The Uber

I wish I had done something.

Thoughts of that uber ride still send shivers down my spine to this day even though it has been a year. 

I was expected at my sister’s house but since I still hadn’t bought my first car yet, naturally, I got called an Uber. As my Uber driver pulled up to my house, I didn’t know what awaited me.

While I was waiting for the Uber ride to come, I decided to check his Uber profile and see his rating, Oddly enough, there wasn’t a single rating. Nor did it show when he joined as an Uber driver. Well, I didn’t know what to do.

As I slid into the backseat of the car, I took note of every nook and cranny of the car in case something bad was ever to happen. I noticed that the driver’s seat was more laid back than it should have but I dismissed it. I also noticed that all the windows were tinted black too. But what could happen, right?

As for the driver.. you could say he look intimidating at the very least. His stubbly unshaven beard and deep circles under his eyes did not help my growing anxiety. And his eyes. His deeply sunken eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep and seemed to look directly into my soul. I greeted him but all I never got a response. He just looked at me from the rear mirror and started to drive.

My sister’s house is about thirty to forty minutes away depending on the day and traffic. Since it was Sunday, I had a feeling the roads would be a bit empty. I was right, of course. But the route the driver was taking was very unfamiliar to me. I take my phone out and immediately go on the map app. He was definitely taking a route that didn’t even go to my sister’s house. Actually, he was taking the route that was the very opposite way to my destination. I immediately sent my sister my location and told her about the situation and to get help. I didn’t let any emotions wash over my face because I knew if I did, this situation would get a whole lot worse.

At this point, it’s been over 30 minutes and I feel panic creeping towards my body like spider veins. I was seated at the seat right behind the driver’s seat and I could see that he would steal glances at me but I would pretend that I didn’t notice. 

I was too busy trying to figure out where he was taking me that I didn’t feel the slithering sensation near my right ankle at first. To my horror, it was that man’s hand stroking my ankle as though this is very normal. 

The one time I didn’t have my taser in my bag.

I looked at him dead in the eye and said, “What do you think you’re doing?”

His hand jerked away from my ankle a little and processed to pretend to search for something under his seat. His deep raspy voice sent shivers down my spine. “I’m looking for my inhaler, ma’am. I must have dropped it around her.”

Hah, inhaler. I knew exactly what he was doing. But instead, I said, “I can look for it, you should just focus on driving.”

He didn’t answer but just nodded. I relaxed a little, satisfied that he stopped. But that feeling soon came to a halt when he started stroking my ankle again, this time going higher and higher, all the way to my thighs.

This time I put his hand back on his lap and said, “If you try to do that again, I’ll call the cops.” 

The driver laughed. It was a strange noise, high pitch but also low pitch. He caught my arm and twisted it to the point where I cried out loud. His breath stank of nicotine and alcohol, “If you tell the cops, I’ll make sure they never find you again.” I tried to squirm away from him but my strength was no match compared to his. He let me go and I scrambled to the backseat as utter fear washed over me. 

I didn’t know what to do. I made sure he didn’t see me as  I checked my phone to see if my sister had done anything and to my relief, her text said that a cop car was following me but it had the sirens off for my protection. 

My growing anxiety and panic came back when I felt his long, slender fingers on my ankle again. This time I slowly peeled his hand away but didn’t say anything, I was just staring at the rear mirror, staring into his hungry eyes. 

That’s when I felt the car picking up speed. I tried to look over the seat to see how fast he was driving but he shoved my head back so hard that I hit my head against the window and blacked out. 

It was the smell that awoke me. As I opened my eyes, they adjusted to the dark that surrounded me. I sat up with a jerk, instantly regretting that after as I got more lightheaded. I looked around to find myself still in the Uber, but no driver. I scrambled to find my belongings only to realize they were not there. Of course, he left me here to rot and took my stuff. I got out of the car and took in a deep breath and stretched. After I was feeling a bit refreshed given the circumstances, I saw that the driver drove the car deep into a forest. It was even darker outside than it was inside the car. I wondered around trying to find a road and suddenly realized this was the forest right behind my sister’s neighborhood. I ran like the wind with the little energy that I had left and didn’t stop until I got to my sister’s porch, only to find her sitting there, crying. I ran into her arms and stayed there until the police came.