The night of fear
My friend and I chatted at the gate for a few seconds and then it happened. Out of nowhere a car pulled up behind us and three dark shadows jumped from the back and started to approach us. By this time I was standing outside the car getting ready to go inside. I dropped my books and started to run. The driveway seemed to never end and as I was running I could see the front door was closed – was it worth checking to see if it was unlocked? I decided not and headed toward the path that led around the side of the house to the lawn around the back. All I could hear in my head was the pounding of my feet and the thud of my heart. I waited for the sound of a gunshot to ring out or a hand to grab me from behind, but it never came. I continued to run through the darkness around the side of the house. I couldn’t understand why everything was so black. Normally the house would be lit up from all angles by the security lights, but tonight I had to rely on memory and the tiny bits of moonlight that shone through the trees above. It sounded like someone was running behind me and I forced my feet to carry me faster. As I rounded the corner I could see light coming from the cottage on the other side of the garden and I started to yell. The only word I could say was, “DAD!” and I yelled it over and over again as I raced across the grass. His shadow appeared at the doorway, a look of concern on his face. I was completely out of breath now, from fear and from running and all I could do was drop to the ground and point at the gate, “Jay...Jay”.
It was one of the most awful nights I can remember. I had left my best friend to fend for herself at the gate. I could hear the scuffling going on as my dad hurtled up the drive way to rescue her. I don’t remember hearing the squeal of the tyres as the car pulled away or pulling myself off the ground to phone the police, but I do remember walking around the corner and seeing the shape of my friend slumped under the dim light of the street lamp. My blood ran cold as I started to walk toward her, but as I saw movement I began to run. Thankfully she was fine, just very shaken up and my father was returning, scratched and bleeding after falling from the car while trying to rescue it. Again the thoughts of overseas began to flood into my head. The days began to get even worse as fear took over every time I stepped out the house, but I knew I couldn’t let anyone see. Soon I allowed myself to forget about it all and carried on as "normal".
It was one of the most awful nights I can remember. I had left my best friend to fend for herself at the gate. I could hear the scuffling going on as my dad hurtled up the drive way to rescue her. I don’t remember hearing the squeal of the tyres as the car pulled away or pulling myself off the ground to phone the police, but I do remember walking around the corner and seeing the shape of my friend slumped under the dim light of the street lamp. My blood ran cold as I started to walk toward her, but as I saw movement I began to run. Thankfully she was fine, just very shaken up and my father was returning, scratched and bleeding after falling from the car while trying to rescue it. Again the thoughts of overseas began to flood into my head. The days began to get even worse as fear took over every time I stepped out the house, but I knew I couldn’t let anyone see. Soon I allowed myself to forget about it all and carried on as "normal".
