Any Time Soon

I twisted my hair into a ponytail, tucking it under my cap and lowering the brim. Then I took a final look around the room full of strangers, wondering which of them would help me escape, and which would try to kill me.Ripping the bandage off of my arm, I took a deep breath as everyone’s eyes bore into me. Carefully, I crawled across the filthy floor over to the barred window. Small slits of light caressed my dirty face. Looking down at my fingertips, I realized I was missing several nails, but nothing mattered anymore. No one knew who they could count on and who they should fear. Slowly, I wrapped my hands around the rusted bars, fearing the person (or even people) in the room who would try to stop my escape. Even then, they would be exposed for who they truly were.

 

I held tight to the bars and licked my dry, cracked lips. Pressing my feet against the wall, I pulled as hard as I could until the rusty bars began to make a creaking noise. Apparently they had seen their share of weather, for they began to crack and bend under my palms, cutting my hands even more. I didn’t care. I pulled until finally, two of them split in half, sticking out of the window like spears stuck in the ground. I landed on the concrete floor with a thud, but stood again. I had to pull the bars off to make my exit. I examined the people in the room. No one’s expression had changed. I shuffled again over to the window where I began to pry the bars apart. It had gotten to the point where I could easily crawl out, but no one had grabbed me. No one had stood to rip me away from the hope that was that dusty window. As I slowly grabbed the ledge and began to climb, a man in the back stood up. He had a large scar, and it took me back to the beginning.

 

“Mom, I’ll see you after school!” I waved as I ran down the road to Roosevelt High. The greatest place on earth. The sky was a light gray, and I smelled the rain that was soon to come. I had been running late, just like the morning before, and school had already started. Surveying the long road ahead, I decided to take my shortcut. It went through a small patch of trees; they were only about an acre wide. Pushing aside brambles and thorns wasn’t exactly how I would have chosen to spend my morning, but I wished to be at school before second period. The small bunch of trees I was cutting through was always rumored to be full of drug addicts and kidnappers. Well, it wasn’t really a rumor. Several kids, even adults, had gone missing. I didn’t think it would happen to me.

 

My breathing got heavier as I struggled through the dense vegetation. A shuffle stopped me in my tracks. Have you ever just got that feeling like someone’s watching you? Well, that’s what happened. It was so intense; I just knew someone was there. Instinctively, I laid low to the ground, scanning the area for any sort of life. After a few minutes passed, I stood again. I began making my way through the woods until I heard it. Heavy, distinct footsteps rushed my way. I spun around just in time to see a tall, hooded man rushing toward me. It was like a horror movie. I started to run, but I tripped, twisting my ankle and hitting my head. I pulled myself up with a tree trunk, but the man was already right on top of me. He grabbed my arms and I kicked right between his legs, causing him to double over. I stood up the rest of the way, but he quickly removed his hand from his groin and held my arm. Ripping off my backpack, he pushed me to the ground, sitting on my legs and holding me by my shoulders. Sweat dropped from his forehead to my shirt and I started to scream.

 

“Get off!” I yelled. I started to breathe faster and faster as reality set in. The large gulps of air hurt my ribs as I struggled to get away. He leaned over and whispered into my ear as I thrashed, “This won’t hurt a bit. Just tell me who the real bad guy is.” I looked up into his eyes through my tears. He wasn’t a bad looking guy. He had facial hair, defined features, bright blue eyes, and a large scar across his face, but still good looking. His voice was deep and strangely soothing, but it had something sinister deep inside. Suddenly, he dropped his elbow over my chest, removing one arm from my shoulder. I gasped for air as he pulled a needle from his pocket and jabbed it into my arm. He injected a liquid before sitting up again and staring into my eyes. “Don’t hurt me,” I pleaded. My voice was hoarse from screaming. “Please.” I started to slip away, the world around me fading. Right before I blacked out, I saw him kiss my arm where he had given me the shot. Tenderly, he placed a band-aid on the small drop of blood. What a sick freak.

 

That’s what brought me there into that basement. Until that point when I saw him stand up in the back I had no idea where I was. Something in his eyes made me stop from trying to climb out that window. Something that said, “I’ll take care of you.” Mesmerized, I walked over to him, grabbing his hand like a small child. His skin was warm and comforting. It stirred something in my soul. Then I remembered something else he had whispered to me. “You’re gonna stay with me a long time, miss.” And I think I will. I gazed out the window and knew I wouldn’t be leaving any time soon.