Incubus

Chapter 20

We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all 

~Eleanor Roosevelt

I woke with a start. Where was I? I couldn't remember anything. As I tried to get my bearings, I noticed how cold I was. I shivered, remembering being so warm only moments before. 

What time was it? I blinked, completely disoriented, and looked down. My jacket was gone. No wonder I was so cold. But why was my coat gone? I stood up and rubbed my arms to try and ease the ripples of goosebumps. I had been lying on the ground. But why?

Then everything hit me all at once; the man, the soup he offered me, and the blanket he draped over my shoulders before I'd lost consciousness. He'd drugged me. 

I quickly checked my pockets and saw that he had taken my phone, as well. I cursed at myself for being stupid enough to believe that someone in this neighborhood would be kind to me. You couldn't trust people like that, and I knew better. He had fooled me, and most likely many before me, as well.

How long had I been asleep? It couldn't have been too long; when I looked up, the rain clouds were directly above me. I had maybe slept for a half hour to an hour at the latest, but that had been long enough for him to search me over and take anything valuable I had on my person. I grumbled to myself as I thought about his grimy hands searching my body. I squirmed at the mental picture and forced myself not to cry. My clothes weren't tampered with; everything felt the same, which gave me great relief. But in a way, I still felt violated for having that old man run his hands over me in the search for any valuables. 

Suddenly my anger was no longer directed at myself for being so stupid, but at Emmalyn for going to that assinine party, causing me to search for her in Brownsville. I was only thankful that nothing worse had happened to me while I was unconscious. 

Now what? 

I had no phone, no jacket, and there would soon be a rainstorm. How would I get home? I wanted to cry, and I almost did. But crying would solve nothing; in fact, it might only make things worse. I couldn't make myself look vulnerable in case I would stumble into any other people tonight. 

I sank back against the wall again and drew my legs up to fit underneath my chin. Wrapping my arms around my legs, I tried to preserve my body heat as the draft of wind grew stronger.  Minutes later, the rain hit. 

Perfect timing, Mother Nature. 

As if in response, a crack of lightning shot through the sky, and a rumble followed immediately after.

As I sat in the rain, getting more drenched by the minute, I thought I was going to freeze to death. In fact, I could see myself dying in this idiotic way, all because of my naivety. 

But then someone called out, "Hello? Who's there?"

I knew that voice. Dread and joy spread through me as I drew myself upright and squinted at the figure down the street. He was standing right underneath the street lamp; it was Hayden.

"Hayden!" I exclaimed. I didn't even care why on earth he would be in this area; I only cared that he had found me by some miracle, and would help me.