You Won't be the Last

The rough carpeting scrapes against my face. My wrists ache as I keep twisting and trying to pull them apart. I can feel the hum of the road below me. I can’t see but I can tell it wouldn’t be of much use anyways. We come to a sudden stop, and I slam against the side of the trunk.  

Please don’t let this be our last stop, I think to myself. Then the car jolts again and I slide to the opposite side of the trunk. And even though my head hurts I say thank you aloud. I continue trying to pull my wrists apart or kick out one of the taillights of the car. I don’t even know if we’re driving on a populated road. Would anyone see me if I could do something? I bring my arms up to my face and start tearing the duct tape with my teeth. I get a small rip and start trying to pull them apart again when the car stops again. I sit still and wait for it to continue but it doesn’t. After a minute I heard the door slam.  

No. No, please. Not yet. I just need a few minutes. Then I hear the backdoor door open. Thank you. I pull the blindfold over my head and sit myself up. I try to pry my arms apart, but the tape barely rips again. Shit. I keep pulling until I hear the door slam again. I ready myself for whoever might open the trunk. Ready to kick and scream until I can get away. The trunk cracks open just a bit and I hear a voice.  

“I have a knife.” the voice says. They sound scared. “If you come out quietly, I won’t use it. I’m even going to give you a head start.” They laugh. I see a shadow move off to the side of the car. Then the trunk starts rising more. I move to the edge, ready to run as soon as they let me. 

“Ready?” they ask. Then without waiting for an answer, “You have ten seconds. Go.” the trunk opens fully. I jump out of the back of the car and start running. We’re parked in what seems to be the middle of the desert. I look back at my captor and see a mousy looking young man. I could easily overpower him if I tried, I think. Then I turn and continue running. After a few more seconds I hear a car door slam. I look back expecting to see the car coming after me but it’s just the man. He’s running after me with unexpected speed, gaining on me quickly. I increase my pace trying to outrun him, but he tackles me. My chin comes down on a rock and my jaw slams together. He yanks me up by my hair and holds me in front of his face.  

“Such a pretty girl.” He says stroking my face with his other hand. I jerk away from him. 

“Fuck you.” I say through gritted teeth, spitting in his face. I throw my, still bound, arms out wildly until they strike something. My hands connect with his side, drawing out a small oof. He grabs my arms and starts walking dragging me along after him, back to the car. I try to catch my legs onto something to slow us down but he’s stronger than he looks and just keeps walking.  

“You keep fighting and it’s just going to be worse for you.” He mutters over his shoulder. He gives a hard tug on my arms that yanks me loose from the hole I caught my foot in. I twist my arms around trying to pull loose from him but he’s holding onto the tape, so it doesn’t help much. At least I managed to run far enough away so it’ll take a while to walk back to the car. I catch my foot on another rock and yank my arms at the same time. He stops walking, lets me fall on the ground, and turns to face me. I sit up and struggle to turn myself around, my clothing catching on the small rocks.  

“Ever the fighter, are we? I’ll fix that.” He bends over and picks up a rock. It’s not huge but it’ll do some damage if he hits me. I curl my legs up some as he stands over me. “It’ll hurt less this way you know. But keep struggling if you want. I like a challenge.” He leans in to whisper the last bit in my ear and when he does, I throw my legs out and kick him in the chest. I see the wind go out of him as he falls backwards. He catches himself on his elbows but stays down. I quickly jump up and run over to him. 

“You want a challenge huh?” I say. “I’ll give you one.” I kick him again in the side.  

“Fucking bitch.” He wheezes.  

“You’re right. I am.” I say then I bring my foot down on his face and hear the crack of his nose. I turn and run to the car while he struggles to get up. Hopefully he left the keys here. I hear him panting behind me. He’s not far already. I slam into the side of the car and open the door. I reach for the keys, but they aren’t there. Shit.  

“Looking for these?” He says panting and holding the keys in front of my face. I make a grab for them but quickly realize I made a mistake. He grabs my arm and pulls me out of the car, over his shoulder. I scream and he throws me off him and onto the ground. This time I lose my breath. While I’m still struggling to take a breath, he starts dragging me by the legs. I kick out at him, but it does nothing. There’s blood still running down his face and his nose is crooked.  He reaches into the still open trunk and pulls out a knife. My eyes widen at the sight of it, and he smiles looking down at me. “Nice huh? I got it from my dad.” He laughs like he’s talking to a friend and not somebody he’s about to kill.  

I start to back myself away from him slowly. He stands over me and takes steps to keep up with me. He reaches down and grabs my shirt. 

“Oh no. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon.” He smiles.