The Wilderness

It Rains Moonlight

I wake up curled against a solid, moving warmth. I open my eyes and am struck with confusion and panic because all I see is darkness. I blink and blink and wonder, for a stupid moment, if I've gone blind. But, no, the darkness shifts and flutters and isn't the kind of monochrome black I'd imagine blindness would be. It is hidden life and wispy gray and deep, dark violet. Nighttime.

Now I'm awake, really awake, and I'm filled with a fear so big that it seems to fill my entire body; it digs deep into my shaking bones and inflates my lungs to the point that I can barely breathe. I look up, and I search for eyes. I know I'm being carried by someone; I can hear their quiet breathing, the crunch of their footsteps. Their hands tighten around my body when I start to fidget with nervousness.

"You're awake." This person whispers, as if hesitant to disturb the silence. Male. And strong enough to carry me this long. I feel a bit crestfallen, because I know I won't be able to fight this person, no matter what they try to do with me.

But I will still try. And if given the chance, I'll run. I'll be okay.

I'll be okay.

"I'm awake," I parrot. "I'm also not in the mood to be raped or murdered, so just...keep that in mind." It doesn't strike me as odd that I don't remember how I got here; he probably drugged me. But I do wonder why I don't seem to remember much of my life at all. I'm hyper-aware of the fact that I don't know this person and yet they're carrying me through the woods at night. I'm filled with momentary panic before I push it away. 

Panicking isn't going to get me out of this situation. I need to stay calm.

His chuckle sounds strained, and his arms tighten around me in what could be considered a comforting way, but it just makes me flinch. "I would never do that, Abby. Not to anyone, but especially not to you."

I snort, for once not embarrassed, because who cares what a kidnapping psychopath thinks?

"Yup," I say a bit sassily. "Because I always believe the words of my kidnapper. A very credible source, those kidnappers tend to be."

He sighs. "I...one day you'll...I'm not kidnapping you. Really. I promise you're safe with me, Abby."

I stiffen as I hear this stranger call me by a nickname for the second, no, third time. Unbidden memories slowly form in my mind, of confusion and fear and glowing green eyes. It so disorienting it makes me nauseous, as words and images filter through my reality.

I feel a pair of phantom arms wrapping around me, the same shape and feel of the ones that hold me now. I see the outlines of trees and hear the crunching of leaves; the noise seems to resound off of the pure darkness that surrounds us.

"Hey, are you okay, Abby? I really didn't mean to scare you..." 

I remember his voice, now. I remember the world fading away. But why was I in running in the woods in the first place?