𝑆𝐿𝑈𝑇. - mattia polibio

twenty .

"are you kidding me?" i ask, "mattia, we cant walk through the forest alone. maybe we should wait here until someone finds us."
"and what if no one does? we can't risk not being found. we have to go home."
"what about the car? the person is still out there somewhere!"
"they don't want to hurt us," he says, "they probably drove away as soon as they stole the car. seriously, it's fine."
i sigh, "if we die, this is your fault."
"we're not going to die," he laughs, "now come on! you'll be okay."

-

it's had only been an hour or two of walking but my legs were getting more sore by the second.

"can we please take a break?" i ask, "we've been walking for forever."
"yeah," he says, "i need to figure out where we are anyway."
"what?! we're lost?"
"no, no!" he replies quickly, "im gonna get us out of here don't worry."
"ugh! this was the dumbest idea i've ever had. i should've never brought you here," i say with tears starting to form in my eyes.
"hey, hey!" he says, rubbing his hand against my cheek, "none of this is your fault. i know we can get out of this."

i pause.

"okay," i reply softly, "i trust you."
"let's just stay focused. do you remember where the last road we got on was? does any of this look familiar?"
"um," i mumble, "not really."
"fuck," he says, "maybe once we get to the top of this next hill we'll have a better view."
"it doesn't hurt to try," i respond.

once at the top, the lights of our town were finally visible again. we weren't too far, but we were starting to go in the wrong direction.

"finally!!" i sigh, "it's never felt this good to see a walmart."

mattia didn't respond. he was too busy thinking about directions.

"i think if we walk down there," mattia says pointing north, "we'll be able to make it to a main road."
"and then what? we hitch hike?"
"we could probably ask for a phone in one of the gas stations or something. you'll call your parents, right?"
"my parents?! they'll kill me!"
"so what? it's either that or risking your life by getting in a car with some rando."
"i'm more scared of my dad," i shrug, "and we have to at least make it down there first."
"beat you to it!" he laughs, already sprinting down the hill.
"mattia we're not fucking racing again!" i yell, "come back!!"

but it was already too late.

i began walking through the forest, it felt way more creepy when i was alone. the only noise was the sound of my feet crunching on the twigs as i walked. goosebumps ran through my body.

"mattia?!" i called, "mattia?! seriously, come back!"

i finally reached the end of the forest, but mattia was still no where in sight. i tried calling out to him but heard nothing in response.

a car with an older man pulled up beside me once i got onto the sidewalk, "do you need a ride?"
"um, no thanks," i say, "im okay."
"oh come on, i don't bite!"
"no," i laugh nervously, "im good."
"just get in!"
"what? i said no thanks."
"i know what you said," he says, "get in the fucking car."
"but-" i stutter, trying to back away.

he begins to open his door and reach his hand out to grab me.

"get away from her!" mattia yells running up to me, "she said no!"

the man immediately speeds away after seeing another person walking up the car.

"yeah fuck you!" mattia calls before turning back to me, "are you okay?"
"where were you?!" i ask impatiently.
"i was trying to find a store that was open! i thought all these places were open 24/7. who was that guy?"
"i don't know," i say quietly, "he just came up beside me."
"im sorry i wasn't there," mattia replies, "this night has been horrible."
"just my fucking luck," i say, "what if you weren't here? he could've taken me!"
"you're okay now," he says, "that's all that matters. we should call the cops as soon as we find a phone."

we check store after store, trying to see what's open. and finally, mcdonald's comes in clutch.

"how can i help you?" the mcdonald's employee says.
"can we use your cellphone?" mattia asks.
"yeah sure?" she replies, "you guys okay?"
"we're fine," i add, "i just need to call someone."
"can you also notify 911? there was a man trying to get her into his car," mattia says.
"oh that's horrible! of course i will," the employee responds.

"mom?" i ask, putting the phone up to my ear.
"y/n! where are you?! we've been worried sick, you are in so much trouble!"
"i'm fine," i say, "please come pick me up, i'll explain everything."
"where are you? we're getting in the car right now!"
"mcdonald's," i say, "i think it's near newark? and we already called the police. i'm safe, if you were even wondering that."
"im on my way!" she says, "the police? newark? what happened?!"
"just come as fast as you can," i say, "i have to go, i'll call you later."
"please be careful-

i cut her off as i hang up the phone.

"mattia dont you want to call your parents?" i ask, motioning the phone towards him.
"why would they care?" he says, "it's fine."
"you sure?"
"yeah. the cops are almost here anyway. i think they're going to take us down to the station."
"for what?"
"they supposedly found the person who stole my car."

sirens blare as the cop cars pull into the parking lot.

a police officer opens the door, "are you mattia?" he asks.
"yes sir," mattia responds.
"and this is y/n?"
he nods.
"will you two follow me?"

the cop takes us down to the station as mattia predicted earlier. i was asked simple questions about the old man trying to take me before they finally told us to wait in the lobby.

"do you think they're going to show us the guy who stole the car?" i ask.
"definitely," mattia says, "when are your parents getting here?"
"hopefully soon, the police told them i was here a few minutes ago. but you know how far away we are from home... it could take hours."

"get off me!" a voice yells, coming closer to where we were sitting, "i said get off me!"
"sir calm down," a stern voice replies, "we're just going to ask you a few questions."
"it's not my fault! i didn't mean to steal it! i didn't know it was their car!" the voice continues yelling.

a cop walks out, forcing a young boy into the room across from us.

"wait is that- i start.

"david?" mattia interrupts.

word count: 1156

a/n: READING MY OLD CHAPTERS IS SO GROSS i literally cant read my own story❤️ i don't know why i just feel like the starting chapters of this is weird but anyways😹😹 i already have an idea for a new story i wanna start another one once i'm done with this