Secrets

Dreams

It was dark. I was driving home from work later than usual. I had to stay after to help clean up the store and organize the shelves some more. I pulled into our driveway.

The weirdest thing was, there was no one home. I didn't see mom or dad's car. And it's already 8pm. Did they pick Jacob up from daycare? I unbuckled my seat belt and pulled out my phone. I tried calling both of my parents, first mom, left three calls and a message, and then dad. Neither answered. I tried a few times more. Nothing. What the hell?

I opened the door and got out. I stretched my back. In the process, I dropped my keys and when I stood back up I felt a hand wrap around my mouth and an arm around my entire body.

I hate Josh's stupid pranks. I was tired enough already. I tried to tell him to stop but it came out, "Mmmmmm."

His arms wrapped tighter around me.
And then I heard his voice. But it wasn't his voice. It was rough, raspy and strained.

"I suggest you stop trying." The man whispered close in my ear.

I freaked out. My heartbeat shot and I couldn't think. I didn't think. I only did. I started elbowing him and kicking and trying my best to scream out for help.

"Hey, Hey! She's not cooperating." He started to drag me. He pulled me away from the driveway. We hadn't got very far before I saw two, bright headlights at the end of the street. I screamed louder, hoping they would notice I was in danger.

"Haha. She's a dumb one. Perfect."

The car came closer and pulled beside us. But it wasn't a car. It was a van. A black van. He dragged me to the back of the van and threw me against the side while I was still in his arms. They opened. "Hurry up! She's not light."  The guy removed his hand and another man came to edge of the van and shoved a plastic breathing tube in my face.

It was already hard to breathe with his hand covering my mouth and most of my nose, and because I was scared. Finally free of his hand, I took a few gasps of air and just before I could get any of the clean, cool night air, the breathing tube was shoved in my face. I accidentally breathed it in.

I felt my muscles relax and my eyes closing. I stopped moving. I started dreaming.

Dreams. They can be scary.

I hope this was just a nightmare all along. And that when I wake up, I'll be back in my bed and happily eat breakfast with my parents and brothers. That I'll be safe.

* * *

It felt like a few minutes. I woke up on my side, staring at the wall. The sun was shining in my eyes. I smiled and sat up. Only to find that I wasn't where I was supposed to be. I was in a room with four white walls, a white ground, and a white ceiling. The only hint of color in the room was the sun shining through a small, small window at the very top of the wall, no bigger than my head. There was an outline of a door on the opposite side of the window but there was no handle. There were cameras in all four corners of the room, and a little hole in the middle of the room in the ceiling for a light bulb.

I heard footsteps from outside the door walking back and forth. I tried standing but I every time I tried, I got too dizzy and sat back down. I crawled in the corner, my back against the wall.

I realized it was around morning or noon. I wonder if my parents know I'm gone.

My phone. I reached for my pockets but felt nothing. No keys, no ID, no gum, no phone. I started crying. I have no idea where I am and why I'm here. I can't contact anyone and tell them what happened. I feel so hopeless.

In the middle of all this, someone was standing in the doorway.

"H-how did y-"

"Here," the man threw me some clothes. "Put these on." He closed the door back.

So it only opens from out outside.

I grabbed the clothes. Scrubs. Something that looked like a doctor would usually wear. They looked new.
I unbuttoned my uniform shirt and saw I had bruises from my arms down to my waist. I changed into the pants and saw I had bruises on my thighs too.  

I'm not even sure I knew fully what they did while I was out. I started shaking again. I couldn't even stand. I fell to my knees.

Someone walked into my room. "You number seven-seven-one?"

I just stared at him.

"What's your number?" He sounded aggravated.

"I... don't know."

He rolled his eyes and walked toward me. He grabbed my side and I pulled away.

"What're you doing?!" My face turning red.

"I'm checking your number. Come here." He pushed me against the wall and raised my shirt. On the left side of my waist, there was a three digit number-771 in green tattoo ink. How did I not notice when I was changing?

"Yup. Come with me." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me outside of the room and into a long, white hallway.