Unmasked

Chapter 11

I sat on the top of the staircase clutching onto my now bandaged stomach. I haven't ate anything in about 3 days and I needed some food in my system. The stomach pains and cuts weren't helping.

I shut my eyes tightly before taking a big breath to calm my nerves. I slowly stood up from my crouched position, wincing at the pain in my stomach, making me clutch onto it tighter.

I took another big breath before placing my foot on the first step. Suddenly two hands grasped onto each side of my neck, like a pressure point. My breath got stuck in my throat as I recognized those filthy hands.

"Ah ah ah." He teased, digging his fingers deeper into my neck. "I'll help you down." He whispered into my ear. My eyes grew wide, and as I was about to protest he roughly let go and gave me a big push down the steps.

A shriek escaped my mouth as each step dug into my side. There was going to be many more bruises. I heard a low chuckle as I was plummeting down the steps. Each bruise on my body started erupting in pain again as I crashed into the steps. Everything was so fast, before I knew it I was at the last step and heard a loud crack. I looked down at my ankle and saw a disfigured mess. I looked up at Zach with glossy eyes, but he was standing there, laughing. Laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world that I was in pain.

My ankle was throbbing and it was definitely broken, but I had to escape before he ended up hurting me even worse. Or ended up killing me.

I took a shaky breath, before getting up on both of my feet. I really thought my foot was going to fall off, but this was my only chance. I had to get away, at least for a little while.

I took a look at the door and back at Zach, and bolted for it. I heard thumps racing down the stairs, but I was quicker. I opened the door and slammed it shut in a second. I raced down the moldy steps, with my ankle cracking even more.

I used all the strength I could muster up from inside of me, and I ran. I ran as fast I could, turning left and right or in a straight line. The world beside me was like a blur, the only thing you could see were grays and blacks. My ankle felt like it was on fire, but I kept pushing past the pain, ignoring it as much as possible. My mind drifted to Cory. What was he doing right now? Would he expect someone he knew to be going through this? Then my mind drifted to the rest of the world.

What were they doing right now?

Surely other people are going on about their normal lives, cooking dinner, eating popcorn at the theatre, watching a new movie. And here I was, running away from all my problems. Hiding myself from the monsters that don't just hide in the closet or under your bed. No, they hide everywhere. I was running away from the reoccurring nightmare, that was my life.

The adrenaline in my veins was pumping, and I had the want to just keep running. To keep trying to wake up from this nightmare, to hide myself from the monsters I can't outrun.

So I ran faster.

I ran as fast as my feet would carry me. Looking down at the side walk it was like a blur. I felt my whole entire body aching and pounding, feeling like ten pounds of bricks were dumped on me.

All of the bruises that were littered throughout me, left agonizing pains with every movement I made. I felt my ankle break and dislocate even more, with every step I take.

As each turn passed by, I knew I was lost. My pace slowed down, but even when walking my world was still a blur. My vision was cloudy and I kept seeing specks of black, but I was sure I wasn't running anymore. My eyes started to become droopy, and I struggled to keep myself in a straight line when walking.

I turned to my side to catch onto something so I wouldn't fall, but there was nothing. My efforts to catch myself didn't work, because I ended up on the ground. Seconds later I couldn't see anything else but black.