Survivor (eBook)

Chapter One

WOUNDED MIND—ESCAPE

I was running through the woods, branches, and bushes, scraping my arms and legs. I had been hyperventilating since I escaped, and now I could hardly catch my breath. My heart felt like it was going to explode at any minute. To make things doubly worse, I barely had any clothes on, so my body shook from the cold as much as from the fear.

The fear had thrown me into fight-or-flight and with that fear adrenaline had overwhelmed my senses, making it even harder to think. It was dark, and I could hardly see a thing, yet right when I thought I’d lost my way, the sky opened with a jagged slash of light, followed by the loud sound of thunder. At least I could use the lightning to see through my tears and find a path to safety. Yet, with every crash of thunder, I cringed and prayed for God to guide me to safety. Finally, I saw streetlights and cars passing on the road. What was I supposed to do now? Wave a vehicle down in the middle of the street while standing in only a body suit, ankle socks, and shoes? No way was this going to happen. I was already scared to death.

I started questioning myself. Why didn’t they kill me? Why did they let me get away, or did they? Are they behind me? Are they chasing me? After all, I was the only living witness, which paralyzed me with fear.

At least now, there were lights around me. I just needed to cross the street to the convenience store. I felt a lifeline had been provided, so I darted to the doors of the High’s store, only to find the store was closed. I looked around and then ducked into the phone booth outside the store. I grabbed the phone book and rifled through page after page of the three-inch-thick book filled with names and phone numbers. My shaking index finger scanned the pages until I found what I was looking for, and there it was, Donald Edgren. “Is this Donald Edgren? I have a collect call from JoAnn Morris.”

“Yes, this is Doctor Donald Edgren. Yes, I’ll accept the call.”

“Dr. Edgren, this is JoAnn, JoAnn Morris. I’m in trouble. I need help. Please, please help me.” My hands could hardly hold the receiver. “I need help. Please, please, I beg you, come and get me. I’m at the High’s.”

“Which one? What’s the address?”

“Address?” I was so traumatized I couldn’t comprehend what he was asking. Something so simple, and I couldn’t even think straight . . . BUT NOTHING WAS SIMPLE AT THAT POINT.

Slowly, calmly, he said, “Put the phone down and look at the top of the building. Tell me what numbers you see.” I read the numbers out loud, “It’s the High’s store on Piney Branch Road. I’ll be in the bushes; flash your lights three times so I’ll know it’s safe to come out. Please hurry, Doc! I don’t know how much time I have left.” My next call was to the Howard County Police. “I’m looking for Detective Charlie Gable. Is he there?” I asked the dispatcher.

I was advised Charlie wasn’t working that night. “Well, this is JoAnn Morris, and I’m in serious trouble. Please, can you call him at home?” The dispatcher replied, “Hold the line, and I’ll call him.”

“Charlie, it’s JoAnn . . . I’m in danger. I need you to meet me at the Prince George County Hospital.”

Charlie knew me well enough not to ask questions. “I’ll be there, JoAnn.” Knowing he would soon be with me gave me such a sigh of relief . . . a sense of peace.

How could I tell him what I’d just been through? I could barely speak. The words just wouldn’t come out. I couldn’t say them out loud.

As soon as I hung up, I bolted to the bushes and waited. I crouched between the bushes, shivering. I felt like everything was spinning out of control. I felt dizzy and nauseous. Oh my God, I wish he would just get here.

Time seemed to tick away so slowly. I tried to comprehend what was happening, but I couldn’t. I was in a serious state of shock. I waited and waited, which seemed like an eternity, and then . . . .

Oh my God, I saw a car’s headlights in the distance. Please be the doctor, I begged silently. It was him; it was him, thank the Lord. He had done just as I had instructed. I felt like at least now things would come into focus better for me; Oh boy, was I wrong. Again. He flashed his lights three times. And I took off for the car and jumped right in without hesitation. “Drive, hurry, Doc! Please hurry!” Once I got in the car, I was still gasping for air. I was trying to calm my nerves, but it seemed to be of no use. I kept hyperventilating. I tried to exhale, but I just couldn’t catch my breath. I brought my hand to my heart, but there was no comfort. My heart was beating out of rhythm, slamming into my chest wall.

The minute I got into his vehicle; no niceties were exchanged whatsoever. Instead, the doctor swiftly, purposefully said, “Listen carefully, JoAnn. Don’t talk! Don’t look at any one thing for any length of time.” Then, “You are to look up, look down, turn your head from side to side, and repeat this action for the entire ride to the hospital. Trust me, JoAnn. I know what I’m doing. You are to follow my every instruction. Do you hear me? Did you hear what I said?” He continued the entire ride and said, “I hold all the power to make you better JoAnn.”

What was he saying? This sounded like madness. I couldn’t even comprehend a simple sentence he was saying, especially the ones that made no sense. Up, down, around. Why the hell did I call this man I don’t know? But, for now, I had to trust someone, and I thought it would have to be him. There were no second chances here. I just silently prayed to please let me at least make it to the hospital alive. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was still breathing.

This car ride would set in motion an entirely fresh assault on my being. In a calming yet stern voice, I heard the man I had known for many years as my primary care physician, the doctor who had cared for me, speaking to me in an eerily unfamiliar voice. “Shh . . . you’re safe, JoAnn. Don’t cry.”

I tried to bathe myself in those few words. Finally, maybe, just maybe, I was going to be okay. I desperately wanted to believe that someone I trusted would take over at this point.

“JoAnn, listen to me; that’s why I’m here to help you. You need to follow my every instruction . . . do you understand?” His voice was louder now. “Here are the following orders: you are to make the entire trip precisely as I tell you. DO YOU UNDERSTAND, JOANN? This is going to make you better! Are you ready for this?” His voice had become scary as he spoke with a conviction I’d never heard from him, and it frightened me.

No, I thought, “Wait, I want to get out of this car . . . NOW! What is going on here?” The doctor shifted the car into drive, removing any chance of escaping this new prison. Once again, I was trapped in a car, with my fate in another’s hands. This amplified my fear into a panicked state. I felt as though I was going to throw up. The words felt like they were stuck in my throat. I had so much to say, and nothing would come out.

Understand, I thought. He’s going to heal me. I had just witnessed a murder and was gang raped. Why am I the one who is crazy? I was in shock and grieving for a man I didn’t even know, and just as much for losing my innocence. But healing? I wasn’t sure that what he was offering was what I wanted or needed.

“Doc, we’re going to the hospital to meet the Montgomery County and Howard County detectives. Can’t these instructions wait?”

“NO, JOANN. IT CAN’T WAIT. JUST DO AS YOU’RE TOLD.” So, what else could I do but look up, down, side to side, all the way to the hospital?

I was in a car with this doctor, whom I knew almost nothing about. What was he trying to do to me? I didn’t know his intentions toward me. All I knew was what I felt . . . empty and afraid.

My body clenched inward, and I unconsciously drew my knees to my chest and encircled my legs with my arms . . . swaying side to side.

I felt dirty and sinful as my body drew into itself. The doctor’s instructions went on for miles until we reached Prince George’s County Hospital in Maryland.

I had known my doctor for about five years. His role in my life was to provide me with whatever medications I “needed.” I had never had any personal interactions with him that might have sent up a red flag that something wasn’t right with him.

Indeed, he was aware I had some “difficulties” (that’s putting it mildly), but he always treated me with respect, and I believed he sincerely cared about me. But what was he doing to me now? I wasn’t usually a rule follower, and these commands seemed out of place.

“Doc, please tell me what’s going on? Why do I need to look up and down? Why am I doing all of this? I don’t get it?”

“JoAnn, all you need to know is that I can make you better. I’m using a method called Scientology.” What the hell is that? I thought. But unfortunately, I had to obey his instructions, as crazy as it was on this tortuous ride.

At the hospital, we were met by the Montgomery County Police. Each county has its officers, and my confidant, Detective Gable, from the Howard County Police, along with several other Howard County detectives, and some men from the Howard Police Department, were there as my friends.

Once we arrived at the...