The Australian Girl

ITALICS - Indicates the a flashback

GLIMPSE

*

Everything hurts so much.

It’s damp and dark and I don’t know where I am. I could feel the burn from the restrictions on my wrists and ankles. My legs felt numb from sitting down in one place for so long. The cloth that covered my eyes is now damp around the edges from all the sweat and perspiration, from both the heat and nervousness.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Apart from silence, only the sound of water droplets falling on wet ground could be heard around this place. Like a broken faucet in the sink, the drops echoed and reverberated around this large hell hole.

One.

Two.

Three.

How long?

How long has it been since I last saw light?

Hours? Days? Weeks?

How long?

How long until he comes back?

A muffled sob escaped my lips as multiple realizations finally hit me. I’m going to die. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know why I’m here. My throat was dry and croaky from all of the screaming that I’ve been doing to get help.

Joshua.

Is he safe? Where is he? Is he coming for me? Is anyone?

“HELP ME!” I cried out once again, “ANYONE! PLEASE!”

My voice began to crack, “Someone, please,” I whimpered. Hot tears began to seep through the cloth and it made it even more uncomfortable than it already is.

I hung my head in defeat. Will I ever get out of here?

Mom, dad, my brother, are you all looking for me?

Are you worried, too?

The sound of chains falling on a pavement and an Iron Gate opening suddenly broke through the sound of silence. I was now on high alert, relying on my hearing to have some sort of sense as to what will happen to me now. Metals clashing, and keys jingling echoed around me, footsteps that went to my direction soon followed the sudden noise.

My breath started to heave as panic began to fill my chest. My heart pounded against my chest and there was a slight ringing in my ear.

Tap, tap, tap.

The footsteps taunted me, mocking my fear and vulnerability.

“W-Who’s there?”

I gathered enough courage, in case I’m faced with whoever this person is.

I felt a presence get close to me. But he wasn’t talking, all I could hear was his breathing and mine. I pushed myself back when I felt him get too close for comfort. Warm puffs of breath kept on fanning against my cheek, I could faintly smell the scent of mint and plastic as the air reached my nose.

“W-What do you want from me?” I questioned, my voice slightly quivering.

No answer.

“What do you want?” I repeated, “Why me?” I whimpered.

Frustration built up from within me, as question after question left unanswered, my fear was replaced with anger.

“WHAT THE F**K DO YOU WANT FROM ME!”

My voice echoed around us, an indicator that this place was most likely close to being void and empty.

Moments of silence passed through us when all of a sudden deep chuckles, that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand, reverberated around me.

He was laughing at me. Enjoying my fear and eating it up. He took pleasure in this. I thought.

“Why me?” I whimpered once more.

I hung my head forward but large hands cupped my cheeks, lifting it back up.

“Shh shh, baby,” He cooed, “This will be all over soon.”

Calloused fingers caressed the side of my face, and it made me shiver in disgust. I began to thrash around, doing my best to get away from his hold.

He let go of me and I heard footsteps go around the chair that I was sitting on. I used all the strength left in my body to try and thrash my way out. All efforts were useless when I felt his hands hold my forearms firmly, not a second passed when I felt a slight pinch on my arm.

My body started to become weak and it was only when I was started to fall asleep had I realized that he injected something in me.

**