A/n: This is a little bit different for me. It's more of an actual case fic than my other stories. I don't usually do this style so forgive me if it's a little rough at first.

The one thing that Elyssa had yet to adjust to in her new life was the sudden rush of adrenaline that surged through her every time someone startled her. For some seemingly understandable yet misguided reason, everybody felt the need to touch her to get her attention. Didn't they know better than to sneak up on people? Yet at least once a day Elyssa had to will her heart to slow down and not jump out of her skin when someone placed a hand on her shoulder with no warning. At least her friend Nick had finally learned his lesson after a few too many elbows to the gut not to come up behind her and instead made it a point to be in her sight line before getting her attention.

Elyssa took a long look around the University library. She liked spending time in the library because it was always quiet so she didn't feel like she was missing out on what was happening around her. She wasn't supposed to be there. Jack had told her a thousand times that she wasn't supposed to leave the house while he was at work but she had an English Lit final in a few days and she really needed to study. So she had taken the bus to get to campus and had found a corner to camp out in while she tried to wrap her brain around Chaucer. She didn't realize how long she had been sitting there until Nick sat down at the table across from her. He sat there for a second until she became aware of his presence and then smiled at her. Elyssa liked the way Nick looked when he smiled. It was unthreatening and sincere, which was something that had been become a rarity.

"Library is closing soon, Ellie." He informed her. "Time to pack it up. Do you need a ride?"

Elyssa looked over at her phone and saw the time. 12:46 am. Jack was going to kill her if he found out she'd been out this late, so she nodded to Nick and began to pack up her things. They walked out side by side to his car and as they were about to get in he stopped her.

"Hey, some of my friends are having a party. Do you want to go?" She looked at him hesitantly.

Parties were not her thing. Too much stimulation to her already overtaxed senses but she was trying to make more of an effort to open back up to people and have a social life. Plus she'd be lying if she said she didn't have the slightest bit of a crush on Nick. So she shrugged her consent and tried not to blush when he smiled at her again. They drove a few minutes across campus to a neighborhood that Elyssa knew was made up of most of the frat and sorority houses. A slight feeling of trepidation crept in but Nick seemed at ease as he helped her out of the car and placed a hand on the small of her back as he led her inside.

There were maybe two dozen people crowded into the front room and kitchen of the house and Elyssa had to take a steadying breath to keep herself from feeling overwhelmed. There was music playing and though she couldn't make out the words she could tell that it was playing just a touch too loud by the vibrations she could feel in her feet.

"Do you want a Coke?" Nick asked and she nodded. He disappeared into the kitchen and then quickly returned with a red plastic cup in hand. He led her over to the chair across from the couch that was occupied by two other guys.

"Ellie, this is Landon and Austin." Nick said, pointing to each one respectively. Landon smiled at her and unlike Nick's there was something about it that set off a weird warning in her mind.

"So I here you're from North Carolina." Landon remarked. Elyssa just looked at him. "My father is a U.S. Senator from North Carolina." He bragged. It turned Elyssa off and she hid her eye roll with the rim of her cup as she took a drink.

Landon continued to prattle on about his privileged life but the more he talked the less Elyssa found her able to concentrate. Her head began to feel fuzzy and she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. She looked over towards Nick to let him know that she wasn't feeling well. Landon noticed this and he stood, offering his hand to her.

"Why do you come upstairs? You can lie down till you feel better." Warning bells immediately went off in her head and she back at looked at Nick who just gave her one of his easy smiles.

"It's okay, Ellie." He reassured and then helped her to her feet.

Elyssa shook her head and willed herself to resist but her body wouldn't respond to her commands. She wanted to scream out but her mouth felt like it was packed with cotton and her broken voice failed her. She was helpless to do anything as she felt herself being picked up and placed over someone's shoulder before being carried upstairs. Her mind felt disconnected from her body as she was thrown onto the bed. As an unwelcome body pressed himself against her, she closed her eyes and disconnected mind from the world around her.