Kellan couldn't even react as she stared at the casket slowly disappear six feet under from her sight. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she just could not cry. For Kellan to acknowledge that she is gone and she'll never get the chance to see her again, was beyond unfathomable. Not even having the chance to say she love her one last time, or a single goodbye. Her provider and best friend is gone, and there is nothing she can say or do to bring her back...
She gazed blankly ahead of her as visitors walked past with their family and loved ones. It cut deeply knowing that she'll never have that again. Standing there as if everything around her was spinning miles a minute meanwhile her feet were planted in the spot she stood.
The inscribed words pained Kellan's heart as she read letter for letter, word for word, on the tombstone. The only child, at seventeen years old, being left in this world all alone to defend for herself. As of now everything seemed numb, but Kellan dreaded the day that her emotions would implode.
The sun began to peak through the thick, gray clouds so she placed on some dark shades to hide the tears that effortlessly slipped. Inhaling deeply, she read the engraved words once more before gradually walking to her white Nissan Sentra. She wasn't certain where she was going, but she had to leave, and quick.
No family or friends, Kellan was all on her lonesome. The current problem with now being independent is not money, but rather guidance. Having someone to push her in the right direction, give advice and necessary information to grow up, is what she lacked. Tara was all she had and everything she needed. She raised Kellan to be strong and humble, but who is she when a piece of her has died with Tara.
With her small suitcases of clothes and necessities, Kellan drove and drove until she couldn't drive anymore. Headed in no specific direction, she allowed her gut intuition, and a full gas tank, to direct her miles away from where she use to call home. She could not possibly stay after everything that has happened. She had to move forward, to start over— Tara would want that.
Riding alone, Kellan wanted to weep like a baby, but she couldn't. Tears would fall heavily, but she just couldn't cry cry. It wasn't hitting her like she expected.
Positioning the rearview mirror, she noticed a black SUV had been following her. At first, she thought she was just being paranoid, but after a few right and left turns, she was convinced, and Kellan started to panic. She pressed her foot on the gas causing the speed to drift her into another city's limit along with the black mysterious car still trailing behind. She cursed to herself wondering how long it was before she noticed the car and made a few more turns, allowing herself to get ahead a few blocks before she pulled over on the side of a dark street, near some tall vacant buildings.
Without even completely closing the car door, Kellan ran down a midnight dark alley not once looking back. Adrenaline and panic struck through her veins, and she turned around a corner only to be smacked into another person causing her bag and everything in it to fall out on the ground. She started to leave it all and run, but she needed it, so Kellan scrambled to pick up the items, not thinking to see who she collided into, and quite frankly, she didn't care at the moment, her life was in danger.
"Watch where the fuck you goin', B!" Kellan ignored the deep male voice as she continued to stuff her things into her bag.
As tempted as she was to glance up to where she was running from, she didn't, and her eyes began to sting from forcing herself to hold in tears, and her hearing turned into a complete mute. Kellan's heart thumped rapidly as if it was trying to escape her chests cavity. Still crouched on the ground, Kellan closed her eyes to gain some type of lull, calming herself. Maybe she is paranoid, she thought. Taking a few deep breaths, she swallowed, feeling her throat being desperately dry.
"Damn, you scuffed my fresh J's, yo'."
Her eyes immidiently opened at the realization that the person she ran into was still there. Blinking uncontrollably, she began to question what if he was the one who was chasing her all along. She could be directly two feet away from someone possibly trying to murder her. Not knowing exactly what to do, she jumped up to her feet and began to run past the man, but he quickly and unexpectedly grasped her wrists.
"No! Let me go!" She screamed from the top of her lungs while tugging her arms away. "Help! SOMEBODY HELP!"
The male shoved her against a brick wall, using one dangerously strong hand to pin her wrists above her head, as his other held her cheeks roughly between his fingers causing Kellan's panic screams to come out as a horse whimper.
"Girl, if you don't cut that shit out," he growled menacingly, only inches from her face. She struggled to get out of his grip, and failed.
With her mind scrambled of thoughts with shock and fear, the first thing she noticed of this stranger was the tattoos completely covering his neck. The dark ink contrasting with his light, smooth skin, giving him a rugged look. If his grip on her didn't scare her enough, his dangerous demeanor sent chills down her body, signalling he looked like a dangerous man— and Kellan didn't want to piss him off further more.
"Now, I don't know what possessed you to run into me, but you fucked up my shoes, and I find that highly disrespectful...Now, I'ma let you loose, but you need to chill the fuck out before you make me do something I promise I won't regret," he threatened, his expression vividly dark.
She couldn't nod due to his tight grip on her face, but she stared into his bottomless brown eyes, absorbing every word he spoke. Pinning her to the cool brick wall, she had never seen him before, and now, she would never forget his face...or those tattoos.
Kellan thought there was no point in hiding her fear as she tried her damnest to keep her teeth from rattling, so she began to control her breathing, hoping her heart would stop pounding. She was so sure she was about to shit bricks until he did exactly what he said he'd do. Once she was calm enough, he dropped his hand from her face and backed off.
With no hesitation, Kellan immediately took off running back to her car, but curiosity struck, causing her to glance back at the guy who was also curiously watching her run off. There was a certain vibe coming from him that she couldn't quite put her finger on, but now wasn't the time to try and sort it out.
With everything being exactly how she left her car— door left hanging open and all— Kellan glanced around warily before speeding off. No one was out walking the streets or any cars driving by for that matter, not on this specific street anyways, which struck to her as odd, and she knew she needed to get away..fast.
As Kellan stood under the hot shower, water splashed against her smooth, dark skin like a gentle waterfall. She closed her eyes as her mind raced a thousand different places at once. The strange man she collided into sat heavy on her mind as she reimagined his face over and over.
The sun had set hours ago. Kellan sat in the rundown hotel room on the twin-sized bed, famished, waiting for the food she ordered from a small restaurant down the street. She knew not to get too comfortable because first thing in the morning she planned to continue her journey on driving. She wasn't going anywhere in particular, hence not having a home, but she was content with that at the moment.
As the night progressed, Kellan's food still hadn't arrived, and she began to think that her order was forgotten. Picking up the hotel phone, ready to dial the number, the small sound of the door knob being shuffled with caught Kellan's attention. She immediately stopped what she was doing and quietly placed the phone back on the hook. The wooden floors was cool to the touch under her bare feet as she slowly tip toed to look through the peephole of the shipped painted door.
A tall, solid figure in all black was working his magic on the lock. Kellan pressed her lips to hold back a cry of fear and hurriedly went to hide in the small closet.
Her nerves began to rattle as her entire body trembled, afraid for her life. Kellan pressed her back against the wall of the empty, dusty hiding spot and layered her hand over her mouth. She slowed her breathing and paid close attention to the sound of the door creaking open and softly shutting. As quiet as the air was, all was audible were boots thumping against the wooden floor with each step someone took.
How on earth did the person who was following her find her? How did they know what room she was in? And most importantly, what did they want with her? All the questions that began to turn the axels in her thought process.
Kellan inhaled sharply seeing a shadow pass from the bottom space of the closet door. She knew she couldn't stay in that closet for long, but she needed to gather her thoughts and courage to take action. Taking a deep breath, she silently counted to three before darting out the closet and heading towards the door.
Suddenly, Kellan froze with a mirrored expression of horror across her face. A man was leaning against the front door, smirking menacingly. She noticed he didn't think to wear a mask to hide his identity, but her mind pushed all details aside because she knew, right then and there, that he was planning to kill her.
The man gave her a lascivious wink sending a tingle of fear down her spine. Refusing to allow her life to end this way, Kellan darted in the opposite direction, only to come face to face with another man, not knowing there were two intruders in her hotel room.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the shielded little miss Kellan, finally came out to play. You're not tryna' run now, are ya'?" The smirk on his face was intended to be flirtatious, but only received a cautious step back from the young girl.
"How d-do you know my name?" She questioned. "What do you want from me?"
The man standing in front of Kellan is a smooth, brown complexion with wide eyes that would creep anyone out, and untamed facial hair. He wore all black, blending in with the nights shadows. Kellan couldn't help but to focus on the 38 caliber that he was firmly holding at his side.
"Questions. So many questions, not enough time. I'm only here to do as I was ordered." He shrugged as he calmly screwed on a silencer.
She tried to make an attempt to run until she felt something hard press against the back of her head causing her breath to get caught in her throat.
"I must say, you have really grown up, baby girl." The man in front looked over her petite body, sending a disgusting shiver down her spine as he grinned, showing his discolored teeth.
"Blossomed into a nice young woman and all," the one behind her added, before he pinched her backside. She swatted at his hand, which only upset the man. He pressed the gun to the back of her head, making sure to cock it back.
"Feisty, though. That's alright. The best ones usually are." They joined in laughter. She felt so disgusted considering the men looked to be three times older than her.
"Please," she begged. "You don't have to do this. Just tell me what you want! I-I have money!"
The two men laughed louder.
"You know, maybe we can have a bit of fun before she reunites with her dead ass aunt."
They laughed even louder in unison.
Kellan had a look of confusion written across her face, and the man in front noticed, which only made this situation more amusing to him.
"Poor little girl don't even know what she's in for," he said shaking his head. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You've been lied to all your life."
"What are you talking about?" She asked, her voice filled with fear.
"Nothing to worry your pretty little self about with the last few moments you have left. Yup, it's about that time." The man checked his watch and raised the gun to her forehead. Kellan closed her eyes tight as tears slid from the corners.
"Hell yeah. We finally found this little bitch," the one behind her said. "This is only deja-vu with Tara, but after she swallowed this dick."
Kellan's eyes darted open hearing the very name she missed. That disrespectful remark sent a firing rage through her body. Her adrenaline roared, and the fear ceased, evolving into anger. She kicked the man standing before her in the crotch and quickly ducked as she rolled out of the line of fire the man behind her, unintentionally, let out into his friend. By the time he would realize he shot him instead of her, she's already in the parking lot, running with the wind for continuance of her life.
Kellan's feet were bare and the rocks on the road were probably cutting into her feet, but she was too focused on running as fast as her legs and feet could go. Thinking the man could track her down in her car, she left it behind. Wearing her hair in a black head scarf, being dressed in pajama PINK pants, and a loose big shirt, she ran down the dark, vacant street.
Her phone and wallet was also left behind, she didn't even know how she was able to do that so swiftly, but Kellan knew one thing, an adrenaline rush will have you doing things you would never imagine yourself doing.
Finally looking back, she didn't see anyone following her, but that didn't make her slow down her pace. She was running for her life. Tears were streaming again and no one was out on the streets this late as she searched for help. Taking a quick look around, she recognized the street and noticed it was the one she ran down earlier.
Kellan turned down the same alley, silently thanking the heavens that she spotted the guy with the many tattoos she had ran into.
"HELP ME, PLEASE!! HELP ME!!" Kellan screamed out as she ran towards him, crying desperately.
She realized there were other men surrounding him, and as soon as she came closer, one pushed her to the ground. The next thing she knew, they all had guns pointed down at her in a quick flash.
🎯
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