Different

Bruises

My body ached when I awoke. Not only was it was my body but my eyes too. "Shit", I exclaimed when the light burned my eyes. When I sat up I felt something russel with me. I looked down and saw a black comforter sitting on my lap. "Good afternoon." I turned and saw him staring forward at the quiet road we were on. Something felt wrong when I examined the car and the three seats I was laying on. Looking at the mans arm I spotted a bruise then looked to examine mine. My right arm has two giant bruises and my left only had one. They hurt to the touch. I turned my waist to put my feet on the floor then leaned against the back of the passenger seat.

The road appeared empty.

What's missing? I looked back down at my wrists and saw a ring bruise around them.

No rope?

In the corner of my eye I could see Lenny look at me when he turned back to the road. "No thank yous?" He said as I stilled leaned on the seat. "Hm" I said tiredly. I looked up again and made eye contact.

My heart shot up. "Hold up, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I said finally in a full sentence.

"Kidnaping you."

That blunt answer made me pause. "WELL IF I COULDN'T FUCKING TELL."

"YOU FUCKING PSYCHO!"

"Awe.. so that's how you feel?"

"TAKE ME HOME."

"No can do."

"WHY?"

"We're too far from your home. Just consider this your house now."

Anger boiled up in me.

"I'M GONNA CALL THE COPS"

"Go ahead." He threw his phone at the back seat. I looked at him suspiciously as I reached for the phone. The clock read Monday 3:54pm. 3:54? Wasn't it just around 6? The phone was sitting in my hand when I started to remember what happened this morning. He assaulted me. Anger built up in me as a shiver soon came across. I let a killer sleep on me. What if he did something. Fear struck. What if he poisoned me with something that makes me die slowly and agonizing. I looked at the phone quickly, the screen now off. I clicked it on.

About to swipe it open it vibrated in my hand. Unfocusing then focusing my eyes locked on the two words on the screen. No Service. "HUH?"

"Are you serious?" I said out loud.

a "Pft". I heard from the front seat "I told you to call them."

Leaving the phone and leaning against the seat again I sighed. "Hungry?" His hand moved when I heard something rattle. He pulled his hand back to me and handed a box of Sour Patch Kids. "Weren't these mi..." "Yep the Jujyfruits and the slushie were great, Thanks kid."

I looked over and at the cup holders. One has the empty cup and the other was filled with change.

A battery rattled on the passenger side, about to fall on the ground. I reached my hand out to grab it when he grabbed my arm. "You know you're kind of chill for being kidnapped."

"What is there to do." I said tiredly.

"Awe , well since you're like this I'd like you to know that we used your car."

I processed my thoughts for a moment. "My car?"

"Yeah someone nicely filled up the tank before we left."

"Where is it?", I said confused.
"You want it back?"

I gave a dirty look.
He moved his hand in his pockets and pulled out my car keys and handed them to me. "We left it back awhile ago when that sucker ran out of gas. So I went and rented this van.  I know too well that the other car will soon be searched for. If you can find it, it's all yours."

That bastard. I was pissed.

I still leaned on the seat since my body were too sore and stared at the road, trying to map out our location. Sadly all I could see was fields and the black tar road.

My eyes zoned out. "Why are you doing this to me?" I blurted out slowly.

He didn't say anything.

I turned and looked at him. "Why you ask?"
"Well I mean, I am here with you and not at my own fucking house." The meeting I miss this morning came to mind.

"I need to keep watch of you."

"And why is that?"

"You know info about me." We both were quiet for a minute.

"And because you do, I don't know if you'd keep your mouth shut."

"So I have to go somewhere with you?"

"Yes or I couldn't see you again."

"Why, wouldn't that be good?"

"Some feds two nights ago broke into my apartment. I had to leave quickly with no time. I figured they'd ask around. But you're the only one who knows anything."

I don't understand this mans mentality of "not trusting anyone" what a stickler.

I still sat on the floor scared at myself. Scared at the fact that I wasn't afraid of him. I hated him.

The sour patch kids wrapping made a krinkle when I touched the plastic. I opened it and grabbed a blue one. Then cringed as the sour taste hit my tongue. I hadn't eaten anything in a day or so, my stomach ached a little after it went down.

The drive was silent after that.

I spent the time staring at the bruises on my arms.