It was some place between Memphis and Nashville. There was absolutely nothing for miles. Every time she would drive through, she would be starving. Just when she thought she would never see civilization a small restaurant would appear into view. A square white building known for friendly service and pretty good food. She had stopped here before. She remembered leaving was always a maze and a crap shoot, but she was pretty good at not being lost.
She remembered the last time she stopped. It was right after recital was over. A celebratory dinner with Katherine and Jennifer in attendance. She had almost gotten lost that day along the dirt roads that led the way back to the highway. This time she was meeting her family. They pulled up and walked in together. They sat down at a large table with room to spare. Another customer, a young blonde woman, asked if she could join them. Of course. The woman has a lost look, drained and doe-eyed. They didn't talk about much. Mostly about the restaurant itself, the food, the waitresses. She began to get apprehensive about the woman, and the prospect of getting lost again on the way out. Then, the woman made mention of the fact that it wasn't so bad to stay here. She said, because they have a lounge and all. That struck her as off in some way, and then the unthinkable happened.
The woman vanished. One second the chair was occupied, the next empty. Gone. Then she happened to spy something on the wall beside her. They were pictures of herself! Pictures of the last time she had been there, smiling in her purple dress as she ate a doughnut. One picture was of when she was a child playing outside the front door. One photo was even of her great grandmother whom must have visited at some point. How did they know who she was? When did those photos appear there? She was beyond scared now. She tried to convince the others it was time to find their way out, very carefully.
The first point they ran into trouble was along the dirt road. The way was blocked with cars with no one inside them. Things were getting odd so they got out to investigate. When they ventured back their car was nowhere to be found. She guessed it was time to run. So they did. They ran through the woods. It must have been a mile or two before they came upon a cabin. She was worried these people would be less help, and more trouble. It was her only option. A knock on the door. It seemed they were just as apprehensive about her. They looked like people hiding from something. They seemed to know who she was running from. She could tell they didn't appreciate her appearance, but they could help a little, at least. They told her what she was dealing with. A place that traps you, they said. The people who own the restaurant, they keep their patrons. No wonder they were always so busy in the middle of nowhere. The people never left. The family said they weren't at liberty to get away, but they had not been taken. They hadn't been visited in over a year, but our appearance might change that. They were right. Time for her to leave. The enemies were approaching. They were on their own again.
The next opportunity came into sight as a Walmart. Everyone else thought that was promising. She wasn't so sure. She resolved to stay aware. It became obvious after a while it wasn't easy to leave this Walmart. They made their way back to the front to realize there was no exit door. Only the entrance. No one else inside seemed to need an exit or care that there wasn't one. She cared. Screw the entrance door. It's an exit now. They packed up someone's car and made an escape.
The whole night made her question if maybe she hadn't been trapped for years.
Leah K.
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