Home Stretch

Poppy

I dragged Jess back to the car, hyperventilating as she groggily moaned. My heel caught in a crack, breaking as I fell forward. I winced as I scraped my knee on the gravel. Jesus! Of all times, for my luck to kick in. I heaved myself off the floor, grabbing Jess again.

“Jess! I need the keys!” My voice wavering and trembling as she swayed, leaning on the car.

“I think...” Her face planted into the window groaning.

“Looking for these?” Nox taunted, turning the corner, swirling the keys around his finger. I froze in place as he stalked towards us. I frantically looked around, seeing if Darren was with him. Slight hope rose within me when I didn’t see him.

“Why did ya’ll rush off so fast? It was just a little club brawl. Darren’s taking care of it as we speak.” He stopped mere feet from us.

“Jess isn’t feeling well, so we decided to cut the night short.” I smiled at him, trying not to let him know how afraid of the situation I was. He c****d his head, his eyes running down my body and landing on my knee. He sucked his teeth as he took a step forward.

“Can- Can I please... have the keys?” My voice trembling as I reached my hand out. My hand started shaking as I chewed my lower lip. The air was so still, the tension could be cut with a knife as he took another step forward. He snatched my wrist, causing me to yelp as he pulled me into him.

“Darren was right...” He pressed his nose against my skin as he took a drag of me. “You smell good.” He snaked his tongue out, licking me. I tried to shove him away, but his grip was insanely tight. Before I could even try again, he was smacked upside the head with something. He dropped the keys, reeling back as he cussed.

I quickly snatched the keys, turning to see that Jess was wielding a motorcycle helmet. She chucked it at him as she flipped him off. I shoved her into the backseat as I jumped into the driver’s seat, turning the car on and backing up. He tried to block me. I ended up sideswiping him as I peeled out of the parking lot.

Jess fell over in the backseat, groaning as I hyperventilated, blowing through a traffic light. I didn’t ease up until we were a good distance from that god awful place. I pulled over, throwing myself out of the car as I vomited all over the floor.

“HOLY s**t, JESS!?” I exclaimed as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Jess was fast asleep in the back seat. I hobbled my way back to the car, my adrenaline wearing off as the pain hit me. My knee ached and my wrist was throbbing. I climbed back into the car, shutting and locking the door.

Why, of all days, did this have to happen to me? I just wanted to possibly get under a man to forget Jake. I just wanted to have fun and leave that drab little town. But no! With my luck, I had to attract two crazy kidnappers! Or were they serial killers? I don’t know and I don’t want to find out. I threw the car in drive, pulling back out onto the street.

I fumbled through my bag, pulling my phone out so I could put my address into the GPS. Although I needed to drive the two hours home, even though I didn’t feel like it. I didn’t feel safe enough to stay in a hotel. I squinted at my phone as the time ended up saying, 1:00 am. No way! There’s no way we were in that club that long. What the flying hell?!

I quickly pulled onto the freeway, following my GPS’s instructions. I chewed my lip as I tried to rack my brain around everything that happened. What was I missing? Was I blacked out for a majority of the time? Did we get drugged? My stomach felt queasy again as I rolled the window down to get some fresh air. I started nodding off halfway to my house, making it so I couldn’t even recall pulling up into my driveway.

I slumped over, resting my eyes. We were safe and I can catch some sleep in the car before I struggle to get Jess out and onto my couch. I was so exhausted I felt something wet touch my knee, causing me to wince, but I couldn’t get myself to open my eyes. An exotic smokey scent wrapped its way around my nose as I could have sworn some hunk of a man had their arms wrapped around me. I chopped it up to a nice, welcoming dream.

I shot up as panic engulfed me. My vision adjusted as I realized I was in my room. I threw the covers off me, a sigh of relief escaped my lips as I was still dressed. Did I... space out and forget that I came inside? My eyes slowly drifted to my knee, which was now bandaged. I could feel the color drain from my face as I flung my legs over, scrambling to get to the staircase.

I stumbled down the stairs, falling into the wall as I missed the last step. I hobbled my way over to the kitchen counter so I could peek at the sofa on the other side. Slumping forward, I let the cool tiles sear into my skin as Jess was snoring. I flicked my gaze over to the locks on my door, sighing as I could see the deadbolt latched. Maybe mom helped us get in here? I moved my arm ever so slightly, bumping into that dreaded white box I threw away again. I froze as it sat there without a lid, showing the already wilting poppies.

I ignored it. I have dealt with way too much and I don’t need to stress over some god-forsaken flowers! I hobbled my way back up the stairs so I could change and just rest for the whole day.

I took off my dress, flinging it into the pile of dirty clothing I needed to wash. I went over to the pile of laundry on my chair, pulling out an oversized t-shirt and throwing it on. I shifted through the rest of the pile, trying to find the underwear I did. Odd, I’m missing a pair. I took the ones I did find, hobbling on one foot as I struggled to put them on. I plopped down on my bed, flinging myself backward. ‘I need to clean my room, I thought to myself as I rolled over. My room wasn’t terribly bad. It was just the fact I despised putting my laundry away. I hated folding it and filing it away neatly like my mother did. What’s the point when I’m just going to rip everything out and throw it around, anyway?

I reached up, grabbing slothy and pulling him into a snuggle. Something poked me, causing me to flip him over. I gasped, throwing him off the bed as I stared at his ripped seams on his back. I started hyperventilating as a poppy stem protruded out of the hole.

“Why!?” I sobbed, pulling my knees up to my chest. I reached out to my phone as I cried quietly. I unlocked it, seeing all the missed messages from last night.

“Don’t stay out too late!”-Mom

“We need to talk.” Jake

“Answer your phone!” Jake

“I told you not to throw those away again.”- Unknown

I sucked my lower lip as I pulled my keyboard up, my thumbs trembling as I choked in a breath.

“Leave me alone or I’ll go to the police.” I hit send, throwing my phone to the left of me. It hit my headboard, bouncing off and landing on my pink pillows. I buried my face back into my knees. I must have drifted off because I awoke lying curled up on my bed. My stomach rumbled as I grabbed my phone. I pushed off my bed, heading downstairs to check on Jess.

Jess was sitting up, scrolling through her phone.

“Hey Poppy! I was just about to order some food. Want anything?” She flicked her gaze up at me as I shuffled over to her. I sat down, leaning my head on her shoulder.

“Yea, whatever.” I hoarsely said.

“What’s wrong Poppy?” She asked as she hit the add button on her cart, then hit order. I turned, burying my face in her shoulder as I sobbed.

“Jess... the guy who’s stalking me tore up slothy and stuffed him full of poppies.” I bawled as she turned and hugged me.

“Oh, Pop’s! You have to call the police!” She rubbed my back as I shook my head.

“I really can’t, Jess! I can’t... put my mom through that!” I pulled away from her, wiping my tears. A knock came at the door, causing my body to tense up. Jess looked at me concerningly before she leaned back, parting my curtains to look outside.

“It’s just your mom,” she sighed out in relief. She got up to open the door for her.