Alone In The Darkness by Matthew Buza Read Free Book Online Page B

hills. Dark driveway entrances dotted the side of the road.
    Jennifer knew she needed to find a way to get out of this car. She looked around to see if there was anything that she could use. Steven’s gun was tucked into his lap. Her phone was now miles behind them and there was a water bottle lying on the floor. The water bottle was hardly a weapon and she began regretting keeping her car so clean. Along the horizon she could see the warm lights of Arlington. She knew that there were lights and roundabouts, and that the car may slow down enough for her to jump.
    She looked ahead and saw the soft lights accenting the “Welcome to Arlington” sign centered in the middle of the roundabout. The corner coffee hut was closed but the parking lights were still on. She turned her head softly to the right and saw the door lock. She was locked in, but she could grab quickly and unlock the door. She pretended to itch her right shoulder and leaned over to quietly unlocking her door. She placed her right hand on her knee and eyed the door handle.
    Steven pressed the brake as he entered the edge of the roundabout. There were no cars in the loop as he began to make the turn. They reached the right side of the loop and Jennifer could see the coffee hut. She reached over and pulled the door lever as she unbuckled the seat belt. The force of the turn threw the door open and Jennifer leaned out of the car. Her hands reached out and touched the road. The road scraped by and pulled on her jacket forcing her back to the rear of the car. She had an overwhelming feeling of falling. She tucked her head preparing for the impact on the road.
    As she fell out of the car a hand grasped her pants and held her back. Her legs began to kick wildly in an effort to break free from Steven’s grasp. The force of catching Jennifer caused Steven to be pulled into the center console. His foot hit the gas and his hand locked the wheel as they continued to drive around the loop. They missed their exit as Steven locked his elbow and began to pull back. Jennifer, desperate to escape the vehicle, reached out for anything to grab. The door was completely ajar and began to smack the bushes that edged the roundabout. Jennifer grasped the leaves and branches leaving behind cuts and welts on her hands.
    The car cleared the bushes and Jennifer screamed out for help with her last breath, a single hand holding her back from freedom. The car entered the loop again as Steven decelerated. He locked the wheel with his knees and pulled her belt loop with both hands. Jennifer’s face was inches from the ground and began to return to the car door. Steven lunged back and hit his head against the door jam. Jennifer returned to the car. Her arms bleeding from the bushes and road rash.
    She turned to Steven and began to strike at his shoulder and head. She connected twice as Steven exited the roundabout. He lifted his arm to block another shot as the door slammed shut. He smashed the brake and the car came to a stop in the gravel edging. Jennifer flew forward and hit her head against the windshield leaving behind a small crack. She fell back into her seat with a small trickle of blood running down her forehead. She laid in a crumpled mess in the seat, unmoving and still.
    Steven turned to her in an effort to block more punches, but she didn’t move. He relaxed and focused on her breathing. She was still alive. He quickly looked in his mirrors to see that the entire loop was empty. He was breathing heavily and took a moment to calm down.
    Steven was shaking his head slightly as he could not believe what had just taken place. He reached over Jennifer and locked the door. He took the butt of his gun and slashed at the door shearing the lock off. He connected her seatbelt and continued down the road.

CHAPTER NINE
     
     
    Officer Conners kneeled down in the street with his elbow resting on his thigh massaging his palm gently with this thumb. His eyes stared across the street to the