Because the Night

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.


~Chapter Two~

I was still so hazy from his gentle caress that it took me several blocks before I noticed my followers. At first, I thought my neck tingled as a hangover of excitement. Yet, as the anxiety started to grip my lungs, I knew danger lurked. My pace increased, and my parasites did the same. I don’t know why, but my gut told me more than one person followed. I glanced down at my hand bag while I fumbled through the pocket, seeking my pepper spray. Just as I returned my gaze to the path before me, I smacked into a large body.

“Hey, baby, what’s your hurry.” The gravelly voice told of way too many cigarettes, as did the strong odor emanating from his clothing.

“Excuse me. I didn’t see you there.”

I couldn’t see his face in the dark, but I was close enough to notice the shrug. “So’s what. You see me now.”

I tried to step around him. “If you’ll excuse me…”

He grabbed my wrists tight, causing my fingers to let loose of the coveted canister, leaving me defenseless. My heart rate jumped.

The creep drew a deep breath. “You smell right sweet. Do you taste as good as you smell?” Before I could react, I found myself hauled against him, his lips grinding into mine. Bile rose in my throat. I contemplated throwing up on the goon. Instead, one of my dad’s favorite phrases popped into my head. I raised my knee as hard as I could, right into the man’s groin. “You bitch!” He doubled over, letting loose of my arms.

I turned to run, only to find myself facing two more large men. The anxiety multiplied. I knew I should have stayed home rather than going out with the girls. I should have at least gone back in the bar and had Papa call me a cab. I whipped my head around to check the goon I’d tried to cripple and found his fist coming right at me.

Pain exploded behind my eyelids. He found his mark on my temple. I felt the sidewalk tear my knees when I fell but was yanked back to a standing position nearly as fast. The two lackeys behind me held my arms. The man I’d kneed adjusted himself then stepped up against me. “You fucking bitch. I’ll show you who’s boss.” The back of his hand landed across my cheek, whipping my head to the side. “Come on, boys, let’s teach this whore a lesson she’ll never forget.”

My blood ran cold with the laughter around me. Vomit rose in my throat. Two hands reached to the front of my blouse and ripped it wide. As much as I fought my fate, I knew I could never succeed against the strength holding me prisoner. A single tear slid from the corner of my eye as I watched the first assailant unzip his pants, pulling himself out for my view. In moments, I found myself crushed between the three putrid bodies, lips and hands covered every inch of my body. No amount of fighting saw even the slightest opportunity for escape.

“Get her on her knees,” the obvious leader commanded. I nearly vomited as he shoved his dirty penis in my face and commanded me to take it in my mouth. I turned my head away, only to get back handed again. “You don’t want to do it, huh? We’ll see about that.” Then I heard the familiar click as a gun was placed to my temple. The tears fell freely.

A very menacing voice sounded from behind me somewhere, interrupting the assault before the filthy member could be shoved in my mouth. “You have obviously never been taught how to properly treat a woman.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Who I am matters not. What matters is that you are in need of a lesson in manners.”

I was shoved to the ground. My head bounced on the sidewalk, sending another cascade of stars exploding in my vision. I shook myself several times as I heard all sorts of grunts and growls around me. My vision just would not clear.

A few moments later, the fighting sounds fell to silence. I very seriously considered playing dead, but if my assailants were the ones to come out on top in that fight, I knew it would serve no purpose. They’d still do exactly as intended prior to the interruption.

I jumped half out of my skin when a hand rested on my shoulder.

A vaguely familiar voice broke through my panicked reverie. “Are you okay?” He didn’t wait for a response. “Of course not. Let me help you.” Strong but gentle hands hoisted me from the pavement. My legs did not want to work right, and I nearly slid back to the ground. Those same strong arms wrapped around me, keeping me from falling. “Here, take my coat.” I felt a long, heavy wrap slid over my shoulders. My rescuer fastened the front, covering my tattered and torn clothing. “We should call the authorities.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no sound would issue forth. Instead, the stars exploded in my vision again, and I crumpled against the strong body holding me upright.

***