I slammed the door shut, immediately switching the lock. Nothing was heard, except for my unsteady breathing. In the midst of my panting, I knew I had to slow my breaths in case I wasn't alone. I sped walked to my room, bursting through the door. Sliding the suitcase out from under my bed, I grabbed every piece of clothing I owned and piled them sloppily inside.

Zipping the case shut, I hurried back to the front door. Before unbolting the lock, I turned and examined my old apartment one last time. It definitely wasn't much, but it would mean more to me now that I might spend my days living in one cheap motel after the other. Once I realized I had wasted enough time, I grabbed the knob, twisted it, and left it behind.

I reached the end of the hall about to descend the stairs. Knowing if I didn't take off the heels now I would be heard clacking in the entire state of New York. Slinging them off, my feet scurried to the bottom of the staircase. A pair of feet padding along sounded through the lobby. Mine, luckily, and no one else's.

I hastily stepped out into the brisk autumn air. My skin washed in the chill. Long, golden waves caressing my face, protecting me from the biting cold. I wrapped my arms tightly around my body, and kept the hood of my coat over my face. My pace was at a mild casual walk.

As I walked along with a crowd, my thoughts dragged me back to about two and a half hours ago. Probably around nine thirty p.m. in an old, damp alley. Firstly, I was stupid enough to listen in on the low-lives in such a cliched place. Sure it was cliched, but that made it in no way any less dangerous. I should have known.

Two men, I perceived to be Irishmen, stood talking about big plans. I know already how rude, and nosey it is to eavesdrop. Me being me though, had gotten my nose somewhere it didn't belong. Call it a Godsmack or whatever, but it's going to stay with me for however long or short the remainder of my life will be.

In one simple second, the life I didn't take advantage of, had been stripped from me. Now my only options left are to exist. To exist long enough to die of old age and not become someone's victim. I was once willingly a reserved, private person. Now that I'm about to be forced to live a life in solitude, I wished I had done more.

This is a night I will always regret. No matter what. I will regret not being social, not getting a pet, not getting a damn car so that I wouldn't have literally walked into this situation. Mostly, I'll regret not being able to see my mom one last time. Even a phone call to explain to her that I won't be able to see her again and that its goodbye until we meet in heaven.

She'll never know how much she means to me. How I truly appreciated every time she sacrificed for me. How she always gave me love, no matter what. How we could laugh at silly things. She will never know that I wouldn't have gotten this far without her. I can only pray she'll be safe.

I will never be able to experience true love. I'm only nineteen and already I have lost my chance at what everyone else has. To have a normal life. If I let myself love, get attached, then that gives the enemy a weakness. One they could weild against me like a wild fire. All that I care about would be surrounded and there would be no way out, but to surrender. Acknowledge defeat and give up.

My chance at having a career and success is gone. I have barely started life and before I can really build one it's obliterated. I can't make mistakes anymore. No getting in the slightest bit impaired. No enjoying random hobbies. No being off guard.

Maybe I shouldn't even be thinking these thoughts. Maybe if I don't think about them now, then I'll never stop thinking of them. I don't know. Though, there is no time to sulk walking down a sidewalk. If I have a pity party I could be caught off guard. I could be killed.

I straighten my posture and quicken my pace. There's no telling how long I've walked and whose eyes have seen me. I need to find a place, soon. One I can lay low for a short amount of time.

I turn the corner and continue past a movie store. The smell of freshly popped, and buttered popcorn engulfs me. I can only imagine how each bite would taste. My stomach grumbles, reminding me I haven't eaten in a couple of hours.

Up ahead I can see a neon sign that reads The Sleep-Inn. Judging by the name, I assume it's cheap. Though, it was different from the other cheap motels. The name is kind of pun-ny.

I zipped inside with my substantial sized suitcase in hand. Striding towards the check in, I see a young woman with a pixie cut and pale skin at the desk. I stand waiting patiently for the girl to notice. She is otherwise preoccupied with her phone, but I don't have time for her to waste. I can't see that there is any bell to ring, so I have to use my voice. I subtly clear my throat, and she whips her head up with black wisps flowing out of her face.

"Hello, what size room would you like? " she asked.

"A room for one, please," I requested, making sure she wouldn't see my face. I handed her cash and grabbed a pen to write my name in the guest book. I couldn't write my name, but I had to think quick. Come on, think. Think. Think. Uh- Tiffany Jules. I scribbled the name in the book as the black haired girl gave me my room number and key. I said a quick "thanks," and rushed into the old elevator.

The door closed, and I pushed the button with my floor number. I felt the elevator shift, and was thanking God no one else was in here. I kept my luggage in hand, and my face hidden, waiting to reach the third floor. The door soon opened, allowing me to leave. My eyes darted to each door searching for 3-H.

In black lettering, I could see 3-H scribed across the door. I shoved my key in, twisted the lock, and flung myself inside. Reaching back to the door, I locked myself inside. The sound of my panting gave me chills. Realizing I was now safer than before, I took the time to look around.

To my left was a full sized bed with cream colored sheets draping it. One miniature wooden nightstand sat to the right of the bed. A phone and a lamp shared the space it had on top. An icky yellow brown carpet covered the floor. Opposite of the bed was a wooden dresser with a tv above it. In the far right corner an off-white door stood. It most likely leads to a bathroom or as close to a bathroom as I can hope for.

I set aside my suitcase against the bed, and fell onto the mattress. The springs in my back weren't the most comfortable, but its better than the streets. Now having the chance to calm down and not watch every little thing around me, I felt exhausted. No adrenaline left. My eyes shutting, I could feel myself falling to sleep. Until, all I knew in that moment was a black abyss.

My feet drummed against the pavement in rhythmic smacks. The force of the wind stinging all the little cuts, and scrapes. Not knowing where to run to, I continue meandering through the crowd. No one has a clue what's going on. I suppose no one cares.

I have no where to go, but I keep moving forward. I can hear the beating of their feet moving closer. I try pushing myself harder, but the crowd seems to be tightening. I'm squeezing my way through as desperately as I can. Tears threaten to spill.

The crowd won't stop growing and I can barely move an inch at a time. I hear them growling behind me, telling people to move. I won't look back. I can't.

I see a hole in the crowd. There's something there. Something that caused there to be a crowd. I still need to get away, but I have to see what's up there. I'm so close. I push between two people and they turn looking at me with such empathy, and so much apology.

I'm trying to reach between the last two people. With all of the strength I have left I break their wall and reveal the most horrific scene. Long, golden waves tossed carelessly over a young woman's face. Her skin holding no glow. Just a canvas of pale skin beaten and cut. Her clothes torn, showing gashes beneath.

I fall to my knees in front of the girl. Letting every tear I dammed slide down my cheeks. Everyone stared, not helping her. Just watching. My hand reached to gently move her hair aside.

Me. The woman at my feet was me. Dead.

I'm suddenly ripped up from the ground. Two men dragging me away. My struggling is useless. My screams are silent. No one can hear me. No one will help.

I'm thrown back to the ground behind the crowd. Two black boots approach me. My stare slowly follows up to a barrel. Pointing straight into my skull. The trigger slowly being pulled, and three words leave my lips.

"I shouldn't have"

Bang.

My body flings forward, bringing my hair across my face. I'm inhaling as fast as I can, but my lungs are desert dry. I'm blanketed in my own sweat. Bringing my legs to the side of the bed, I stand walking to the bathroom.

I flip on the switch and turn the faucet on. Washing away the sweat from my face, I then grab a towel to dab the droplets away. My palms hold as much water as they can and I sip it down. Once my mouth and throat feel rejuvenated I step out.

I grab my phone from my bag and check the time. Six o seven in the morning. I pull all the sheets and blankets back in place, fluff the pillows, grab everything and step out the door. I look up to see two men questioning a guest down the hall. From what I could tell I was positive they weren't from room service or housekeeping.

I crept back inside locking the door and making sure all lights were off and all curtains closed. Pushing all my belongings under the bed, I slid under as well. My heartbeat accelerated and my breathing was a little unsteady. I wait about two minutes and hear a knock on the door. I don't move, I don't blink, and I don't even breathe.

Another knock sounds, and the knob is turned. Thank God, I locked that door.

I stay as silent as possible.

Mumbling is just outside the door and when it's gone, I still don't move. I wait for awhile before getting out from under the bed.

I rush to the elevator and press the button for the first floor. Once the doors open I make a beeline for the checkout. I hurriedly and sloppily wrote my checkout in the book. My legs then carried me straight out to the streets.

It's going to be a long walk to the airport, but I can't just spend all my money on stupid taxi rides. I need food and necessities first. Not comfort. Besides, it will hopefully be the last thing anyone will expect. What if I gave them the upper hand and they're waiting for me? No. I can't think like that.

I look up and notice how empty this place is. It doesn't scare me. What does is the sound of footsteps not far behind me. I pick up the pace a little so I don't get caught and don't look suspicious. Only, I really miscalculated.

Cloth covers my face, and I'm in an iron grip. My screams are useless like my struggling too. I feel my strength and my consciousness leaving. Now I'm nothing more than a ragdoll. All I can think before everything goes black is that I hope they get it over with quickly.

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Omg that was long. Anyone who reads this at any time, please feel free to comment what you think and/or vote. Thanks so much for reading! Also, sorry about the cliffhanger. Mwahaha!