The Unexpected Truth

Revulsion set in as his hand continued to hold her. It took everything she had not to pull away from him, afraid that if she angered him, he might do something more than simply touch her. When he finally let go, Hailey stood still as she heard footsteps walking away. She listened as a car started up and tried not to move a muscle as the vehicle slowly started to drive away. It wasn't until she could no longer hear the motor that she released the sob that had been caught in her throat. She couldn't see anything, and with her hands tied behind her back and a pillowcase over her face, she had no way of knowing if anyone was near. Knowing that she couldn't just stand there, she started screaming. When her voice became hoarse, Hailey stopped. Wherever she was, it was obvious that she was utterly alone. She stood there for several minutes, trying to get her bearings and decide what she should do. Wandering aimlessly where she couldn't see anything and had no idea what dangerous things might be lurking around seemed like a really bad idea. The first thing she needed to do was to get the hood off that covered her face. Reasoning that the building they had exited was somewhere behind her, she slowly hobbled around, falling several times in the process, until finally her toe hit the building. Turning around so her hands were against the wall, she exhaled in relief that it was rough to the touch. Going up on her tiptoes to give her more height, Hailey pressed the back of her head against the wall and slowly slid down the roughened surface. It took several passes before the material, catching on the surface of the wall, lifted above her forehead. Shaking her head, she sighed in relief when it fell behind her onto the ground. Problem one solved... now she could see. Hailey leaned against the wall for a while trying to rest. The pain in her ribs from the exertion it took zapped her strength. She tried not to take a deep breath but the quick inhalations were making her light-headed. Tears of frustration and fear ran down her cheeks. Why was this happening? After several minutes, Hailey took a step forward. Standing here was getting her nowhere. The only way she was going to get through this was to get somewhere where there was traffic passing by. She may not know where she was but staying in one place wasn't going to get her the help she needed. It seemed like hours had passed as Hailey wandered down alleys and between buildings. The only thing she could think of was that she was in some abandoned office park or warehouse district. It was the only explanation as to why there were no cars around. Her hands were raw from rubbing against the various buildings she passed, hoping to at least regain the use of her hands by rubbing against the different surfaces to cut the bindings around her wrists. Her eye was almost completely swollen shut and her feet ached from the steps she'd taken on the rough cement. Blood seeped down her knees from the falls she'd taken, attracting insects that landed to feast on her sores. The only thought that kept her upright was that she had to get to Ben. She had to warn him that someone was out to hurt him. The more she hobbled along, the more terrified she became. What if whoever got to her got to Ethan? Or worse, to Tessa who had already been through so much in her life? Anything more might destroy her and that would kill Ben if his sister were hurt. She needed to warn them all and she needed to do it tonight. Hailey slowly put one foot in front of the other, her head bowed in concentration, trying not to trip. Each time she fell it took her longer and longer to get back up. Afraid that if she fell again she was done for, she kept chanting--need to get to Ben--need to get to Ben--hoping that would focus her enough to stay upright. She was about to give up hope when a light flashed in the distance. Hailey raised her head, silently praying as it seemed to get closer. When it became obvious to her weary brain that it was, in fact, a car, she stepped into what she thought was the middle of the road and stood there defiantly, hoping whoever was driving would stop to help. She hesitated only briefly when the thought that it could be her tormentor coming back to kill her crossed her mind. The weariness weighed so heavily on her, though, that even that thought didn't make her run for cover. The approaching car came to a screeching halt before nearly running her over. Hailey heard swearing as a man got out of the car and started to approach her. "Jesus Christ, lady. I almost ran you over. Are you just stupid or a druggie?" he asked before she heard him inhale sharply. "Sweet mother of God," he gasped. "Are you all right, lady?" "Help," Hailey barely got out. "I need help," she said before falling to her knees for the last time, sobbing in relief.