Comatose

3. The man in the khakis

A tall man, who appeared to be in his mid-20s, slowly came toward from behind the trees. I was startled, for I wasn’t expecting another human to be roaming around in the middle of the desolate area. As he made his way closer, his body was starting to take shape. I saw a dark skinned man with curly hair. He wore a white button up shirt and khaki pants that looked like they were freshly pressed. I was more confused than scared. I sat in silence, choosing not to move as the man came closer to me.

“What are you doing around these parts?” the man smiled as if he already knew. His voice was deep, but smooth. It was calming, and the fear that was inside me began to fade.

“I fell down those rocks,” I said as I pointed to the waterfall.

“Why would you wanna climb up there?” my confusion began to set in and take place of any fear that had entered my body.

“I wasn’t climbing up I was coming down,” I stammered, “from the top of the hill. I just came to see the waterfall and I fell down those rocks and cut myself.”

“I see that,” he said as he grabbed my arm to help leverage me up to my feet. “Come on, let’s get you to a doctor.” he ushered me towards the trees behind us. It seemed as if we were going into the complete wilderness. I looked around to see if there was any possible sign that other people could be around, but I saw nothing other than trees, rocks, and water.

“Wait, where are we going?” I asked as I tried to pull away.

“The doctor,” he reinforced as he let go of my arm. I immediately fell back to the ground. The man quickly helped me back up to my feet. “I’m just trying to help you. What is your name?”

I wasn’t sure if he was leading me through a short cut in the woods to a real doctor or if he was trying to kidnap me, but either way, that fear had set right back in. I had no options. The pain in my leg only became stronger and I was becoming weaker. “Are you going to kill me?” I asked bluntly. “If you were a bear I was going to let you eat me alive but I change my mind. I would like to die very quickly.”

The man looked very surprised he helped me off my feet. “Do I look like a bear to you?” he stated more than questioned. I didn’t answer. Instead, I let my eyes dart around the forest we were now traveling through as I held on to my potential kidnappers arm. “My name is Allan.” I didn’t reply because I was too anxious as I predetermined my future.

            We traveled deeper into the woods, and my body felt like it was going to collapse. “Are we almost there?” I managed to whimper through my dehydrated mouth. I felt my grip on Allan loosen as I slowly fell to the ground. I was becoming dizzy and everything seemed to become a blur. My head was pounding in slow motion and the world began to fade into a clear darkness. Although weak, I wasn’t entirely unconscious yet. I could feel Allan pick me up into his arms and carry me for what felt like eternity. At that moment, I honestly didn’t care what happened anymore. I didn’t care if I was dead or alive; I just wanted to be better.

            My body eventually felt at rest, almost dead. I wasn’t sure if I was sleeping, or dreaming, or something in between. I knew I was rested, but my body wasn’t prepared to move. I slowly opened my eyelids to find myself in a place all too unfamiliar.