A narrow one-lane that disappears into the foggy oak trees.
Into the narrow ridges of the hills.
Away from…everything.
Chapter Four
I suck in my breath, trying not to panic but it’s too late. I’m panicking.
What do I do, what do I do?
Oh my god! Fuck, someone please help me.
I can’t pretend anymore that I haven’t noticed, can’t pretend I don’t know what’s happening. I have to say something, I have to do something.
“Excuse me,” I tell him, my voice sounding so terribly scared and small. “The highway was right there. We need to turn around.”
The man doesn’t say anything for a moment, just stares at me
in the mirror, his dark eyes seeming to take over my vision.
“Shortcut,” he says roughly.
“No,” I say, surprised by my bravery. “This isn’t a shortcut. This is the wrong way. You need to turn around now. Please.”
Please. Please listen to me, please, please.
He cocks his brow.
Looks back to the road.
Keeps driving down the deserted road.
I’m fucked. I’m so fucked.
I’m this close to crying, to screaming, to losing it.
My phone still has no reception, but it doesn’t stop me from dialing 911, holding it up to my ear, hoping someone will hear me.
“Yeah, hi, Elle,” I say into the phone, my voice shaking, even though there’s no sound coming from it at all. “That Uber I’m in, he’s refusing to take me the right way. That’s right. Oh, you’re not far? Yeah, we went up Grizzly Peak Road. We’re on Old Tunnel Road.”
I’m saying all this, trembling inside and out, the dread clawing up my throat like an animal. He’s not going to believe me, believe this. He knows there’s no reception, he knows it’s just a desperate act.
Tears spring to my eyes.
“Okay,” I say into the phone, talking to no one, trying so hard to sound confident and real but god, how I’m nothing at all. Hopeless. Helpless. “Call me back.”
I glance at the door handle.
I could open it, jump out of the car. We’re not going that fast. I know I could roll onto the ground and then get up, run into the trees. It’d hurt, but I could do it. He might have a gun, he might find me, but it’s the best chance I have. Now I know that the worst-case scenario is upon me, the thing that every woman dreads when they step into an Uber. The nightmare is happening.
It’s happening.
Oh god, please help me.
I was so stupid. How could I not have checked the car before I got in? I guess because I was so happy to leave, he was the only car on the road, and he knew my name. That’s how.
I take in a deep breath, trying to prepare myself for what I’m about to do.