Sometimes You Need To Let Down Your Hair

Chapter 24

       I spared a split seconds looking from Gothel to the window. She yelled, "You wouldn't dare!" She didn't know me very well apparently. I had no time to brace myself for the jump. I knew it'd hurt, but I also knew that I needed to get out. Gothel lumbered toward me, but she tripped. While she laid there on the ground I grabbed a coffee pot that I saw sitting by the microwave and knocked out some more glass. Then I jumped. I brought my hands up to cover my face and just went for it. I landed on the other side with a thud, but I managed to roll out of it and jump back to my feet. I broke off in a sprint away from the building. 

       I checked my pockets for the things I had taken. The car keys were missing, but the money was still there. I spared a few seconds to look behind me. I saw Gothel running to her car. This was bad. I stopped watching and started looking where I as going again. I didn't care about where I ended up when I stopped running. I just needed to get away.

       I'm not an active person, so before long I was tired out. i kept pausing then running again, but by lunchtime my legs ached, my lungs burned, and I felt like I couldn't go on. Ahead of me there was a gas station so I decided to stop in and take a break. Once inside I bought myself a bottle of water. I thought about asking the cashier if i could borrow the phone, but I didn't know who I could call for help. I had no idea what number we were supposed to dial to call the cops even! I asked about what town I was in, and the woman just rolled her eyes and told me to leave her alone because she didn't have time to deal with pranks.

       I nodded in response and went to the bathroom to see how much I had hurt myself after crashing through the window. My arms were covered in small cuts, and I wondered why the cashier didn't even notice. I also had a bruise on my face and my eyes were red and puffy. I washed off the tiny cuts and cried while I did it. When I was finished I wiped my eyes and grabbed some neosporin and band aids. The woman at the cashier gave me an odd look when I tried to buy them. When I gave her the money she looked down at my arms then handed the money back. 

       When I protested she shook her head and said she'd take care of it. Then she apologized for earlier and told me what town we were in. I thanked her and asked for a map, and she ended up giving me one. When I left the gas station I felt good. At least someone cared about me just a little, even if it was just a stranger. I read the map and saw that I wasn't that far from the town I lived in. After giving it some thought I decided to try and find help in this place before going back. 

       I walked  around town and ended up finding the police station. I took a deep breath and walked into the big imposing building. Once inside I looked all around me. I wasn't sure who I should talk to, so I just kind of stood there awkwardly until I heard someone say, "Can I help you?" I turned to the voice and saw a police officer sitting at a desk. I sighed with relief and walked over to him.

       I wasn't sure how to describe my current situation so I did my best and said, "So I've been kidnapped and I need your help." The man looked at me and chuckled.

       "Look kid, do me a favor and don't waste anymore of my time. Your standing here, how are you kidnapped?" he said. My eyes widened in surprise. This cop wasn't taking me seriously!

       "Umm well I escaped and decided to come here so I could get help," I said slowly. 

       The cop looked annoyed and said, "Where are your parents then, and where do you live?"

       I looked down at the ground, "I actually don't know where my parents are or where they live."

       "Really? So you were kidnapped, but you don't know who your parents are or where they live?" he said. I nodded and he scoffed "Kid look your really wasting my time. This isn't funny anymore. There are people with real issues that need our help." 

       Behind me I heard someone come into the building. They yelled out, "My daughter is missing! Someone help," the voice sounded strangely familiar. I turned around, and my face paled when I saw that it was Gothel. She saw me and smiled evilly. 

       The man behind me said, "ma'ma is this your daughter?" Gothel nodded her head, and the man said, "Good. Now please discipline your daughter better. She's wasting our time," then he turned back to his work. I stood frozen in place, unsure of what I should do. Gothel marched over to me and roughly grabbed onto my arm and pulled me out of the door. The cops didn't even give me a second glance! I couldn't believe it! 

       Once outside, Gothel pushed me into the alley in between the police station and some random business. On the way to the police station I had noticed how industrial and busy the downtown area was. Businesses were everywhere and people were too, so I didn't think many people would notice what was about to happen. Gothel and I would fade into the shadows of the alley. 

       She pushed me into the side of the building and I could tell she was still a little hungover from this morning. "You little brat," she spat, "your not leaving that easily. We were fine before you had to snoop around, and even now there's still a chance normalcy could be reached again! In order for that to happen though you can't go around telling people that you've been kidnapped, and you can't go running away! I've had you for the last 11 years Willow! You can't screw my life up because you decide that you want to rebel!"

       I pushed her away and said, "No. You can not keep me any longer. It was your choice to kidnap me when I was little, so it's your fault your life is going to be ruined. People already know! Your not getting away with this, so do yourself a favor and just let me go!" We stood facing each other, seeing what would happen next. She looked away first, and I took the opportunity to distract her. 

       I threw the water bottle I had bought earlier at her and ran out onto the street. I ran down the sidewalk and quickly ran into a random shop. Once inside, I hid behind one of the displays and read my map. I asked the one random worker in the store what street I was on, and then I figured out how to make it back home.