It all started with a game

Chapter 23

I smiled, not able to help but be a bit disappointed but letting him go nevertheless. I figured Estrella was probably more important than dancing in the middle of the night.

Ryder stepped closer to the fountain, yelling at Alexia not to throw his cat in the washing machine. I tried not to laugh, twirling around to the chorus of the song. A small meow pulled my attention away. I glanced around, trying to find the source. In the midst of one of the alleyways a small black kitten, only able to be seen due to the container restraining its head, screamed in fear, desperately clawing at the plastic jar. Aw, poor thing. I waited till Ryder turned around, silently signalling that I would be over there, trying not to interrupt his conversation. Ryder nodded, shouting back at Alexia that dyeing his cat purple was not okay.

I rushed over to the kitten's aid, gently trying to pet it's back to let it know I meant no harm but the kitten was trembling, dreading my touch. I know what that's like. "It's okay, sweet thing. I'm not going to hurt you."

The kitten cried out, throwing its clawless paws out for defense. "It's okay," I cooed.

I felt him appear before I heard him. "My, you've gotten so big."

The hairs on the back of my neck stood, goosebumps spreading down my body as I froze entirely, hoping that if I didn't move, if I didn't make a sound, this wouldn't be real. He would go away. I squeezed my eyes shut like a little kid who was still afraid of the dark, the monster under my bed suddenly standing behind me and I could do nothing but close my eyes. It's not real. It's not real.

But when his hand touched my shoulder there was no denying the truth. He was real. The little kitten sensed the danger, scurrying off with its head still trapped but deciding it was better to run and be trapped than to stay and face the hideous monster. "It's been a long time." His voice was like a broken record, replaying all our memories together that left me so fragile and broken.

His hand was over my mouth before I even got the chance to scream. I squirmed beneath his grip, desperately shouting for help but the sound was quickly muffled by his palm. It was like my head had been submerged underwater and no matter how hard I screamed, no one could hear me.

He wrapped his arm around my chest, holding me against him so I had no escape. I tried to yell for Ryder, I tried to get his attention but it was too late. Ryder shouted my name, calling out to me, trying to find me. I watched as he passed by the alley way, drifting out of viewpoint and leaving me to my demise. I begged that it would be quick because I don't know how much of this I could handle.

My own tears began to cover the man's hand as I gave up screaming. It was no use. Ryder was gone. Help...

The man removed his hand. I gasped for air, my lungs constricting on their own. And if he wasn't putting me through enough, he turned me around so that I could see his wretched face, so that I could see him smile as did all the horrible things he did to me when I was kid. My back pressed against the wall as his hand found my throat to keep me in place, only making me sob harder. "Please!" I cried. "Please don't hurt me, please."

He ran a crooked finger down my cheek. "I'm not here to hurt you child."

It didn't matter what he said, I remembered who he was. "Please," I begged. "Please, please don't hurt me." My body quivered under his grip. I was barely able to choke out any words, too overcome by fear.

You imagine all these scenarios in your head, ways you would take down and assaultant while being held at gunpoint, how you'd escape after being kidnapped, all of these incredible things that you could do to save your life or someone else's, all the ways you'd be a hero, how you would take down a shooter but when you're held at gunpoint, when you are truly held with a gun to your head, you cannot do any of it. You think you can but you can't. Your first instinct is fear, it is not fight or flight, it is mere fear, you will freeze in your place, barely able to choke out your words. You will be so overcome by that overwhelming fear that you will not be able to do anything but hope that you'll be spared, that he won't pull the trigger.