Runaway Mate

Run, Jenn, Run! I repeatedly tell myself. Thanks to my fear, the adrenaline pumping through my veins have me running faster than I ever have in my life. My lungs feel like they are about to collapse any second now, but I can't stop. "Fuck!" I scream out as I face plant into the dirt. No. I won't be one of those cliche girls in horror movies that fall and make it easy for the psychopath to murder. I'm quick to get back on my feet and continue running. It doesn't help that I have no idea where I am or how I got here. There is nothing except trees surrounding me for miles.

I don't know how much longer I can do this.

I spot a huge tree and duck behind it. I sit down on the dirt floor of the woods and attempt to catch my breath. I try to listen for any sounds of footsteps, but all I can hear is my heart pounding and my loud breathing.

I hear a crunching sound of leaves to my left and quickly turn in that direction. I sigh in relief when I see it's only a deer. "Hello, Jennifer." I slowly turn to my right and the next thing I see is blackness.

My head is pounding, but that's not the worst part. It's the freezing temperature that has me opening my eyes. What the hell happened? I don't have time to ponder those thoughts as I take in my surroundings. I'm currently in a bathtub filled with ice-cold water. I hate the cold more than anything. This is definitely not the bathroom in my house. "HELLO?" I stutter out as loud as I can. I try again to move my legs or my arms, but they are numb. I need someone to help me out of here before I freeze to death.

I hear the doorknob wobble as someone turns it. In walks a gorgeous man, but I panic as I suddenly remember him. Chad. The man from the bar. This can't be happening.

"Hello, Jennifer. Enjoy your bath?"

I hold back my tears, not wanting him to see my fear. I won't give him that satisfaction. "Why am I here and why can't I move?" I coldly ask. He just continues to smirk at me and I feel vulnerable as I realize I'm completely naked.

"You were dirty, and I like my meals cleaned." This sick fuck. He's going to rape me, I know it. I rather be dead than have that monster near me.

"You disgust me," I shout at him. "Just kill me and get it over with. I don't want to remember your touch." He cocks his one eyebrow up in confusion.

"What exactly is it that you think I"m going to do to you?" He sounds amused by his own question.

"I"m not stupid. Why else would I be naked?" I try to sound tough, but the cold is getting the better of me. All my words come out as a stutter.

"I'm not a rapist," Chad states, sounding offended. I don't believe him though. "I'll prove it to you. Let's get you dressed, then join me for dinner."

Is he fucking insane?

Lifting me bridal style, he carries me to a bedroom and lays me on the bed. My body shivers and I can't hold back the tears any longer. I feel the water leaving my eyes as it flows down my face. The monster has his back towards me as he digs through a dresser. At least he can't see how weak I feel at this moment.

I already know I'm not going to survive tonight. The worst part is that nobody will miss me. I have no family or friends. The only one who might give a shit about me being gone is my cat, Loki.

I'm brought back to reality when I see clothes being tossed onto the bed. I want to squirm or run, anything to get away from his hands, but I'm unable to move still. My heart beats rapidly as he leans his face near mine. Please don't kiss me, I continually chant in my head. I close my eyes, not wanting to see his face. I open them wide when I feel him lick my tears. What in the actual hell?

"Mmm, I love when they cry." He smirks as he pulls away from me. He proceeds to dress me and I never felt more humiliated in my life.

"You look divine." Chad once again smirks. I hate him and his stupid face so much. Why is he doing this to me? Lifting me up, he carries me to what looks like a formal dining room. For a psychopath, he has a nice home. "How do you feel?" He asks, sounding like he genuinely cares.

"Does it matter?" I reply. He doesn't say anything, as if I actually expected a reply from him anyway. All he does is smirk like a creep. I just want this night to be over with. Maybe he poisoned the food? I can only hope.

Pulling a chair out with his foot, he sits down with me on his lap. How embarrassing is it that this is the closest I've ever been to a man? I begin to think about all the things I'm going to miss out on in life. Finding true love, getting married, having kids who would want to take over my company when they grow up. I hope I left enough food and water for Loki to last him before someone realizes I'm gone.

"Open." I look at the fork with a small piece of steak on it. Now I'm being fed like a baby. If his goal is to strip me of my dignity, mission accomplished. I do as he says and opens my mouth as he places the fork inside. I chew the food and it's actually delicious. Placing a goblet to my mouth, I sip the wine that I can't seem to get enough of. At least I'm going out with one final divine meal.

"This is a beautiful home you have." I feel the slightest bit less anxious, thanks to the wine. I figured I would get all my questions out and hopefully answered before my demise. I'll start the conversation was a compliment.

"I owe it all to my father." He states with such admiration. I can tell he looks up to the man who raised him. "Does he live here with you?" I asked out loud, a bit panicked. What if his father is a psychopath just as his son is? I watch as Chad looks at the clock on the wall, then back at me. "Luckily for you, we have some time before my date. Let's take this conversation into the living room." He picks me up and carries me to the room next to the kitchen and sits me on the couch. I thank god he didn't place me on his lap again, instead, he is sitting on the other end of the couch.

"To answer your question, no. My father does not live here...anymore. You see, he ironically died from his favorite horse. It kicked him right in the chest. My father died instantly from such force."

"I'm sorry to hear that." I may hate Chad, but I do feel bad for anyone who loses a loved one.

"Don't be." He begins to chuckle like a mad man. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Something I've never told anyone before." He begins to lean in and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. "I helped in killing him." He whispered into my ear, causing goosebumps to form everywhere on my skin.

"Wh-why?"

"Don't get me wrong, I loved my father. He taught me everything I know today. Growing up on this farm, I learned many ways to kill an animal. My father, Nicholas, was always fond of using an old huckleberry to swing at the chickens' heads. Eventually, I wanted the farm and this house for myself, so he had to go. I tied him up to the wooden post of the barn and slapped his horse on the ass so hard, it kicked my father."

"Of course, his death was ruled as an accident." Chad grins. "However, I do miss him from time to time."

"And what about your mother?" I dared to ask, dreading what the answer might be. His face falls serious and slaps me across the face. "Don't ever mention that bitch. She's dead to me."

"Why me?" I ask the main question running through my mind. He places his filthy hand gently on my cheek where he had just hit me. "You, my dear, were not part of my plan. I was at the bar waiting for my date, but I couldn't take my eyes off you. You're stunning and I knew I had to bring you home. Did you enjoy our game of hide and seek?" I knew he meant the sick game of offering me a ride home, then-

"What did you inject me with?"

"Succinylcholine." He says like it's the most obvious, normal thing. I shake my head at him, "No, not the paralyzing drug. The thing that made me pass out? In your car, you had to have injected me with something in order to blackout the way I did."

"Negative. I hit you with my father's baseball bat." That makes sense.

"I woke you up when we reached the woods and gave you a headstart to run and hide. Remember?"

"Yes. I fucking remember!" He once again slaps me across the face. "Watch your tone with me." Leaning in, he kisses the same cheek he's been slapping. "I have to go on my date that I missed earlier thanks to you. Don't think about going anywhere." He laughs at his own stupid joke. Obviously, I can't move, therefore, will be unable to escape.

The second Chad leaves the house, I look at my surroundings. These drugs have to wear off eventually, right? Come on, Jenn. Move. Roll off the couch. Anything! I internally shout at myself. I don't know how long he will be gone for, but I sure as hell don't want to be here when he returns.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. If I concentrate hard enough, maybe I can trick my body into moving. I breathe in and out and imagine myself rolling onto the floor. I think about how my muscles would have to move in order to make that happen.

"Ah!" I shoot my eyes open and am staring onto the wooden floor of the living room. Holy shit. I actually did it! Now how the hell am I supposed to stand up? Hmm.. maybe crawling is a more reasonable option. I keep my eyes on the clock for almost forty-five minutes before I'm able to lift my elbows onto the floor. I begin to panic, thinking I'm almost out of time. Maybe I should just stay here and whoever his date is can save me and herself. Two against one is a fight we might win. Unless she's a psychopath like he is.

I can't believe how stupid I was to think he actually liked me. Even worse, I got into a car with a man who is practically a stranger. All I want is to find someone that knows how to have fun and will love me wholeheartedly. Is that too much to ask for?

I lift my left knee and- wait! I lifted my knee! I felt it. I try to stand up, but my body isn't ready for that. So, I crawl as fast as I can manage, only falling four times before reaching the front door. My freedom is so close! I lift myself up so that my butt is resting on the heels of my feet. I reach up to unlock the door and I've never felt so excited, yet scared in my life.

It's pitch dark out, but I'm free! I let my body tumble down the stairs and crawl down the driveway. The very long driveway may I add. He wasn't kidding about living on a farm; it sure smells like one. The further I crawl, the more I begin to feel my body. I take a chance at standing, and I succeed! Yes! I begin to walk at a fast pace until I'm capable of running. When I reach what I assume is the main road, I run. I feel like it's been forever until I begin to see the lights in our small town.

I thought about stopping any car that passed me, but I made a vow to myself to never get in a car with a stranger again.

I crouch down as I pass the bar where I had met Chad at. I didn't want to risk being seen if he was in there. I finally reach the police station and scream for help. Several officers approach me and ask what is wrong. I fill them in as quickly as possible of what had happened to me today. They tell me that they will call an ambulance to come to get me and take me to the hospital. However, they seem surprised when I refused. "Please, let me come with you. I won't be able to rest unless I see him get arrested and know he will never harm another woman again." I beg, and they understood where I was coming from. I told them I would go to the hospital afterward and they seemed satisfied with that.

One officer opens the backdoor of the police car open and I take a seat. I'm anxious to get there and see the look on his face as he gets arrested. The cop who is driving turns on his sirens and lights, but I ask him to turn them off. I suggested it would scare him off and he would flee before we even get a chance to enter the bar.

It's a small town, so we arrive in less than two minutes. This is it! That bastard is going to get busted! The two cops get out and the one opens the door for me. I take his hand and he helps me out of the vehicle. I had given a description of Chad to the officers while in the car, so they know who to look for in case they spot him before I do.

There are two entrances to the bar, so one cop goes to the back door, while the other cop and I enter the front. My heart is pounding as we walk inside and I am quick to spot him. He's sitting on the exact barstool that he had been on earlier when I was here. I feel bad for the girl he is flirting with and buying drinks for. "That's him," I whisper to the cop that's by my side. He looks over at the bar and nods his head at me.

Fortunately, Chad has his full attention on his victim, I mean, date. Therefore, he didn't see us approach them until the bartender addressed us. "Good evening, officer. How can I help you?" The bartender asked, causing Chad and the woman beside him to turn in our direction. The look on Chad's face was priceless. This time, I was the one smirking at him. Got you, bastard.

"Sir, I need you to come with me outside." The officer said, not wanting to make a scene. To my surprise, he didn't argue and excused himself from the woman. "Consider this a blessing. Trust me, you wouldn't have wanted to leave this bar with that monster." I calmly tell the confused-looking woman. I turn back around and follow the men outside.

"Do you mind telling me what this is about?" Chad casually asks, as if he doesn't know. My hatred for him only intensifies. "Do you know this woman?" The cop asks, pointing to me. This idiot has the nerve to say that I'm a jealous ex-girlfriend. "YOU LIAR!" I shout out loud. "We need you to come to the station for some questioning. The other cop says, seeming annoyed. I hope it isn't because he believes the stupid lie that Chad had just said.

Opening the back door to the car, Chad takes a seat and thanks the officer. I roll my eyes at this fake charm he's putting on. "I'll take a cab and head to the station myself," I inform the cops since I was obviously not going to sit in the backseat with the man I despise.

Upon arriving back at the station, I immediately am brought back to a private room for questioning. The person speaking with me asked me to tell him what exactly happened in detail. I also had to write my statement down on a piece of paper to have on record.

"Please tell me he's going to be locked away," I ask as I begin to cry from retelling the events that had occurred today.

The silence I receive is nerve-wracking. "I believe you, but we need more evidence. Right now it's your word against his." I feel as though I am about to pass out. "ARE YOU SERIOUS!? HE DRUGGED ME AND WAS GOING TO KILL ME!" I can't believe I'm yelling at a federal employee.

"Jennifer, please take a breath. We are working on obtaining a search warrant and he is on a 24-hour hold for now. We won't let him anywhere near you. I promise. You need to go to the hospital though, especially since you were drugged. I will have an officer with you the entire time."

"Okay. I'll go." When we head back to the lobby of the station, a cop is already waiting for me.

At the hospital, I had to tell the nurses and doctor what it was that Chad said he had injected me with. They also wanted to check out the large lump on my head from where I was hit with the baseball bat. After a few hours, I woke up, not even remembering falling asleep. I was relieved to see that the officer was still n the hospital room with me.

"Is there anyone I can call for you?" He asks me, seeming concerned. I shake my head, "No. I have nobody in my life."

I see the pitiful look and feel embarrassed. "Don't feel sorry for me. I'm okay, I promise."