𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐒𝐘𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐇 ━━ 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐘

two

j a c k

☁︎

i put the finishing touch on my short brown and curly hair, that sits on the top of my head. i look in the dirty mirror that hasn't been washed in ages. my yellow hoodie is way to bright for my liking.

i start to take it off when but stop due to the pain from my cuts. i take it off with one quick tug and throw it in the laundry basket. i go to the closet and find a dark blue nike hoodie.

i put it on and look back into the mirror. my look is descent but still i don't love it. my body looks disgusting. it always does. it's the thing i hate most about myself.

ding

my phone rings causing my wooden dresser to shake. i pick it up and see a notification.

i slide it open and put in my password which is 4218. it's daniel's birthday and the day i asked him to be my boyfriend. as you know he said yes. just the thought of him makes me smile.

i look through my phone for a while, wishing i had the life of people online. but i know i will never get any of it.

i look at the time, realizing that it's 8:54. the party starts at 9. i put my phone in my pocket and walk out if my room.

i walk downstairs to see that everyone is playing monopoly. darrin now joined them. "where are you going, jack?" my mom asks looking up from the monopoly board.

everything goes silent.

"a friends house" i respond confidently.

"what friend" my mom asks again, catching on that i may be lying, which i kinda am.

"eben" i state loudly and clearly.

"no, you're not going, not after what you said earlier" she looks me straight in the eyes. i don't even think she blinked.

"i'm sorry, mom" i plead.

"thank you for the apology, but your not going anywhere" she shakes her head.

"but i'm meeting daniel there!" i cry out.

"tell him your not coming" she looks back at the barely played monopoly game.

"but-" i try to get out another word but get cut of immediately by my mother.

"no buts, your not going" my mom says sternly and gives me a terrifying stare.

i stomp back up the stairs to my room. i slam the door shut. of course i'm going, i just have to sneak out.

my window is already open. i open it more so i can fit through. i look down for something i can climb down on. a ledge in the middle of the house looks perfect to jump to.

i climb out the window and jump to the ledge. the ground is close so i jump. my knees and palms get wet from the damp grass.

i'm in the backyard of my house. the window to where my family is playing is in the front. there are woods behind the house.

i have to go through them and down a dark road to eben's house. i climb the fence over to the wooded area. my feet land safely on the dirt.

the bottom of my shoes are white and now dirty. great.

i start walking through the woods. thousands of trees different sizes and shapes line the forest.

i lose the light from my house so i pull out my phone. i turn on the flashlight and keep walking. i get really scared because it's pitch black and all i have is an iphone flashlight.

snap

a tree branch snaps behind me. i turn around and see a deer. i sigh in relief that it's only an animal. i keep walking and see the lights from the road.

the light gets brighter so i keep walking. i finally get out. i'm relived that i got out safe. the streetlight is bright enough so i turn my flash light off.

ding

i got a message from daniel.

'are you coming?'

                                'yeah, i'm on my way'

i decide the keep my phone in my hand in case daniel texts me again. the light from the lamppost starts flickering. the white van from earlier is here. like that's not creepy at all.

i start walking and look at my phone because i don't want anything to happen to me. if i have my phone, i hope people won't mess with me because i have a form of communication if they try to attack me.

i pass the white van. the windows are tinted so i can't see inside.

i decide to text daniel because if something does happen he will at least know something.

i saw a creepy white van while i was walking. 475 JEC. i think it's following me.

i send it. i look back to see that the back door is open. a person in all black comes from behind it with a rope. oh no.

i run down the street. i take quick glances back and see that it's running after me. it's way faster than me.

i try to run faster but i could never match the speed of it. as i reach the end of the street i'm tackled to the ground. my face skins the hard ground. my phone drops next to me, probably shattered.

the person takes my arms and ties them behind my back. they lift me up and start walking me back to the van.

i try to get out of their grip but it's to strong. i scream but they put their hand over my mouth. i can't do anything to stop this.

we reach the van and they toss me in the back. i scream but this time a piece of duct tape goes over my mouth. i can kind of see the persons face and i know it's a man.

i feel a warm liquid run down my check. a drop of blood appears on my blue sweatshirt. i can't do anything about it because my hands are tied up.

i lean my head back on the cold side of the van. it's just me in that back of a white van. i just got kidnapped.

"bye sweetie" keri kisses the top of daniel's head. "bye mom, love you" "i love you too, stay safe, don't get in trouble, and don't talk to strangers" "i know, i know, stranger danger, it's not like i'm going to get kidnapped" "you never know, it could happen to anybody" "i'll be fine mom"

"its not like i'm going to get kidnapped."

those words replay in my head like a broken record. keri was right. it can happen to anybody. but that anybody had to be me.

i close my eyes and try to forget everything. soon enough i'm fast asleep.

—
sunday
july 8th, 2018
1136 words

-alayna ✰