The Ring of Fire & Serpents

Chapter Eighteen - The Escape

SOPHIA

I contemplate my next move as I am seated here on the cold concrete floor, staring at the cell door… it's unlocked. Wyatt left it unlocked. My entire body trembles in fear as I realize my only option is to get up and run, but I'm frozen in place. Why am I so terrified to get up and run? I can outrun these men, no question, but the main issue I'm faced with is not knowing where the f**k I am.

The gnawing sensation in my stomach pulls my attention as I hear a faint rumbling. I reach down and clutch my stomach tightly, leaning over, hoping that it will help the hunger pain subside. I haven't eaten since I left my house before the party. Would I even have the strength to run away if I got the chance?

I lean over a bit further and press my cheek to the ground. Tears well in my eyes as I am overcome with emotion. What if I never see my family again? Why did this have to happen? I'm all alone down here. At least with Michelle here, we had a fighting chance between the two of us. I begin to wail in agony, realizing my fate, I close my eyes tightly as my temples throb; the room starts spinning, even with my eyes closed. The only thing I know to do at this point is to try to sleep. If I have any chance of escaping, I will need to rest. It will take every ounce of energy I have left.

I situate myself, lying in a fetal position on the cold, dirty floor. I inhale deeply, attempting to normalize my breathing so that I can try to relax and shut off my brain. After a few moments of trying to relax, I can feel myself begin to nod off.

BANG! The loud noise startles me, causing me to be jolted awake into a seated position. I can hear the faint sound of a man's voice in the distance and footsteps. I'm frozen in place as terror consumes every inch of my body and intensifies as the footsteps draw near, my eyes glued to the doorway as I wait for his arrival.

The dark silhouette of the man enters the room and approaches me, it becomes more evident of who it is as he draws closer… Frank! The soft-pitched whistling noise his nose makes as he huffs and puffs and the smell of liquor on him is a dead giveaway even if I couldn't see him. His eyes are fixated on me as he creeps closer but turns towards the makeshift table with the record player across from me. He's wearing an old dingy white tank top with his belly peeking out the bottom and a pair of loose-fitting jeans held up with a brown leather belt. My body trembles in fear once I realize what he's preparing to do to me. I can't allow him to find out the door is unlocked before I have a chance to get away, or there's going to be hell to pay, I'm sure of it. I have no choice but to make a break for it now, or I may never get this opportunity to again.

With his back to me, he pulls out a record and places it on the record player's turntable. Regardless of how weak I am at this point, I muster up all the strength I have left and bring my legs in before pulling myself up to a standing position. As he places the stylus on the record, the scratching sound echoes loudly throughout the room. I quietly tiptoe towards the cell's doorway and gently push it open. Thank God it doesn't make any noise as it opens. Once I step out of the cell, the voice of Johnny Cash plays over the speakers.

Love is a burning thing.

And it makes a fiery ring…

I gasp as Frank spins around; his eyes grow wide as he finds me outside of the cage. I'm frozen as if caught like a deer in the headlights. His eyes fill with rage, "Sophia! Get back here! You will be sorry!"

I dart towards the doorway in true fight or flight mode in my bare feet. I run as fast as I can up the stairs past the doorway, belting out a high-pitched cry while scrambling towards the door at the top of the staircase. I turn back quickly to find Frank at the bottom of the steps; his cheeks are blood red as he points his finger directly at me, "Don't you dare open that door!" He demands.

Panicking, I get tripped up on one of the steps and stumble but quickly manage to pull myself up towards the door using the side rails. He starts to run up the stairs after me just as I reach the top and turn the handle to the door. Before I had a chance to think, the door swung open. Startled, I throw myself against the wall as I find Butch standing before me, "Where do you think you are going?!" he asks condescendingly.

A small stream of urine escapes me and runs down my leg as I stand before him, trembling in fear, unable to speak. He flashes a sly grin and lifts his hand above my head. I look up, and to my horror, he has a pistol in his hand. He forcefully brings his hand down while holding the gun, and he hits me with it across my temple. The blow causes my legs to give out, and I'm thrown back down the stairs.

I look up to find Butch standing at the top of the steps, watching in horror as I fall backward. I hear Frank's voice behind me, crying out, "No!!!!!!!"

I scream in terror as my legs are thrown over my head as I dive head-first down the steps. c***k! That horrible sound my neck makes as it hits the stairs; everything goes dark for a split second. It's almost as if my soul leaves my body in that very moment, and I watch myself from the outside as I uncontrollably roll, hitting every step on the way down, landing on my back at Frank's feet, limp and twisted up into a pretzel.

Frank cries out, "Nooo!!!! What the f**k did you do, Butch!? That was our biggest money ticket!"

He throws his hands up defensively, "She caught me off guard, Frank! You were the one letting her getaway, you f*****g moron!" He yells.

I throw my hands up to shield my face and lean against the wall as Butch charges right past me to stand next to Frank. They bend over and begin to inspect my lifeless body as blood gushes from every orifice onto the cement floor. Frank reaches down and touches the side of my neck, "Son of a b***h, there's no pulse! What are we going to do with the body?" He asks.

My head begins spinning. I hardly recognize myself down there; my hair is messy, and my arms and legs are covered in dirt. I reach down to pinch myself…wake up! Wake up! Please tell me this is a dream! Why am I not waking up?

Enraged, I belt out a blood-curdling scream and begin throwing punches at both Frank and Butch, but it's no use. I watch in disbelief as my fists disappear through their bodies as if I'm swinging at nothing but air. No! This has to be a dream! Am I really dead? Why do I feel so…alive?

I turn and begin sprinting up the stairs without giving it another thought. As I reach the top, I twist the doorknob and open the door before turning back to glance at Frank and Butch. The two of them look up the steps in my direction, puzzled, their eyes wide with shock. Without hesitation, I run outside, slamming the door behind me.