Shadows of the Mind

Part 2

Alyssa woke up and began screaming, which only made the burning in her throat worse.  She stopped and took stock.  Her throat hurt, her head was pounding like a nail must feel when victim to a hammer, she felt very weak and shaky, and the nausea she had known was coming on the bus had finally hit, making her wished she could crawl into a hole and die.  She curled up, wanting to cry, but knowing that if she did it would only make her more dehydrated.  The gag in her mouth tasted awful, and as soon as she acknowledged the fact that it was in her mouth, she began, well, gagging.  Her wrists burned from the rubbing of the rope, which felt like it was made of nylon.  She struggled, but she knew it was pointless.  She sat up, taking stock of her surroundings.  It appeared, to her, that she was in a dark room with no windows.  She lay curled in the fetal position for an unprecedented amount of time.  She couldn't move; her muscles were frozen with pain, and the nausea was still rolling off of her in waves.  Suddenly, she heard footsteps.  She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, pretending to still be unconscious.  She thought she had pulled it off, and that the person, probably Chad, had gone away, until her back exploded in pain.  He had kicked her!  She couldn't regulate her tears this time; they ran freely.  She sobbed, and that made her start choking.  She became hysterical.  She thrashed and freaked out, crying, screaming, choking, until a club came down on her head.  She slumped, and Chad stood over her, club still raised.  He let it drop to his side.  And then, he did the unthinkable.  He bent down and kissed her.  And then, for good measure, so as not to appear soft, he slapped her hard enough to sting, but not hard enough to wake her.  And then he did the most confusing, disconcerting thing of all.  He smiled.