Page 2

Just Keep Moving

W alking down the stairs outside of Han’s apartment, Sage kept patting her pocket and double-checking that the knife was still there, hoping it wouldn't fall out for Troy to see.

She didn't want him getting any ideas. As she got back into the car he leaned forward looking up through his windshield in the direction she had just come from.

"So, was that like, an ex-boyfriend's apartment or… ?"

"No," Sage quickly interrupted. "Just a friend, or so I thought." She sat back, pulling the sticky seat belt across her once more.

"Alright sugar, let's boogie," Troy announced, pulling out of the parking spot and heading down the road. Sage didn't know where they were going, nor was she sure that Troy knew either, but anywhere far from Acadia was fine with her.

Troy reached into the pocket of his button-up shirt and pulled out a pack of smokes, holding it in Sage's direction, offering one to her. "Gross, no thanks." She waved her hand, pushing them back in his direction. "That's going to kill you one day, you know."

"I don't have a reason to live anyways." Troy shrugged, putting one into his mouth, lighting it up and taking a long drag.

"That's no way to think." Sage couldn't help but see the sadness behind Troy's eyes while he kept his focus on the road. He exhaled and the smoke took over the car once more, sending Sage into another coughing fit.

"Shit, I'm sorry." Troy quickly rolled the window back down.

"Yeah, thanks. I’m not interested in being hot-boxed by cigarette smoke." Sarcasm escaped through Sage's lips unintentionally. "So… where are we headed?" She made an attempt to change the subject.

Troy shrugged. "Nowhere in particular. I was just going to keep on driving," his tone changed, "you have other plans?

" Their eyes met and the kind stranger who had offered to give her a ride now looked like the devil himself, ready to devour her with his evil tongue.

Sage broke eye contact, throwing her head back against the seat, staring up towards the universe once more, silently asking for help to get her out of this one.

Unfortunately, unlike the forest, there was no way out this time.

Sage felt a touch on her upper thigh, a bit too close for comfort. She did her best to remain calm but she could feel herself slowly slipping back into her dark place. There was no way of stopping it this time.

"There, there, just relax." Troy’s words were quiet. "I'll be gentle." The car came to a stop as he pulled over to the side of the road and Sage felt her heart begin to race.

Sage looked around, searching for something familiar, but there was nothing. No buildings. No cars in sight. Nothing but darkness. She looked over to see Troy wrestling with his belt buckle. Damn, he's just getting right down to business .

"Now, you, since I was so willing to give you a ride without asking you to give me any money, you're going to be a good-" Sage froze as his voice trailed off, her mind wouldn’t let her hear him but she knew where he was going with this.

She began to slip back once more, struggling against the present while simultaneously fighting hard against reliving her past. Reliving the day that she met Hans.

Tears began to flow down Sage's cheeks as the memories from her childhood haunted her.

Her chest tightened and her mind raced as she braced herself for what she could tell was about to come.

Troy pulled his crusty dick from his pants and it was all she could do to prevent herself from throwing up.

Troy began edging closer and just like when she was thirteen, Sage felt like she was being backed into a corner, once more.

"Come on Gretta, what's that old man have that I don't?" Charles and his groupies were coming towards her, backing her into a corner. She tried to cry out for help but no one was around. Gretta was only thirteen but the rumors of her sleeping with one of her teachers had already begun to spread like wildfire. When her parents found out, her dad started leaving threatening messages on the teacher’s voicemail.

They had debated pressing charges, however, due to his mother's declining health, they held off.

Gretta had overheard them discussing whether having him ejected from the church was satisfactory.

"Come on Gretta." Charles started fumbling with his belt once more and Sage cried out again, hopeful someone heard her this time.

"Stop that right now!" a stern voice resonated behind the crowd.

"What are you going to do about it?" Charles scoffed, zipping up the fly of his pants, and fastening his belt.

Gretta heard rustling around, with grunts and groans, but she wasn't about to open her eyes until the nightmare was over. She sank to the ground covering her head when she heard Charles call out "Have fun with your whore." He sounded like he was running since his words trailed off in the distance.

"Hey, it's okay. You can look now, they're gone." The soft compassionate voice comforted her.

Gretta opened her eyes and saw a hand extended out in front of her, a boy in the class ahead of her offering to help her up. "Thanks, I guess." She accepted his hand and with his help, stood to her feet.

"You're welcome. I'm Hans." He was the sunshine to Gretta's grumpy.

"Gretta," she choked out.

"I know who you are."

"Of course you do." Gretta paused and stared at the floor. "Everyone does."

"Don't let those assholes get to you." Hans' advice was sweet but easier said than done.

The rest of the day was a blur. Gretta and Hans became insta-friends and they spent everyday together moving forward. Except one day a few years later.

Sage snapped back to reality. "Get off of me!"

"Come here, you bitch!" Troy was huffing and his sweat was pouring all over her. Sage had no idea how long this had been going on, but she knew she had to keep fighting.

"Get off me, Troy," Sage called out, wanting desperately to be able to go back and protect her younger self. "Please. Stop," She begged as they continued to struggle.

"Where's Hans now, whore?" Charles was struggling to pin Gretta's arms against the tree but she kept fighting.

He had a vendetta against her since the day that Hans chased him and his goon squad away from her.

When Hans had left school early for an appointment today Gretta had thought it would be safer to take the shortcut home. Charles had other plans.

Gretta spit in Charles's face causing him to lurch backward, swiping at his eye.

"You bitch!" His screams were blood-curdled as he came rushing into the pocket knife that Gretta had pulled from her pocket.

Hans had given it to her for protection in case she ever needed it.

She had told him she wouldn't but he knew better.

Hans always knew better. Gretta looked towards the sky.

"What have I done?" The sky cried with Gretta, releasing droplets of water before losing all control and pouring water down from the sky.

Sage returned to reality once more as she felt something trickling down her skin. She stared down at her hands, now painted in red with the pocketknife resting in the palm of her hand.

Blood .

Sage quickly opened the door and hurled what little was still left in her stomach, wiping the corner of her mouth as soon as she finished.

Her entire body began to shake. She wished it was due to the lack of sustenance, but she knew that when she turned around the sight she would be taking in was one that she least desired.

Taking a deep breath she slowly turned her attention back to Troy, taking note of the blood-stained… everything . In the driver's seat sat Troy's exposed, lifeless body, slumped over. Oddly, it made Sage realize the fate that Charles had escaped that fateful day.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Sage thought to herself, sensing the panic that was starting to take over.

What the hell was she supposed to do now?

She looked up and down the road, still seeing no sign of anyone.

On top of everything, it was a new moon, making the world extra dark.

It was almost too perfect, like it was the plan of the Universe.

Sage exited the car, creeping over to the other side, all while remaining extra cautious and watching her surroundings at all times.

She threw open the door and placed her arms underneath Troy's armpits so that she could pull him from the car and attempt to drag his corpse over to his new grave, the ditch.

Hopefully, he really didn't have anyone who would be looking for him anytime soon.

Once Troy was in the ditch, Sage reached in his pocket, removing his wallet and taking what little bit of cash he had on him.

She took a moment and looked at his license. No fucking way , Sage thought. This piece of shit that had just attempted to have his way with her was the teacher's father. "I wonder if he secretly knew?" Sage stood there staring at the crime scene that had just occurred inside the car.

In the distance, she could hear sirens echoing through the trees. It was time for her to plan her next move. Without thinking too much about it, Sage hopped into Troy's car and began to drive in the opposite direction from where the sirens were coming from.