Twenty years have passed since the death of my beloved Nathan. Twenty years of raising our daughter single-handedly, only to see him again reflected in her porcelain face. I thought for sure my time for love had come and gone. But a recent trip to P...
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The feeling of cold, hard steel rests against my wrists for they are bound together, unable to move. As for my line of sight, I see nothing but darkness. I listen instead to the roar of an engine. And the faint distinct scent of cigarette smoke all around me. My captives are male. That much is clear. Ruthless in their endeavor to complete their mission. Their need to keep me safely tucked away is unnecessary. I sit back in my seat surrounded by those who would kill me should I try and escape.
We've been traveling now for well over an hour and my human body is showing signs of being restless. My lower back begins to ache, my butt going numb for sitting too long. Moving my weight around, the feeling of friction provides relief though it is short-lived. I cross my legs at the knee and it is then I realize that I need to use the bathroom. Fuck. I hate being human again. It was fine when I was one. But once I became a vampire, and the old me had died, never to return. Immortality should've been a done deal.
Well, I guess I was wrong about that.
"Excuse me," I said softly. "Would it be troublesome to find a restroom so that I may empty my bladder?"
"Silence!" A powerful blow strikes me across the face and splits my lip open. I taste blood and remember how good it felt when I had fangs.
"Please," I beg. "If you don't let me use a toilet this instant. I am going to piss myself right next to tweedle dee and tweedle dumb over here."
The familiar cocking of a gun shuts me up as another voice appears from the front of the car. "Take it, easy gentleman. There's no need to be rude to our guest. We're civilized people. Surely we can find a spot to rest for a moment."
The man in question gives the command as I sense the car change speed and veer slowly to the right. A few minutes pass before we come to a complete stop. A door opens and closes as another opens. My captives step out, dragging me along with them. I nearly stumble to the ground, catching my balance against the side of what feels like an SUV. The air is cool this time of night as I shiver slightly and reach up to take my blindfold off.
"Here. Let me help you."
"Thank you very much."
"I'm beginning to see the fuss everyone's making over you."
"Whatever do you mean?" I asked.
But he didn't answer. Instead, I saw his face and memorized it for later. He had to be at least six inches taller than me with short army brown hair. Lime green eyes. Complete with a scar along his left eye. His uniform was special ops as were the rest of his men. Together they formed a wall between the SUV's and the gas station door. I was lead inside and scanned around making sure that the place was empty. Except for the lonely night attendant, my plan was simple, yet extremely dangerous. I doubt I will even survive what comes next the moment my plan goes into action.
The attendant looks up from a muscle car magazine in a drug haze. His eyes are red, his words partially slurred from the recent hit he took before we arrived. My captive asks for the bathroom key which the attendant gladly hands over once he sees the weapons strapped to his body and the half dozen armed men outside. Through the aisle of Oreo cookies and all you can eat bonbons, I'm shoved into the dirtiest bathroom I've ever seen. I almost gag at the sight and thank God that I do not have to go at this very moment.
Leaning against the only clean spot on the wall next to the sink. I spend the next few minutes staring off into space as I carefully plan out my next move. When I feel like I'm ready to begin, a knock at the door announces that my time is up as I turn on the sink and wash my hands. Next, I call out to my captive to help me open the door as the doorknob is stuck on the inside and I can't get out. He tells me to step aside as I crouch down and pray to God this works like how I imagined it.
The door opens and he steps inside. Before he sees me, I've already lashed out with my foot, knocking his leg out from under him as he drops to one knee. From there, I clock him in the back of the head as hard as I can and smash his face against the sink. His large body topples over. But I don't stop there. He hurries to get up. But I've got one more trick up my sleeve. Grabbing the toilet tank cover, I swing it around with all my might as it shatters against the side of his head.
I'm not worried about the noise being heard from outside. What I am worried about is whether or not I'm still in the clear. Panting heavily. I reach for his sidearm and take a couple of spare mags for good measure as I keep low and move through the aisles as quickly as possible, without being seen. From there, I see the attendant moving towards the rear of the store. I corner him with my gun to his head and demand his keys.
"I don't have them on me," he says. "My car's in the shop. A friend drove me here."
"Shit. Okay, you see those men out there? They are not good people. I was kidnapped by them earlier tonight because of what I am. Or what I used to be. And since you don't have a car. I still intend on getting the hell out of here. Are you going to help me or not?"
"There's an exit door through the manager's office right next to us. It leads out the back."
"What lies beyond that?"
"Woods. But you won't be able to see a thing in front of you at this time of night."
I took a deep breath. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. And thanks for your help."
I hurried to find the manager's office, not two steps from where I currently stood as I burst out the backdoor and ran across the vacant lot to the first row of trees up ahead. Moving forward blindly under the cover of darkness. I tripped a few times and may have cut myself a time or two. But even that couldn't stop me from going back there and surrendering myself to them. By now, the guy I attacked must be awake and has ordered his men to fan out and look for me.
How far though? I am not sure. Nor do I care. As long as I keep moving and can see bits of the road through the trees. I know I'm home free. A few minutes more find me leaning against a tree as I stop to catch my breath. My heart pounds in ears. My legs on fire. I conceal the gun along the small of my back with my shirt over it as I wince at the pain that runs down my arm. It stings but it doesn't hurt. Most likely a scratch. I concentrate on my breathing and look up at the night sky or what's left of it anyway.
The stars continue to linger in my presence. While evidence of an early morning sunrise creeps over the horizon near the forest's edge. What little darkness remains I know that I don't have much time left until I'm completely exposed with nowhere to hide. I just hope that luck is still on my side until darkness falls again and that Dracula is on his way to find me.
Author's Note: Yay! The next long-awaited chapter is finally here! *happy dance* I cannot tell you how happy I was when I started typing the words out. I was afraid I'd lost this story in my mind forever. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it. And I'm off to bed. I have to go to work early in the morning. Hugs for everyone.
