Running Away

Chapter 2 Can We Be Safe?

Waking up I knew that the handcuffs had been removed forcefully leaving my wrists bloody and sore. Opening my eyes I saw the blindfold on the ground next to me and I was slightly dizzy from the attack earlier. Shrugging the feeling off I sat up ignoring my wounds and bruises. First things first I have to make sure nazzie is ok.
Pushing myself up I looked around the living room seeing my steploser passed out on the sofa with the news blaring on the tv. Ok I've got time now.
Moving out the front door I headed down the street to the edge of the woods. Stopping only briefly at the first tree I headed straight in with no hesitation.
Walking straight for a ways to a little stream I turned right heading upstream a ways to cedar tree. "Nazzie? You here?" I called out softly. "It's me, big brother." I barely ended the sentence when nazzie flew out around the cedar tree and into my arms. I hugged her strongly and whispered in her ear, "Its ok I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you." she was trembling and I could feel the hot tears on my bare chest.
I looked at her with concern in my eyes as she burried her face deeper in my chest. "Has this happened before? Has that steploser done this before?" I asked softly.
She trembled more and stayed quiet for such a long time I didn't think she would answer me. Right as I was going to ask again she said in a small trembling voice, "y-yes... I-if you hadn't stopped it this time I'm s-sure he would have killed me..."
I recalled the scene I had walked in on.

I had come home early from my trip to California and wanted to talk to my baby sister before I left again. I had just gotten out of my car when I heard her screams.
Dropping my duffle bag I sprinted to the house.
In such a remote place no one would have heard her screaming...
Flinging the door open I quickly took in what I saw with disbelief.
The steploser Ryan had my baby sister pinned on the ground. She had no clothes on and she had multiple fresh bleeding wounds on her body. Ryan, not noticing I was here continued grinding against her. He was fully clothed and his pants were undone slightly. He held her arms by the wrists with one hand and had a knife in the other while his lips were clamped on her neck.
Rage boiled inside me and I charged him full on tackling him on the ground and trying to grab the knife. Cutting me multiple times I managed to get the knife and hold it against his throat. "Move and you die." I said with such venom and hatred he flinched back but obeyed. Siting on him and keeping him pinned I took my shirt off and held it out to nazzie, "here I'll get you cleaned up in a minute." gingerly she took the shirt and put it on. And in that split second Ryan grabbed the knife from my hand cutting it in the process and rammed my head with his making me see stars and fall backwards.
He pushed me off and grabbed a pair of handcuffs cuffing my hands behind my back before I could regain my balance. The world was spinning with such force I felt like I was going to pass out.
Something was pressed up over my mouth and nose that smelled somewhat sweet. Nazzie get away!! Was all I could think before the knife was put up to my throat and I lost consciousness.

Shaking off the memory I held nazzie close and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more..." I said in a weak voice. She shook her head slightly and added, "no, what you did was enough... Can.... Can you please take me with you?" I held her and with no hesitation I said, "yes. There is no way I am leaving you here. Mom would agree... Here let me get you cleaned up and we will leave. We will tell the cops and they will take care of him. I'm old enough to take care of you." she giggled surprising us both and looked up at me. "That sounds really nice Bubby. I'm so glad your 19... I was... I was going to wait till my 16th birthday next week before.... Before I ran away. But I'm glad you found me first..." I smiled and hugged her again, "I am to. It's a good thing you still like this old cedar tree so much." she and I laughed for a second but it died off pretty fast and we just stood there hugging. Little did we know that we were being watched.