Page 2 of Lost in Her
I have dreamed a million times over what it would be like to just be a normal girl to go to a nightclub, have fun with the girls, flirt with boys, and not have to worry about what hides in the shadows.
But no matter how free I am, I don’t think I will ever get to be that simple girl living a simple life, not after what I have been raised in.There is nothing normal about me.
I stop dead in my tracks as I see a few men walk out of the back door, talking and grabbing more beer.
One of the men stops and looks at me.His eyes are deadlocked onto me.There is concern and sadness in his eyes as he looks me up and down.He slowly puts down the beer box and takes a few steps forward toward me.
I don’t move.I can’t.I am frozen.I don’t know what to do.All I know is I need to get to those woods.
“Are you okay?”The man asks in a calm and soft voice.
All I can do is shake my head.He takes another step towards me and slowly pulls something out of his pocket.It is a phone.I go to take a step back, but he slowly shakes his head, and for some reason, I listen.
Maybe it is because I am conditioned to listen to men, or maybe it is because I can see the softness in his eyes.I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me, but I do know he won’t hurt me.
He looks down at his phone and starts typing.A second later, he brings his phone up to his ear.His eyes stay on me as I lean against the wall.I feel my legs starting to shake.I am weaker than I thought.
“Em, I need you to come down to the club,” he states softly.
I watch him closely as he listens to whatever the person is saying on the other side of the phone.
“I am in the back alley.I think I found someone that needs our help,” he states in a calm but concerned voice.He keeps his eyes on me, both trying to figure out each other.Why would a stranger want to help out of the blue?
He slowly nods as the person responds to him.
“Okay, sweetheart.Leave the kids with Oliver.I will see you in five, okay?”he states.
He smiles and nods again.“I love you, too, Angel.”
He slowly lowers his hands and puts his phone in his back pocket.
“My wife is on the way.She can help.We can help you,” he states softly, trying to show me he is not a threat, but I don’t trust him.I don’t trust any man, no matter how nice they seem.
I have seen what a nice man can do to you, and I have had nice men take from me and take and take.
“Why?”I ask in a shaky, low voice.
“Because we can,” he states calmly, taking a deep breath.His breathing is steady.
“I don’t trust you,” I state in a stern voice.
“I don’t blame you, but that doesn’t change the fact that I want to help you,” he states, still in a calm voice.There is no rage in his eyes, no anger, just concern and worry, which is strange to me.The men who use me never have concern and worry in their eyes, only desire and longing in the darkest kind of way.
I don’t respond.I just slowly nod and slowly slide down the wall.I lean my head against the wall as I rest my hands in my lap.He takes another small step towards me, then slowly kneels.
“Everything is going to be okay,” the man states, looking into my eyes, I want to look away.I want to run, but I can’t.I can’t stop looking into his eyes, and I can’t run.I know I wouldn’t make it that far.
“What is your name?”I don’t know why I asked, but I wanted to know who this man was.
“My name is Shawn Cross.My wife Emory will be here soon, and we will take you somewhere safe,” he states in a low voice.
“Where?”I ask, feeling the fear and anxiety starting to build up in me again.
“Somewhere they can’t hurt you anymore,” he states confidently, slowing my heart rate.
I slowly nod and allow the tears to escape my eyes and roll down my face.It is dangerous for me to stay in this spot.It is dangerous that I am trusting a man I don’t know, but honestly, I have no other choice.
“Phil,” Shawn states in a stern but calm voice.
