The Darkness of The Light

A thousand miles

The large man in the doorway slowly comes into view, a sharp smile carved into his face as he lunges towards me, large hand wrapping around my forearm like a vice. He throws me to the ground, a yelp escaping me as my knees feel the full force of the impact, before taking hold of my hair. He chuckles, bringing his face down to mine and grabbing my jaw, examining me like a piece of meat.

"Sarah, you sly fox you, you really kept us on our toes there for a minute, and that was very, very rude." He growls, yanking on my hair. I wince.

Thomas's eyes snap up to the man, "It's not her fault, John! I'm the one who brought her out here. Don't...Don't hurt her. Please." Worried eyes lock with mine for a moment.

John tuts, shit-eating grin still plastered on his face,  "I knew we couldn't trust you since the beginning of this ordeal. You were just too young to understand the importance of our business." He sneers slowly, as if Thomas is too incompetent to understand him.

"Just let them have me. I'm just as useful." Thomas pleads, nervously inching towards the man.

I feel my breath catch in my throat and almost involuntarily begin to speak, "No, John wants me. This whole problem is about me being sold, so I'll go." John roughly pushes me to the floor, laughing as I grimace.

"She was wasting my time with her stammering on. We should get to business." He pulls me to my feet by my hair, my eyes watering as he drags me through the door. Thomas trails behind, an indescribable look of fear in his eyes. I desperately reach out for his hand, falling just short of brushing his fingertips. I hold back tears, refusing to let this man see me in a weak position just so he can use it against me. "Well, Thomas, we wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble if you had simply cooperated. Instead of helping with business, you ran off with your little girlfriend and got caught up in your feelings. Dumbass." John finishes, throwing me into the back of a trailer and speeding off, sending me tumbling around like a piece of scrap metal.

I can't see anything. The darkness that surrounds me is so familiar, yet still so unnerving. I think back to Thomas and his smile. I think of my old friend, regretting not spending more time with her when we had the chance. I feel myself crying again, hot tears streaking down my cheeks. I wasn't aware that I was cold until this point. Suddenly, the truck jolts to a stop, sending me flying through the trailer. I hear who I expect to be John get out, and come to the back. He opens the trailer and drags me out into the driveway of a large house.

"Is this the place where your customer lives?" I ask, thinking that the house is vaguely familiar.

John replies, "Oh no, I just thought you should do us a little favor. You know, as a 'thank you' for not shooting you in front of dear, sweet Thomas. You see, we need some money, and the family in this house happens to have a good amount. They're old friends of a sort, but not to us. Something tells us you're exactly the person we need to make 'em give in." He puts on a ski mask and takes out a pistol from his pocket, emptying the bullets from the magazine, "I don't plan on killing no one, oh no. I just gotta give 'em some high stakes." Another man in a ski mask emerges from the truck with a little knife, unfolding it. One takes each side and pulls me toward the house. They make ring the doorbell, and an older woman appears at the door. I feel like I know her, but I don't have the time to ponder her identity when the men begin to act. "BACK THE FUCK UP BEFORE WE BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT!" They yell, storming in. "You go make sure they stay away." John whispers, shoving me in the direction of the frightened cluster of people. I follow his command out of fear of that knife.

I plant myself near the family, keeping them  huddled together. I turn my back to them, trying to avoid the fear and guilt churning in my throat.

A little voice comes from behind me, "Are you gonna hurt us?" I turn around, and as soon as I do, The two adults, who I assume are the child's parents, go wide-eyed. The mother begins crying.

"Ma'am, why are you acting like that?" I ask, trying desperately to figure out how I know her. Before she can open her mouth, the realization hits me. "Mom?!" I whisper, my stomach dropping. She nods, tears pouring down her cheeks. My mind is flooded with memories I tried to erase, and I fully understand the reality of why they used me for this mission. I plead with myself to fight the fear that glues me to my spot, finally breaking its hold. "I'll be back for you." I whisper, sprinting for the door. The moment I bust through the frame, I hear an array of frantic sounds coming from both in front of and behind me.