Drained

Chapter Four

          It had been about a month and a half since my encounter with James.  I had finished my finals for my first semester in college, and I was helping Sydney get ready to head home that weekend for winter break.  I was so relieved to be done with homework and studying for a while, but my mind continued to wonder back to James.

          I hadn't seem him since he dropped me off at my dorm, and I had no way to contact him.  After so long, I eventually figured that I would never see him again.  I only wished I had gotten his phone number or even a last name.  I tried to shake these feelings away though.  I had to get over it.

          I wished that I would be able to go back home like the most of my classmates.  They didn't realize how lucky they were to have family to go back to.  The car accident that took my parents left me completely alone.  I was glad to be rid of homework for a while, but it was also a great distraction from the darker aspects of life.  While lost in thought, Sydney's voice pulled my back to reality.

          "Lindsey, we're out of soap!  Would you mind running to the store?  I promise I'll get it next time!" Sydney hollered from the bathroom.

          I smiled.  "Of course, I'll be back in a little while." It was snowing outside, and Sydney hated driving in this kind of weather.  Plus, her car didn't drive very well through it.  My Jeep did just fine though, so I didn't mind.

          I put on my winter coat and boots and headed out to the parking garage.  The trip to the store wasn't too long of a drive, but I enjoyed the little bit of time to myself.  Sydney was a great roommate and friend, but she could be very loud and didn't have much of a concept of personal space.  These little moments to myself were perfect and the key to keeping our living arrangement a successful one.

          Stopping at a red light, I began flipping through the channels on the radio.  About half of them were blaring Christmas music constantly, but I quite enjoyed it.  Getting into the holiday spirit and all that.

          Suddenly, I was thrown back against my seat as my car lurched forward.  I held my foot tight on the brake, but I had been rear ended by a large SUV.  The slick roads gave me almost no traction as my car was pushed into the intersection.  Before I could even understand what was happening, I heard a loud car horn to my left.  I looked up just in time to see the front end of a pickup truck as it slammed into the driver side of my Jeep.

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          "Goodbye, Lindsey!" The librarian called out, and I waved in return as I left the building. I had been in our college library for hours tonight, and I could finally return to my room and get some sleep.

          It was a cold night walking back from the library to my dorm. I shoved my hands in my coat pockets and sped up my pace. I had stayed in the library studying for way too long, and the college campus was empty.

          Wait a minute, I thought to myself, this seems very familiar.  Then it hit me.  This is the night I got attacked: the night I met James.  But, how is that possible?  This happened over a month ago.  I paused.  If I kept walking, I know what will happen.  That man, he'll grab me.  He'll try to hurt me again.  But James will rescue me.  If I didn't go though, would I still meet him?  My feet were urging me forward, and I couldn't fight it.  I walked towards my dorm, eyeing the alley way that I knew I would soon be pulled into.

          Just as I suspected, as I was passing by that very same spot, I felt two very strong hands grab me: one over my mouth and one around my waist.  I was dragged into the alley and shoved against the wall.  When I saw my attacker's face though, my eyes shot wide open.  It was James.

          "Lindsey, listen to me.  You have to wake up."  James's hand left my mouth, and he began to shake me lightly.  "Come on Lindsey, wake up!"

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           My eyes fluttered open, and I saw a figure right in front of me.

          "Lindsey! Thank goodness.  Stay still.  I'll be right back."  My eyes began to adjust, and I saw that it was James hovering above me.  I had butterflies in my stomach just seeing his face and hearing his voice.  What was going on though?  Why was he here?

          James stood up and left my field of vision.  I was lying down, and I quickly figured out I was too weak to sit up.  I turned my head to the right and saw my Jeep.  My poor car was crushed like a soda can.  I realized that I was laying on a gurney on the road behind an ambulance.  There were multiple police cars and ambulances.  Then, it hit me.  I was in an accident.  I got rear ended and then hit by that truck.  I turned my head the other way to see James talking with one of the paramedics.  James looked very intense, and the other man seemed to just be agreeing with everything he said.  

          James finally nodded as the man walked away.  He turned and walked back to me with a look of concern in his eyes.  He leaned down close to me, and rubbed my temple with his thumb.  Having him this close to me, touching me like he was, my heart felt like it would beat out of my chest.

          "Come on, Lindsey, you're coming with me."