The snow crunched under Marina Brown's knee high black suede boots as she trudged wearily from her old black Beretta to the apartment building that she lived in with her mom and brother. That's what the lease said anyway. Lately it seemed that her mother spent all her time at her new boyfriend's house and her older brother was usually at some party or trying to sneak into the bars. The arrangement suited Marina, however, because, though she got lonely at times, she preferred her own company to that of her brother or her mom's boyfriend, Stan's.

The old brownstone building looked like a haven to Marina, away from the stress and noise that was the Mall during the holiday season.

'Working retail must really be doing something to my brain if I'm looking forward to this dump.' Marina thought with a sardonic smile, studiously ignoring the two dirty, unkempt men who were smoking something that wasn't a cigarette by the corner.

As she made her way up the three flights of stairs, Marina pulled off the name tag she had to wear for her job at a trendy clothing store in the mall. She made a face at her new burgundy top and smoothed out the small pin marks left in the fabric. She loved working at Reyes because it paid great for a high school job and she got an awesome discount. Unfortunately, she always seemed to be punching holes in her clothing with her name tag. Oh well, she thought philosophically, it's a small price to pay for having such a great job.

Following the path worn in the old orange carpet, Marina finally made it to the door of her apartment. Just as she was about to open the door, however, it was flung open in her face and out strode two guys laughing and holding up a girl who appeared to be no more than fifteen. She was obviously drunk and didn't seem to care that the guys had her skirt twisted almost to her waist.

Gaping in amazement, Marina stared until the trio disappeared down the stairs. Now, her heart sinking with disappointment, she cautiously stepped into the apartment.

The sight that greeted her shouldn't have surprised her, but it did. Inside her home there were at least thirty people, all drinking and seeming to be having a great time. Slamming the door behind her, Marina searched with her eyes for her brother, Steven.

After pushing past a group of girls gathered in her kitchen, she finally spotted her brother lounging indolently on the couch, a plump blond sprawled across his lap. His hand was under her shirt and he seemed to be having a grand old time. With an angry curse, Marina ripped off her jacket, threw it over a chair and stormed to the couch to stand over her brother.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Steven?"

"Rina!" Steven exclaimed, his voice slurred from drink "You're late for the party. Hey, be a doll and get me a beer, will ya?"

"No! What is wrong with you? You can't have a party in here! You're gonna get us kicked out!"

"Relax, Rina, nobody cares. Look." He stood up, dumping the bold unceremoniously to the floor where she promptly began to giggle uncontrollably, "We're not even being loud."

"I don't care! I want these people out of here, now!" Marina yelled, stamping her foot.

By now everybody seemed to be staring at them, but Marina was beyond caring, she was so angry. She didn't even notice the blond jump up until she was standing in front of her not two inches from her face.

"Look, bitch, we're all having a good time here, so why don't you just take your skinny little butt out of here and leave us alone!" the girl said, jabbing her finger into Marina's chest.

Marina snapped. There was no other word for it. As the girl jabbed her again, Marina grabbed her wrist and twisted it saying "I don't know who the hell you think you are, but you're in my apartment and I want you out!"

Her words seemed to inspire the girl to violence and Marina just barely ducked out of the way of the girls punch and delivered a blow to the blondes cheek. She was about to hit the girl again when someone grabbed her about the waist and pulled her away. Marina fought, wanting nothing more than to scratch the girls eyes out, but whoever was holding her was much stronger and he pinioned her arms down. Steven had a similar hold on his blond and was yelling for the guy who was holding her, Dave, to take her to her room. The last she saw of her brother and the blond, he had her pinned down on the couch.

She knew Dave slightly and recognized him as one of her brother's high school friends. The guy was big, had been a football player in high school, and had a reputation for treating his girlfriends badly. Now as Dave slammed the door behind them, Marina knew real fear and began to struggle madly.

Dave seemed to be amused by her struggles and even laughed at her until one of her kicks landed on his shin. With a strangled oath, he threw her violently on her twin bed and she felt a thud as her shoulder hit the wall hard. She struggled frantically to get up off her stomach, but he was on her in an instant, his knee pressing cruelly into the small of her back. He grabbed a handful of her hair and pressed her face into the pillow, making even breathing a struggle. She was aware he was talking to her, but his harsh ugly words had no meaning to her. Tears were seeping out from the corners of her eyes and as she began to feel she would pass out from lack of air, he suddenly turned her over onto her back. Grabbing her wrists in a cruel grip, Dave pinned them above her head. His free hand was groping under her shirt, and as he shoved his knee roughly between her legs, she finally found the breath to scream.

"Shut up!" He grunted and slapped her hard in the face, turning her head to the side with the force of his blow. For a moment, she just lay there, dazed, dimly aware that he was shaking her until finally for the second time that night Marina snapped. With crushing accuracy, she brought her knee up into his groin. As he gasped in pain, Marina slipped from under him and ran to the door. But she wasn't fast enough. Just as she was about to turn the knob, Dave grabbed her arm and sent her flying into her bookshelf. She landed heavily on the floor on her side. He went to stand over her and kicked her until she was laying flat on her back and placed one foot on her chest, putting just enough pressure on her to keep her from moving.

"Dave, please let me go, please..." Marina managed to whisper, hating herself for begging, but unable to stop herself.

"Shut up, bitch. I would have been nice to you, but you fought me, you slut. Maybe if you give me what I want, I won't hurt you too badly."

Marina stared at him helplessly as tears fell from her eyes. She told herself to scream again, but didn't have the energy. Just give it to him. You know he'll take it anyway, so you might as well save yourself some pain.

This time when he pulled her up, Marina didn't struggle; just lay limply in his arms. He dropped her on the bed and she felt his hand grip her chin and turn her face to the side. Dread turned Marina's stomach and without meaning to, she screamed.

He backhanded her, and Marina whimpered in pain. His hand was on the collar of her shirt, and just as she felt the fabric start to give way beneath his tearing hands, she caught a glimpse of his face and ice seemed to congeal in her stomach. Her breath became labored, and just as she thought she couldn't take it anymore, the door was thrown open and a drunken voice intruded.

"Dude, you'd better get outta here, man, the cops are coming up an' they don't look happy."