Killer Results

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking

POV Lauren

I didn't have a plan. Just a year ago, I felt like I could conquer the world. Now, I was broke, hungry and running away. I walked the quiet dirt roads, away from the family that gave me shelter and care for the last six months before I betrayed them and left without warning. I heard the sweeping sounds of cars flying along the paved road, before I saw the headlights. I was hoping to flag a driver down. 

Cars flew by in scattered clusters, the highway wasn't active this evening, but luck would have it, someone did stop. The car pulled to the side of the road and I approached to speak to the driver. 

"Can I help you?" The driver asked with his southern accent.

"I'm so sorry, my car broke down. My husband went to get help and he hasn't returned for hours." I lied to the driver before me. I couldn't tell him the truth. That I was an unwed teen, that fell for a married man, only to be cast out by her family. That's what landed me in this whole mess to start off with.

"Where are you headed?" The driver spoke clearly from across the car as I leaned in the window to hear him better.

"Could you possibly take me to the nearest bus station? We're heading back to New York.  Will you help us?" I begged, bouncing my baby lightly on my hip, to keep her quiet.

"Of course, but the nearest station is over four hours from here." The man leaned over and pulled the handle to open the door.

"Thank you." I climbed into the car. I forgot how far in the middle of nowhere I ended up, just to hide my pregnancy. "I'm Lauren."

"My name's Jimmy, or Jim for short. What takes you so far out west from the big City?" Jim asked, while pulling the car back out onto the road.

I had to figure out a way to spin the truth. I was disowned by my family, then a church found a family to take me in, until my baby was ready to be adopted. 

"I needed time away before my baby was born, but now that my little girl is ready to go home, that's the only place I want to be." In fact, anywhere with my little Michelle Rose, Misty for short, was good enough for me. She became my air after last month. I couldn't leave her behind, she was mine. 

"Just lucky enough I was heading home for the weekend, I make this long haul every week and I go right past that bus station on my way home." He looked over and smiled at me, I returned the polite gesture. "Will you have a way to contact your husband?"

"What?" What was he asking?

"When you get to the bus station. To let him know you got there safely." The concern in Jim's voice was real, but something felt wrong about his tone.

What would my mother say if she had to pull me out of the car while my father went to get help. 

"I wrote him a note in the car before I left. I will call his family from the station to let them know I'm safe. That will ease his worries." I released a breath I didn't know I was holding, from fear of cracking from all the lies.

The car fell quite as the roads became more deserted and darkness filled the car. The baby began to get fussy.

"I'm sorry, she's just hungry." I knew she needed to nurse, but I didn't want to do it  infront of a stranger.

"It's alright. Feed the child." He kept his eyes on the road. The baby began to fuss louder and I knew it had to be done.

I rotated myself towards the passenger door and unbuttoned my blouse. The baby immediately latched. The happy sucking sounds could be heard echoing through the car, as my baby's tummy filled.

Finally, the baby dozed off and I was able to swaddle her back up and rest her into the basket at my feet. I started to button my blouse when the driver reached over and touched my hand to stop me.

"Wait." He pulled off to the side of the road.

I began to panic. I wasn't watching where we were going, and now we were in a wooded area and parking off a dirt road. 

"Where are we?" I pulled my blouse closed in a meek attempt to cover my breasts.

"Somewhere private we can talk." He shut the car off and unbuckled his seat belt. "Do you want to tell me why you're on the side of the road, in the middle of the night, with a child?"

"I told you." I leaned as far towards the passenger door, away from Jim, as possible.

"No, you lied to me." His voice was stern.

"I didn't lie." My voice shook.

He didn't hesitate to slap me. My hand quickly came up to touch my cheek, freeing my unbuttoned blouse. 

"You are not wearing a ring." He glanced down at my exposed breasts.

I looked down at my left hand and realized saying I was a married woman without having a wedding band, just showed how naïve I really was. I looked back up at him. He smiled, and the evil way his eyes lit up, made my stomach lurch.

"Why are you hitchhiking with a child in the middle of the night?" He didn't wait for an answer, he stepped out of the car and walked to the passenger side.

"I just needed a ride to the bus station." I tried to hold the door closed, but he was so much stronger than me. He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the car, slamming the door closed behind me.

Misty started to cry.

"I need to go to her." I tried to pull the door back open, but he barred me from moving further. 

"She will be fine, as long as you behave." 

Jimmy pushed my chest against the car while he pulled my dress up. I could hear him unbuckling his belt and his pants hitting the ground. He grunted as he positioned himself against me, pushing my head forward into the passenger window. I watched helplessly as my baby screamed and whined in the front seat. I cried out as he thrust himself over and over into me until he found his release, then he stepped back and pulled his pants up.

"Get back in the car."

I quickly pulled my dress down, pulled my blouse closed, and climbed into the front seat. I lifted my baby to my chest and wept quietly. How did it come to this?

I didn't think about what could happen once I ran away, there was no one to run too, or ask for help. If I went to the police, I doubt they would believe me and I would definitely lose my daughter. I rocked her against me, I would survive, as long as I kept her safe. She was all that was important now, with that in my mind, we both fell asleep.

----

The sun was up when the car came to a halt. The noise and commotion was a welcoming sight from the deserted spot from last night. Jim wasn't in the car when I woke. I quickly gathered my things, placed it in Misty's basket and carried her as far away as possible. I didn't get more than a few feet before she demanded to be fed.

I located the ladies room inside the bus station and finally felt a moment of safety as we entered the female only area. Taking my time, I cleaned off as much of last night's assault as I could and nursed my daughter. I wanted to burn my clothing and scrub my flesh raw, but this wasn't the time or place. I settled for a simple change of clothing, thankfully I had one simple shift with me. I changed Misty and did my best to look presentable. I had to convince someone to help me. I had to survive this.

As I walked out of the restroom, Jimmy stood against the wall waiting for me. I tried to run back to the safety of the ladies room but was blocked by women coming out behind me. I was trapped.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He stepped towards me. 

I didn't respond, because I didn't believe him.

"Here is a bus ticket, you needed identification to buy one. Do you have identification?"

I shook my head no.

"I didn't think so. You're also NOT married and traveling with a baby."

He handed me a bus ticket along with an envelope. I looked inside.

"There's cash to get you where you're going and a plain wedding band to keep your story straight." He grinned at the last words, as if he was doing me a favor. "Don't want to set off any red flags."

"Thank you." I hated him, but at least he was paying for what he took from me last night.

"Your welcome. Now come along." He escorted me to the bus and made sure I didn't have any further issues departing.

He kissed my forehead before I climbed the stairs and said, "Now remember to stay safe, and don't accept any rides from strangers." The bus driver smiled at me as I passed him to walk the narrow hallway to my seat. 

I found a window seat towards the back and a polite woman sat next to me.

"What a lovely child."  

"Thank you." I cradled Misty just a little closer, I could've lost her last night.

"Your husband seems to care deeply for you." She smiled and I glanced out the window as Jimmy watched the bus pull away from the depot.

For a moment I wanted to say, oh that's not my husband, that's the man who raped me last night after I ran away with my bastard child. Instead, I took a deep breath, plastered on a fake smile and said, "Oh yes. He cares very much for us."