Harry said as he reached over and took my hand.
"Harry. He knew who I w-was an-d-d he called the p-police." I managed to say. I could feel my hands shaking. The car fell silent.
"Sam. Why don't you just go to the police?" Harry said. I didn't say anything, what was he talking about? Why would I turn myself in? "Sam, you aren't doing anything wrong. Your dad is the one who needs to be reported. Not you."
"I couldn't.." I replied.
"Why?" Harry pushed. "Sam, he's been hurting you for years. I can understand why you didn't report him before, because you would'veu been sent to foster care. You are eighteen, now. We need to go to the police and get these signs taken down and tell them about your father."
I shrugged. "I don't know." Was my response. I didn't realize he was still holding my hand until he let go. He ran his fingers through his hair.
"At least give me a reason as to why you wouldn't." He said.
"Harry, it's hard to understand, even for me. The thing is, all though he hurt me and made me miserable. He still loves me and I love him too. I know. I know. It sounds dumb. I think so too. It's just. It's hard." I sighed, Harry was right.
"You need to do this Samantha." Harry responded. I looked down at my bruised wrists.
"I know."

Just then flashing lights became visible from behind us. It was a cop car. My heart stopped. Harry slowed down and pulled over. "It's okay Sam." He said as the cop approached the window.
"I just got a call from a gas station down the road, regarding a missing persons report. You guys match the cars description." The cop said as he shined his flashlight straight into my face. "And you match the report. Young lady, what's your name?" My heart was pounding, I wanted to answer, but no words would come.
  "Samantha." I finally replied. The cop frowned.
  "Would you two mind coming back to the station with me?" The officer asked. Harry smiled politely.
  "Of course officer." He said as he opened his car door and stood up. He walked around to my side and opened the door. "Come on Sammy." I shook my head.
  "No, no." Tears rolled down my cheeks. "I can't go back. Harry no." My whole body was shaking. My heart pounding. He took my hand and helped me out of the car.
  "You aren't going anywhere. Promise" he walked me around to the officer.
  "You two ready?" The cop asked. Harry smiled and nodded. We walked back to the white and black Vehicle, with lights atop still flashing. "Watch your heads" the officer instructed as we piled into the backseat.
  Harry held my hand and kept reassuring me that it'd be okay. "My name is Dan," the cop said, kindly. "Don't worry, young lady, all that's going to happen is they'll ask you a few questions."
  "Who sent out the missing persons report?" I blurted. The officer chuckled a bit.
  "Not sure. I can look into it though." Dan replied.
  "This isn't fair! I'm an adult! I didn't get kidnapped, I left. I left by my own free will. Officer please." All my fear was suddenly replaced with anger.
  "I'm well aware." Dan said, reassuringly. "Someone back home is obviously worried about you and just needs to know you're okay."
  "Then tell him I'm okay-"
  "Sam." Harry cut me off. "They're going to question us. That's it."

  Finally we arrived at the station. It' was four in the morning and my eyes began to droop with sleep. I let out a loud yawn. Dan lead us into a little waiting room. It was completely empty, the station was dead.
  Dan went into the back for a moment. He walked back out carrying a plate with a few doughnuts. "I figured you would be hungry." He offered us the plate and I gladly excepted. "The rest of the officers won't be here until seven. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait around until then."
  Harry and I took a seat on the cold plastic chairs. "Homey." He laughed. The station was anything but homey. It was cold and musty. I leaned against Harry and munched a doughnut.
  "I'm so sorry about this Harry."
  "Don't worry about it." He smiled and took a bite of his glazed pastry. I finished my dinner and soon enough I was fast asleep. I awoke to find myself covered by Harry's large flannel and his arm rapped comfortably around me.
  "Samantha Toms?" A woman in a black pencil skirt and blazer addressed me.
  "Yep?" I stood up, waking Harry as I did so. The lady stuck out her hand.
  "I'm officer Carlson." She said as I shook her hand. She was very tall and thin. Her blonde hair was up in a bun and big glasses rested on her nose. "Can I ask you a few questions?"

 
  Thanks, for reading! Please vote and comment:) love you!
~J