Missing by Jahla McCloud

Chapter Nine

I’ve been walking for barely even 30 minutes and I have to stop. I’m kneeling beside a long winding road. I feel like giving up and just starving to death out here in the middle of nowhere. Then I glance up and see a car coming. It takes all I have left to gain the strength to stand up and try and signal to this car that I need help. I’m waving my hands and doing all I can to get there attention.  They stop. Thank the Lord. I start walking.  They get out of their car and come over to me. Then the little hope I had quickly fades away. Once I see who has tried to stop and help me I’m wishing I really had been dead. It’s the man. I try to run but I can only manage a fast limp. “Now do you really think you would get away that easily?” he asks with a smirk on his hideous face. He grabs the collar of my hoodie and pulls to him. He rubs the hair from my eyes and strokes my face. “ I was just trying to help, but if you’re not gonna let me do that I only have one choice.” he snarks. He pulls a small knife from his pocket. Then he lodges it in my side. I let out a ear piercing yelp. He throws me to the ground. I’m lying there trying to catch my breath. The last thing I see is his huge boot coming right for my face.

 I black out for just a few minutes. I try to stand not realizing that he is still here. Before I’m even on my knees he kicks me in the stomach. Knocking all the air out of my lungs, I fall to the ground.

I decide to not even try to get up anymore. I can still feel him there watching me. “ I’m bored with you, I’m leaving”, he says.  I touch my head. It’s wet and gooey. I don’t want to look at my hand. I brace myself and take a glance at it. My hand is covered in bright red blood and pink and clear slime. Another car comes shortly after he’s gone. I crawl to the road and begging and pleading for help. A young woman emerges from the car. “ Oh my goodness! What happened to you? Come with me, you need to get to a hospital right away!” she says in a panicked voice. She helps me into her car and I breathlessly thank her.