Alone

Two: Capture The Flag

This chapter does start out slow but keep reading. It will get better.

Sarah

I curled up as small as I could under a large pine tree. I was within 30 feet of the other teams flag and I was not about to give up now. Nerves and adrenaline pumped through my system, making my hands wet with perspiration.
I heard footsteps coming and my heart boosted into hyper drive. I took deep, silent, calming breath as tennis shoes stopped inches to where I was hiding.
I waited for what seemed like forever, but finally the pair of feet moved away. I let out the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. I still didn't want to leave my hiding spot just to make sure the person was gone.
After 5 minutes of waiting I finally moved. I crawled toward the cabin. There was only one way in and one way out. Over an old rickety bridge that was questionable to its reliable strength.
I crouched behind a big maple tree to see if the area was clear.
Seeing that it was, I silently crept across the bridge as quickly as possible.
The flag was visible just over the shack and I had two options. Go around it and take the chance of being spotted. Or take a short cut through the broken down cabin and have a bigger chance to get to the flag and run for it.
Why would I openly give the chance to get caught when I was so close to the flag. I couldn't let my team down
I started to go through the shack, but hesitated with a hand over the door knob.
All of those movies where a person walks into a dark run-down place they don't end well.
I had a decision to make.
I took a deep breath, told myself that I'd be super careful, and crawled by the side of the cabin. I was hid myself behind a thick, overgrown bush.
I checked my surroundings carefully choosing my next steps. Checking the ground for any dry twigs and branches, and finding none, moved forward.
I crawled toward the flags position. It was hung on a branch of a old oak tree. It was in a small clearing so it would have difficulty capturing it without being seen.
The are seemed to be clear of guards.
Then again, there was lots of shadows. I grumbled to myself. Not every person in the world was an idiot.
I didn't know where they could be hiding. There was a million spots where they could be.
I started to rise. I was going to make a run for it.
I knew the risks. I could either bring my team to victory or bring them shame.
Taking a silent deep breath, I took off for the tree.
The flag wasn't high but I still had to jump for it. Which slowed down my pace since I had to jump for it twice.
As soon as I snatched it from its hiding place, I heard rapid footsteps heading my direction.
I ran like if never done before. I felt as though someone was trying to kill me. But no one here would. Hopefully. I knew all of them personally.
I heard someone coming through my escape rout, so I only had one option left. The creepy house that I would likely die in.
I dove through the door shut it behind me, and searched the house for a reliable hiding spot.
The first one I saw was a dark hallway.
I hesitated. The logical side of me screaming at me to go back outside.
Voices sounded just outside the door I was hiding in. I didn't want to be found now.
I crawled into the dark shadows hoping that I would make it out alive.
I heard the door creak open and I held my breath, hoping they'd get creeped out and eventually leave.
I scooted further into the shadows until I felt something hard stop me from going any further.
My lungs screamed for fresh air. But I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. I couldn't be found now. I was so close.
After what seemed like forever, the person left. I still held my breath to make sure that they were gone.
I finally let out the air I was holding and filled my lungs with clean fresh oxygen.
I leaned against the wall waiting for my heart to stop racing. As the wall MOVED.
It moved backward. Like a door. The hinges squealing loudly as it went. That wasn't the creepy part either.
I felt something in there. I don't know how to explain it. I didn't know what. But all those horror movies that I've seen, there's been a really stupid person and they go into a dark place and get killed. Just like the place I was in now.
I was not about to be one of those corpse bodies in a basement never to be found again.
My heart was racing. It pounded in my ears like those Indian funeral drums you hear in the Pocahontas movie.
I heard a growl from the dark that sent my heart racing.
I stared into the darkness listening for anything else. But after a quiet snap, the growling stopped. I listened; forgetting about the flag in my hands.
"Hello?" I called. Regretting my words immediately. Who called "hello" into a dark room, in a dark creepy house. They almost always got killed.
To my surprise an answer came. "Are you here to hurt us?" It was quiet but with a sharp edge, and it took me by surprise. "I have a knife and a dog. I'm not afraid to hurt you."
I panicked. So I said the first thing that came to mind. "I don't want to hurt you. I promise. I come I peace." Was the most sensible thing that I could come up with.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?"
I hesitated. Wondering if this was some cruel trick.
"I don't want to do anything with you. Are you all right?" I asked.
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
I answered, not thinking this was a joke. "I'm here for a youth game night. Are you alright?" I repeated.
The person didn't answer for a while.
"Hello?" I called."Are you okay?"
"Do you have a light?" It was a strange question, but I've heard worse.
"Yeah it's right here." I pulled out my phone and turned on the flash.
I shone it around the room. There were stairs leading down to a cellar type place, with no windows or any source of light except the door way which I was in.
When the light landed on a pair of reflecting eyes, I almost jumped out of my skin. It was a dog. A husky. That's what the growling sound was.
Then I flashed it across the room, illuminating a girl with matted, ratty hair, and miserable deep brown eyes.
Tears misted. She looked terrible. Like she hadn't had a bite of food in weeks and a decent clean. A rusty ankle chain attached to her ankle told me that this was no accident.
I stood up, and walked down the steps. The dog came over to me, sniffing me. I held out my hand and let her take as long as she needed to know if I was a dangerous trespasser.
"How long have you been down here?" I asked, kneeling down to pet the dog.
"Why would you care?" she shifted her body and winced.
"Because I don't like seeing people suffer. Who did this to you?" I tried again, a tear spilling over and the dog lapped them up thirstily.
"My foster parents." I heard her choke out the words and decided to stop asking questions.
I scooted toward her to see how bad the damage was. But I froze when I heard a growl come from the dogs throat.
"Who are you?" Asked the the girl. It wasn't sharp and commanding like I expected.
"I'm Sarah Benson."
She asked me several questions that seemed to go on forever, until she seemed convinced that I wasn't there to hurt her.
"You can come. Pepper's just protecting me." The girl said, calling the dog to her side.
I came, slower this time, but when I reached her, I stopped and flashed my light on her foot.
My eyes widened and I gasped. Her ankle was purple and swollen around a rusty chain. I could see where the skin was splitting from the swelling.
Tears trickled down my face as I imagined the pain and suffering she must've gone through. And how she was chained to this misery.
I needed to get her out of this chain. Out of this hell hole that she was living in.
"You need medical help. I said sitting back on my heels.
"I don't need anyone." I saw her tense up and panic filled her voice. After 10 seconds, she said, "Who would you bring?"
"Uh..." I thought about that for a moment. I needed someone with emergency skills, but strength also. There weren't many youth here that had that.
Skylor Johnson. The perfect one. He was Strong, he knew what to do, and didn't ask why too many times.
"He's my boyfriend, and won't ask questions if you don't want him to. His name's Skylor."
I started to get up but she grabbed my arm, stopping me. "What's his last name?"
"Johnson. Skylor Johnson." I got up, but hesitated. I turned back. I saw a hint of fear in her eyes.
"Please don't leave me. I've been down here so long and I haven't seen a kind person since I was little."
It surprised me. Minutes ago she was threatening to sick her dog on me, now she didn't want me to leave. Weird, but when you're down here long enough, any person to talk to would be welcoming.
I nodded."I'll text him."
I unlocked my phone, and went into the messages. I tapped on his name and sent him a quick message.

<Me>Sky, I'm in a cellar in the basement of the cabin in the middle of the woods. I need your help. Hurry.

A couple seconds later he responded.

<Sky> why are you in a basement of a dark creepy cabin in the dark? I would be running for the hills.

<Me>Careful your starting to sound like my mom. ;) I have the flag. No one else is brave enough to come after me.

<Sky>On my way.