Autumn's Captivity

The cool evening air whipped your long blonde hair around your face as you walked home from your friend Addie's house, the sunset painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. Your black converse slapped the pavement, a familiar rhythm on the quiet street.

A car horn blared behind you, startling you out of your thoughts of hot chocolate. You glanced back, seeing a van with a middle-aged couple inside. Your heart fluttered uneasily, and you quickened your pace.

Then, you heard it – footsteps slapping the pavement behind you. Panic surged. You broke into a sprint, your feet pounding harder as you rounded a corner, tears streaming down your face. The footsteps faded, and you finally slowed, chest heaving, sobs wracking your body.

Just as you caught your breath, a hand clamped over your mouth, and someone hoisted you up. You screamed against the hand, kicking wildly, biting down on skin. A yelp of pain, and you collapsed to the ground, shock momentarily paralyzing you.

You scrambled back to your feet, let out a huge scream, before the hand covered your mouth again. Legs were lifting you now. You thrashed and struggled as the van came back into view, the terrible realization dawning: this was happening to you.