Anne-Maria (Completed)

Escaping

It was late, and I watched the clock strike midnight. I hoped and hoped that it wasn't too late and that the police would find her somewhere. I imagined how scared she was, and it made me feel worse. I shook the images of her being beaten out of my mind. 

I looked out the window as the clouds let the moon shine. This was the perfect time. I had a check-up an hour ago, and was finally given back my phone. Kevin was texting me saying that it was no use to find Jessie. I disagreed with him but he repeatedly told me that the cops had everything in control. "No, he is wrong," I said to myself quietly. 

The annoying nurses would not be back for two hours, I had two hours to find Jessie. Two hours to make my way through the forest to the cliff where she was being held in an old abandoned storage room. 

I got up slowly from my bed and struggled to find my belongings. After seeing my white dress, that still had blood stains, I decided that it would be better to just go like I was. I was relieved after finding jeans that my mom must have brought over just in case I woke up. I pulled on the pants and just decided to wear the hospital gown as a shirt. 

I looked out the window and realized that I was on the second floor and the window was my only way out. It was a cold night and the crisp air filled my mouth as I took a deep breath. I needed to slowly climb my way down. Every room had a balcony so it made the job easier. 

I slowly climbed over my railing and jumped down to the room's balcony on the first floor. I was wondering why the first floor had balconies, but at least I was okay. I slowly jogged, being cautious of my wound that was still healing, to my house. I walked off from my house to the trail that led into the dark forest. 

My only source of light was from the room and I was lucky enough to be able to see the ground that was directly in front of me. I walked over a few rocks and jumped over a few tree roots sticking up from the ground. I finally made it to a clearing and the moon was shining brighter. Knowing that I was elevated higher now, the breeze flowed through my hospital gown and blew my hair all around. I carefully looked over the edge of the steep cliff and saw water from a large lake. I shivered at the thought of accidentally falling but was quieted when I heard the storage room doors open. I bolted to a nearby bush and hid behind the short leaves. 

There was a suspicious man wearing all black, carrying someone. The innocent person was Jessie, I was right. I recognized her by the light blond hair that was straightened, and the new school uniform that I was unaware of. 

I rushed out from behind the bushes and mustered up all of the bravery left inside of me. "Stop," I muttered. It turned out that I didn't have enough bravery to scare the kidnapper, but it was just enough for him to know someone was watching him. He turned around and dropped the body at the sight of me. Jessie woke up and struggled to free herself from the ropes that tied her wrists together. Her feet were tied up and the guy quickly pulled her up. 

"Jessie!" I screamed, but I knew it was no use. I watched in fear as he stuffed her into the trunk of a black car. She whimpered and struggled to break free, but nothing helped. I ordered him to stop, cautiously, but it didn't do any good. He walked over to me and grabbed a knife. I was his main goal now. I merely became an object, I became a toy to this man. He grabbed me by the hair and ordered me to shut up. He pulled me to his car and threw me into the back seat. I kicked my feet as he wrapped them up in rope. He grabbed for my wrists and tied those together as well. 

Now I was going to be murdered. I was no kidnapped. I shouted for help but we were no where near other human life. I estimated that I only had an hour and a half left until my next checkup. 

He closed the door and I laid down in the back seat. I tried to break free myself but grew more and more worried as he took a isolated road to the small, rural city. I tried to kick the window out but he just chuckled. I knew what I had to do. That stupid fool left the door unlocked. As he focused on the road, and only the road, I quietly stole the phone from his jacket pocket. I opened the door quickly and he slightly turned his head, ordering me to get back in. I leaned out to jump but he tried pulling me back in. I struggle to break free and as we came to a red light and slowed down, I finally jumped to freedom. 

My stomach hurt badly and I saw blood. I struggled to get up but because there were cars around, I knew I didn't have to do much. A man from another car, now a witness, pulled me up to my feet and took off the rope. 

"Help, my friend, she is in his trunk, please," I said, starting to cry from the pain. I had made a mistake, now I was in danger. The kidnapper pulled on a doctor's mask and hat as he ran away from the scene. The witness ran after him, telling me to get my friend. 

I had more strength but I knew it wouldn't last too long. I tried to open up the trunk and realized I had to pull the lever that was located in the driver's area somewhere. I got tired of looking and grabbed the keys that were left. That stupid fool was finally brought down by the witness and he was keeping him secured as we waited for the cops. 

I stumbled to the trunk and struggled to find the keyhole. After a few minutes of struggling I finally unlocked it and let light into the enclosed area.  

I pulled her out with all my strength and untied her, ripped off the duct tape that covered her mouth and let her talk. She thanked me and started to cry. She was in poor condition. I could clearly tell that she was beaten because of the bruises that covered her arm and legs, the small cuts that covered her face and hands. I let her cry into my neck as we waited for the arrival of the police. 

Because of all the commotion of the police and being questioned, my wound had opened again. It was a good thing that it wasn't that bad of a condition. I remember immediately being rushed to the hospital to fix my wound. My mother was probably worried sick about me, and probably confused on what I was doing to myself. The rest of my loved ones were probably thinking the same thing, including me. 

I woke up I assume quite a few hours later in another hospital room. The hospital was more in the city because my mother requested to have me sent to another hospital. I could understand how she might have lost all trust in the original one I was at. 

I looked at my new stitches, the ones that I had caused myself to get, and looked at how nice of a job they had done. It looked like they carefully stitched me up, and it looked like my wound only opened up once more after the first surgery. I was still in a great deal of pain though, and the pain medicine wasn't really doing much. I tried so hard to get over the pain, but I knew I wasn't the only one feeling it.

Jessie was probably having a check-up as well, just incase the kidnapper had done anything more than just take her. I was so worried about her and glad that I had known where she was. 

After finding out about her condition, which she had only a few minor injuries, I realized something else.