I don't know how long I crumbled beneath him but eventually Roan stiffened and let out a loud groan, cumming inside me. When he was finished, he let himself drop down on me and gently laid his head on my chest. For several minutes he just wrapped my hair around his fingers, smelling it. Every now and then, he softly kissed my breasts and quietly whispered to me.
"I'm going to take you somewhere where no one can interfere with us. You might suffer for a time but I hope, I hope one day you will accept me and then it will be as it always should have been. You and me, you and me, you..." He started trailing off, sleepily mumbling to himself. I only caught a few more words, "Won't, from me, mine, back."
He stopped talking altogether and a few minutes after that I heard him softly snoring, his exhaustion finally taking him. I laid there underneath him for who knows how long, looking up at the stars, staring off into space. Tears trickled down my face and onto the ground as I wished I could float away that I could escape up into the sky nd just float far... far away.
At one point Roan fell out of me. I realized I hadn't been able to tell he was still inside me. It just hurt so much. I rolled him off me then and turned onto my side. Roan quickly curled up behind me, spooning me. I watched the fire flicker and slowly dwindled down to smoky embers. Eventually I closed my eyes, listening to the crickets, the howls of wolves, the call of wild birds and the wind as it whispered through the trees.
At some point I succumbed to the darkness, only to wake to Roan pushing into me again. I cried out struggling against him but he batted my hands away, grunting and groaning in my ears. The pain was almost all consuming. I moved my hands all around me, grasping at what I could, weeds, grass and dirt. My fingertips grazed something, hard, sharp and cold! My eyes dimly flickered as I identified a rock a little bigger then my hand.
I stared up at the sky as Roan raped me again. My body reacted before my mind fully grasped the concept. I clawed at the rock until I could tightly hold it in my hand. Roan was so caught up in what he was doing that he didn't feel me tense. He didn't see it coming! With all my might I lifted the rock and smashed it against his head. It hit him hard, so hard that I heard a sickening crunch.
He made a strange little noise and sunk down on me. I struggled, pushing him off me. In the moonlight I could see there was blood coming from his head but not enough. I hit him again and again until the bloody rock slipped out of my hand. I sat there then and stared at him, waiting for him to make the slightest little twitch. I felt like I was in some sort of trance and then all at once I breathed… shuddering. I vomited and then screamed and screamed and screamed, breaking down into tears.
Somehow I trembled to my feet, looking all around me. I couldn't think. I didn't think. I just moved. It was like my basic survival instincts were kicking in. I knew I needed to get up and get away at all costs. I grabbed the dress and put it back on. I stumbled back and turned to leave but something sharp stabbed into my foot. I stifled the pain with my adrenaline.
I hopped around, pulling whatever it was out of my foot and threw it. In the moonlight I saw his shoes. Without a second thought I took them, sliding my feet into them. They were far too big for me but they were still shoes. I thought to search his clothes then. I took his knife from his pants and his phone. Thoughts began forming in my head again as I foraged. I'd need food and water…
I grabbed a bag and took what I could carry. I wiped my face and then set out. I painfully stumbled through the forest, moving slowly at first but then I quickened my pace. The farther I got the more it hit me. I'd done it! I'd gotten away! I'd escaped. I was free...free…free.
My heart thundered in my chest. I could barely see my hand in front of my face but I kept going, kept moving. I don't know how far I got but eventually I fell down, tripping on a branch or something. I skinned my knees, hitting the ground. I burst into tears once more, screaming out in frustration. I...I just couldn't see.
I wanted to keep going but I needed a moment to catch my breath. I wiped my tears and closed my eyes. I tried to center myself and calm down. When my heart finally began to settle, I recalled I'd taken Roan's phone. Of course! I quickly dug it out of the bag. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to use it. Some phones required personal codes to unlock. It took me a few seconds of fumbling but I managed to turn it on. It appeared to be a simple prepaid phone. I messed around with it until I turned on the flashlight. I smiled, happy to be able to see.
I took out a bottle of water and cautiously drank it. I didn't want to drink the one he'd drugged. When it tasted okay I finished it off then got back up and kept moving. I must have walked a good ten or twenty minutes before it occurred to me. I had a phone. Why the fuck wasn't I calling someone. I stopped walking and looked at it closer only to find there was no signal. Of course not! Of fucking course not! I was in the middle of the forest at who knows, 3:21 am. I read the time on the phone and it brought me some small comfort to actually know something. I didn't know where I was but I fucking knew what time it was.
I would keep going. I would get a signal. I would get out of here! I nodded to myself and pressed on. I kept an eye on the phone as I walked. My legs began to ache after a few minutes and seize up. I had to massage my calves every so often. In the cold night air, I felt like I was carrying a thousand pounds of body weight. I stumbled up a small hill and noticed something on the phone had changed. It was ever so faint but I HAD A SIGNAL! My heart quickened and I nearly fell over. I dropped the bag I was carrying and quickly dialed the only number I knew by heart. I knew I should be calling 9-1-1 but Derek WAS my 9-1-1.
When I heard the cell phone ring I held my breath, waiting...waiting to hear his voice. It was something I'd feared I might not hear again. I closed my eyes and there was a click. "Hello, it's Derek. I'm not here." It was his voice but his message box. "No, he is not." I heard my own voice cheerfully chime in as well. I cried, covering my mouth. I sounded foreign to myself. I'd been so happy then. Would I...could I ever be that happy again? Derek's voice went on, "If you need to catch me, leave me a message at the-"
I hung up and dialed again and again, it rang and rang and rang. "Come on. Come on! Derek, pick up! Answer! Answer my call! Come on! Come on!" I willed over and over for him to pick up his phone but it just kept ringing and going to his message box. I knew he must have been asleep. It was only three am but still, he would have kept his phone near-
There was a click, "He-laro,gzzraa," It gargled then. There was static as the phone signal dropped, "NO! NO! NO!" He'd finally picked up. I held the phone to my face the signal bar was gone, "COME ON!" I screamed, "NO! NO! NO! NO!" I walked in circles and then tried to get higher. Suddenly the signal came back. "YES! COME ON! COME ON, DEREK!" I quickly dialed. It rang, no answer. I dialed again, no answer yet again. Then on the third time, "WHO IS THIS!" The phone crackled.
He sounded angry but it was him! It was my…my, "DEREK!" I cried out.
There was a long pause. I worried I'd lost the signal again, "DEREK!" I called. "DEREK!"
There was silence. I nearly pulled the phone away from my ear to check the signal but I heard him speak, his voice barely a whisper. "Who...who is this?"
"IT'S ME!" I cried! Did he not recognize my voice? "KIRI!"
"Kiri..." he said slowly. He seemed to be having a hard time registering it was me. I wondered if he was okay. "But you're...you're dead."
Dead?! My eyes nearly popped out of my head as I yelled at him, "I'M NOT DEAD!" I quickly rambled on then, "ROAN WENT FUCKING PSYCHO! HE'S A CRAZY BASTARD! EVERYTHING WAS A LIE! HIS FAMILY, HIS FUCKING APOLOGY. HE-HE-" I couldn't say it. I couldn't say what he'd done to me. Not...not to Derek. I went on. "HE- HE KIDNAPPED ME! I GOT AWAY! I STOLE HIS PHONE! I'M IN SOME FOREST! IT'S DARK! I'M HURT! I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM-"
The call dropped again. "Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me," I whispered under my breath. I ran around waving the phone about. Instead of waiting for a single bar I took longer and made sure I had two before I dialed again. He picked up on the first ring and spoke before I could, "KIRI! KIRI! IS IT REALLY YOU!?"
"YES, DEREK! THIS PIECE OF SHIT PHONE KEEPS LOSING SIGNAL!" I heard him breathe heavily. It sounded like he was moving about. I heard things falling, glass clattering and crashing to the ground. "DEREK!"
"I'M HERE! I'M HERE! WHERE ARE YOU?! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"I TOLD YOU, I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T KNOW! THE CAR ROAN STOLE GOT A FLAT AND WE STARTED WALKING IN THIS FOREST! I GOT AWAY BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM!"
There was a long pause. I heard him breathing. I didn't know what he was doing, what he was thinking. "DEREK!" I cried, when he didn't answer after nearly a minute.
"You," he spoke quietly, "You-YOU NEED TO HANG UP, KIRI!"
"WHAT!" I said confused.
"LISTEN TO ME, KIRI! I CAN'T HELP YOU LIKE THIS! YOU NEED TO HANG UP AND CALL 9-1-1! YOU NEED THEM TO TRACK YOUR LOCATION! RIGHT NOW!"
"DEREK!" I knew he was right but I didn't want to get off the phone with him. I didn't want to be alone.
"DO IT! I'LL TRY TO TEXT YOU! JUST CALL THEM!" he hung up and I stood there. I couldn't believe he hung up on me just like that but I knew I needed to do this. I nodded and quickly dialed 9-1-1.
It rang and rang but by the third ring I heard static and someone picked up. I moved trying to keep the signal strong as a woman answered, "911 is this an emergency?"
"HELLO! YES! I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM!"
"What is your name ma'am, and are you safe?"
"I….MY NAME IS KIRI LENK, L-E-N-K! I'M OKAY RIGHT NOW, I GUESS! I'M HURT BUT NOT DYING. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOREST AND DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM I ESCAPED MY ATTACKER! I CALLED MY FIANCE! HE SAID TO CALL YOU AND TELL YOU TO TRACK MY LOCATION!" I finally breathed.
I heard a ping.
"Ma'am, I going to need you to stay calm," said the woman, "I'm Barbra. I'm going to get you through this. We are currently trying to track you location but it's going to take some time. I'm going to need you to stay on the phone. If we get disconnected at any point I'm going to need you to keep calling back. Can you do this for me?"
"OKAY! YES!" I tried to calm down but my heart and mind were racing a million miles a minute. "Okay, I can, just please, please help me!"
I heard a ping again and realized Derek was trying to text me. I pulled the phone away from my ear and saw he'd texted my name twice. Another text came in as he asked if I was getting them. I texted, "zYves." It was hard to see in the dark and my hands were shaking.
"Ma'am are you there?" said Barbra.
"Yes!" I said, putting the phone back to my ear.
"Can you tell me anything about your location?"
"Other than its a forest, no," I said, "I'm sorry. I just I don't know anything, the car he stole got a flat and we walked for about a day so I guess it's a big forest."
"Alright ma'am, do you know who your attacker is?"
"Yes!"I said, "ROAN ATTLEY- A-T-T-L-E-Y. He- he used to bully me as a kid and has been stalking for a while now. I didn't know about it. He's CRAZY, like carved my name into his chest, CRAZY!" I didn't know how else to quickly explain it. I went on, "He attacked me at my work and kidnapped me and he wouldn't let me go. I HIT him with a rock."
There were several pings. I felt light headed, realizing I was hyperventilating.
Barbra seemed to be able to tell over the phone. "Kiri, it's okay. Take deep breaths. I'm sorry those things happened to you. Right now we need to focus on keeping you safe. Are you in a safe location?"
I looked all around, raising my hand, "As safe as I can get right now."
"What is the last location you can recall him taking you to?"
"I...uhh, a store, he stopped at a store. It was a Rodinger's parking lot. But that was a day or so ago. I don't know. He drugged me and I slept. I don't know how long. I was taken on a Monday."
There was another ping from Derek. I finally checked, pulling the phone away from my ear. He was asking if I'd called 9-1-1 and told me he'd called. He asked what the trees looked like and then if I was there. I texted I was on the phone with 9-1-1. I tried to describe a tree and Barbra called to me.
"Kiri...Kiri are you there?"
"Yes!" I said "Sorry, I called my fiancé. He's texting this phone too and he's also on 9-1-1."
"What is the name of your fiancé?"
"Derek Linn, L-I-N-N!"
"Where is your fiancé, now?"
"Home, I think. We live at, 7510 Cyder, wait no! That is the old place. We moved and we live at 8117 Corber, Apartment 921 Blaire, JSN-K."
I could hear her typing. Derek pinged and I learned he'd got off the phone with 9-1-1. They were able to identify my call and needed to keep the other line clear. Over the next several hours he texted me off and on as Barbra tried to pinpoint my location.
I had to sit against a tree after a while, my legs getting shaky. At one point I was so cold and tired Barbra asked me to get back up and keep moving around to keep warm. I was just so tired, I'd never been so tired and in so much pain in all my life. Derek was able to figure out the type of trees that were around me from the description I gave him. They were called Sparner Trees. He sent me a text of a photo. It looked like them, I guess. It was just so dark and the image was so tiny. I'd turned the flashlight off hours ago to conserve power. He told me to tell Barbra. I did, hoping it would help.
I told her about the stolen car and the gravel road. I told her whatever I could think of that might lead her to my location. She kept me talking. They both did. I realized around five am that my phone battery was getting low. I quickly told Barbra and texted Derek. It was slowly getting lighter out but the battery wouldn't make it to six. I was afraid they might not find me. That I might die out here. I asked Barbra what to do if the phone went out.
She assured me, "We're sending out a helicopter. It's going to take some time to get to your location, Kiri. We were not able to pinpoint your exact location but we have a general area. They will fly over the forest and a search party is forming."
"Thank you," I choked, getting depressed. "If you can't find me, it's okay. Thank you for just being on the phone with me,"
"Kiri," said Barbra, "You need to stay calm. Someone is on their way. They will find you."
"Should I move?" I asked.
"Try not to but if you can safely find an open area… get to it. The helicopter will do several flyovers so if they do not see you, don't get discouraged. Keep waiting and keep trying."
"Thank you." I said and then knew I needed to text Derek.
There wasn't time for a grand exit, all the things I wanted to say. I was barely texting full sentences as it was. I quickly texted him that the battery was nearly done and I loved him. He texted he loved me too. I watched as it got down to the last percent and texted. I will always love you. It was my way of saying goodbye, just in case. He quickly texted back to me, 'say it to me in person'
Before I could text back Barbra cut off as she was telling me to stay calm and the phone went dead. I was alone then in the dark. I sat back against the tree and just rested for a long while. I watched the sky slowly get lighter and lighter. Sunlight broke through the trees and I took a deep breath, getting up.
It was up to me now to hold out until I could be found. I stiffly returned to the bag and drank some water. It was the only bottle I had left. It had the drugs in it, I could taste them. I took a sip or two but didn't want to risk passing out. I'd save it just in case. I ate a muffin and some chips. Then I set out to find a clearing to make it easier for them to see me. I walked slowly, carefully now, trying to save my energy. I didn't know how long I would be out here on my own. I leaned up against trees every so often and took deep breaths. After about an hour, maybe two from the height of the sun, I found a clearing. It wasn't massive but I could see the open sky.
The clouds were so big and puffy. I wondered how a sky could be so beautiful when everything around me felt like it was going to shit. I found a nice place near the center of the clearing and sat down. Then I let out a heavy sigh, not knowing what to do with myself. I found I was still clutching the cell phone tightly. I stared at it for a few minutes then dug around in the bag to see what I had left. Maybe one or two meals, if I broke it up. I figured I could maybe make it last two days. The water…I could maybe sip slowly overtime to keep hydrated and take the edge off my pain.
I held myself for a while as the sun rose higher and higher. I was so tired. I started fading in and out of consciousness. All sorts of weird things popped into my head. Various letters I needed to mail, Poll and the kids, Mara's Jelly beans, Derek when he shaved. I loved the smell of his shaving cream, the smoothness of his skin after. I could almost feel his chin in my hands and hear his electric razor. "Hmmm"
The sound was so loud. I opened my eyes, finding I'd fallen asleep. The sun was directly over me. It felt warm and was good after being cold all night. I realized that loud sound I was hearing was a helicopter. I shot up. THAT WAS THEM, IT HAD TO BE! I painfully got to my feet and looked all around me.
The clouds were no longer in the sky. It was just endless pink with a blinding orange ball of light. I paced back and forth as it seemed to get farther away and then closer and then I didn't know where it was. I wished I had a flare or something to signal them as I heard them endlessly echo through the sky.
I was listening so hard that I heard the wind swaying through the trees and bushes. It was a nice soothing sound and then suddenly I heard several twigs snap. I looked into the woods and saw something move in the shadows. Something went behind a tree before I could get a good look at it. An animal maybe or better yet a rescue team!
Without thinking I called out."I'M HERE! I'M HERE!"
I saw a figure come out behind the tree and realized it wasn't an animal or a rescue team. IT WAS A MONSTER! I shuffled back as Roan slowly dragged himself forward. His face was covered in dry blood. I was surprised he was still alive and walking about, though he didn't look so great. He was only wearing his pants, his shirt was wrapped around his head. He looked at me slowly, walking forward, like a zombie.
He didn't say a single word. He didn't need to. His glare said it all. He was going to get me and then he was going to murder me. My chest quickly rose and sunk as I began to panic. What was I going to do! What was I going to do! Should I fight? Should I run? I heard the helicopter. It sounded closer now but it could have been wishful thinking. Even then, even if it was closer, it was up there and I was down here...with him.
I bit my lip, opening my cut up. I scrambled back to the bag, looking around. I saw the knife. I quickly palmed it but decided not to use it just yet. I recalled the incident with the mace. Instead, I grabbed the bottle of water and then stood my ground.
Roan came into the sunlight and I could hear his breathing now. It was heavy and staggered. I considered running again. Maybe I could outrun him now that he was injured and find another clearing or just double back here. I doubted it. Even injured he was still crazy as shit. I could picture him putting everything he had into chasing me down. I also didn't want to miss the helicopter seeing me. I swear it was close now. I felt an unnatural change in the wind even thought nothing around me was moving. I couldn't explain it. I just felt it in my gut. I needed to hold out just a little longer.
Roan hissed at me, "Kiri, Kiri, Kiri, Kiri, Kiri." He spat, "FUCKING BITCH! CUNT! WHORE!"
I quaked and second-guessed myself. He drew closer and I screamed, "STAY BACK! THE POLICE ARE COMING!"
I threw the bottle of water at him like it would deter him. He went to block it but he was too slow or didn't see it right because he completely missed it. The bottle of water hit him in the chest but it didn't deter him. If anything it only seemed to set him off more.
I felt like I really was dealing with a zombie, the way he was looking at me and then he stopped walking. He just stood and stared at me. I stared back at him curiously. He looked up and so did I. It was a mistake that nearly cost me. He quickly darted forward, charging at me full speed, I just managed to throw myself off to the side but fell to the ground. He ran past me and didn't stop for several feet. I got up and quickly backed away from him. He went to turn around and staggered, nearly falling over. Something was definitely off with him more so than usual.
The wind suddenly picked up and the helicopter sounded like it was right on top of us. I saw a large shadow on the ground and looked up to see the most beautiful sight. My rescue team. All the pain in my body vanished, if only for a moment. I jumped and screamed and waved my hands about.
"HEY! HEY I'M HERE! I'M-"
Something hard struck me as I watched the helicopter pass over me. I'd taken my eyes off Roan for only a second but he had lined himself up again and charged me, taking us both down. Pain surged through me as I hit the ground hard, dropping the knife. Before I could recover, Roan climbed on top of me, punching me over and over again before he wrapped his hands around my neck and began to squeeze.
"YOU! PISS THIS!" He hissed. "YOU MADE ME! MUFFIN! HAVE TO KISS YOU!"
Some of his words didn't make sense and were scrambled. I stretched my hands out trying to get the knife, hoping he didn't see me drop it.
I rasped at him, "No. No."
He lifted me up and then slammed me down. "TEST! TEST! YES! I WONT LET THEM TAKE MINE! I WON'T AGAIN! THIS…THIS WAY WE TO BE TOGETHER! I'LL KISS YOU THEN ME! YES! I'LL KISS...KISS.." He roared out in frustration not able to say the words he wanted. "We be together"
"No! No!" I kept rasping. "We wouldn't be…." I was starting to lose consciousness but I found, it, found the knife. I just needed to open it up.
"I'LL FIND YOU AGAIN!" he laughed madly to himself. His eyes glazed over for a minutes as blood dripped onto me from his head.
I fumbled with the knife but I just- I couldn't get it.
"I'LL FIND YOU LIKE I DO ALWAYS AND WE WILL BE TOGETHER. I JUST WANT WE BE TOGETHER!" Roan suddenly seemed a bit more lucid now as his eyes came into focus. He stared down at me and started uncontrollably sobbing but he didn't stop and I felt myself slipping away. The wind was moving all around me so much air but I couldn't get any in my lungs. I could see the helicopter overhead again it had come back. It must have seen us. What was this bullshit! To be so close to being saved only to…to...to die!
The edge of my vision started to go as darkness slowly closed in on me. I knew it meant I was about to lose consciousness. I rolled my eyes back and thought of my last text to Derek, 'I will always love you.' It was my goodbye but he'd responded, "Tell me in person." I was barely aware I'd gotten the knife open.
I pictured Derek reaching out his hand to me. Only his face and hair were different, yet his eyes were the same. Always the same...a window to his soul. His ocean blue eyes became more and more clear to me. They were the first thing I saw when I woke up and the last thing I saw when I went to sleep. He looked at me, pleading, "Stay with me, Keyoko! Don't go! Don't go!"
"Der...Lu...ka..." I gasped with my last breath.
Forever, we… we were forever soulmates. I grasped the knife tightly as my love for him filled me with a second wind. My heart pounded in my chest and with everything I had, I gave it one last shot. I raised the knife and jabbed it into Urels' side. Roan roared out and let go of my neck. Through foggy eyes, I saw him pull back and get to his feet. He looked at the knife in his side and then to me hurt.
He said, "SHIT, KIRI!"
If I could have, I would have screamed at the top of my lungs 'FUCK YOU' but right now I was just struggling to breathe… It was hard but I kept fighting. He pulled the knife from his side and through a haze I watched him come at me again. I closed my eyes knowing this was it then a single gunshot rang out.
I opened my eyes, one second Roan was coming at me and the next he was on the ground. I closed my eyes then and drifted off somewhere pleasant. A beach on a beautiful sunny day. My happy place. I was wearing a white wispy sun dress. Everything was so beautiful. I could feel the wet sand on my feet as I walked. I heard the laughter of children playing behind me and turned to look. I saw, a girl about eight or nine running with another girl a little younger. They reminded me of Polly's girls, only older. A little boy was playing with them but turned to me.
He called out to me, "Mommy...Wait up!"
He ran waddling out to me. In the distance I could see Derek holding a little girl in his arms. She had the cutest curls. He smiled at me. I smiled back…
I smiled "KIRI! KIRI LENK!"
I opened my eyes and felt like I was floating. No...no, I was being lifted onto a stretcher. There was a neck brace around my neck. An EMT called out to me, "KIRI? ARE YOU KIRI LENK!?" I groaned in response. He waved to someone out of my view then turned back to me, "YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY! WE GOT YOU! WE'RE LIFTING YOU UP NOW! HANG TIGHT!"
I felt something attach to the board I was on and I was lifted up and away. It was almost like I was floating. I got my wish, a moment later I was lifted into the helicopter and then moved off to another board. Someone moved over me, putting on a monitor. I wheezed, struggling to breathe and stay conscious. I felt them put an oxygen mask on me and glorious air came rushing into my starving lungs. I took several deep breaths and smiled.
"YOU'RE GOING TO BE OKAY!" The woman shouted over the sound of the helicopter as she crouched over me.
As oxygen enriched my brain I became more aware of what was happening. I realized they'd found me. I was being saved! Another stretched came up and I turned my head slightly, seeing as they moved Roan onto the helicopter. They secured him and put a monitor and oxygen mask on his face as well. His ice blue eyes were barely opened but they locked onto mine and he smiled.
I said, or maybe just thought, 'Fuck! Not him too.' just before I passed out. |
