Free The Assigned by A. D. Smith, Iii Page B
Authors: A. D. Smith, Iii
corner grocery. If I can just make it up the hill, I tell myself. Preparing my body for an all-out sprint, one of the thugs grabs my arm.
“Let me go!” I yell. “Help!” I call out but no one hears, or at the least, cares.
“Shhh,” says the one named Jimmy as he pulls out a knife.
Terrified, I remain silent. Jimmy stands about my height and looks as if his name should be Snake instead. He has high cheekbones, a pointed nose, and slender frame. Alone, I could quite possibly fight him off. But he’s not alone. The other brute, Beef, stands 6’3” and looks like a worn-down heavyweight fighter. There’s no way I can fight off both of these guys. Think Gloria!
“Gimme all your money,” scowls the snake looking Jimmy.
“I don’t have any money,” I cry. “I left my bag at home.” And to think, my stupid bag is the object behind most of tonight’s troubles. But that’s beside the point now. I’m not naïve. Money isn’t the only thing that concerns them. Nevertheless, I begin to barter.
“Look, you can have this ring,” I plead, quickly placing the $30 coin ring in Jimmy’s hand. “And you can get good money for these shoes. Just take them and leave me alone. Please!”
“An old class ring and some imitations?” he snarls. “You’ve got to be kidding me. But I tell ya what. I’ll make a deal with ya.”
The short, vile man stands eye to eye with me. He rubs my hair making his way to my face. I jerk away at the touch of his cold, brittle hands.
“Ooh, hot and spicy. My favorite!” he cackles.
“Look, just leave me—” My sentence is cut off as I am drug fifty feet into darkness through a slit in a chained-linked fence. My cries are unheard as one man drags while the other covers my mouth. My heart pounds as my worst fears rush to the forefront. I bite down on the cold, scaly hand in my mouth. The Snake screams in pain.
“I will stab you! Is that what you want? Just give me what I want and it’ll be over!”
As if either choice is better than the other. I have given myself to no man in nineteen years and to think one, or two , will just take it from me—just like that? I can’t bear the thought. What have I done to deserve this?
“Please! No! Don’t do this! PLEASE!!!!”
My mind races as they drag me through the grass. I think about my mother, and even with all her lies, I’d give anything to be home. Even the Deacon would save me … if he could.
I’m tired and I can’t fight the both of them off. Maybe I should just let them get it over with. Quickly, my body instinctively denies that option as the big one lunges for my shirt. His breath smells of cheap wine and garlic. I fight back, scratching at his face, but it just makes him angrier. Viciously, he slaps me back, causing my neck to pop. The true pain sets in seconds later. I’ve never been so scared in my life. Why? I’ve never hurt anyone, not intentionally.
Oh God, WHY?!
“Now lie still, will ya?” says the Snake. I dare not move. “It’s okay Beef. She got the message. She’s cooperatin’ now. Stand over there ‘til it’s your turn. Make sure no one’s coming.”
Before he starts, I make one last plea, screaming to the top of my lungs.
“Oh God! Save me! PLEASE!!!”
Suddenly, my world goes silent. I can see the men as their mouths spit out obscenities, but I can’t hear a thing. For a moment, I’m not sure if I’ve been hit too hard or if I’ve just checked out mentally.
POP.
Just like that, the silence is over. I can hear again. Everything looks the same, but yet different somehow. I can’t quite put it into words, but I feel a silent strength build up within me. A peace forms over me so loud, it shatters ear drums without making a sound. I feel power. Physical power .
The snake-looking one grabs me by the throat threatening me to be quiet. Unconsciously, I return the gesture, cupping his slender neck. He gags, my strength surprises him. It should surprise me too, but for some reason it
“Let me go!” I yell. “Help!” I call out but no one hears, or at the least, cares.
“Shhh,” says the one named Jimmy as he pulls out a knife.
Terrified, I remain silent. Jimmy stands about my height and looks as if his name should be Snake instead. He has high cheekbones, a pointed nose, and slender frame. Alone, I could quite possibly fight him off. But he’s not alone. The other brute, Beef, stands 6’3” and looks like a worn-down heavyweight fighter. There’s no way I can fight off both of these guys. Think Gloria!
“Gimme all your money,” scowls the snake looking Jimmy.
“I don’t have any money,” I cry. “I left my bag at home.” And to think, my stupid bag is the object behind most of tonight’s troubles. But that’s beside the point now. I’m not naïve. Money isn’t the only thing that concerns them. Nevertheless, I begin to barter.
“Look, you can have this ring,” I plead, quickly placing the $30 coin ring in Jimmy’s hand. “And you can get good money for these shoes. Just take them and leave me alone. Please!”
“An old class ring and some imitations?” he snarls. “You’ve got to be kidding me. But I tell ya what. I’ll make a deal with ya.”
The short, vile man stands eye to eye with me. He rubs my hair making his way to my face. I jerk away at the touch of his cold, brittle hands.
“Ooh, hot and spicy. My favorite!” he cackles.
“Look, just leave me—” My sentence is cut off as I am drug fifty feet into darkness through a slit in a chained-linked fence. My cries are unheard as one man drags while the other covers my mouth. My heart pounds as my worst fears rush to the forefront. I bite down on the cold, scaly hand in my mouth. The Snake screams in pain.
“I will stab you! Is that what you want? Just give me what I want and it’ll be over!”
As if either choice is better than the other. I have given myself to no man in nineteen years and to think one, or two , will just take it from me—just like that? I can’t bear the thought. What have I done to deserve this?
“Please! No! Don’t do this! PLEASE!!!!”
My mind races as they drag me through the grass. I think about my mother, and even with all her lies, I’d give anything to be home. Even the Deacon would save me … if he could.
I’m tired and I can’t fight the both of them off. Maybe I should just let them get it over with. Quickly, my body instinctively denies that option as the big one lunges for my shirt. His breath smells of cheap wine and garlic. I fight back, scratching at his face, but it just makes him angrier. Viciously, he slaps me back, causing my neck to pop. The true pain sets in seconds later. I’ve never been so scared in my life. Why? I’ve never hurt anyone, not intentionally.
Oh God, WHY?!
“Now lie still, will ya?” says the Snake. I dare not move. “It’s okay Beef. She got the message. She’s cooperatin’ now. Stand over there ‘til it’s your turn. Make sure no one’s coming.”
Before he starts, I make one last plea, screaming to the top of my lungs.
“Oh God! Save me! PLEASE!!!”
Suddenly, my world goes silent. I can see the men as their mouths spit out obscenities, but I can’t hear a thing. For a moment, I’m not sure if I’ve been hit too hard or if I’ve just checked out mentally.
POP.
Just like that, the silence is over. I can hear again. Everything looks the same, but yet different somehow. I can’t quite put it into words, but I feel a silent strength build up within me. A peace forms over me so loud, it shatters ear drums without making a sound. I feel power. Physical power .
The snake-looking one grabs me by the throat threatening me to be quiet. Unconsciously, I return the gesture, cupping his slender neck. He gags, my strength surprises him. It should surprise me too, but for some reason it