Can You Hear My Scream

Lyra, 9:30 PM

A deer is sniffing me. A deer is sniffing me. Eugh, what the actual heck, a deer is sniffing me.

Too startled to move, I just open my eyes and take in my environment while my brain begins to register what happened. Oh! My phone, does it have low battery?

I took my phone out slowly, careful not to shock the deer that was now munching on the grass. Why wasn't the deer running? Gee, was I that small of a threat?

"I can kill you, you know," I said to Deer casually. The deer's ears perked up, but she continued munching grass anyway. "Yeah, whatever."

I had 23%. Yikes, and 18 missed calls, 68 texts, wow. Oops. I must have fallen asleep for quite a while.

I open up my camera and take a photo of the deer. Unfortunately for me, the flash was on, and the deer ran away.

Ah, it had been a week since that dreadful party. I never wanted to go to another again. Ever since then, this had become my thinking place. I figured out that it is just a twenty minute walk from my home. It was so isolated, and peaceful, and I would often do my homework here after school. Thank god, word didn't get around about what happened at the party...

And by thinking about it, I start breaking down. Ugh, I've been trying to forget and so far, it had been working. Well, until now, that is. I close my eyes, and reopen them, looking at the breath-taking scenery. Who knows if it would get around? They were from high school, anyway.

Which high school? I didn't want to end up going to the same one, though the chances of that were very slim. Why was this so-

"Um, excuse me?" came a deep baritone voice. "You seem to be troubled, miss."

I was frozen in shock. Gah, don't talk to strangers! I smiled politely and replied, "No, sir, I'm fine."

He eyed me strangely. "Alright, miss. If you were, I was going to offer something to help you forget."

Forget? Forget. No way.

"What do you mean, sir?" Gosh, these formalities are butchering me.

"I have a bag," he started, taking something out of his pack, "of these." I inhaled sharply. Sure, I was in eighth grade but anybody would know what those were.

Drugs.

"Would you like some, miss?"

"How much are you charging me?"

"Free sample. Costs money if you want more."

This was such a hard decision to make. Take them, or not? I wanted to weigh the pros and cons.

"You just sniff it?" I asked, cautiously. If I took them, I would be in possession of illegal substances. If I didn't, maybe this man would kill me here. The perks of abandoned places.

Or... maybe I can sell this stuff. I gingerly took a bag, and placed it into my pack. Great. I'm now a criminal.

"You stay here often?" he asked. Yes.

"No. I was looking for nice scenery to do my photography project. Would you like to see a photo?"

"No."

His answer was curt and short as he shook his head. Zipping his bag, he ventured back the way he came. Soon after, I packed my stuff, too, and left. It was getting late anyway, and I didn't think it'd be safe for me here, today.