Page 12 of Obsessed

I'm on the back side of the market. I head toward the next street and decide to get lost in the pedestrian and bicycle traffic ahead. I glance back to see Oscar's tall head disappear into the market. They are on to me. I turn another corner, not sure which way to go and wishing my head felt better. I decide my best bet is to head away from thecoast.

A fairly young, lanky man wearing board shorts is leaning next to his truck. The tails of two surfboards are sticking up over the tailgate. He is surrounded by a fragrant cloud of marijuana as I approach him. His skin is tanned so dark, it looks a bit like leather. It makes his stained yellow teeth look almost white by contrast. His grin widens when he sees me walk towardhim.

"Excuse me, could you direct me to the police station?" I realize too late that my question might be a little off putting for a man hiding a joint behind his back. "I've lost my party. I'm hoping they can locate them for me," I addquickly.

He clucks his tongue. "Is that right? Well, it's a good six miles to the station, but I'd be happy to give you a ride. My friend and I are heading back that way rightnow."

I lean over and notice another guy with more of a sunburn than a tan staring at me through the back windshield. I take a quick peek over my shoulder. Jason and Oscar are running mydirection.

"Sure. Thanks. But could we hurry?" I motion back. "See that big guy running toward us with the shaved head? I stole hiswallet."

I take a chance by adding a bit of spunk to my character and intrigue to my story. He looks like the kind of guy who would appreciate it. The lie works. He's smiling ear to ear as he opens the truck. I slide into the cab next to his friend. My heart nearly jumps from my chest as it takes the guy three ignition turns to get the motor started. We take off down the road. I glanceback.

Oscar and Jason have just reached the place where the truck was parked. Blake is a block or so behind, looking white as a sheet. A knot of guilt forms in my chest. I can only hope that Kane doesn't take it all out onhim.

I turn forward and sigh with relief. Tears sting my eyes, but I wipe them quickly away. The two men on either side of me smell overwhelmingly of weed and body odor. And I'm slipping into the full effects of withdrawal. But I don't care. I'm goinghome.

12

Angie

The truck turnsdown a long road that seems to be leading away from the hub of the city. My intuition isn't nearly what it should be, but my body tightens with the first indication of trouble. I would never have climbed into the truck if Kane's two guards hadn't been closing in onme.

The road gets rougher as most of the asphalt falls away leaving only potholes and dirt. There are overgrown fields and jungle-like copses dotting the side of theroad.

"Why is the police station all the way out here in the middle of nowhere?" It's obvious we aren't heading toward any station or any part of civilization, for that matter, but I decide to play the innocent until I see my chance. Detective Tennyson would be angry and steeled for a fight, but my weakened physical and emotional state makes it hard for me to stay strong. It seems I can't catch abreak.

The driver who has a sharp nose and weak chin peers over at his buddy with a not too subtle sparkle in hiseye.

"You know what," I say airily as if I still have no clue what's going on. "I just remembered, I can't go into the station. I've got a few outstanding tickets. Just let me out here, and I'll walk back totown."

"Might as well join us for a little party since you've got nowhere to be." The driver pulls a bottle of tequila out from under his seat. He takes his hands off the wheel. The truck waddles side to side on the crumbling road as he opens the bottle. His eyes are off the road too as he lifts the bottle straight up in the air and takes a few loud gulps. "Ahh. Good stuff." He hands it to me. I pass it straight to hisfriend.

"Aren't you going to take a drink?" he asks. "And here I thought our sweet little wallet thief was going to be morefun."

"Nope," I say. "I'm the opposite of fun." My skin is crawling from withdrawals. An idea pops into my head. I start rubbing my arms vigorously. It gives me some relief and makes me look much less appealing as a new party friend. "Plus, you don't want to catch what I've got because it's not pretty. I've got rashes all over my body." I lean over and rub my legs. It feels so damn good I don't want tostop.

The passenger has a gristly beard and dirt in the creases on his neck. "Don't see any rashes," hesays.

"Oh, they are there. Feels like an army of ants on my skin." The driver pulls a sharp left turn. I pop off the seat and land halfway on the passenger's thigh as the truck hits a bigrut.

The creep takes advantage and quickly jams his hand under my ass for a major grope. I squirm away from his grasp but really have nowhere togo.

The driver stops in front of the ruins of a small building. The roof is filled with holes and every window has been broken out. Vines snake around the leftover walls as if they are the only thing still keeping themstanding.

My body is rigid and ready to fight or flee or both. We're far away from the town, and I feel weaker by the minute. But I'm ready to run a marathon to get away from thesecreeps.

I reach for the tequila. "You know, I think I'll have some of that afterall."

The driver laughs. "See, that's thespirit."

The passenger opens the door and climbs out. I scoot out after him and smack him hard on the head with the bottle. He yells out and drops to his knees. The driver is on the other side of the truck. I'm off and running before he figures out that I just crowned hisbuddy.

Two months ago, I would have been able to outrun the guy and race at full throttle back to town. But I'm a physical shell of my former self. I grunt in pain as the jerk tackles me to the ground. Rocks grind into my bare limbs and cheek as he flattens me with his body. I gasp for air and reach blindly around for something to hit him with. My fingers slip just past a good sized stone as he pushes off ofme.

"Nice try, dolly," he growls. He pinches my skin as he grabs viciously at the back of my shirt. He yanks me directly to my feet, jarring my head back with a snap. My knees buckle, but he pulls me sharply to standing again. Warm blood trickles from the scratches on my knees andthighs.

He swings me around so fast, I lose my balance again. The entire landscape spins around like we're in the center of a tornado. I lean forward and puke. I catch my breath enough tospeak.

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