It Was Just a Dare

Anna

[19 August, 2018]

Some people would say my life was a living hell and I wouldn't disagree with them; however, I would say that it was tolerable. I would say that I was just like any normal child that was being raised: I was being disciplined for doing wrong things, I was given meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner when I was behaving appropriately and I was able to keep up with a good hygiene if I obeyed all commands plus more to follow to get on their good side.

In my opinion, I had no right to complain. And yet I still didn't follow their every command. Why was that? Why couldn't I just obey? Why would I do something so idiotic that would leave me sitting in the dark barn all alone in the mid of night? Who knows? Why does anybody do anything anymore?

Because we react quickly. We all assume that by doing something that is all that thought out that it can solve every single problem.

But in reality it only spirals out into a long long of hatefulness for ourselves with nothing accomplished. Well, unless you call having your hands chained to the post of a freezing cold barn an accomplishment.

I shake in terror as the barn door slides open causing the air to make a chime-effect in the large space from the hanging objects. And just then the same guy steps in wearing his most popular outfit consisting of jeans splattered with paint, a gray t-shirt with a black jacket on top that is zipped up halfway, and his shoes look identical to the ones the he was wearing on the first day we met.

"Hey," he chuckled. "You ready to apologize?"

I stay silent.

"Annie!"

I uncross my legs and move quickly into a squatting position.

"Listen to me," he says losing his mind, "you're punishment is just outside that door," he points behind him, "and I'm just about to let Tyler come in and finish you off."

I stand up, knees wobbling, hands relying on the post for stability, "Please, you don't have to do this!"

Thomas shakes his head and shoves his large hands into his jean pockets, "You know I don't want to, it's just . . . you're forcing me to do this. You put this on yourself."

And with that he walks out, Tyler lightly slapping his shoulder blade. I see him bend a plastic-rubber yellow tube while saying in a hushed voice, "Okay, turn it on. I'm ready whenever you are."

Then, seconds later I hear, "It's pumping."

"Lis, uncuff her." Tyler says.

Lisa shrugs and jogs over to me and warns, "Little girl, you better be prepared to run and hide. He's got a hose and he knows how to spray from a far distance."

She plunges the key into the metal hole and within a second I hear a small 'click' and my wrists fell loosely to my sides. I look up and she her just now leaving the barn and slamming the door shut. My eyes land on Tyler's sinister smirk and immediately know that I'm in deep trouble.

"Alright," Tyler announces as he slowly unbends the hose, "I've got a game for just the two of us to play. So . . .

"Let's play!" He says loud and clear.

I feel my heart stop as the ice cold water hits my chest, then my face and then all over. At first it feels like an electric shock, I try to duck behind the large farm equipment but is no use as the bitter feeling always bursts back into me. Trying to take in if I'm shivering right now is the utmost priority of mine, if I am, then I have a good chance off surviving. But if I have no sign of it then I know very well that hypothermia has began to set in.

The hose finds me once again and sprays its water out. And jut then my hearts starts working overtime as I feel my teeth chattering together, my hands glide down my arms feeling little goosebumps. And that's when I knew for sure that I was still shivering.

But for how long will it last before hypothermia does settle in? How much longer can I last for? Or more importantly, how long can Tyler last 'playing'?

I guess only time would tell because God sure as hell couldn't give me a sign that everything would be okay. He couldn't help me all those years ago, so he definitely has no care left in the world for me.

It seemed to be an eternity before Tyler left me all alone in the barn. Just by peering out of the dusty window to the sky, I could only guess that it was just a couple hours after midnight because the stars were know just fading away as the sun was just badly making a mark on the moonlit sky.

I hoist myself up by grabbing into the nearest pole and slide my bare feet to the barn door just to find out that it's locked from the outside. A sigh escapes my mouth and the familiar feeling of being exhausted enchants me. My eyes drop as I stumble over to the window where I previously sat.

I tap quietly on the glass to discover that it wasn't locked or glued shut like the ones inside. It was unlocked and very shaky. A smile overtook my tired face as I reached to push the window open and when it finally budged, I lug my thin frame up to the small window where I then force myself out falling almost three feet to the moist grass.

I squirm my weary body off the ground as I try to force myself to run to the main road.

The same stunt that was unsuccessfully pulled by myself ten years ago flashed to my mind as I was hopeful to go home. Hopeful to see mom, dad, Alec and Adam. Hopeful to see my best friend.

And then my love, my hopefulness, my life was taken in an instant.

Just as I felt know as a black SUV swerved on the road almost hitting me flew past in a moment.

My head grew dizzy. I feel faint. And a hand grabs onto my shoulder once again just as I fall effortlessly to the pavement.

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