My little escape

"Don't talk to strangers " was what my mom used to tell me. She said it today too but it fell on my deaf ears. And now I can feel those words mocking at me, bit by bit.

I should have really listened to mom.

I lied to her by saying that I'm going out to play. In fact, I was heading to the old dilapidated building a few blocks away, just to have a look at it ...... alone. It was foolish.Maybe dangerous too ...I know but the rebel inside of me compelled me not to think so much about it. The darkness seemed so tempting yet so mysterious.

It was fun until my eyes fell on him.

 And there he stood. The bad man everyone talked about. With his coat creased, a fat cigar between his lips and those hungry beady eyes, he resembled the big bad wolf and me, the stupid red riding hood.

My mind screamed at me to run but I just stood there watching him walk towards me in slow calculated steps. He held out his hand and offered me some candy. I took it but didn't eat it yet. Uttering some sugary words he lured me inside, holding my hand in a tight grasp. And I don't know what happened next but the world went black. Or maybe because I was knocked out cold.

Next morning I awoke in in the attic, tied to an old stringy bed with chains. Rust particles had gathered on the bed poles, the chains, and even the door hinges. The windows seemed to be nailed shut and a weird musky odor hung in the air. I could hear him climbing the stairs,approaching closer to where I was sitting. His heavy boots scuffed the hard wooden floor in loud thumps that made my heart beat faster by every passing minute. I don't know if I was ever this scared before.  He stood at the doorway,staring at me as if I'm his new found toy.  His hands held a jug and a steel tumbler.

"Are you thirsty?" He asked gruffly. I chose to keep quiet. This seemed to annoy him. He trudged even closer and I could see him looking at me with disgust.

" I said, are you thirsty?"  He spoke louder.

I shook my head.

He placed he jug and tumbler on the small table close to the bed and sat next to me.

" Don't worry. I'll take care of you, you will make new friends. ......at the graveyard." He smirked and my heart dropped in my throat. I started to cry. He raised his hand to touch my cheek but I pushed it away. His smiled turned into an ugly sneer and he raised it again, this time higher to hit my face. I closed my eyes waiting for that stinging burn of that slap. But i felt nothing. Loud footsteps rambled along the staircase and in no time we were facing a group of angry cops, who were pointing guns at him and ordering him to surrender. He began to laugh at them and held my hand in an icy grip. No sooner one of the cops pulled the trigger and shot him down.

 Bang bang. He fell on the ground.

Soon the cops pulled away from his body and began to talk to me but I still chose to keep quiet. I kept staring at the jug. The chief carried it in his hands and looked at me.

" Wake up! " And he splashed icy cold water on my face.I woke up and found myself staring at my mom's face in confusion. I looked around and realised I was in my own bed.

I heaved a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat over my brow. No sooner did I place my feet on the floor , I regretted it . The cold jug touched my feet and I picked it up , grimacing at the blood stains on it. I looked at the clock and decided to clean it up later. So I bend down and placed it under my bed. That's when I saw it. The severed head of my captor , stinking with its own blood and looking at me with bulging eyes , a sign of astonishment. The police never came to my rescue so I had to be my own hero. Though I did wish the axe was a bit lighter to hold . I smirk at it and get ready to go to school. Tonight I'm meeting new friends at the graveyard.