Around The World With You

ELEVEN: Revelation

It was a moonless night and the clouds in the night sky hung dangerously low. Only the faint glow of street lights provided my eyes the liberty to see. A couple of luxurious cars roared by and soon the road was empty. I didn't see Jake anywhere. I turned a right.

The few tall trees of the park popped into my sight. I started a brisk walk, eager to reach the park as soon as possible. The dark night was creepy and I didn't think I could walk in that darkness alone anymore. Every step I took made it seem like the trees growing smaller.

I heard the rustles of leaves.

Alarmed, I whipped my head around and scanned every direction to spot no one. The houses around were on 'lights out' mode by now. Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, I prepared to walk faster. My heart thumped and my nerves rocked back and forth.

It was so dark. So, so dark.

A lamppost appeared to be disappearing as the light bulbs on top of it flickered and died out. My heart seemed to be galloping right then. I couldn't take this anymore. I needed to get to the park.

It was still what looked like a mile away.

Sweat trickled down the nape of my neck as the lowly night turned another shade. A darker shade. Soon the only things I could hear were the slap of my feet and the intensity of my heavy breaths.

Where are you, Jake?

No, not the Jake who just ran away. The Jake that was in my head. The one that kept me calm through situations like this before.

Where are you when I need you?

That same rustle of leaves entered my hearing. I looked left and right.

No one.

But I made a big mistake.

I didn't look back.

Tough hands grabbed my mouth and torso and pulled me back. I flailed my hands and attempted to scream but not a single sound wave of my voice echoed through the neighbourhood.

I bit the hand that held me like I was a hungry vampire on the biggest hunt of her life. But he didn't even bat an eyelash. He pulled me harder, pressing me at the torso and throwing me against a wall. I couldn't see his face, it was too dark, but by his build, I could figure he was very strong. My underused muscles were useless against him. His right hand was pressed against my mouth and his left hand hung idle by his legs. I lifted my knee upwards to make his lights go out but he sensed it too fast and pressed a sturdy hand against my knee and pressed it back into the wall.

Hard.

My jaws tightened with pain and an ache shot up from my leg.

Who was this guy? Why was he doing this to me?

He grunted and leaned closer to me so I could hear crystal clear.

"I am Darkness."

I open my eyes and take heavy breaths. I was standing on the street. There was no attacker. It came to my realization that it was all just a panic attack. Shaking, I rush to the safety of the white lights of the huge park. I cursed at how my imagination could go very wild sometimes. 

My body fills with the happiness of relief as I stepped under the arched gate. I walked over to the same bench I sat on while waiting for Blake to wait and figure out where Jake could be now.

"Where have you gone, Jake?"

He said he had no place to stay and his credit card didn't work. My heart pained for him as I started to realize how mean I was to him. I bent down and buried my head between my knees, hating myself for being so stupid and scaring him with all this other worldly stuff. Jake was just another boy who needed my help. And I ignored his cry and acted selfish in the whole situation. Great start to getting to know him.