Time passed in a blur of tenebrosity, a deafening silence, and restlessness.

Sleep offered her only fleeting respite, drowning her in dark recollections for a mere couple of hours before she jolted awake, gasping and drenched in sweat. The nightmares served only to steel her resolve.

Closing her eyes provided no solace, leaving Tara to sit in the dimness, gazing into the void. Yet, amid the oppressive stillness, the rhythmic beating of her heart acted as a comforting reminder.

Thump, thump, thump.

It was a steady beat, reassuring her of her survival and reminding her not to lose sight of her new mission. 

It beat once, twice, too many times before a light bulb flickered to life in her head, and she began to count. Tara didn't stop until the first rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains.

Her eyes were wide open and they glinted with determination as she forced some food down her throat. Her jaw was clenched, her mind racing with one idea after another until all her thoughts merged into one plan.

Tara wasted no time selecting a nondescript outfit for her mission, one she'd worn when moving into her apartment—a pair of loose and torn jeans, an old, tattered hoodie, and a frayed baseball cap pulled low to obscure her face—ensuring she wouldn't be easily identified. Then, she applied makeup to alter her appearance, smudging and darkening her features to resemble that of a homeless person rummaging through trash.

As soon as she stopped outside her beat-up car, her phone rang, and her heart sank at the sight of her mother's name on the screen. Tara opened the door, then thought better of it and picked up. She needed the backup of the noisy street to cover up any tremor in her voice.

With a deep breath, she swiped up. "Mommy," she greeted with forced cheerfulness, her cheeks aching from the effort of maintaining a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"That won't fool me, young lady," her mother chided gently, though the relief was evident in her voice. "If I didn't know any better, I'd have barged into your apartment by now."

Her mouth opened and closed multiple times but no sound came out. Tara swallowed hard, lips quivering and eyes watering. I wish you did, she thought, unable to voice her true feelings. Fortunately, her delayed response was masked by the cacophony of a passing truck.

"You're out?"

"Yes," Tara replied, clearing her throat and managing a heavy sigh. "Just drowning in assignments. You know how it is. That's why I haven't been in touch."

"Oh, my sweet child." 

The mom then launched into a tirade against whoever dared to burden her precious offspring. Tara hesitated, realizing this was a chance to open up. Gripping her phone tighter, she felt the words clawing at her throat, begging to be released. 

"I...I can't," she trailed off, her eyes widening in alarm at her unintended confession.

"Hm?"

"I can't talk for long, Mom," Tara quickly added. "I probably won't be as available as I was before. Things are getting pretty intense."

"Text me now and then, Yeah? Make sure to eat well and-"

"And don't go out at night," her father interjected. Of course, he was listening. "Study well, T. Stay healthy!"

I can't, I can't, I can't.

"Okay," she forced out through a curtain of tears and constricting airways. Thankfully, her parents were too busy bickering to notice anything. She hung up and climbed in.

Her shoulders shook briefly as she struggled to compose herself. After taking a deep breath and hastily wiping her eyes, Tara turned on the engine and drove off into the early morning mist. Her emotions hung heavy in the air, hardening her gaze and strengthening her determination as she headed to the street where she was abducted.

The car slowed, and her grip tightened around the steering wheel. The area bustled with life; passersby strolled as if unaffected by the world, as if nothing had transpired in the same spot four days prior. Tara couldn't help but wonder if any of them had been present on the evening of her kidnapping. Did they carry the burden of guilt for not aiding an innocent, helpless girl? Or had the event slipped from their memories entirely?

Her teeth gritted as she shifted gears and accelerated toward her next destination. Her muscles tightened with familiar fear and dread as that day.

The garbage container remained unchanged, perhaps even more neglected. The post office was open and working, however, and the coffee shop had more, if not enough, customers. 

After positioning the car in a similar position as theirs, her gaze swept around the area. Then, she closed her eyes as a shudder shot down her spine. Phantom fingers pressed into her skin, wrapping an imaginary cloth around her head and stealing her vision away.

Her heart thudded loud and hard. When the engine hummed back to life, Tara took a deep breath. Her eyelids fluttered open, the car moved, and she began to count.

One, two, three, four...

She tried to match their speed, her body jostling with each bump in the road as it did when they were driving. It was a path frequented by farmers so there was barely any traffic or other vehicles in sight.

Fifteen.

The asphalt transitioned into gravel, the coarse texture of the uneven, unpaved ground grating on her ears.

Forty-eight.

Tara made a left turn, and as she advanced further, the scenery transformed. Houses became sparse, giving way to breathtaking natural landscapes. Trees blanketed vast stretches of land, with cows scattered about, lounging and lazily chewing on grass.

A hundred and fifty-three.

With no other option available, Tara made a right turn, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, gnawing on it mercilessly as she pressed on.

Two hundred and ninety-five.

Her body moved involuntarily, and she slowed momentarily before accelerating again. Her eyes caught sight of a couple of donkeys and stray dogs lingering at the side of the road.

Four hundred.

Turning left, Tara nearly choked on the lump in her constricting throat as she noticed a few houses ahead.

Five hundred and twenty-six.

The car stopped. 

Her heart pounded in her ears, the sound reverberating through her entire body. A big metal gate loomed before her, its imposing presence momentarily paralyzing her.

After parking two houses away, Tara tucked her hair in, adjusted her hoodie, and stumbled out, cautiously surveying her surroundings. Finding no one nearby, she took small, tentative steps until her fingers brushed against the gate. With a slow push, it creaked and protested but didn't budge.

That didn't matter, however. Tara got the confirmation she needed.

She froze. This was it.

"I did it," she croaked, her voice barely audible as she covered her mouth with trembling hands. "I found it."

Word count: 1144.

Total word count: 8330.

8k milestone✔

Annnnnd, Tara's back where everything went downhill! What do you think will happen now?