Simply Playing With Me

I was excited all day, smiling and laughing during the three hours of torture. Erik seemed to appreciate me being happy. Just to go out and see the sky was an enormous treat, and I acted like a child on Christmas Eve.

"When are we going out?" I asked; it must have been for the millionth time, but he answered patiently each time.

"After dinner, Christine." And at dinner I shoveled the food down my throat. That resulted in a rare smile; I can tell his facial expressions by his eyes, which can change in a split-second. He told me to take a jacket, just in case, but that night it was completely unnecessary; it was still late-August and extremely warm. I went into the hall, where he was waiting for me, the blindfold in his hands. I stopped in mid-step when I saw it, and he gave an apologetic gesture.

"Certain precautions are necessary. You must wear it in order to leave."

I sighed loudly and gave in; I needed to taste fresh air was willing to be blindfolded in order to do so. He tied it gently and took my arm. I still didn't like his touch and tensed. I heard him unlock the door and warm air enfolded us as we stepped outside. I was smiling broadly as he led me to the car and warned me to be conscious of my head getting in.

"Where are we going?" I asked him as we were driving. He didn't respond, but my mood couldn't be dampened and I was still grinning as the car stopped. I could smell sharp pine as I got out and looked around rapidly when Erik took my blindfold off. The light was fading, but I could see that we were on a dirt road that ran through the middle of a forest. Erik took me through a trail that was wide enough for us to walk side-by-side. I was devouring every sight I could, glad to be in the real world once again. For once there was a comfortable silence between us.

I suppose it was always there in the back of my mind. Like an annoying fly that you know is there but don't want to really think about. I think Erik knew it, too. I only brought it up to my conscious mind when I had grown bored of looking at trees. They were thick. Could I squeeze through them? Would I be fast enough? These things ran through my mind. It was growing dark. That would be both a help and a hindrance. My eyes had grown accustomed to the gloom...but Erik's were much more adapt. And if I were to succeed where would I go? I could go back to the dirt road and hope that it led to a main road. Of course it did...but how far would it be? And what if they came looking for me in their car? I could see that Erik was thinking of turning around and going back to the car. Like when I screamed, it was now or never. I might never have this chance again...would never even fight again for my freedom.

I took off like a rabbit. Erik did not make a sound; I believe he was simply playing with me, that this was all a game to him. He knew, of course, that I would try to escape, but I had expected him then to grab my hand as soon as I made a sudden movement. I was clawing my way through the thick undergrowth, which was tearing my clothes and skin and pulling at my hair, but I didn't slow. A sharp pain shot through my ankle, and I fell, face-forward, into the dirt, receiving a mouthful of leaves and a face full of mud. Frantically, I turned around to see my foot caught on root, and, no matter how hard I tugged, it would not budge. Tears of anger, frustration, and, most of all, fear, were beginning to hotly prick at my eyes, yet I held them back; tears were of no use here. The shoe was quickly abandoned, as my foot would not leave with it. Smearing more dirt than removing it, I wiped my hand over my face and continued, now relying more on stealth than speed. As the minutes passed hope blossomed in my chest. I really did believe, for those precious minutes, that I was free.

Freedom! It was candy on my tongue, and I rejoiced in it. Resisting to give a cry of delight, I scrambled over a root, yet lost my footing, once again, and began to tumble down a steep hill. I had to bite my tongue to not scream; instead, I had to be satisfied with a sharp gasp. Roots, twigs, leaves, and rocks were scratching into my skin and palms as I frantically tried to grab anything to stop myself. It was quite fruitless; I landed with a noisy splash into a small, shallow river at the base of the hill. My tongue did betray me then; it shrieked as the frigid water bit into my clothes and skin. Even though it was warm, the water was ice-cold, and now the temperature itself was dropping as night was dawning. Now desperately trying to keep myself composed, I numbly climbed out of the bitter water and trudged up the hill, trying to find the improvised path I had been on. Suddenly my heart sped to an alarming rate and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. He was close...I could feel it...

Forcing my aching, stiff legs to work, I began to run again, not hearing anything except the crunching of my feet, the pounding of my heart and my labored breathing. I didn't slow until my ribs were aching and my throat was burning. When I was absolutely sure that he wasn't behind me I stopped, crouching behind a thick tree and waited, trying to still my ragged breathing and stop my frantic shivering. I heard crunching behind me and covered my mouth to keep from screaming.

"Christine..."

The voice was right behind me! I whirled around but found only the tree looking at me. With a stifled cry I leapt up and began to run again, trying to get as far away from that voice as possible. I would have climbed a tree, but coniferous trees are not the easiest to climb. I ran until I began to cough violently and knelt down on a gentle slope, gasping.

"Christine..."

The voice was to my left! I looked around frantically. Then it was on my right, in front of me, and then in my head! I grabbed my ears, thinking that they were playing tricks on me, and that in my witless state I was hearing voices. Giving a small sob, I jumped up...and ran right into Erik's outstretched arms. He picked me up and began to walk slowly and silently back to the road.

"No! Please! Let me go!"

Writhing and kicking in any way that I could, I screamed at him the whole way back to the car. The only sound of protest was a soft grunt as I kicked him sharply on the knee. We arrived and I saw that the car was sleek and black, a newer model, with darkly tinted windows. He put me into the back seat of the car, climbed in after me, slammed the door shut, and the car screeched off. I was silent and shivering, waiting for serious rebuke. When Erik was upset, he certainly showed it. I could feel his anger seething off of him. But he simply blindfolded me and remained silent. I was still shivering as he took me inside my room. This time, however, he went inside with me. I gave a small scream and horrid mental images came to mind...of him...of me...

"Christine has been naughty," he said quietly. "Christine must be punished. She has been a bad girl..."

I squeaked, but he simply left, slamming the door behind him and locking it. I stood there for a few minutes before slouching against the wall with an exhausted sigh. My hand clutched at my rapidly beating heart to try to steady it, and I sank to the floor with a moan. It had been a horribly frightful experience. A shiver wracked my body, and then I remembered that I was dripping wet and filthy. The hot bath water was a welcome relief and, as I sank gratefully into bed, I had, surprisingly, a dreamless, heavy sleep.