My feet ache, and my head pounds beneath my temples. The coffee in my hand is growing colder and colder as I walk to school.
I take a route that avoids the main streets, and avoids the rush of early morning commuters. The frost on the ground crunches under my combat boots as I cut through a grassy park on the edge of town. It takes longer to walk to school my way, but most of the time I enjoy it.
I put an ear bud in, and turn on a playlist. I have all the words memorized. The songs are like comfort foods, familiar and safe.
I lose myself in the music.
All I hear are the lyrics. I don't hear the tires on the pavement behind me, slowing down.
Pulling over.
My ear bud is ripped from my ear as hands roughly grab my shoulders.
I scream and kick and twist around to face my attacker. He wears a black ski mask, and is dragging me towards a grey van with dark windows. I scream louder, but there's no one to hear me. I'm the only one awake in this part of town this early in the morning.
I try to rip myself away from my attacker, but his fingers dig into my skin through my jacket. Tears wet my cheeks as I continue to struggle.
I'm getting closer and closer to the van.
I jerk away from him, but he holds on.
I fall to my knees, leggings tearing.
As I try to crawl away, a course sac is tugged over my head. I gasp, trying to breathe through the fabric.
Something hits the back of my head, and the world goes black.
YOU ARE READING
Hide And Seek
HorrorThey're coming after you. They're starting to count. You'd better hide. You'd better find a good place. Because if they find you.. You lose.
