Runaway Mate

Chad

"This is a beautiful home you have." I feel the slightest bit less anxious, thanks to the wine. I figured I would get all my questions out and hopefully answered before my demise. I'll start the conversation was a compliment.

"I owe it all to my father." He states with such admiration. I can tell he looks up to the man who raised him. "Does he live here with you?" I asked out loud, a bit panicked. What if his father is a psychopath just as his son is? I watch as Chad looks at the clock on the wall, then back at me. "Luckily for you, we have some time before my date. Let's take this conversation into the living room." He picks me up and carries me to the room next to the kitchen and sits me on the couch. I thank god he didn't place me on his lap again, instead, he is sitting on the other end of the couch.

"To answer your question, no. My father does not live here...anymore. You see, he ironically died from his favorite horse. It kicked him right in the chest. My father died instantly from such force."

"I'm sorry to hear that." I may hate Chad, but I do feel bad for anyone who loses a loved one.

"Don't be." He begins to chuckle like a mad man. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Something I've never told anyone before." He begins to lean in and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. "I helped in killing him." He whispered into my ear, causing goosebumps to form everywhere on my skin.

"Wh-why?"

"Don't get me wrong, I loved my father. He taught me everything I know today. Growing up on this farm, I learned many ways to kill an animal. My father, Nicholas, was always fond of using an old huckleberry to swing at the chickens' heads. Eventually, I wanted the farm and this house for myself, so he had to go. I tied him up to the wooden post of the barn and slapped his horse on the ass so hard, it kicked my father."

"Of course, his death was ruled as an accident." Chad grins. "However, I do miss him from time to time."

"And what about your mother?" I dared to ask, dreading what the answer might be. His face falls serious and slaps me across the face. "Don't ever mention that b***h. She's dead to me."

"Why me?" I ask the main question running through my mind. He places his filthy hand gently on my cheek where he had just hit me. "You, my dear, were not part of my plan. I was at the bar waiting for my date, but I couldn't take my eyes off you. You're stunning and I knew I had to bring you home. Did you enjoy our game of hide and seek?" I knew he meant the sick game of offering me a ride home, then-

"What did you inject me with?"

"Succinylcholine." He says like it's the most obvious, normal thing. I shake my head at him, "No, not the paralyzing drug. The thing that made me pass out? In your car, you had to have injected me with something in order to blackout the way I did."

"Negative. I hit you with my father's baseball bat." I touched my head as a reflex and felt the bump. That makes sense.

"I woke you up when we reached the woods and gave you a headstart to run and hide. Remember?"

"Yes. I f*****g remember!" He once again slaps me across the face. "Watch your tone with me." Leaning in, he kisses the same cheek he's been slapping. "I have to go on my date that I missed earlier thanks to you. Don't think about going anywhere." He laughs at his own stupid joke. Obviously, I can't move, therefore, will be unable to escape.

The second Chad leaves the house, I look at my surroundings. These drugs have to wear off eventually, right? Come on, Jenn. Move. Roll off the couch. Anything! I internally shout at myself. I don't know how long he will be gone for, but I sure as hell don't want to be here when he returns.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. If I concentrate hard enough, maybe I can trick my body into moving. I breathe in and out and imagine myself rolling onto the floor. I think about how my muscles would have to move in order to make that happen.

"Ah!" I shoot my eyes open and am staring onto the wooden floor of the living room. Holy s**t. I actually did it! Now how the hell am I supposed to stand up? Hmm.. maybe crawling is a more reasonable option. I keep my eyes on the clock for almost forty-five minutes before I'm able to lift my elbows onto the floor. I begin to panic, thinking I'm almost out of time. Maybe I should just stay here and whoever his date is can save me and herself. Two against one is a fight we might win. Unless she's a psychopath like he is.

I can't believe how stupid I was to think he actually liked me. Even worse, I got into a car with a man who is practically a stranger. All I want is to find someone that knows how to have fun and will love me wholeheartedly. Is that too much to ask for?

I lift my left knee and- wait! I lifted my knee! I felt it. I try to stand up, but my body isn't ready for that. So, I crawl as fast as I can manage, only falling four times before reaching the front door. My freedom is so close! I lift myself up so that my butt is resting on the heels of my feet. I reach up to unlock the door and I've never felt so excited, yet scared in my life.