chapter 5

He led me to a secluded old shack that reeked of drugs, alcohol, and sex or was that rape; I didn’t know or want to. The door was no more than a piece of cardboard and a ragged sheet hung like a curtain. Pushing me inside he didn’t bother to close the cardboard door. It was just a room with trash scattered all over the place. Then there in the corner was a huddled heap and when that mop of hair moved I stared at a pair of frightened forest green eyes. Relief, anger, pity, sorrow, and many other emotions came all at once it brought tears to my eyes. More came as I realize what I was going to have to do.

Silently I shook my head as zee began to raise, a smile on her face but not that beautiful sunny smile. Turning I saw that monster smirking at me, it send disgusting shivers down my spine.

“Do you remember this place, kitten?” how could I? After all it was where I had learned the hard way that life was cruel. “That one over there is a new one but I will get her used to me, eventually. But you my kitten are by far my favorite.” I had to hold back the urge to vomit when he ran a revolting finger down my cheek.

“You always did hate unused didn’t you.” It was the vile humor he loved I knew and if I could get him to forget zee she could make an escape.

“How long has it been, kitten?” he walked to the window, well more like the hole in the wall.

“Not long enough.” I answered dryly.

“Would you like to taste what I have to offer again my kitten?” he meant that appalling drug he made me take the first time. I had to get him out of the room so I nodded, and did want it deep down for it would allow me not to feel. As soon as he left the room I ran to kneel next to zee. She threw her arms around my neck and cried.

“Zee listen to me this is no time to break down. Ulrich is outside behind the bar, he’ll take you home. I will distract that monster and give the signal to run.” At this part I took her by the shoulders and made her look at me. “You are to run and not look back. You hear me?” she nodded as tears ran down her eyes at the implied command to leave me behind. Quickly, hearing footsteps, I got up and walked a good distance away from zee so she would have enough space and time to run. He came in with a look only the devil himself could admire.

“Well here we are kitten” he held out his hand palm up revealing a small circle of a pill, one of his concoctions no doubt. Taking a deep breath I took the pill and swallowed it. Now he had that gleam in his eyes that had haunted me for many a nights. “You have become a beautiful women my kitten. I crave to feel you under Me.” with that he practically threw me on the ground. Every part of me screamed to run and never look back but at the whimper that I heard from the corner I told myself I had someone to protect.

He tore open my tank top, since I had taken off my hoodie and handed it to zee a while ago. The disgust at the feel of him touching me, tasting me, rose and I was already starting to feel dizzy from that pill. I had to hurry; quickly I lifted a hand and signaled for zee to run. Looking over that monster’s shoulder I saw zee run to the door, there she hesitated and mouthed the words that still stick with me till this day ‘thank you’.

Black was coming in from the edges of my vision but still I felt it, the cold and sickening touch of this monster on top of me. His hands roamed over my whole torso and further down. Tears rimmed my eyes to further impair my vision. I didn’t want this again; I could have gone through life without this again. But then again what else did men see in me beside a toy to use for pleasure and nothing else. A sob escaped me as I felt him open my jeans and I knew then my life would always be a never ending night mare.

Suddenly, the weight was lifted off me, shouts and grunts could be heard but I was too disoriented to know what was going on. Clumsily I sat up and tried to stand but couldn’t get my balance. All of a sudden an arm grabbed me and hauled me up and pulled me awkwardly behind it. We exited the shack; I knew that much then the rest was a blur and a mixer of sounds and feels. I was going to go under I knew.

“I’m going…” then I fell down hard into that chasm of darkness. I’ve never fainted or died but they would feel the same I supposed.

“When is she going to wake up? She’s been out for a while” where were those voices coming from? My head oh dear lord it felt as if a dagger had been pulled through it. I growled in pain and began to come to. The world still spun and whirled but it was much steadier, well steady enough to handle for now.

“What happened?” slowly everything came to and the events come back to me. My breath started coming in quickly and I sat up pulling the blanket that was over me up to my chest. A hand came over mine and I let out a blood curling scream.

“What the... what did you do to her?” someone said from somewhere in the room. Looking around franticly and realized Ulrich was the one whose arm hand extended to me. Zee sat in a chair behind him and behind her stood some guy. Wait, that wasn't a guy but a boyish girl. I must have been staring because she smiled broadly at me. Quickly I turn back to look down at the dark red blanket over me.

“Are... you OK?” it was Zee and I could hear the fear still evident in her voice. Now my whole body began to shake but not from cold or anything but anger. I needed to get out of here; my grip on the blanket was already so tight my knuckles were white.

“Yeah I need to go.” getting up I had to put a hand to my head as the room spun and I swayed. Ulrich came up next to me and grabbed a hold of my arm to steady me but I pulled out of his grasp and into the boyish girls as I fell back wards.

“Easy there it’s OK” she helped me sit down and took a seat next to me. “Ulrich go get her something to drink, maybe some tea that belle might have left behind.” without another word Ulrich as he was told. “you took quite a fall I didn't think I would reach you in time.” there was obviously question on my face for she chuckled “Ulrich called me and told me to come and help and when I saw him running and you staggering behind I knew you were going to pass out and I made a run for you. Just barely catching you too.” Ulrich came then with a cut of tea it looked like. “Here drink this and when you feel better then we'll take about you going somewhere.” shortly after I took my first couple of sips of tea she left with Ulrich right on her heels.

“Adel?” her voice was no more than a whisper now and it made my blood boil that I had let this happen. Because I had let this happen, it was my fault but crystal would not go unpunished I would make sure of it. “Adel?” this time I looked up at her and was faced with misty green eyes. She would forever be changed and there was nothing she could do to erase what had happened or how she would always feel.

In that moment I knew we shared something and I wasn't alone anymore. Setting my empty cup aside I opened my arms to her and instantly she flung herself to me and for the first time I allowed the contact. Burying her face in to my shoulder, she cried and let it all out.

“Thank you so much and I’m so sorry.” lifting her face to look at mine, I saw she blamed herself for what happened.

“Na don’t worry about it, as long as you’re alright. Tell me…” I hesitated in asking but I had to know. “What did he do to you? Did he…?” she quickly shook her head and began to re tell what happened. He had found her and had told her he would take care of her. Then he had tried to take her but she had fought, infuriated he had beaten her. He left then and had come back with me.

“When I saw you I didn’t really know what to think. You entered with such fearless, emotionless, demeanor that I thought you…” a humorless smirk curved my lips, I knew what she thought and really I couldn’t blame her anyone would have gotten the same idea.

“Don’t worry about it its cool” things were getting to close and personal “I have to go” without another word I got up and headed out the door.

“But wait you should probably tell Rai you’re leaving.” zee called after me but I didn’t care to tell anyone anything. I needed to get out; walk outside, escape the suffocating feeling of having so many people around me. Needing to run free, I opened the front door and ran not looking back.