As I walk down the deserted street toward my home, I think of him. I seem to have a habit of doing that. I can never put my finger on why, though. To believe that tea loving, narcissistic, jerk was the one I fell in love with was just so uncomprehendable... I let out a sigh. Oh, Naru, if only you knew how crazy you drove me.
I sigh. This is Naru I'm thinking about! He'd never say he loved me, even if he could save the world by doing it. I honestly think he'd rather watch everything go to hell that say he loved me.
As I look out of the corner of my eye, I notice a big, black van slowly trailing behind me. Perhaps the driver is lost? No, I'm ninety percent sure that van was following me.
To make sure, I turn the corner onto a very uncommon area of town. And the driver turns too.
I speed up. So does the van.
Very alarmed now, I grab my pastel pink phone and flip it open, searching for a contact that could help me. I glance at each of the four contacts. Lin, Yasu, Bou-san, and Naru.
Not very many choices.
I click down to Yasu's name and press the call button.
One. Two. Three.
"Hello? Yasuhara speaking." Yasu's familiar voice spoke.
"Yasu!?" I say, my voice cracking with panic.
"Mai? You okay?"
"Yasu! There's someone following me!" I reply, scared.
"Mai. Keep calm and tell me where you are."
"I'm at the corner of-" I get cut off by a hand grabbing my mouth and yanking my phone from me, shutting it with a snap.
"Woah there darlin', trying to tell on us, are you?" Speaks a man's voice as he bites my neck roughly.
I bite his hand. Hard.
"Woah, honey. Bein rough t'night?" He purrs as he picks me up and stuffs me in the truck.
"Oh. She's a sexy one. Good job, Tomoi. The money will be in the usual place. Meet me back here in three hours for clean up duty."
That's when the idea sticks it inside my head. I realize what these men were going to do. They are going to rape me.
I slowly and quietly pick up my cell phone, which had been shoved into my pocket. I then flip it open and hit the call button. Looks like Lin is my only option.
I can faintly hear the ringing, then Lin's voice.
"Miss Taniyama?" I hear.
"Let me go." I say in my loudest voice, hoping Lin can hear.
"Are you crazy you bitch!?" The man yells at me.
"No but you are!" I yell back as he moves his hand to my right breast, "LET GO OF ME!"
"You never tell me what to do!" He yells, slapping me.
"J-just... please... let me go. I don't know you. Please, just let me leave and go home." I say, still loudly enough to assure that Lin can hear.
"No way. You are going to be begging for more when I'm done."
"No, I won't."
"The man tackles me, tearing my shirt to reveal a plain green bra, my sleeves leaving me to show the small cuts on my arms that I had created through depression.
"My, my. A cutter? Well cutter-chan. If you think your life was bad before, just you wait until me and my associates are done. Just be greatful I'm not letting Tomi go first, seeing as you're a virgin."
"No. Please no."
But the man doesn't listen. He just tears my clothes away and makes it hurt. He then lets his driver have me, another man, and more. I finally pass out as Tomi takes his dear time.
When I wake up, I'm slumped in an alleyway at what seems to be near 23.00 (AN: That's 11pm in military time) and I'm only wearing my undergarments as well as a thick layer of blood on my arms where my cuts were re-opened, and on my legs, where I had bled, showing the loss of my virginity.
The only things I have are my school bag and my cell phone.
I open my phone and gasp.
12 missed calls from Yasu, 20 missed calls from Lin, 50 missed calls from Bou-san (but only five voice mails), and, shockingly enough, five missed calls from Naru with no voice mails.
I listen to Yasu. He first half are him asking if I am alright and what my call was about, the others saying he was contacting Bou-san and Naru if I didn't pick up. Bou-san's mails were all screaming about me asking things like where I was and why I wasn't picking up, followed by his incoherent sobs. Lin's calls were all saying my name in a very worried tone, as well as asking what was going on in that call I made to him.
First I called Naru.
It took one and a half rings before he picked up.
"Mai, are you okay?" He asked me, a hint of worry in his voice.
"I'm fine Naru, gomen. I didn't mean to worry anyone." I say. Hearing my voice for the first time, I realize I don't sound okay.
"Mai, do you think I'm stupid?"
"No Naru."
"Then why are you lying to me?"
"I'm not. I swear I'm perfectly fine! Bye!" I say, quickly handing up.
Next I call Bou-san.
"MAI WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN! WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME!? I'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK! WHY HAVE YOU BEEN IGNORING ME FOR THE PAST SIX HOURS!? AM I NOT ENOUGH OF A FATHER TO YOU? ARE YOU REPLACING ME? WHY DID YASU CALL SOUNDING WORRIED? WHERE ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? I'LL COME GET YOU! I'VE BEEN PANIC STRICKEN! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL ME AT AN EARLY AGE MAI! NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! I WAS GOING HECTIC OVER HERE! YASU THREATENED TO PIN ME DOWN AND RAPE ME IF I DIDN'T CALM DOWN! MAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII..." He went on sobbing, me freezing as he says rape.
"B-bou-san, I'm fine, I promise. I'm sorry, my phone died, I'm at home right now." I say, sprinting for my house, which was thankfully right around the corner.
"Mai? It's Yasu. Are you okay? What were you saying to me earlier?" Yasu asked.
"Yasu! Give e back the phone!" I could hear the monk crying in the background.
"Nothing. Sorry for bothering you." I say, as I enter my apartment.
"Okay Mai, I will trust you for now, but when I get more evidence that It wasn't nothing, I WILL ask you again."
"Bye." I hang up.
Last off, I need to call Lin. Knowing this will be the hardest one, I decide to tell Lin part of the truth and then make him swear secrecy. But first, I decide to take a shower.
I walk into the bathroom and step out of what remained of my tattered clothing. I step in the shower and cleanse myself.
As I step out, I realize I am extremely tired. I yawn and go to my roo to grab some clothes.
I trow them on, a black button up shirt that is too large for me, and a new pair of undergarments.
Satisfied with my appearance, I grab my phone.
I must call Lin.
I must sleep.
I must call Lin.
I must sleep..
I must call Lin...
I must sleep...
I must call...
Who?
I can't remember.
I must sleep.
I...
I have to do something.
But what?
I don't remember.
I must...
Call..
Lin.
But I can't, for I have fallen asleep.