6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Laura

I... It is so dumb to have fallen asleep in the library. I meant to study and get a head start for the school year, but that didn't work out well.

The library is one of the few buildings that are open 24 hours a day, so no one told me or woke me when it got late. I suppose that means sleeping in the library isn't that rare for the staff working there. But it's not working out well for me.

I check my watch as I pack my laptop and everything into my backpack. It is already later than my usual dinner time. It is dark outside, and I shouldn't be out until this late in the day. My bed and my room turn out to be a lot more enticing. Maybe I should have gone back to my room. It isn't like I can't study there anyway.

But it is what it is, and it is already too late to regret my life choices.

I put on my backpack and hurry out of the library. There's still a short walk before I'll be back.

It is dark outside. The dim street light doesn't help at all. I'm not in the dorm area yet, and it's already scaring me. This college is famous for its nice greenery and nature, but I'm not enjoying that at all right now.

I look around as I walk, making sure I don't trip on the uneven ground that's paved with bricks.

This is such an old-fashioned place. It feels like something bad may happen.

The college is in a suburban area, not that far from the city, but it feels like I'm in another world.

The trees are so thick in the evening that it feels like a wolf can jump out at any time, even though, logically, that's not going to happen at all. Just like the gargoyle won't wink at me ever.

The gate that leads to the dorm area comes into view. I take a breath and pick up speed. I can use a nice shower and—

Something moves from the side. I spin around to see someone coming at me. That doesn't feel right at all, so I start dashing along the road.

Who the fuck is that?

They chase behind me. I hop and skip, trying to make my way on the rugged road.

But a force yanks at my backpack.

I trip and fall, my elbows smashing at the ground.

I roll to make the fall easier, but whoever is attacking me keeps pulling at me, trying to get my backpack off me.

They kick my stomach, swearing as they try to get hold of me.

I hate this!

Where are the guards or police or whoever that's supposed to help?

I scream, but only get kicked harder. I wince with tears in my eyes. Why must this happen to me?

There's a shout, which's not mine. Then there's a growl, which's also not mine.

There's a low thud of something heavy falling.

No one is grabbing me now. Is someone else here to help me?

I gasp and clench my jaw, crawling my way off the ground.

I have to get away from whatever happened and make my way as far away as possible.

My whole body hurts. Before I take a few steps, I end up on the ground again.

The screams and shouts continue, they... sound painful.

Does the guard fight like that?

Something grabs me again. My body's lifted off the ground almost at once.

"No! Put me down!" I scream, but whoever has me grunts.

"I'm here to help you."

"Put me down!" I don't care who that is. I just want to be left alone.

"Hush!"

My body lifts off the ground even more, as if I'm flying, except it's impossible.

I shout again. "Kidnap! Someone's kidnapping me!" I kick and flap my arms. If I make it hard enough to kidnap me, maybe whoever that is will give up.

I don't wish for someone else to be kidnapped, but I don't want to be the victim.

He grunts with a hoarse voice again. "You have to make it hard, huh?"

He taps me with something. All my energy leaves me. Every single bit of that drained out of my body almost at once.

Now I can't move. I can't even utter a word.

Where's he taking me to? Who even is he?