Escape

Part One

You sit on the ripped leather and place the key in the ignition, turning it quickly and the engine comes to life. Your face is instantly met with the cool air of the autumn night creeping in from the open window along with the pungent odor from the exhaust. Your shaky hand moves swiftly to change gears and you are already slamming your foot on the gas before the truck is in drive.

The rusty exhaust explodes with black smoke, covering up the sharp, angered shouts from the front porch. Before you know it, you are tearing down the dirt road, barely keeping control over the old wheels. You can't see through your tears and your wrists are throbbing. The wind from the open window blows your hair violently, wrapping around your neck and you think it may be trying to strangle you.

Your heart beats in your throat and you feel the ecstasy when you realize you are free. Finally free after all this time. All this hell you went through to get to this point. You survived.

Suddenly, the truck jerks to the left sharply and your head is smashed into the door. It spins, your hands are off the steering wheel and you try and clutch the air. Time slows down, the headlights shining on the road, then the stalks of corn, the road again. Until your forehead meets the steering wheel with a sickening thud and the world goes black.

You awaken. You crashed in a ditch on the side of the dirt road. The small beeping of the truck stalling, like a heartbeat, is echoed through the air around you. It calms you in a way.

But your head is exploding with pain. Raising your head from the steering wheel, you place a shaking hand on your forehead. You are met with a wet substance that seeps into your hair.

The headlights shine brightly on the dirt and you can see the corn stalks waving in the breeze. All at once, you realize that you can't move your legs. Leaning back, you meet your fate with stillness. Warm tears form in your eyes and you turn the key out of the ignition. Silence.

The corn whispers to the wind. Your breathing is harsh, and you suspect broke ribs are rattling in your chest as you take your last painful breaths. You close your eyes, hear your heart beating in your ears getting louder.

Soon, the growing sound of heavy footsteps accompany the beats as your fade into unconsciousness.