Time stood still as the rocks dug into my knees. This was it, the last moments of my life. I’d never get married, I’d never have kids. I was only twenty-one and I was sure I was about to be slayed.

The steel metal of the blade pressed against the back of my neck. Maya screamed and he pointed the knife at her.

But he wasn’t done with me yet. I’d moved and that only made him angrier. He yanked my hair back in one meaty fist as if in a high ponytail, pulling the strands so tight my scalp burned. As he twisted my hair, his grip tightened, and I was certain he was preparing to behead me. He raised the knife and I let out a bloodcurdling scream when the blade sliced through the air.

Within seconds the tension released from my head.

But I was alive.

I cranked my head back and saw Crazy Eyes laughing, holding my hair in his hand. His rotting teeth were yellow, the stench from his mouth repulsing me when he lowered to wave the hair in my face. Then he spat at my face.

I wiped at the thick saliva running down my face and ran my fingers through what was left of my hair. I’d been shorn like a sheep. Maya whimpered beside me as the other assailant looked on, enjoying the show. The sadistic storm brewing in his eyes told me the sick bastard was getting off on petrifying us.

Tears burned as they cascaded over my skin, but I forced myself to stop. They wouldn’t see me cry. Crazy Eyes’ stench filled the air as his hand wrapped around my neck. And I gulped trying to breath. Opening my eyes wide, I stared back at him.

My head jerked when he unzipped my jacket, the fabric ripping too easily, and I shook my head to say no. Please...no. He went for my arm next and I thought he would slice through it as well. He didn’t. I flinched. He was instilling fear in me by slowly dragging the sharp blade and slicing through the material of the sleeve and stuffing the ripped material in my mouth. The tip of the blade then sliced my tank top, exposing my bra, and I gasped, dropping the material from my mouth. He instantly looked displeased.

My mouth clapped shut, and I bit my trembling lip, my mouth filled with a bitter metal taste. He paused and stared at my breasts then closed the small distance between us, nuzzling his head on my neck and then taking a single long lick between my cleavage before roughly squeezing one. A gag built in my throat, my body shaking as he released my breast. “Stand up!”

Hauling me to my feet, he placed the knife’s handle in his mouth and grinned. His hands jerked as he pulled down my sweat pants over my hips, revealing my panties, leaving the sweat pants to bunch at my ankles above my sneakers. I considered struggling, fighting, kicking him in the groin, but his blade kept me at bay. He held it close enough to pierce my skin if need be. That and I heard the deep breaths his partner made. If I moved, one of them would tackle me to the ground and make me pay. I shivered when the cool air assaulted my exposed skin.

He ran a single finger down the center of my panties then cupped my crotch, and my body convulsed. Not only would I be killed, but I’d be raped first. Rapid breaths of clipped air traveled from my lungs and out of my mouth, making me dizzy.

But then he dropped me back on the dirt and stood up straight, eyeing me like a farm animal at a state fair. Crazy Eyes adjusted his pants and he and his friend cackled. They took a few steps back from me and closer to Maya and I knew Maya was next. They were preparing to rape us. Maya looked like she wanted to run but Crazy Eyes kicked her and she fell to the ground.

She lay beside me, tears streaming down her dirt-covered face. I wanted to hug her. Tell her I loved her and how sorry I was I hadn’t saved her. She was shaking in the cold, knowing we might only have seconds left before we were sexually tortured and then killed. Then I got the break I was desperately looking for. “You.” Crazy Eyes’ partner pointed his weapon at me. “Undress her.” He stupidly turned after giving the command.

I grasped Maya’s face in my hands. “Listen to me, we need to escape.” I stared at the two men’ backs then back at her and uttered softly, “I’m going to run, and they will both follow me. I can outrun them—I ran track in school. The dumbass left his keys in the ignition. Once they run after me, you are to run to the truck and drive. Do you understand me? Just drive into the night toward that town we passed. The SEALs will find you. They’ll help you and then come for me.”

“No. No way, Sara. I’m not leaving you. Besides, I’m not all that great in a crisis. Where would I drive? I’ll be stuck in the middle of nowhere and get taken again. It’s over, Sara. We’re going to die here. I’m just glad we’re not going to die alone.”

I shook her, my eyes darting back to the men, who seemed to be plotting their next move. But it was so dark I couldn’t figure out what it was.

“No. It’s not over. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I ran long distance. I’ll keep running or hide in some cave until Kyle finds me. I saw plenty of them on the drive here.” I forced my voice to remain calm, so she wouldn’t hear the fear in my words. I didn’t believe the words I was saying to her. I was positive they would capture me, torture me, rape me, and behead me. But I wanted her to escape. A few years back Maya’s oldest brother, Emilio, had been killed in a random gang-related drive-by shooting in Downtown LA. As expected, it had taken a toll on her parents, especially her father. Maya helped put her family back together and convinced them to move to San Diego. The love in her father’s eyes for his children was something I used to long for with my own father. Until I grew up, sucked it up, and knew better. That same affection and warmth was how Maya took me under her wing when I moved to SD and tried out for the Wildfires. She became my family when I didn’t have one near. And there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for family. Maybe I’d get lucky and come out unscathed. If I didn’t, I’d made peace with it in my dying breath. Accepting and protecting my family meant a lot more than being a coward who disregarded their responsibilities, who turned their back and forgot what being a family meant. I wasn’t anything like my father. Never was. Never would be. “We can do this. I’m going to run and they will follow me. I need you to run like the wind. Don’t stop until you get to the truck. And don’t stop driving until you get to that town a few miles away. Please, Maya. Trust me. The SEALs will find you.”

Her breaths were rapid and she was shaking in my arms. “I won’t. I won’t go without you. We can run together. I need you, Sara. I love you. You are my best friend. You’re my sister. I can’t do this without you. I’m so scared.” Fresh tears appeared on her face.

“Yes you can, and you will. You are stronger than you know. I love you, Maya.” I choked back sobs and softly shoved her. “It’s okay. Go, Maya. Go. Before they come back. If I don’t come home—”

“Don’t say that. We’re going to make it. I won’t leave you if you don’t believe you’ll make it back, too. We’re going to dance together again. This will all be a bad dream.” Her hopeful eyes told me if I had any chance of saving her, I’d have to lie to my best friend.

“I didn’t mean that. I’m positive I’ll make it out. I wouldn’t be proposing it if I didn’t.” Footsteps approached and I knew it was time. I only had moments to save my friend’s life. I glanced back to make sure the men were both watching me. And they were. Their look of agitation that I hadn’t undressed Maya was palpable as they grew near.

I hugged Maya one last time. “You run and you don’t stop, okay?” She sniffed and nodded her head.

One, two, three. I took a deep breath and pulled my pants up then gripped my jacket closed in one clinched fist. In a matter of seconds, I said a final prayer and rose to a crouching position. Before I could lose my nerve, I sprinted into the night.

The night air blew cold on my skin and stifled my breaths, my feet pounding the dirt as I ran. The more I pushed the more my body hurt, but I wouldn’t stop. I white-knuckled the jacket to my chest, my exposed arm hitting the wind. I could hear one of the men yelling in broken English and the thumps of their boots told me they were in pursuit. A sinking feeling told me they would catch me, and they’d definitely kill me.

But I ran as fast as my feet would go. Wind blew against my ears, and a sound resembling the inside of a seashell appeared. My long strides dug into the dirt, and the voice of my high school track coach rang in my head. “Run, Sara, run. Move it, kid!” But his voice was soon replaced by Kyle’s soothing voice. “I’ll take care of you while you’re here and make sure you’re safe.” It was almost if he was running beside me.

A gunshot rang out, and I cut a sharp left. In the distance, the unmistakable sound of a diesel truck rumbled to life, the sound fading by the second.

Maya had made it. She would be safe. And if I died saving her, it would be worth it.