Don't Talk to Strangers

XXXI

I sat in the driveway for a long time, just thinking. I wasn't sure what I was going to do then, but I sure wasn't going to go back into the house. Not for a while. 

So I started walking. I didn't know where I was going, but if you don't care much where you get to, then it doesn't matter which way you go. I walked along the winding road until the sky started getting dark. I didn't know exactly how far away from my apartment I was, but I didn't really care. Somehow I knew I'd get somewhere alright.

I got distracted, letting my feet keep moving and my mind wander out of focus. I thought of Dan, sitting alone and awaiting his sentence. How was he doing? What was he thinking? Was he thinking of me? I didn't know what I would do once I got to the trial, especially after I'd presented my side. Hopefully they'd release him, at least on the charges of kidnapping. I sighed. My life was just a mess.

I didn't notice as I came up upon a lonely back street. It might have been the exact same as the street I'd met Dan on, but I didn't have enough time to really think about it. I was suddenly swept off my feet and a cloth was pressed to my mouth.

I gasped, breathing in the strange smell the cloth held. My mind started getting fuzzy. I lashed out, trying to crane my neck to see who was attacking me. My wrists were yanked painfully behind me with a strong, calloused grip. I wimpered and felt tears leak out.

My head felt light and dizzy, but I continued to pull at my arms and stamp my feet. I hit the toes of my attacker a few times, but I was almost sure he was wearing steel-toed boots. As a last attempt, I opened my mouth and bit down on the fingers through the cloth. It definitely wasn't as effective as it could have been, but the fingers flinched and I threw my head back, smashing into his chin.

I heard a grunt and my heart soared with the small victory. The cloth was still pressed to me and I was growing almost too weak to move. 

Then it was as if a lightbulb went off in my head. I sharply bent my knees and fell downward, through the grasp of the man. I landed with a thump on his feet, blinking in shock. I had about five seconds of the man staying confused for me to escape.

I gathered my legs beneath me and leapt out, jumping up and starting to run. But my head started feeling like there were fireworks exploding inside, making me stumble. I cried out as my legs buckled. 

I heard heavy footsteps behind me. Then I felt the cold grip catch my arms again. The cloth was against my nose once again and I collapsed into darkness.