Twelve year-old Reed Callahan was bored. His bike was propped up against the iron railing to his two-story townhome, while he and his friend, Jacob Marx, tried to decide what to do on this Friday afternoon. Jacob stood straddling the frame of his bike with both his feet on the ground and his arms resting on the handlebars to support his chin. The boys had just road their bikes to Reed's house from school. It would have been a beautiful spring day if the clouds hadn't stolen the warmth from the breeze.
"Could go to the comic book store," Jacob suggested, sounding indifferent.
"Sure, if I had money. And Fester's not going to let us browse after last time."
Jacob glared. "Well, he should really be specific when he tells people to take their time." Kevin Fister owned the local comics book store and an accidental mispronunciation of his name, had given him the private nickname of Fester. It didn't help that he even looked like the infamous Fester Addams, with his bald head and pale complexion, not to mention he could stand to lose a few pounds. The major difference was he wore glasses. A couple of weeks ago, the boys had spent the entire day in the shop until Fester insisted they buy something or get out.
"We could go to the park and throw a ball around a little," Reed said.
"Nah, by the time I got my glove and stuff I'd have to be back for my dentist appointment anyway."
"Excuse me." The boys looked up surprised after not having heard anyone approach. They gasped. A woman stood before them in a floral pink and yellow sundress. Her feet were bare and her reddish-blond hair was tied back in a perfect French braid. Pearl earrings decorated her ears with a necklace to match. She looked nervous, her eyes continually looking around as if waiting for something to happen. She also seemed barely able to stand on her own two feet. She was far too skinny. A rosy complexion had been added to her cheeks, but it failed to hide her hallowed cheeks.
"Do one of you boys live here?"
Reed glanced at Jacob and back at the woman, hesitantly. "I do."
At that same moment, Reed's mother stepped onto the front porch. "Reed, I asked you to clean your room this morning. You better get your butt up there and take care of it before you even think of—" She stopped in the middle of her tirade, noticing the woman for the first time.
"God Lord, child, are you alright?"
The woman glanced around again. "I would really appreciate it if—" But that was all she got out before her eyes rolled up in her head and she collapsed on the sidewalk.
"Mom!" Reed cried in alarm as Jacob practically jumped off his bike.
"Get me my cell phone, quickly!" Reed ran inside without another word as his mother raced down to the woman's side. The woman was clearly unconscious. It didn't seem as if she'd injured herself in the fall, but the mother couldn't be sure. She did notice one of the edges of the young girl's dress had risen halfway up her thigh and the mother could see the presence of a distinct bruise that strikingly resembled finger prints.
"Is she going to be okay?" Jacob asked. He seemed to be keeping his distance, uncertain about what to think of the whole situation.
"I don't know, Jake," the mother said shaking her head. "I think someone has really done this poor woman wrong. God help her."
Reed burst through the front door and ran down the steps. He handed the cell phone to his mother with shaky hands. "Thank you, now you two go inside and stay there till I say otherwise, ya hear me?" They nodded and quickly ran up the steps before disappearing into the townhouse. The mother dialed 911. She explained to the operator that a woman had collapsed outside her home and after describing what happened and giving the operator her address she thought she'd add one last thought to the woman's condition.
"I've also seen some bruising on the woman's body. I think she might've been raped."