I awoke from my deep sleep before the sun had even thought of rising. I did not dream, which was unusual, or if I did, all I couldn’t remember a single detail. I was startled by a crumpled figure laying near the moth of the cave. It was him bathed in the shadows on the setting moon. I sat upright, the sheets made a small rustling sound, and it seemed to echo through the cave. I didn’t like it here, I needed to leave. The days were becoming progressively shorter, the nights as cold and dark as stale coffee. My hands were greying with cold, and I blew air into them to try to stimulate my blood flow. 

     I took out my pocket notebook and started a quick letter

Dylan,

I have it, as I said I would. They’re looking for me though. I’ll get to you ASAP.

See you soon,
 -Aden

A letter that would probably never be mailed, considering I left my wallet on the table of their house. I didn’t even have the $0.42 for a stamp. I breathed heavily, attempting to keep myself levelheaded. He stirred, murmured something in his sleep, and shifted positions. I wondered where his family was, if he had one of his own, if they missed him. Perhaps he left behind a loyal dog or a cat for the life of a hermit. Something seemed off and didn’t quite add up. Who the hell was this guy? It didn’t matter, I had decided I would bandage my ankle with anything I could find and would be on my way before noon. 

     The moonlight was oddly comforting, softening the shadows that eerily danced upon the sloping walls on the cave. I didn’t belong here at all, every fiber of my being was out of place, and my wilderness skills were nonexistent. A life of suburbia and cities don’t prepare you for this kind situation, especially when you don’t know the exact motives of your captivator. Yes, he had saved me, but it’s only been a few hours, who knew if he could be trusted. My fingers began to twitch, a nervous habit, and my mind began to spin. Different scenarios flashed, some creations of my mind, others past memories, a dizzying whirlwind of emotion and anxiety. Forcing myself to take deep measured breath, I sat down on an old mattress laying on the ground, it was surprisingly soft. My hands shook as I sipped the water, each droplet took my thoughts away from the sudden panic, made me feel grounded in simple routine.

     A small picture frame rested on his pillow. It was of him, whoever he was, what looked to be about five years ago. He was captured mid-laugh with a young bright-eyed girl encased in his arms, her brown hair sweetly tousled. A quaint house was behind them, flowers in bloom and a dog in the window. If I had ever seen pure happiness, it was whatever was captured in that moment. Who would leave that behind for a cave in the middle of nowhere? Especially a twenty-something with curious eyes? 

    A wind began to whistle outside the shelter, and I instantly began to shiver, noticing how cool it had become. I pulled the scratchy black patchwork quilt against my body. It smelled of fresh air and sun, a pleasant and welcome fragrance. I didn’t know if I’d ever see day again, because who knew if this guy was to be trusted, but despite my own will, my eyelids closed.

 

This was possibly the most inopportune time for those three half-wits to return. My mind raced and I crouched down low, my fingers clasping around it. Jackpot. A thin smile washed upon my face, but disappeared the second I heard their voices. They were loud and angry.

Get out. Get out.

The words repeated in my mind until they were meaningless, and I couldn’t wouldn’t allow myself to imagine what would happen if I didn’t. I shoved the small package in the pocket of my light jacket, hoping that all the contents were there. Drawing in a small shaky breath, I stepped out the first story window as quietly as I could.

Or rather, I attempted. Unfortunately “quiet” wasn’t very prominent in my vocabulary and I managed to hit my head against the glass during my escape, resulting in a loud thud. I took off running, but not before I heard a deep voice holler “You bitch!,” after me.

My breathing was labored, I’d been trying to escape them for twenty minutes now and times like this made me wish I had paid attention in Phys. Ed. back in my high school days. Without much thought, I turned the the woods, hoping for somewhere to hide, or to at least loose them easily. But for now, Jared, Evan and Rory weren’t far behind, their strings of profanities quite unmistakable against the stillness of the trees around us. 

What have I gotten myself into? They’ll kill me. I looked back only  long enough to see the unmistakable outlines on various weapons in their pockets. The three men may have low IQ’s but they know when they’ve been robbed, and they’d make sure to make that person pay the price. 

I broke off from the main path, hoping to spare my life by a few minutes. My legs felt like they were going to buckle under me, but I saw some sort of a make-shift shelter in the distance.

Keeping to the shadows, and my footsteps light, and my breathing even I followed the small bands of smoke rising from the clearing.