Wrong Turn

Tires squealed ahead of me, drawing my attention to the black sedan barreling toward me.

I narrowly avoided the collision, meeting the damp pavement with my ribs first. I laid there, gasping, paralyzed- the metallic taste of blood on my tongue. And before I knew it I was being hoisted, effortlessly lifted by two powerful pairs of arms in black suits.

"Help!" I managed to choke out, "Somebody he-!"

The blow to my head left stars from the impact and ringing in my ears. A hand was placed over my mouth to muffle the cries I was no longer capable of making. Dazed, defeated, I tried my best to make out the occupants of the vehicle as we peeled away.

The two men on either side of me were silent, stoic, holding me firmly in place. The driver stared straight ahead, moving at well above the speed limit, his eyes never wavering from the road. Only the man in the passenger seat spoke to me.

"You stupid fucking motherfucker…" he shook his head, glancing back. My streaming eyes kept his features blurry, "When are we going to end this?"

"Please," I wheezed, noticing a strand of bloody saliva making its way down my shirt, "I… I don't understand."

We took another turn at high speeds, the men on either side of me kept my body from moving an inch even as my neck rolled from side to side.

"Of course you don't… But I'll show you."

I fought hard to keep conscious as we made our way through the night, but eventually exhaustion overtook me.

"Wake the fuck up."

I blinked my eyes as the two men yanked me from the sedan, barely able to keep my feet under myself.

"Recognize it?" the passenger asked as the window rolled down. I looked up at the house, my lip quivering, before feverishly shaking my head.

"No? Then bring him in, I suppose."

As I was hoisted up again I struggled to catch a glimpse of the stranger before his tinted window rose up.

"You'll never be able to outrun this…" he called out coldly.

I…

I recognize this house…

I recognize the people in the picture frames leading up the stairs-

and the hand prints on the walls

that lead back down to

where my palms

drip furious crimson on the carpet beneath me.

I would never…

I would never…

"Here we go again…" I murmur over the idling engine, "How many more times you think we have until this fucker finally cracks?"

Tires squeal as we approach.

A brief struggle before he is detained.

"You stupid fucking motherfucker," I shake my head in disbelief, glancing back at myself.

"…When are we going to end this?"