It's Not That Easy

Chapter 24 - Real Fear

You know, sometimes I feel well and vital in the world, and sometimes I just feel so distressed I want to pull my hair out by the roots. - Unknown

Chapter 24 - Real Fear

Addy's POV:

I'm hurting all over. My head is throbbing, my throat hurts, my body aches, and I can feel the beginning signs of bruising. I touch my shin, "sssshhhh, shit. That hurts." My thigh, my forearm, and hand...all bruised. I roll over and curl up in fetal position, trying not to wake my roommates with my sobs. Crying sounds so sweet and ladylike, that's how I know these aren't cries, they're sobs...ugly, painful, body wreaking, but hopefully silent.

Joel and Helen were running down the cross-country path at Riverside Park. Helen took Joel's boasting as a challenge that she had to win. Just because she was tall and willowy and looked like a big gust of air could blow her over, didn't mean he could beat her at cross-country. "You really think those big muscles will save you in the woods?"

He was very confident that he is a faster runner, and he was on a track. This is not a track.

I look down at the stopwatch and back up, but they had gone through the thicker wooded section. It's not that far, I'll see them in just a few minutes or so. I walk down the sidewalk back through the parking lot to the exit of the cross-country path. There were just a few people about getting bikes out of their SUVs, but all were focused on their own activities, as was I.

"Hey, miss. You have the time?" A young man asks, with his two friends waiting for my answer.

"No, it's a stopwatch," I tell him and show him the devise. I don't even have my phone on me. I let Helen lock it up in her car along with my purse. "Sorry."

I check the time. It usually takes Helen ten to twelve minutes to complete this course, but that's just a run...not a competition with Joel. I expect them to finish in eight minutes or less. Minute three.

I lean against the car, waiting. "You look a little bored." The young man says. "I'm Dyllon." He extends his hand to me. He has a nice face, pleasant even. He flits one eyebrow up waiting for me to say something.

"Addy." I nod and look back toward the path.

His friends take a position on either side of me, and I tense from the awkwardness of the situation. I go to stand up, and Dyllon comes closer to me, blocking me in. "Where are you headed in such a hurry?" He looks back to the path. "I don't expect your friends will be here for another few minutes."

They were watching? I feel like I'm going to throw up. They were watching me. Waiting until I was alone. I can hear my own breath as it escapes my lungs. Fight or flight? That's the response that is building in my veins.

--Breathe, assess, breathe.

--Three men, young, strong...one me.

--Palm thrust Dyllon should work, but I have Stooge One and Stooge Two to deal with.

--Scream, get Joel's attention, pray he's fast enough.

--No visible weapons, clothes are not large enough to conceal. I can do this. Get away, breathe, get away.

"I'm sorry. I have to go." I'm pleasant and talk soft to keep them from thinking I can take care of myself. I stand and take a step closer to Dyllon. Stooge One and two shift closer to me, and SLAM.

Palm thrust to Dyllon's nose brings blood instantaneously. I yell explicit details for anyone listening. "Help! 911! Help! Fire!" I yell fire, because people are more willing to call 911 or for emergency services for a fire instead of attack or rape. I yell again, and include Joel's name as loud as I can.