Page 25 of Targeted By Desire

Once my body was regulated and my mind was clear, I opened my eyes, determined to find a way out of here.

I shimmied to the side, mindful to stay out of sight of the rear view mirror, and didn’t stop until I felt the cold wall. Turning onto my side, I pressed my palms flat against the cool surface. Cautiously, I rubbed up and down the walls, searching for a corner with a sharp edge.

After a few seconds of aimless searching, my fingers finally grazed a jagged piece a few centimeters from the corner of the loading bay. I wiggled my bound wrists on top of it, angling them so the sharp piece could hitch into the rope, and started tugging back and forth. The coarse rope scratched me as I worked, but I ignored the pain. It was minuscule compared to whatever laid in store if we reached our destination.

Eventually, the metal sawed its way through the thick cords and they came loose enough for me to wiggle out of.

I untied my ankles next.

Finally free of my bounds, I took another glance around the darkness encompassing me. The back door. I needed to find the back door.

Blindly, I patted my way back towards the other end of the loading bay using my feet. It was only a few moments before the cold metal of the doors kissed my bare soles. I sat up on my knees and fumbled my hands around for the handle.

All I was met with were nubs and protruding pieces of metal.

Did the bastard take the damn handle off?

I let out an exasperated sigh as I leaned back atop my calves. How the fuck was I going to get out of here without a door?

Again, I looked around the darkness in search of an answered prayer. My gaze lingered on where I’d just crawled from. Where the rope still lay.

The plan that crossed my mind was far from safe and could leave me worse off than I was now. But, I didn’t care. I at least needed to try.

I crawled back to the long line of rope that was once around my ankle. I wrapped each end around both of my knuckles, tight enough so my grip wouldn’t falter.

Staying low to the ground, I slithered up behind the driver’s seat.

This is a bad idea, my brain screamed as I prepared myself. My heartbeat thumped in my ears from the adrenaline and anxiety rising in my body.

I took in another deep breath to shoo the doubtful thoughts away. A bad idea was better than no ideas at all. A sliver of a chance at survival was better than none.

As I exhaled, the racking of my nerves settled. Stay calm and focus, I reminded myself. I can survive this. I will survive this.

Gathering the rest of my courage, I hopped up and seized my opportunity. I lifted my hands over his head, yanked them down to his shoulders and wrapped the rope tight around his neck.

“Shit!” He yelled as his head snapped back against the headrest, surprised at my sudden attack. One hand flew to the rope pressing against his neck while the other stayed on the wheel.

He struggled to keep the van rolling steady as he tugged at the rope. His grunts became guttural with the harsh material crushing his windpipe.

I leaned myself back, shifting all my weight backwards.

He groaned at the additional pressure. His fingers helplessly clawed at the rope. The hand on the wheel started to lose its balance, following the other in a panicked frenzy.

I held on tighter as the van started to veer left and right. I wasn’t letting go. Not until he was knocked out or dead. I didn’t care which one came first.

The van veered off toward the edge of the road, sliding inches too close towards the woods lining it. Without the driver’s control, skated off of the pavement and onto the forest terrain. The tires bounced on the uneven terrain, skirting in all different directions.

Sneaking a peek over his shoulder, I saw a massive tree a few feet ahead - directly in our path.

Closing my eyes, I held on tighter for dear life and braced myself for the collision.

The shattering of the windshield. The loud crash of the metal against the thick bark. My own body jutting forward and smashing into the back of the seat. All of it clashed together in a single moment.

The chaos of sensations, from my head smacking against the cushion to the glass cutting my knuckles to the burn of the rope in my hands, sent my head into a brief whirl.

I finally released the rope and sank down behind the seat as the world around me spun in a dark oblivion. Only relief didn’t wash over me. The eerie tingle intertwined with my spin was still there.

Get out! My brain still screamed at me. Run! Now!