"Let's go," Brandon said finally. "Getting kind of chilly out here. " Kyle tossed her phone into the undergrowth. "Have fun walking home, if you make it. " They sauntered away, their laughter fading into the distance. Alicia waited until she couldn't hear them anymore before letting the first tears fall. The gag soaked them up, making it even harder to breathe.
The minutes crawled by. The rope bit into her arms and chest. Every slight movement made the bark scrape against her back. Her legs trembled from standing in the same position. Shadows lengthened around her as the sun continued to set.
The temperature dropped steadily. Wind whistled through the trees, cutting through her light jacket. She tried screaming again, but the gag muffled any sound she could make. Her thoughts turned to her parents. They would be worried by now.
Would they come looking? Would they find her in time? The cold was seeping into her bones, making her shiver uncontrollably. A branch snapped somewhere in the darkness. Alicia's head jerked up.
Fear flooding through her again. Was it Brandon coming back? A wild animal? She couldn't turn enough to see behind her. Footsteps crunched through the leaves getting closer.
A beam of light swept across the ground. A flashlight. Alicia made as much noise as she could through the gag praying it wasn't someone else who meant her harm. Hello? A man's voice called out.
Is someone there? The flashlight beam found her. There was a sharp intake of breath. Oh my god, the man said hurrying forward. He was older dressed in running gear face lined with concern.
Hold on. I'm calling 911 right now. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead as Alicia's eyes fluttered open. Her body ached and the hospital room's sterile white walls seem to spin slightly. A warm hand squeezed hers and she turned to see her mother's tear-streaked face.
Baby. You're awake, Angela whispered her voice trembling. She leaned forward to brush a strand of hair from Alicia's forehead. How are you feeling? Alicia tried to speak but her throat felt raw.
A nurse appeared with a plastic cup of water helping her take small sips through a straw. The cool liquid brought relief though swallowing hurt. Everything hurts, Alicia managed. Her wrists were bandaged where the rope had cut into them and her back stung from being pressed against the rough tree bark. How long was I Mr.
Thompson found you around 7. Angela's hand tightened on hers. You were suffering from mild hypothermia. The doctors wanted to keep you overnight for observation. Memories flooded back.
Brandon's cruel smile, the rope cutting into her skin, the endless cold. Alicia shuddered, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. Angela quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter, careful of the IV line. "Shh. You're safe now. " She murmured, rocking gently.
"You're safe. " A knock at the door made them both look up. A police officer stood in the doorway, notepad in hand. He was middle-aged with graying hair at his temples, wearing a crisp uniform with a name tag that read Officer Reynolds. "Miss Carter? " He stepped into the room. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I need to take your statement while the details are still fresh.
Are you feeling up to answering some questions? " Alicia nodded, though her stomach churned. Angela sat back, but kept hold of her hand. "Can you tell me what happened? " Officer Reynolds pulled up a chair, pen poised over his notepad. Alicia took a shaky breath. "I was walking home from school, taking the path through the woods.
Brandon Hayes and his friends were waiting for me. " "Brandon Hayes? " The officer's eyebrows rose slightly. "Councilman Hayes' son? " "Yes. " Alicia's voice grew stronger. "He and Kyle Matthews, Trevor Wilson, and Mason Clark. They grabbed me and tied me to a tree. They gagged me so I couldn't call for help. " Officer Reynolds wrote slowly, his expression neutral.
"Did anyone witness this? " "No. That's why they picked that spot. " Alicia felt frustration building. "But they took my phone. They threw it in the bushes. And my books, they ruined all my books in a puddle. " "We'll look for the phone, the officer said, though it may be difficult to prove who put it there.
Did they say anything specific while this was happening? They said Alicia's voice caught. Angela squeezed her hand encouragingly. They said they wanted to teach me about respect. That no one would help me.
Brandon's been threatening me since I started school here. Officer Reynolds made another note. Any previous incidents? They've been harassing me every day. Making racist comments, pushing me in the halls.
Alicia wiped at her eyes. Yesterday, Brandon cornered me at my locker and told me to learn my place. Were there witnesses to these earlier incidents? Other students saw, but Alicia's shoulders slumped. Everyone's afraid of Brandon.
His father has a lot of influence in town. The officer closed his notepad. Well, we'll certainly look into this. Though without physical evidence or witnesses, it may be difficult to pursue charges. These situations can be complicated.
Complicated? Angela spoke up, her voice tight. My daughter was assaulted, tied to a tree, and left to freeze. What's complicated about that? Ma'am, I understand you're upset.
Officer Reynolds stood. I promise we'll investigate thoroughly. We'll search the area where it happened, try to locate the phone. But these cases often come down to one person's word against another's. A familiar weight settled in Alicia's chest.
The same heaviness she'd felt when Brandon first started targeting her. She'd hoped that once the police got involved, things would change. But something in the officer's careful tone told her otherwise. Thank you for your statement, Ms. Carter. " Officer Reynolds moved toward the door.
"Get some rest. We'll be in touch if we need anything else. " After he left, Angela tried to smile reassuringly. "At least they're investigating now. That's something, right? " Alicia nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The nurse came in to check her vitals and adjust her IV, mentioning that she could probably go home in the morning if her temperature stayed normal.
The next evening, Alicia sat at her kitchen table, pushing food around her plate. Her mother had made her favorite, mac and cheese with extra cheese and breadcrumbs on top, but she couldn't summon an appetite. The empty chair where her father usually sat seemed to mock her. He was still deployed, unreachable for at least another week. "You should try to eat something," Angela said gently.