A Mistake

"Hurry up, Callie," Frank cried exasperated. He was getting seriously annoyed at her last-minute make-up.

"How much time are you gonna take?"

"One second, Frank," she cried.

"Oh Brother." He'd been hearing that phrase for the last fifteen minutes and wondered how many more "seconds" it was before they were actually gonna make it out of the house.

It was Joe's 20th Birthday party and Joe had planned it with military precision and to pin point perfection. Frank couldn't imagine what it would be like if he, his brother turned up an hour late! Why oh why had he offered to pick her up!

"Callie," he said again ready to storm out of the house alone.

"Coming," she said and this time she really did come.

"A girl needs her time, you know," she said defensively.

"Yeah, yeah, just get in the car," he said not caring to hide his annoyance.

Getting in to the driving seat he started the engine, debating whether to proceed with telling her off or spend the journey in silence.

"You really should calm down you know," Callie began

"Shit! I don't believe it, the tyre's gone flat." He interrupted her rudely, slamming his hand against the steering wheel, and getting out to replace the flat, not paying any attention to what she had said.

Callie got out after him, hoping to assist him in an attempt to better his mood.

"Need any help?" she asked hopefully.

"No, I can handle it alone."

"I wanna get this over with as soon as possible," he muttered under his breath.

"Hey what's that supposed to mean?" she said now openly angry.

"You know stop it with the Mr. Perfect attitude. It's just a party!" She said; slinging her arms into the air and walking off.

Not caring to respond he continued with his work. A few minutes later he looked up, satisfied at finishing his work in minimal time.

"Callie," he said looking around and not seeing her there.

"Callie," he said again. "Come on, work's done."

Still she was nowhere to be seen.

"Okay Callie, jokes over, you can come out now," he said getting nervous.

""God where's she gone?" he was really starting to get worried now.

"Callie," he said getting up and looking around for her once more.

He heard some movement behind him, thinking it was Callie he turned around only to see a giant fish rushing towards his barely had time to react when he felt two arms roughly picking him up and pushing him towards a nearby wall. Then a barrage of punches, kicks and fists hit his stomach, face, head and body, each more painful than the last.

He felt blood rushing to his mouth. Spitting it out another fist collided with his jaw and he collapsed, hitting the ground as he felt the arms releasing him. He felt a hard kick to his side, then one to his head. Exceedingly dazed he tried to get up, Callie suddenly coming to his mind. Then he heard a scream, the scream of a woman.

"Callie," he cried,

"He was on his hands and knees when he felt something heavy on his back. He realized it was someone's feet pushing him towards the ground!

"UHHHH" he gave a cry of pain as he collapsed, fighting to stay conscious.

Someone grabbed him from behind, pulling his arms back painfully and twisting them. Another painful punch greeted his stomach . he felt sick now, wanting to puke and at the same time struggling to free himself from his assailant. His arms hurt, his body ached and there had been at least three more punches thrown at his face and stomach. One last kick on his face, and he couldn't take it any more.

Forgive me Callie, was the last thing he thought of before going limp in his assailant's arms.