AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s only going to hurt for a second,” he says before a burning pain shoots through my body.
My cracked lips open and a scream escapes my mouth as I arch my back. The sound of birds flying from the nearby trees follows.
“That’s it.” The one lets go of my arms and then cuts through the rope, freeing them.
The other stands up off me, and I roll onto my side, holding my chest as I feel like my heart may explode. “If you last twenty minutes, I’ll be surprised.” He chuckles. “We’ll give you a three-minute head start. Don’t want to end the game too soon.”
I pry my swollen eyes open and look around aimlessly. I feel drunk, like the world is tilted on its side, but I realize I’m still lying on the ground.
Using my left hand, I push myself up to a sitting position as my back screams in protest. I can’t feel my right hand at all. My feet tingle, and my stomach rumbles. I’m so hungry.
Something around my neck gets my attention, and I reach up to feel a collar. My trembling fingers move to the back, and there’s a lock on it. Pulling on it, I hear a bell of some sort. It’s me. They’ve given me a cat collar like Saint had. But the leather is thicker and heavier.
“You’re wasting your time,” someone says, and then a boot is shoved into my back, pushing me forward.
I get to my feet and fall. My legs are so weak they tremble.
“Why isn’t it working?” the other asks, and I have no clue what he’s referring to.
“Maybe she needs more. I didn’t want to overdo it,” the first one says.
“Run, bitch!” one orders.
Getting to my hands and knees, I begin to crawl away from them. The stupid bell rings as my body moves mechanically. I fall on my face, and they laugh.
“We’ll give you ten minutes,” one states. “It’ll be better if you actually have the strength to fight us.” The door shuts, letting me know they returned to the house.
I lie on my stomach, my head to the side, staring at a squirrel not far from me as my heavy breathing moves the leaves that cover the ground. Taking everything I have, I get back to my hands and knees and crawl as far as I can as fast as I can.
I’m a fucking turtle. Tears sting my swollen eyes, and I hate myself for crying. I’ve done it so much in the past few days.
The door opens once more. “I think you’re ready,” one says.
And I dig my hand into the ground, feeling the dirt under my nails.
“It’s okay, Ashtyn. We’re going to play with you first,” one taunts.
I scramble to get behind a large tree and press my back into it as they laugh. Looking down, I see a small puddle of water. It’s from the guy hosing me down this morning after he whipped me. I push my hand into it, digging my fingers into the mud and grabbing a handful. Bringing it up, I cover the bell connected to my collar. Squeezing my hand around it, I try to fill the small holes with mud. If I can pack it full of it, you won’t hear the bell when I run.
It doesn’t work like I want it to. So I lie down, getting my face and neck as close as I can to the puddle and grab another fistful. I do it a few more times until there’s not much left, and I shake the collar. Tears of relief fall from my eyes when there’s no ringing.
Getting to my shaky legs, I press my back into the rough tree and take a deep breath. It’s now or never. They gave me the opportunity I’ve been needing. No one will ever find me out here. Wherever the fuck here is. I have to do this on my own. Save myself.
I push off the tree and run as fast as I can in the opposite direction of the house and farther into the woods.
Have you ever had those dreams when you’re running for your life, and one of your legs doesn’t work? You drag it behind you? That’s what I feel like right now. I have no shoes, no clothes, and no fucking clue where I am, but I’m running for my life. I can feel my pulse racing and blood rushing in my ears.
I refuse to look back. It’ll just slow me down. I’m sucking in breath; my side aches, and I can’t hold back the sobs of relief at how close I am to freedom. I try to be quiet, but it takes everything I have to stay on my feet. They hurt so bad as I step on sharp objects and twigs. I trip over a log covered in leaves and land on something sharp that takes my breath away.
Rolling onto my back, I blink looking up into the night, seeing all the stars twinkle as my shaky hand comes to my side. I whimper when I feel something sharp sticking into me. It’s glass.
Looking to the right, I see the reflection of brown glass. It looks like part of a broken beer bottle, and if I had to guess, I’d say it’s part of what’s embedded into me.
“Ashtyn? Here, kitty kitty.” I hear the altered voice. “Come on,sweetheart, be a good pussy, and let me catch you.”
“Dude, that’s so fucking stupid.” The other laughs.
They don’t sound really close, but the fact I can hear anything tells me that I’m too close. Slowly, I get to my feet and keep going in the direction I was headed.
