There it was the familiar sound of sirens. I had to get out of there and fast. I ran to the closet and grabbed my backpack. I couldn't get caught again, I couldn't go back to that dreadful place. I left him unconscious and ran out the door. The sirens were getting closer. I wish I wasn't on the fourteenth floor, it's going to take forever to get out of here, by the time I reach the first floor they will be there and they will take me back. Wait, I will just use the hidden escape route.
The sirens grew louder, by the sound of them I could tell they were about a fourth of a mile away. Oh God, please don't let them catch me. I have done this nine other times and only got caught once. I am almost out of the building, when the sirens stop. Oh no, they're here. I just have to get to the end of the hallway and through that door and I will be free, free from the dismal hands of torture. Okay I am at the door now all I have to do is walk through it. I grab the door knob and try to twist it open.
Oh crap it's locked and I don't have the key. As I look around to find another way out, I hear the heavy footsteps running up the stairs. Then out of habit I hide behind the nearest obstacle. When I look at the wall that is on one side of me I notice a big vent and immediately I get my tools out of my backpack and start to get the cover off of the wall. Finally I get it off and put everything back in my backpack. Slowly and quietly I climb through the vent and army crawl through the dark passageways.
I should have grabbed my flashlight out of my backpack it would be so much easier to see right now. But never mind that, I should be thinking about what I should be doing not about what I should have done. I will just have to keep crawling until I find an opening. As I continue to crawl through the vent tubes I freeze at the sound of stomping feet above me. They are closer than I thought. Off further down the tube I see a light, that must be the way out. Eager to get out of the building I continue to crawl.
All of a sudden something or someone grabs my foot and I scream. They are dragging me back. Oh God no they are probably taking me back to that horrid place. "Who is that and what do you want?"
"..." I may not know who it is but I can tell that it's a male, because he has a strong grip.
"Who are you?!?"
"..." No answer again but I know he is real because I am being dragged backwards. I try to fight him but he is so strong, he must work out a lot.
As I continue to fight against him, suddenly he stops pulling and simply says, "Oww, that hurt."
I freeze because I recognize the voice. It's him, but how. Has it really been that long. I was sure I gave him enough to knock him out for at least seven hours. He grabbed my ankles again and started to pull me. I screamed and said, "Chassen, let go of me!"
"Why should I?"
"Because..."
"You drugged me and I am going to make you pay for that. If you think what I did to you before was painful, after I'm through with you, you're going to wish you were dead."
"No please don't."
"Too late for apologies Autumn."
I don't exactly remember what happened after that but I do know that my heart started to pound (and not in the good way) and I had a panic attack. Everything went blank. I was out. When I wake up I am out of the vent and I don't recognize the area. It's dark and I know there are pipes near by, because I can hear the faint sound of water dripping it of the rusty crack in the pipe. I am chained to a cement pillar, my backpack is gone and I have duct tape over my mouth.
Chassen is near by because I can hear him sneering at me for my every move, or he could be sneering at my... wait why am I worrying about that, it's not possible. Even if he has my journal he can't read it because I wrote everything in code, there is no way he can actually figure out what the journal says. I'm the only one who knows it......that's the only way I can keep my stuff secret.
Suddenly, I got lightheaded and couldn't think straight. My eyelids became heavy and I couldn't keep my eyes open. I was getting weaker. Maybe if I rest for a while I'll feel better. Then when I wake up I can try and figure out what is going on. So I drifted off to sleep.
About twelve hours later, I find myself in the same room but it's not as dark. i shouldn't have dozed off, I knew that the nightmare would come back and it did. Why do I keep getting myself into these situations?
"How do you feel, Autumn?" It's Chassen, he was sitting in the corner watching me this entire time.
"Mmm..." I try to speak but I still have tape on my mouth.
"Oh yeah, I forgot you can't say anything. Oh well, it's probably better this way." He looks at me with that sinister, twinkle in his eye.
"How was your little nap?"
"..."
"Not going to answer my question, how rude."
"..."
"Oh well, that's okay." He came over to me and knelt down to talk to me at eye level. "If I remove the tape, would you care to explain why you were running away?"
I nod my head yes.
"Okay good." He slowly removed the tape from my mouth. "There now you can give me an explanation."
"You must be really stupid if you haven't figured that out on your own." I spit in his face.
Then he turned his head and calmly wiped the spit off of his face. He stood up and said, "You little brat, you're going to regret doing that." He, then, kicked me in the stomach.
"Ugh..."
"Yeah you didn't like that did you." Then he kicked me again and I couldn't help but groan and cry. Honestly right now that prison asylum isn't looking so bad.
"You know it's going to take a lot more than being drugged to kill me."
"I..., I..., I wasn't trying to kill you."
"Oh, you weren't. Than what exactly were you trying to do."
"..."
"I'm listening."
"..."
"Hmm, that's very disappointing. Well since you have nothing to say for yourself I guess I should get my tools ready. Just let me put some more tape on your mouth." Before he put the tape across my mouth he punched me in my face and then kicked me in my stomach again.
"Okay, Autumn, while I'm gone don't try anything irrational." He sauntered over to the light, turned it off and left. My stomach was hurting really bad and I was tired and effeminate. So I went to sleep again this time not caring about what I dreamt about. I was at peace.
I was startled by the sound of his duffle bag walloping to the floor. "Well it's about time. You've been asleep for thirteen hours."
"..." I look at him nervously glancing back and forth from the duffle bag to him. I wonder what he has in that thing. When it hit the ground I heard the sound of metal crashing together.
He reached his hand into the duffle bag. And grabbed a bottle of liquor and drank some. Slowly he walks over to me with the bottle in his hand. He knelt down in front of me and told me to look him in the eye.
I tried to open my eyes but one of them was swollen shut, thanks to the greeting that his fist made with my face.
"I said look at me!"
I didn't need to look at his face to know that he had a cynical look in his eye and an evil smirk on his face. I tilted my head toward his face and opened my eyes as best I could.
"Good girl. Are you thirsty?"
I shook my head no, even though that was a lie.
"No okay, more for me." As soon as he spoke I had to turn my head away because of how strong the alcohol came off his breath. Then he put the bottle on the floor over by the wall and came back over to me.
If I'm being honest let me just say that I am really scared because not only is he drunk but he's unpredictable.
"Okay sweetheart, I hear you. I understand that you love me, so I'm gonna go easy on you."
Oh great he's gone delusional. Wait a second, did he just imagine me professing my love to him. Okay he is definitely nuts.
Then he reaches his hand out and softly puts a strand of my hair behind my ear and caressed my cheek with his smooth lips. He removed the duct tape slowly and carefully, as if he didn't want to hurt me. What happened next I'd unmentionable, but once it was over I was relieved. Chassen was to drunk to move and I was enervated. So I just laid my head against his chest and he put his arm around me. For a second I felt happy and he seemed sweet and innocent, but then I remembered what he did to me before I ran.
I awoke the next morning to find myself unchained and completely pressed against him as he was cuddling me like a teddy bear. It felt nice and warm but I needed to try and escape.
As soon as i moved my head Chassen woke up. "Good morning, beautiful."
"Good morning, Chassen."
"Do you want me to go get us some coffee and breakfast?"
"Sure that would be great."
"Okay I'll be back in a bit."
"Okay."
He walked out the door and locked it. He didn't even chain me back to the pillar. I'm either in a basement or a cellar because there are no windows and the walls are cement. I look around the room there is no sight of my backpack but my journal is over by the chair in the corner. I get up and grab my journal and pen. I go sit back down and open my journal to my last entry. Which was: (triangle, square, heart, circle / star, square, oval / diamond, square / half circle, right triangle, half circle, upper leaf / hexagon, upside down triangle, tilted left tear drop, diamond / triangle, square, upside down triangle, square; help, get me away from here.
I flipped to the next blank page and wrote down everything that has happened in the last few days. Then I put everything back to the way it was before.
Chassen returned about five minutes later with two coffees and with some food that smelled delicious. "I'm back. Here is your coffee."
"Thank you."
"Do you want a breakfast burrito?"
"Yes please."
"Well someone has good manners. Did you have enough time to think about your answer?"
"My answer to what?"
"You mean to tell me you don't remember me asking you to marry me?"
"You did what! When did you ask me that?"
"Last night, silly."
"Umm"
"Okay that's fine I can wait until later to get an answer."
I am so confused. I don't ever remember him asking me to marry him.
"Anyway, how did you sleep last night?"
"I was a little cold but other than that I slept fine, you?"
"I slept great, but I'll make sure I get some blankets. How is your coffee?"
"It's perfect but how did you know what I like in it?"
"Just a lucky guess. How is your breakfast?"
"It's amazing."
"Good I was hoping you would like it."
"Can you show me where the bathroom is?"
"Oh yeah, sure. It's right through that brown door."
"Okay thanks." I went in the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Oh my gosh, my eye looks horrible. When I came out of the bathroom Chassen was gone.
"Where did he go?"
I walked back over to where we were eating and finished my food. When I looked where he was sitting I saw that he left a note.
"Oh. Why didn't I think to look over there earlier. 'Sorry, I had to go run some errands. I'll be back shortly. Just throw the trash away in the trash can over by the door. See you later. Bye. Love you.' Well I guess now I have time to think about how I'm going to handle his marriage question." So I throw away my trash away and go sit down to think for a while. Two hours later he returned with a bunch of stuff.
"Hey! Can you come over here and grab some of this stuff?"
"Yeah sure. What is all this stuff?"
"Oh just some blankets and other necessities. So were you okay here alone?"
"Umm, I don't know. It did get pretty boring."
"Well, I won't be leaving again so you won't be alone."
"Okay."
"Come over here and let me fix your eye, I got some medicine while I was out."
"Thank you."
He carefully put the medicine on my eye. I went and sat down at the table while he put all the stuff away.
"I got you an mp3player for when I have to leave you here."
"Oh, thanks."
"It has a lot of different music on it."
"Cool."
Then I saw him put some things in the closet on the top shelf. He walked over to me and kissed me gently on the forehead then went into the bathroom.
As I sat there alone I began to wonder, how drunk was he last night and why didn't I remember him asking me to marry him. We ended up talking for a while.
Two hours later I went in the bathroom and looked in the mirror. "Oh my gosh!"
"What?"
"My eye!"
"What about it?"
"It's completely healed!"
"Yeah I know."
"But how?"
"I wanted to make sure you would be okay."
"That's sweet, Chassen. Thank you for truly caring about me."
"I only want the best for you, Autumn."
"Thanks."
He must be trying to influence my answer to his marriage question. He walked over to me and hugged me from behind while caressing my cheek. Yep he is definitely trying to make me say yes. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to spend some time with you and help you make up your mind on my question."
"That's what I thought."
"I guess you know me very well."
"Just a little but listen I'm kind of tired so I'm going to lay down for a while."
"Okay, well than I'm going to go out for a while but I'll be back."
"Okay, see you later."
After I laid down he left, so I got right back up and went over to the table to get my coffee.
"What was all that noise he was making?"
I look around to try and see what it might have been, then I notice something on the chair in the corner.
"What is that?" I walk over to inspect the object.
"He left me a box of chocolates, a tiny bear, and a note saying 'I just happened to see these while I was out and decided I had to get them for you. To my future wife. I love you.' Oh well that's just great. Now, what am I going to do!"
I am afraid that if I tell him no that he will chain me back to the pillar and do what he was planning to do in the first place. If I say yes I will be stuck with him and he will continue to be kind.
"I need a little time to think."
I grab the mp3player and put on some peaceful music and lay down to relax. Ugh, life is so complicated. Why do I just continue to sit here rather than try to find a way to escape.
As I listen to music and continue to ponder, I lose track of time. Chassen was back.
"Hey, gorgeous."
"Oh. Hey, Chassen."
"Why the long face?"
"I just... Oh you know what never mind that. Where did you go?"
"Oh, I just went out to pick up something."
"What is that something you had to pick up?"
"Just a little something."
"Which is?"
"Never mind that, Autumn. Did you see what I left for you on the chair?"
"Yeah it's great but..."
"But what?"
"Oh you know it's just that..."
"I'm listening."
"Well it's just that..."
"Come on you can give me more than that, sweetheart."
"Chassen, it's too soon. I don't know you that well."
"So..."
"So I can't marry you."
"Oh well that is unexpected."
"I'm sorry, Chassen. I hope you understand where I'm coming from."
"Well that's okay, Autumn, we can wait for a while and then I will ask you again. Is that okay with you?"
"Well yeah sure."
"Okay than we will wait to get engaged."
"Thank you for understanding Chassen."
"Oh, it's no big deal. I actually thought it might be a little to subtle but I went with my gut and took the risk."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine, Autumn. I understand it's to soon and you don't like to move that fast."
"Exactly."
"So we need to get to know each other a little better."
"How do you suppose we do that?"
"Well we could..."
"We could what?"
"Umm, never mind."
"Umm..."
I wonder what he was thinking. He has been acting pretty strange since I gave him my answer. I'm starting to get the feeling that when he said it's fine, that it's not actually fine.
"What are you thinking about over there?"
"..."
"I'm listening."
"Yeah I know you are."
"So..."
"I wasn't thinking about anything."
"Yeah, right."
Why is he so curious all of a sudden? I need to figure out how to get out of here before he really gets curious. Curiosity can be extremely dangerous especially for me and people who get near me.
Something's up, he has been glancing back and forth from me to the closet. What am I going to do? I can't give him time alone but I can't stay with him.
"Autumn, I'll be back in a little bit I have to go get something."
"Okay."
As soon as he left I started rummaging though everything. I have to find something like a phone before he gets back. Otherwise it might be to late. I go to the closet, but I stop just before I reach for the handle. Why did he keep looking at the closet? What is n there that made him not only nervous, but anxious?
"I don't want to go in there. What if he has his ex-girlfriend's dead body in there? There is no way I'm going to be meeting any dead people today. I'm just going to go sit back down."
I sit down and out of the corner of my eye I see something under his pillow.
"What is that?"
I crawl over to his side of where we slept, (which I can't even call a bed because it's like a mat of blankets and pillows on the floor.)
"Are you kidding me!"
Underneath his pillow and blankets he has a laptop, iPad, iPhone, and a Polaroid camera.
"What is wrong with him!?!"
I grab the phone and dial the number for the mental hospital. I would rather go there, than back to the prison asylum.
"You have reached the Maniac Hospital. How may I help you?"
"Hello, I would like to request to be picked up."
"Okay, and what is your name?"
"My name is Autumn."
"Okay, Autumn we will be there in five minutes."
"Okay. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Bye."
"Bye."
Yes I'm safe. After I put everything back to the way it was, Chassen shows up.
"Alright Autumn, we are going to play a game."
"What is it called?"
"It is called 'shut up and let me do the talking.' Okay?"
"Umm, okay."
He chained me back to the pillar and put duct tape over my mouth. Then he walked over to the closet and pulled out the duffle bag. Then he pulled a blowtorch out of the duffle bag.
Oh my God! He is going to burn me to death!
"Are you ready to have the time of your life, Autumn?"
"..." I attempt to scream but there is no point, I have duct tape over my mouth. If only the people from the hospital showed up, before Chassen got back.
"Alright it's time to begin our little game."
He turned the blowtorch on and came over to me. I closed my eyes tight and began to cry. Why does this have to happen to me? He took the blowtorch and began to burn my legs. It hurts so bad. It feels like I'm standing in a fire, letting the hot flames wrap around my legs.
This is it I'm never going to be able to correct my mistakes or meet the right guy. I won't even be able to find my childhood friend. I drift away as a tear rolls down my cheek. I should have tried to enjoy life while I could.
"Autumn, are you still there?"
He pulls the duct tape off but I am still unable to respond.
"..."
"Autumn?"
It's getting harder to breath.
"Autumn, please don't go. I didn't mean to do this. I'm just upset because you told me no, that you wouldn't marry me."
I wish I could tell him what I am thinking right now, because I would tell him that he is one sick person. You don't burn someone with a blowtorch because they rejected your marriage proposal. That is just wrong on so many different levels.
"Please, Autumn, stay with me. I'm so sorry."
I don't understand him. He keeps apologizing when he should be calling the ambulance.
Finally, the people from the hospital show up. Chassen is arrested and I am taken to the hospital. They keep telling me that I will never see Chassen again, but they're lying. He will come back, I just know he will.
YOU ARE READING
One Autumn Day
ActionA girl who grows up running from her past. She is accused of murder. All she does is run and hide. She begins to believe she will never be safe again. And then things change a bit. She runs into her best friend from seventh grade. Will he be able to...
