Page 75 of Chasing Sarah

“Here is your product.” I hold the bag out in front of me, hoping this entire interaction will end soon.

The man doesn’t spare it a single glance, keeping his eyes trained on mine. “You know. I think I need to inspect the contents. Last time, it was… lacking in quality.” His hands twitch and the other man widens his stance just the slightest bit.

The moisture in my mouth evaporates and I feel myself paling.

I need to get out of here right the fuck now.

Screw the money. I don’t want to be around these guys for another second.

“I’ll give my boss a call and have him come so he can work something out with you.” When I reach for my phone, the larger man moves unbelievably fast. The hold he has on my wrist sends shooting pain up my fingers. My phone clatters to the concrete.

“Now, now Chiquita. I’m sure we can work something out among the three of us. No need to involve anyone else.”

I make myself dizzy from how rapidly my eyes move to find someone, anyone who can help me. My heart shrivels at the sound of my phone cracking under his foot.

“P-please let me go,” I plead through quivering lips. My arms are pulled behind my back, my shoulders scream in pain.

“Scream y te voy a matar.” I don’t need to speak Spanish to know what he said is a threat.

I flinch when knuckles caress the side of my face.

Think, Sarah. Think!

I don’t know any actual self-defense moves other than what I’ve learned from rough housing with my brothers. My backpack will make it too difficult to try and slide out of the hold I’m in.

I’m a fast runner, so I just need to find a way to get loose, and then I can bolt.

In the distance, a car honks and it pulls the men’s attention away for a split second. As soon as I feel the hands gripping my wrist loosen the slightest bit, I move. I rip myself out of his hands and swing my bag off my shoulder, hurling it at the guy’s face. The weight of my textbooks only adds to the momentum.

With a pained grunt, he stumbles backward. I take advantage of his disoriented state and take off.

“¡Puta!” The lanky guy shouts. “Get in the fucking car and go after her!”

The sound of doors slamming followed by an engine starting fills the air. I can’t breathe. I’m being led by pure instinct to survive a predator.

Faster! Run Faster!

Instead of staying on the roads, I dart toward the nearest backyard. It’s impossible to outrun a car. I need to take advantage of the structures around me.

The lack of streetlights is a comfort I didn’t know I could come to appreciate. It’s much easier to avoid being seen.

I slip on a wet patch of grass and my body goes flying. I crash into a bush; it tears at my flesh.

“Ow,” I groan, then wince at the sharp sting I feel along my right cheek. Touching the area, I feel the wet sensation of blood. It’s too dark for me to confirm, but I doubt it’s anything else, especially since it’s not raining and there are no sprinklers running.

When I hear the screech of tires on pavement, I scramble to hide. Not even caring that I’m covered in twigs, leaves, and dirt. The bush is just thick enough I feel hopeful they won’t see me.

Peering through a small opening, I spot their car coasting by with the windows down. I can just barely make out their voices.

“The little puta is long gone, Eddie. Let’s just head back,” the behemoth complains.

Eddie growls in frustration, scanning left to right while hanging out of the passenger window. “I’m going to find her and make her regret taking off.” He settles back into his seat then nods to his friend who steps on the accelerator and drives away.

“Holy shit.” I slump down onto my ass and try to slow the aggressive beats of my heart.

Once again, my back meets the mat. The breath from my lungs bursts out with my grunt. Rhys and I have been sparring for about an hour, and I have yet to knock him on his ass. He’s too fast. Too nimble for being such a big man.

It pisses me off.

---