“You won’t need this where we’re going.” He shoves me against the ground, gravel biting into my cheek.
The panic button. It’s still in my pocket, my last lifeline. I twist my hips, trying to reach it. “Who sent you?” I gasp, hoping to distract him. “What do you want?”
His knee presses harder, and my ribs groan in protest. My lungs burn, starved for air.
“Let me go,” I wheeze, my fingers closing around the small remote in my pocket. I press the button repeatedly, praying it works, praying someone will come.
I claw at his face, my nails sinking into his skin as I dragthem across his cheek. He hisses in pain, jerking back, and for a split second, his grip loosens. Blood wells up in thin lines where I scratched him, but it only makes him angrier.
“Bitch,” he growls, roughly grabbing my wrists and yanking them in front of me. I struggle, but he's too strong. With quick, practiced movements, he secures my hands together with zip ties. The plastic cuts into my skin as he tightens them, and I bite back a whimper.
“You really thought your boy toy would save you? He’s probably forgotten all about you by now. All women think they have a golden pussy. There are millions like you.”
Tight. Too tight. I pull, but the zip-tie only cuts deeper into my skin. “Who sent you?”
Josh laughs, the sound cold and devoid of humor. “You think this is a movie? That I’ll monologue my evil plan?” He yanks me to my feet by my hair, and I can’t hold back a scream of pain.
Jimmy’s self-defense lessons flash through my mind. If I want a chance to live, I have to fight.
I swallow hard, focusing all my strength on this one action. The moment he turns to me, I kick him in the groin.
“Fuck!” he screams. “Stupid bitch!”
Not so stupid.
I run, my legs pumping despite the pain shooting through my body. Each step is a battle against the zip ties binding my wrists, but I push on, driven by pure survival instinct.
I chance a glance over my shoulder. Josh is down, but not for long. I need to hide, to find help, to do something.
My eyes land on a cluster of bushes. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. I make a dash for them, but my foot catches on an unseen obstacle. I go down hard, the ground tearing at my skin.
The taste of blood fills my mouth, metallic and nauseating. But I can’t stop. I won’t stop.
With a groan, I force myself to my knees andthen to my feet. Every movement is agony, but the alternative is unthinkable. I stumble toward the bushes, collapsing behind them in a heap of trembling limbs and ragged breaths.
I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to stay silent.
“Where are you, spoiled girl?” Josh’s voice calls out, closer than I’d like. “Come willingly, and I won’t have to hurt you.”
I bury my face against my knees, trying to make myself as small as possible. Terror grips me, threatening to paralyze me.
“What’s your plan? You’re alone in the middle of nowhere. I’m your only way out,” he taunts, his footsteps crunching closer.
I dare to peek through the leaves. His heavy boots are mere feet away. I hold my breath, praying he’ll move on.
“I’m not going to kill you. Just deliver you. No need for this to get messy,” he coos, voice laced with mock concern. “If you come from your free will, nothing will happen to you.”
Inch by excruciating inch, I creep to the next group of bushes. My eyes scan for anything—anyone—that could help. But there’s nothing. How did I not notice he took me out of the city? I’m such an idiot.
I swallow hard, forcing back the tears that threaten to fall. I can’t afford to break now. Not if I want to survive.
He’s so close now. I have to run again.
I spring forward, my muscles burning with every stride. Josh’s footsteps pound the ground behind me, getting closer with each second. My lungs scream for air, my legs threatening to give out, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop.
The evening air is cool against my sweat-soaked skin, but the fear boiling inside me keeps me from feeling any relief. Mytied hands make it harder to balance, and every step is a gamble. But it’s a gamble I’m willing to take. Anything to get away from him.
Just when I think I might have gained some distance, my foot catches on a hidden root, and I stumble again, hitting the ground hard. My wrists sear with pain as they’re jarred against the earth, but I grit my teeth and push myself up. I can’t let him catch me.
