Chapter 8

Hospital Room… July 25

I awoke at 10:00 am to a nurse bringing breakfast. I would definitely be glad to get away from hospital food. 'Get away'.. I will be leaving today! My heart pounded in anticipation.

"Are you excited about finally getting out of here?" The nurse smiled at me looking like she already knew the answer.

I replied with a rather happy, "Yes," and she left me to my food.

After breakfast, I got up and put on real clothing, glad to finally get out of hospital attire. A pink shirt and jeans framed my overly skinny body. I stared in the mirror at my frail reflection and sighed.

Problems and anxious thoughts began to form in my mind. My God, I'm going to be outside in the open soon. What if he finds me? What if that Nadir guy and Erik are watching my every move? I wrung my hands nervously. Well, at least I'll have Aunt Giry and Meg.

Aunt Giry and Meg! I still had yet to see either of them. I wasn't unhappy about that, though, and I felt bad for thinking that. I just didn't know if I could face them yet.

I realized that it was going to be so difficult to associate with others. Damn him! The three of us would probably never be comfortable around each other again. They would always tip-toe around me…

The only good thing I could think of in this whole situation was the fact that I would be going to college soon. Then, I would be able to get away and start a new life. That would be heavenly.

A doctor came in a few minutes later and examined me for the final time. "Well, Christine, I guess we won't be seeing you around here anymore."

"Let's hope not," I replied. This was the last place I ever wanted to return to again.

"Yes, let's hope not." His eyes took on a sympathetic look before concentrating on my wrist. "Well, this is healing nicely. The cast will be taken off in a few months. It's a bad sprain." I nodded.

"Um, is my aunt in the lobby?" I needed to know if I had a ride.

"Let me see." He left and returned minutes later. "Yes, both your aunt and cousin are there waiting for you."

"Ok." I was nervous about seeing them.

"Well, Christine, it has been a pleasure having you as a patient, although the circumstances were most unfortunate."

What an awkward way to say bye, I thought while shifting slightly. "Yeah, but I think I'll be ok." Huge lie. "Thank you for taking care of me." We shook hands, and he left the room.

A nurse then came into the room with a wheelchair. "Am I riding in that?"

"It's hospital leaving procedure," she simply replied.

Motioning for me to sit down in the wheelchair, I glanced around the small plain room one last time. Sighing and almost wishing to stay locked up in here forever, I hesitantly got in the wheeled contraption and allowed her to roll me to the lobby.

I instantly got out of the wheelchair the moment we reached the lobby, not wanting to look weak. I thanked the nurse and searched the room for my family.

Aunt Giry saw me and came running. "Christine!" She hugged my tense body enthusiastically. Meg stood looking almost as scared as I felt.

I bit my lip and mumbled, "Hi, guys." My eyes darted throughout the waiting area. I was scared to death of seeing any man wearing a mask.

My relatives seemed to understand. "How are you, dear?" Aunt Giry asked.

"Fine," I quickly replied. What if he's outside.. waiting for me?

"Christine?"

I looked at my aunt. "What?" God, I don't want to be kidnapped again!

Meg finally spoke. "Christine, you're safe." She said it so softly and with so much sincerity that I blinked.

"I'm safe…" Both of them nodded. "How do you know?"

"He won't find you." Meg seemed to be acting extremely hesitant, and I knew exactly why.

There was so much I wanted to say to her just then- so many hateful things. It's your fault I got into this mess! Just seeing and hearing her speak made me cringe, but I only looked towards the ground.

Aunt Giry put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Let's go home."

'Home'. Yeah right. I would never go 'home' again. But, I would go with them. It would not be 'home', though. I was hoping college would become my new home. I walked in between them, my eyes searching everywhere.

--

Aunt Giry's House… July 25

When we finally got 'home', things were exactly as I had anticipated- very awkward. So awkward, in fact, that I immediately went to my room. They didn't try to stop me.

My room was so dark and uncomfortable. I turned on three lamps, preferring them besides the overhead light.

The room I'd resided in for the past seven years was plain, lacking many of the trivialities teens often displayed on their walls. One poster was plastered on the wall above my bed, though. It was of the musical, My Fair Lady. We performed it at school my senior year, and I had the privilege of taking the lead, Eliza, beating out my worst enemy when landing the role. Carlotta was always such a snob. It was one of the best moments of my life when winning the role she wanted. I smiled wistfully at the memory.

Thinking back on those times used to make me so happy, but now, they broke my heart. How I wished I could go back! I never realized how good I had it until now.

My attention then focused on a picture on my bedside table. It was of my mother and father. They were so beautiful. It was one of their wedding pictures. I touched their faces delicately with tears in my eyes.

A silent decision was suddenly made in my mind. Without another thought, I went to my closet, got a suitcase, and put it on my bed. My parents' picture and my My Fair Lady poster were put in the bottom before I began putting clothes and books in.

I couldn't stay in this house any longer. I just couldn't. I didn't belong- not anymore. I would move out and try to find an apartment close to Indiana University with the money my parents left me when they died.

Maybe then, I would be able to make a new life for myself without anyone from my past.

First, though, I would find Erik. Before I began a new life, I had to know who my kidnapper was. I had a plan, too. Nadir had foolishly told me his entire name- Nadir Kahn. I would look in a phone book for his information. Hopefully, it would be there, because that was the only plan I had.

When everything of importance from both my bedroom and bathroom was packed, I was surprised to find that it all fit in one suitcase and a backpack.

Then, though, my brain collided back to reality. I came to a halt in the middle of my room and looked into the dresser mirror. What am I doing? How can I just leave? Especially right when I get home from the hospital after being kidnapped! How stupid am I? It's like I'm just asking for trouble…

I sighed realizing I wouldn't be able to go through with it at the moment. So, I put the filled luggage into my closet and went downstairs.

Meg was watching TV and, when she saw me approaching, turned it off. "You didn't have to do that," I said while sitting in a recliner.

"I wanted to."

I tried not to look at her knowing I would only become furious if I did. Even without looking, I could sense she wanted to speak but was hesitating.

Finally, though, she spoke. It was a nervous whisper in the form of a question. "What was it like?"

Surprised by the question, I looked at her. Just as I expected, I became angry. The party-crazy blonde without a care in the world- that was what my cousin was. She was always on the go with friends, her boyfriend, and parties. And, the one time she forces me to go with her, I get kidnapped and raped! "It was hell, Meg," I replied with forced control.

"I bet… It's so sad…"

"What's so sad?" I already knew the answer, but I was so angry that I'd do anything to produce the anger through my voice.

"Well, everything. You poor thing. If you just hadn't left the club…"

I gripped the arm of my recliner to prevent myself from slapping her. If only you hadn't forced me to go in the first place!

"Gosh, and you've always wanted to stay a virgin until your wedding night."

That was it. I couldn't take her shit any longer, so I got up and went into the kitchen. Aunt Giry was there.

"Hi, dear. Are you hungry? I made pasta."

"Sure." I grabbed a plate and sat across from her at the table. "So, how have things been here?" I really wasn't up to date on any news, and I'd do anything to get Meg's voice off my mind.

"Well, we've been worried sick about you."

"How'd you find out? I mean.. how'd you find out I was missing?"

"Well, Meg looked around the club for a long time. She couldn't find you anywhere, so her and the two boys she was with got in a car and searched around town. It was dark, so one of the boys got out and walked while Meg and the other drove slowly beside him. They found your purse on the sidewalk."

"Oh."

"Yes, well, then Meg called me, and the search began. You'll never know the relief we felt when we knew you were alright."

Relief? Sorry, Aunt Giry, but I'm pretty sure I was way more relieved about being 'alright' than you were. "I'm sorry you couldn't see me in the hospital…" I really wasn't, but I felt the need to be polite.

"It's fine. We understand. We aren't your parents."

No, you aren't… No parents, no friends, no virginity.. nothing. I stood suddenly feeling like I might be sick. "I.. um.." I ran upstairs not caring about being polite any longer.

They didn't follow me. I knew they would never follow me again, anywhere. If my parents were here, I'm sure I wouldn't be let out of their sight for a long time. But, these people were not my parents.

I ran to my room and shut and locked the door. "Damn them," I whispered. Those perfect people who probably thought of me more as a burden than anything else would not have to worry anymore. They will never see me again.

Immediately, the suitcase and backpack were pulled out of the closet and put in the middle of my room. I had a plan. I would drive, Thank God I have a car!, and, well.. drive.

Phone book! I left my bedroom and crossed the hall to retrieve the phone book from Aunt Giry's room. Then, I hurried back to the privacy of my own room.

"Kahn, Kahn, Kahn," I whispered while flipping through. "Jutson… Kabner… Kagwile…" My finger landed on it. "Kahn," I excitedly whispered. Nadir Kahn. 75 Caliber Drive. Paduka, Indiana. I wrote the information that seemed surprisingly familiar down and also wrote the phone number. That was too easy…

Then, I got a piece of paper and wrote a letter to Aunt Giry and Meg. No matter how angry I was, I had to remember they'd taken care of me for seven years. So, I wrote a kind message begging them not to worry. No police, no searches. I reminded over and over that this was my choice. They'd abide by my requests. I knew they would. They would be better off without me, too.

I put the letter on my bed, got my suitcase and backpack, and proceeded to climb out of my bedroom window. There was a plus to having a room like mine. It was very easy to escape through the window. I'd done it many times before.

Making sure I had cash, my Debit card, and my car keys in my purse, I hurried to my Toyota Camry.

The escape would be easy, I was sure. It was already turning dark, and the engine of my car barely made any noise.

So, I got in, checked Nadir's address one last time thinking I might know where that street was, took a deep breath, and drove away.

I want to thank you for reading :) I also want to thank the reviewers! Thank you so much!

Please continue reading and reviewing :)

-Lauren