The One That Got Away

The mist grew thicker and I could hardly see even the distance of my arm’s length. Pushing my foot harder I stressed the accelerator and my car made a horrendous sound as it ground ahead. I did not stop speeding until I hit him. Under the sound of my blaring music, I could not have heard his shriek. I got out into the snow and crouched down at the front of the car. Adjusting the torch between my teeth, I looked down. I expected to see his handsome frame twisted and his supple muscles bleeding while he took his last breaths. My torch strained to cast a beam of yellow light everywhere my frantic head willed it to. He was nowhere to be seen. I got up panting and looked around before quickly getting inside the car. It could not have been so, I felt the bump, my car certainly hit something or someone but there was nothing. 

Sweat trickled down my forehead and my eyes darted to the rear-view mirror. Empty. I was safely alone inside the car. It hadn’t been five minutes when I felt a wet, warm hand on my shoulder. I shuddered as I looked back. Empty. I must have been hallucinating. I raced ahead and did not lose my guard till I was inside the house and packed in my husband’s arms.  

“Where were you? Are you okay Yuki?” he asked. 

“Yes, just a rough day at work. Is there food?”  

“There’s some leftover sandwiches from yesterday. Also, your ex wanted to meet you. He’s in the drawing room.” 

“Oh I-” 

“Is there something?” 

“No, and you can come along.” 

“If you want, I can ask him to leave, since you’re tired and everything.” 

“No no, come.” 

We walked into our drawing room together. It had modern furnishing unlike the rest of our house but there was no one inside. I felt faint and my husband had to steady me.  

“Are you okay? I don’t understand! Did he just leave?” 

I shook my head and replied, “Look, the door is bolted from the inside.” 

We spent at least thirty minutes looking for him but he was nowhere.  

Next morning my husband dropped me to my workplace and the day went on uneventfully. A few days passed and our conversations surrounding the incident became sparse until we no longer talked about it. My husband did not bother himself too much and I was glad of it. I wouldn’t have had any explanation if he asked me. My nerves, on the other hand were jittery by the end of the week. I had to do something.  

Next day, early morning I got ready and left by myself. I trailed my earlier path and stopped at the exact same place. The sun hadn’t fully come out yet and in the faint darkness I got out to get a can of paint and a brush from the trunk. I walked up to the nearest and biggest tree and started scrawling out a word. The forest road seemed more eerie than ever and within a second I was inside my car again, the can resting on the seat beside me. My hands fumbled with the keys to start the engine and I looked up as it came to life. 

A set of piercing brown eyes glared at me. It was the man that got away. My eyes widened and without skipping a beat, I made a loud, piercing scream and was just about to hit the accelerator with full force when two hands creeped up on me from the back and latched me in an unmoving grip. I tried to squirm in vain and screamed. My head twisted back painfully. My heart leapt into my throat when I saw him. I watched on as the man outside came around and snuck into the car through the side door. He looked at me and my blood froze. Immediately I started screaming, loudly, gutturally, painfully and I willed to break free.  

“You shouldn’t have let me get away, Yuki. Now you’re done.” his hands inched closer to my throat and I looked frantically at my husband who wouldn’t let me go off his grip. I felt my neck crawl under the pressure of his hands. The more I struggled to breathe, the more it seemed his hands dug into my neck. Black spots appeared before my eyes as all fight slipped out of me.