I stopped short of the door and took a deep breath, glancing up at the glowing neon sign above me. The words 'The Red' flickered slightly in the night, and I was surrounded by nothing but darkness and concrete, wet from the persistent rain which had now soaked my hoodie. I could hear the dull thud of bass from behind the solid black door in front of me, and my heart beat heavily to the same rhythm.

Jesus, Emma, what are you doing?

I shook my head slightly, trying to clear it of the voices arguing persistently.

Just do it, you want to! Come on…

Fuck it, curiosity killed the cat. I lifted a nervous hand and pushed on the slick black door. It was much lighter than I expected, and I just saved myself from falling face-first through the doorway.

Good one, dick.

The sensible part of my head snarled at me, and I could feel it throwing itself backwards towards the door, which was still open behind me as I steadied myself. I turned and pushed it shut softly, before lifting my head to survey whatever it was I'd just walked into.
The popular BDSM bar was busy. Everything was black, and dim red lights illuminated a dark mass of people dancing and talking throughout the expansive room.

Upon closer inspection, I realised I was severely underdressed. Every girl I could see was dressed up to impress. Some in shiny leather corsets, fishnet tights and heels so high it was no wonder most of them were sitting down.
Others were in less extravagant gear, although still in tight black skirts, low-cut shirts, and most of them wore a small black collar too. They sat quietly by themselves, and it was obvious they weren't wanting to go home alone.

The men were as broad a spectrum as their female counterparts. Some of them, too, were dressed from head to toe in leather. These types seemed attracted to the equally leather-clad women, who were obviously used to such lavish attention. They kept their noses lifted, wry smiles on their faces; and the men brought them drinks and adopted a very submissive posture, clamouring for their attention.

Away from these groups hung the other men. In black and white suits, many of them sat by themselves, silently contemplating the room around them. They looked almost out of place, broad-shouldered and commanding, but occasionally one of them would approach the cleavage-baring girls, and they would talk briefly before leaving together.

I was drawn to these men, as I always had been, and I watched each one closely from my safe spot by the door. One man, handsomely dark haired with a salt-and-pepper beard, late fourties, approached one of the gorgeous high-heeled ladies, a blonde. They embraced, before he sat next to her and the two of them talked and laughed like old friends. Both of them held the attention of much of the room, and I guessed they were well-known regulars.

I tucked my hands into my hoodie pockets, and stepped away from the door slightly, looking around me for a possible seat from which I could continue my surveying.
I was distracted by a man I'd missed in my first glance of the room. Younger than most of the other occupants, mid-twenties? He sat in the corner, sipping slowly on a neat drink and surveying the room with an air of confident indifference. He was wearing a crisp white shirt, a plain navy suit jacket hanging sexily over the top, clinging to his broad shoulders and stretching slightly around his biceps. He had short brown hair, and a strong, clean shaven, angular face framed by a set jaw, as well as dark brown eyes that-

FUCK! HE'S LOOKING RIGHT AT ME!

His piercing gaze looked straight into my soul, and I froze, my jaw dropping open, my heart throwing itself towards the exit. For all my terror, I couldn't look away. I was trapped like a deer in the headlights, mesmerized as his eyes held mine. He scrutinised me calmly, before raising an eyebrow slightly. Probably interested in my choice of attire: a soaked hoodie and jeans. I felt my cheeks flare red at having been caught so blatantly staring, but still I could not move. His eyes held me rooted, and I suddenly had an immense need to approach this man who so demanded my attention. My body shook from undecided direction, and I was panting like a tired dog.
He rose from his seat lithely, breaking eye contact to place his drink back on the table. I was suddenly released, and decided to split before I got myself in trouble by tampering with a world I was unfamiliar with. My heart pounding, I turned to grab the door handle, slipping outside into the welcome cold air.

Yea, good job, Emma.

My sane voice chastised me harshly, and I bowed my head, pulling my hoodie over myself and cutting quickly down a wet alleyway back towards my apartment. I relished the cold, damp air, and the rain once again seeping through my clothes.

I fucking told you, what the fuck were you thinking?

The voice continued, and I breathed heavily to calm myself. With my head ducked against the drizzle, my hands in my pockets, I didn't see the man following me until a pair of hands roughly grabbed the back of my hoodie and threw me sideways against the concrete wall with immense force.

My head made sharp contact with the wet surface, and I made an "umph" sound as force knocked the air out of my lungs.
Suddenly a body was pressed hard up against me, fists against my back, clenching my hoodie tightly as they held me upright, squishing me against the cold alley wall. I blinked, my head reeling, and tried to focus on my attacker.
I felt warm breath against my ear.

"You should know that it's not safe to wander around at night. Especially for a pretty little thing like you".

Fear, harsh and sour, rose in the back of my throat and I inhaled sharply. I still couldn't see clearly, and the wetness running down my head was no longer from the rain. It was hot.

Fuck, I'm bleeding. A lot.

Before I could focus, one hand released my hoodie and burrowed its way roughly into my jeans. I sobbed loudly, gasping for air. Panic flowed thick and fast through my veins.

Scream. SCREAM DAMN IT!

I could only gasp as the intruding fingers found their destination. Pulling my panties aside roughly, he gave me a quick rub before pushing two fingers inside me. I was terrified and tense, and his administrations hurt.

Blood was now running freely down the side of my face, and I was still struggling to stay conscious as darkness surrounded the edges of my vision.
Suddenly, the fingers withdrew from my pants, and I had a brief glimmer of hope as he flipped me so my back was against the wet alleyway wall. My eyes managed to focus briefly on a tall blonde figure, before a hand assaulted my cheek. My head snapped sideways, grazing against the rough concrete, and I moaned in pain.

"Ahhh fuck yes"
He was enjoying my pain.

Do something. Do something Emma!

I lifted my arms and pushed at him weakly.

"No.."

He slapped me again, on the other cheek this time, before punching me hard in the stomach. I groaned as the air left my body once again, and shooting pain made its way up my abdomen. I felt myself starting to lose consciousness.

No. NO!

He punched me again, and I fought weakly to stay awake, but pain was flooding my mind, and all I could see were dim lights in the distance, teasing me with their promise of safety so close.
He pulled me around, and now I was bent face-first over a large bin. He released me briefly to pull my jeans and panties down to my knees, and I could only sag hopelessly against the metal bin, moaning in pain as my hands fisted on the cold metal.

I gasped helplessly into the cold night air, tears rolling silently down my cheeks, as I felt his cock rub roughly up and down my lips, spreading them.

No, God please no…

He entered me with one harsh shove, and I cried out in pain, my hands scrabbling sharply at the metal bin-top.
He grabbed a handful of my blonde hair and yanked my head back, earning a strangled cry from me. He grunted in appreciation, and pulled harder, using his other hand to cup my throat. He squeezed tightly, and I shook, clinging to consciousness desperately.

It didn't take him long. He fucked me hard and fast while I sagged limply against the bin, blood still running hotly down the side of my face to match my tears.
He grunted as he finished, burying himself inside me. I closed my eyes, and disgust joined the cold terror rolling through me.

A sharp smack on my ass made me jump.

"Thanks sweetheart"
He smirked at me, before pulling out quickly and jerking up his pants. I sank to the ground at his feet, moaning as the movement threw me further over the edge of pain.

Come on, Emma. Go get help. Get up.

But it was no use. I heard his footsteps in the puddles fading, and I finally slipped into the beckoning darkness.

I woke sharply to the sound of splashing. Someone was approaching me.

No, it's him again. Run, Emma. RUN!

I moved my hands to the cold ground beside me, and pushed as hard as I could. Nothing. I leaned forward, and groaned in regret instantly. Immense pain shot through my stomach, and I threw up violently, all over my jeans.

Great. Those were new.

I blinked quickly, willing my eyes to focus. But my head had taken a beating, and I'd lost a lot of blood. I let out a gut wrenching sob of self-pity.

The splashing stopped suddenly, close by, and my breathing hitched.

"No.." I whispered desperately, willing my eyes to focus through the fog of pain.

"Oh fuck…" A man's voice. But not my assaulter's. My nerves were calmed ever so slightly. The bleeding from my head wound had slowed to a trickle, but was still persisting. God knows how much blood I'd lost. I blinked desperately, and my eyes started to focus slightly.

Thank God

My first view in the dark alley was my own legs, covered in vomit and around that a puddle of water. No, blood. It was blood.

Shit…

I let my head roll back against the cold concrete, and tried to re-focus on whoever was standing in front of me. Too much. I moaned, louder this time, and tipped my head to the side just in time to vomit again, this time all down my shoulder.

Whoever had found me now approached, covering the few steps between us quickly. One hand on my upper arm, he gently placed the other under my chin, lifting my head to hold it upright as I gasped for air in between my retches.
With my head supported, I could now focus my vision a little better. I was looking into brown eyes, the neat eyebrows above them furrowed in concern. My eyes traced sharp cheekbones down to thin lips, which were moving.
Fuck, he was talking to me. I couldn't hear clearly, like my head was under water.

"I can't…"
I breathed out the words, before the waves of pain became too much again, and I felt myself start to panic. I couldn't pass out. Not again.

Stay awake, Emma. Come on. STAY AWAKE!

My breaths were harsh and jagged, and my head started to flop again. He had both hands on my face now, cupping my smarting cheeks. He was still talking to me, but I couldn't make out anything.

Be clear, Emma. Quickly.

I took a deep breath.

"My head… help" I moaned. I don't know if he could even distinguish it as words, but it was all I had. Blackness started to encroach around the edge of my vision, and I fell forward from my propped-up position. Suddenly I was in strong arms, cupped against a warm body.
I abruptly realised how cold I was, and I started to shiver violently, my teeth chattering.
We were moving. But where to, I had no idea. I just hoped that this man was not the same as the last.
The movement jolted my battered body, and I convulsed one more time, letting out a dry retch, before darkness once again claimed me.