Dark Abyss

Chapter 2: The Journey

My legs ached, my breathing immutable, lungs burning with fire and my muscles were stiff. I had been running for hours all night and the sun was gone, leaving complete darkness behind. I don't know where I was. All I knew was that to keep running away from where I lived in Oklahoma City.

In those hours I contrived a plan in my head. I was going to bypass to Louisiana. One of Anna's close sisters lives in New Orleans and showing up unexpectedly at her door in a fall, cold night is going to be, oh how do the idiot kids at my school call it? The 'bomb'.

I cradled my arms close to my petite form as I quickened my pace. The baby blue duffle bag hung low in my shoulder while my black combat boots rushed to get out of the eerie setting. My filthy white shirt with blue stripes was crossed at back and had no sleeves which allowed the chilly air to freeze me and make chills run up my arm. My dark blue jeans from Walmart had holes that also aided in decreasing my body temperature.

I know I wasn't walking the whole way to Louisiana. It takes days to cross and reach New Orleans. Anyway, I'm not fit to run a marathon, less likely have the body to walk between states.

Searching my surroundings, this place looked like it was taken out from a 1950 cowboy movie. The deserted site had various houses along the empty streets with all lights off and a vacant park. What topped off the scary feeling was how the wind whispered things in your ear as it passed and the cold fall breeze pinched your skin like needles.

Walking over to a green bench below a big tree dancing with the wind, I set the bag down and rubbed my shoulder. The muscles in my feet were becoming sore and my shoulders prolonged the dull throbbing pain from the hefty shoulder bag.

My eyes shut, trying to release some stress as the whispering wind could not halt the continuous murmurs.

Why'd you ran away?

You're never gonna make it.

Turn around.

Half of my mind spoke before the other fragment pushed its way into my conscious.

Keep going.

You're almost there.

Don't look back.

You're never turning around or returning to those sad excuse for parents that don't even love each other.

You're never returning to your dark abyss.

I felt my conscious slip to oblivion before I could reach and grip it so I just let myself fall into the darkness.

-

Small, quiet murmurs reached my ears. My body was being slightly shaken awake and brought back to reality. My eyes opened as my vision tried to adjust to the new light.

"Miss?" A male's voice was heard. His tone was of concern and the crinkled lines in his forehead explained just that as my eyes adjusted to the sun's early morning rays.

"Where am I?" My voice was groggy as I sat up. Fingers rubbing my sore neck, I stood from the uncomfortable green bench that had been my cot along the night.