Hello, my name is Carly, I'm 18 years old. I was born and raised in a small town in Georgia, just miles from Atlanta. Let me tell you a bit about myself. I'm 5'2, 120 lbs, long red hair and big blue eyes that sometimes darken to cobalt blue when I'm stoned (but that's another story).
Today I boarded a plane bound for California. As I sat by the small window looking out, I never could have guessed what this day would bring. I landed this morning at 6:35 a.m. As I walked thru the airport gazing into all the strange eyes and the sea of unfamiliar faces, I began to wonder what the hell am I doing? I'm only 18 years old and I've never been out of the state of Georgia. But my friend, Angel, had invited me to visit her and her family for the summer. How could I not go? We had been friends practically since before we were even born.
She moved to California when her father's law firm transferred to Los Angeles 4 years ago. We had been keeping touch over the years thru phone calls and tons of letters. I really missed having her with me, going shopping and just hanging out. Maybe this was my chance to catch up with her and stop feeling so lonely for the friend I felt I had lost.
I scanned the faces and the signs trying to find someone to help me find Gate 302 where Angel was supposed to meet me. I am a small town girl so all this hustle and bustle was a bit much for me to take in all at once. Finally I located Gate 302, but there was no Angel, no car waiting to pick me up, no nothing. Fuck, what was I supposed to do now? I had $200 and my luggage. I sat down for a moment to try and collect my thoughts.
"Is everything ok, miss?" came a voice over my shoulder.
"What? Oh yes, I mean no, fuck I don't know, I was supposed to meet my friend here but she's a no show and I'm not from here so I have no idea where to go," I answered.
"Ahhhh yes, new to the area, I was once a newbie myself miss," he said with a bit of a chuckle.
"Well I'm glad you find this amusing, but I don't, I have no idea where to go now, I thought she'd be here," I said.
"Calm down, miss, there is a coffee shop over there, can I buy you a cup while you wait?" he asked.
"No thank you, I don't drink coffee."
"Well you'll have to excuse me then, miss, I am going outside to my car to get a cigarette," he replied.
"May I have one too," I asked.
"Well you can't smoke in here, miss, but you may join me outside, if you wish," he said.
I got up, trailing my 3 suitcases behind me and followed the nice man out to his car on the north side of the parking lot.
"You sure did park a ways out, didn't you?" I asked.
"It's easier to get out that way," he answered.
He walked to the back of his red car and opened the trunk,"Here, miss, put your bags in here for the time being, no reason for you to lug them around needlessly."
I nodded my head in agreement and placed the 3 suitcases inside the small trunk. The nice man stepped over beside me and handed me a smoke. As I lit up and puffed away, I began to tell him about how I ended up in California, thousands of miles away from anyone or anything that was recognizable. We talked for what seemed to be hours on end, going thru the cigarettes like candy. Finally, I jumped down from the trunk and stepped on the mounting pile of cigarette butts.
"What time is it, do you know?" I asked.
"Yes, miss, it's 11:42," he answered.
"My God, we've been out here THAT long????????" I asked, completely shocked.
"Yes, miss," he answered with another chuckle, "Time flies when you're having fun."
"I guess so, but I really do need to find Angel," I said, motioning for him to open the trunk.
Only he did not open the trunk, nor did he even bother to move a muscle.
"Hello??? I need you to open the trunk, please, I need to go back inside the airport and look for Angel," I said.
The nice man grinned for a moment, then threw his cigarette to the ground, making sure to push it into the dark gray asphalt.
"I think you should come with me, Carly," he said, walking very close to me.
"No, I don't think so, listen you've been really nice to me and I appreciate that, but I really do need to find my friend," I answered.
That's when the nice man turned into someone not so nice. He approached me and grabbed my arm, very tightly and began pushing me towards his car.
"No, please Sir, please, don't do this, You've been really nice to me but I really just want to go now," I pleaded.
"Silly girl, you have much to learn if you want to make it in this town," he said, chuckling quietly.
I tried to struggle, to get away, but he was much stronger then he looked. He pushed me into the front seat and climbed in quickly, wasting no time in locking me in. My heart dropped when I heard the "click" of the locks going into place ...... sealing me in this tomb. How could I have been this stupid to allow this to happen to me. I mean, I watch the news, I know how dangerous the world is for young girls like me. I never should have come here. I was safe in Georgia, now I was trapped in California.
As he drove and I watched the trees and power lines zip by, I began to get sick to my stomach.
"Please Sir, could you pull over for a moment? I'm going to be sick," I said.
"That's not possible, miss, we'll be to my house shortly," he said, lighting up another cigarette.
"Please, please I really do feel ill, Sir, please just pull over for a moment," I pleaded.
"NO!!!" he snapped, "Now just sit back and relax, my house is just up the road."
I covered my mouth and leaned my head against the cool window, wishing to God I was anywhere else but here. I guess I must have dozed off for a few minutes because I awoke to the sound of the locks clicking again and the man getting out of the car.
