DISCLAIMER: Rookie Blue and its characters are all owned by others. No infringement intended.
WARNING: Includes scenes of violence.
EPISODE: A reimagining of things that occurred during Season 5. Diverges from the show storyline prior to Season 5 Episode 7, "Deal with the Devil." So, Holly and Gail haven't spoken since the fight at the Black Penny in episode 3.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
THROUGH DARKNESS
by Nora C. Parker
PROLOGUE
The woman didn't immediately realize that someone else was in the corridor. The corridor was one she walked twice a day, leading between the parking garage and her lab. Due to her habit of arriving well before the start of a shift, she missed most foot traffic. Instead, she generally made the walk by herself. On occasion, and only in passing, would she notice a few others in the dimly lit passage. Nothing about this route had ever given pause.
In an instant, that sense of security was shattered.
At first it seemed like an accident. A body brushed against her.
Seconds later she was pushed into the wall. Hard.
The air forced from her lungs, she gasped for enough breath to scream. All she could manage was a squeak.
Her brain went to basic thoughts. Get away. Run.
She tried to block out the feeling of his rough hands as he tried to force them into her coat, force them under her clothes. His weight was still pressed against her. The stench of his breath, acrid in her nose, caused her to gag.
He shifted and she found herself with room to maneuver. Pushing off from the wall, she was able to give herself clearance. In a desperate play for freedom, she took a stride and found herself pulled back by his grasp on her long hair.
Unsteady, she felt something snap in her ankle just before she was jerked off her feet, landing heavily onto her side.
The adrenaline was pushing her to flee but she knew that the way her ankle was throbbing that she would be lucky to stand. Being able to run was probably past her ability.
Taking stock of their relative positions, she reached up and grabbed at his crotch, using any strength she possessed to squeeze. He kicked at her arm. When she continued her grasp, he repeatedly stomped on her bicep. Her hand lost its grip.
Few options remained. She rolled into a fetal position, covering her head with her arms. He rained more kicks on her back.
From down the hall she heard a door opening. Once again, she tried a scream. Two hoarse croaks emerged. Then, finally, a recognizable "Help".
The kicks stopped. The sound of more footsteps. Some rushing away, some towards. A new voice, a stranger, asked if she was okay.
The tears were now flowing freely. With them came the pain.
She lay still on the dirty cement floor. The faint sound of sirens momentarily audible over the throbbing of blood in her ears.
More footsteps approaching.
Then the world went silent, and faded to black.
(to be continued…)