To Save My Daughter

Part 6: Failed Attempt

He pulled off at the next exit and pulled into a rest stop/gas station. Thankfully, the rest stop was full of people. Pulling the car in station, he went to fill up the tank. Unlocking the doors, he allowed Grace and me to get out of the car. As I looked around, stretching my legs, he walked over to me and put his arm around my shoulder. I quickly grabbed for Grace's hand, pulling her near me.

He purred in my ear, “Do no pull anything”. I smiled at him and nodded.

He let go of me, an allowed Grace and I to go into the bathroom alone. I knew this was going to be my only chance, and if I was lucky this would be his big mistake. We made our way to the rest room. At the sink there was a girl in her twenties washing her hands, she smiled and walked outside. That is when I noticed the small window on the other side of the sink. I slowly walked over to it, praying I could open it. It did open, but not by much. Thankfully, it was enough for Grace to squeeze out of it. Peering outside, I saw it led to the back of the truck stop, where the truckers parked. I formulated a plan.

Taking Grace by the shoulders I said, “Grace Baby, you’re going to have to be strong and go exactly what I say. It's my job to keep you safe. So this is what you’re going to have to do. Crawl out this window, do not turn back, run over to the truck stop, go inside and have someone call the police. Have them take you to your father. This is the only way to get you to safety. I will do my best to distract this man until I know you’ve had plenty of time to do as I have asked. Do you have any questions?”

With tears in her eyes, Grace said, “Mom, you have to come with me. Xander can really hurt you. I don’t want to leave without you.”

Hearing her say his name made me vomit, just a little. I swallowed the bile in my throat and gave Grace the biggest, hardest hug. I knew that if this worked, it may be the last time I see her. Trying to smile, I said, “I know, I want to come with you too. Baby, you mean the world to me, and you being safe it the most important thing at this moment. If we don’t try, and you get hurt, I won’t be able to live with myself. So please do as I say, and run”.

Giving Grace one last hug and kiss on the forehead. Breathing in her sent maybe for last time, I lifted her up and out the window. Watching her take off in a sprint, I forced back the tears, saying my last goodbye to myself, I whispered a little prayer. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and walked outside the bathroom door, alone.

I walking  straight out of the bathroom, I tried to act if nothing was wrong.  I looked around, but I didn’t see him or the car. My heart skipped a beat. Maybe he found someone else, or decided change his stupid plan. Did he leave us here?. One could only hope. I walked outsid outside, I had the misfortune of running directly into him. He looked down at me, his face enraged with anger. I looked up and tried to smile and acted like nothing was going on.

Coolly he asked, “Where is Grace, love?” Grrhh, how I hated him saying her name. Again, it caused me to vomit, just a little. Swallowing, I said “She’s still in the restroom; she was feeling kind of car sick.”

He grabbed me by the back of my hoody and led me to the corner behind the gas station, where he parked the car in isolation. I gasped when I notice the rear window of the woman's bathroom. The exact same  window I just pushed Grace out of minutes ago.

Opening the rear passenger door, he forced me to look inside. There sat Grace, shaking and crying. Fear ran through me. How did he get to her so fast?  I reached for her, trying to make sure she was okay. He refused to let me go. That fear in the pit of my stomach burned brighter. There was nobody around us, and I knew the worst was yet to come.

He pushed me up against the car. I could feel the cold. smooth metal through my clothes. Holding me up by the front my neck, he leaned so close I could feel his breath on my ear. “I told you not to try anything, otherwise there would be consequences. Now you will learn what it means to cross me.”

Swallowing bile again, I couldn’t say a word. God, what was he going to do? Did he already hurt Grace? Was that why she was crying?  I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I saw him turn into the monster he was. His blue eyes turned black, while veins popped out around his eyes. He opened his mouth, as his fangs appeared.

I kept saying “SHIT, SHIT, SHIT”,in my mind. I braced myself for what he was about to do? Before I could grasp what was truly going on, he attacked me. The pain in my neck was more unbearable than anything I could imagine. Shock filled me. He was totally ripping me apart. I could feel my blood being drained from my body. Slowly I was loosing focus, everything became distant, and I began to tingle, and go numb. Is this what dying felt like? How long this went I, I do know. When I came too, his wrist ws to my lips, as his blood spilled into my mouth. I tried wiggle away, but he refused to release his grip on me.  Slowly, feeling began to return to my body, and I was able grasp the concept of what happened.

I tried to stand on my own, pushing myself away from him. He held onto me, so if anyone did see us, I'm sure we looked like two lovers embracing. It for fruitless to struggle. Giving up, I went limp in his arms. I no longer had the strength to struggle. This seemed to please him in a twisted way.

Whispering in my ear, so I was the only on to hear him, he said “I told you not to temp me. Every time you disobey me, I will take you just to the brink of death, and back again. Remember how this feels. Once you realize that  I hold the power over if you live or die, the better off you will be, my love.”

Turning my head, I was afraid to look at him. Holding my face, I was forced to look into his eyes. “Do you understand?”

Fighting back the tears, I choked out a “Yes.”

He smiled, still holding my face; he pressed his lips against mine, and licked the blood that had run down my chin. “Good girl. It is so nice when we understand each other. Isn’t it love?” And with that he threw me into the back seat with Grace and slammed the door.