Chapter One:
Well here I was again waiting on my "one true love" of many to meet me at this club. I already knew what he was going to want and what he would probably get. My life is just turning into a big load of crap. When I was younger life was great, I didn't have to worry about all this shit. I don't like having to sleep with these people just to get by. I wonder how mom would feel if she knew what I was reduced to just to get her next medication. It's not something you can just come out about though. I can see it now, "Hi Mom! Guess what? Your daughter has now become the youngest prostitute in history! Now isn't that just peachy?!" I can't believe the way it sounds. Well at least the doctoral bills are being paid. Cancer is just so hard to live with.
This guy comes up beside me and asks, "Jenifer Watson?"
All of a sudden I see a meadow, I'm running around. The sun is warm on my face. There is someone chasing me, but we're playing a game. I feel so much younger. I turn around and then I am thrown back to reality.
"Yes. Can I help you?" I say to him. I already know what he'll say. Guys are all the same.
"No, I was just wondering if I might sit here and speak with you."
Speak to me? Was he playing with my head? Maybe this wasn't your usual guy. I turn and look him over more closely. Damn, he's not hot. You couldn't say that about this man, it would be an insult. He's beautiful. His hair is so brown it was almost as black as mine. His eyes were a hazel that shown so bright it was hard to imagine him like all the other men that had met me in this dark bar. I am just absorbed in their brightness. He's just a bit taller than me. He is too young to be here. He can't be older than me, at most he's 19. It looks as though he's wearing some type of black leather jacket over a As I Lay Dying t-shirt. He looks so mysterious. He must notice my silence. Oh my goodness! I forgot to say something! He probably thinks I'm stupid. Wait he might be a cop! Shit, Shit, Shit, SHIT! I can't believe I am so stupid. No wonder he knows my name!
"Uh sure, what would you like to speak with me about?" Maybe if I act stupid he won't figure out I know.
"You seem way too young to be in a place like this. I'm not going to tell anyone but I know you're at most 18." I had to counter it without disclosing information about myself.
"I could say the same about you. How old are you? You can't be over 19. Why are you in a place like this? What is your name?"
"Well, actually, I followed you here. Don't get the wrong idea; I'm not trying to stalk you or anything. My name is Joshua Drayton"
"Following me? Why would you do that?" Okay this is a little creepy. Well maybe more than a little, but I don't think he's a cop.
"Well the other day I saw you at the market and when you left I saw this group of men go after you. So I followed because they didn't look the type of men that you would invite to a tea party. They looked dangerous. They've been following you ever since that day. I overheard them talking and they said something about it being your job to give them a good time and that if you refused something could happen? What type of job were they talking about?" He glances around like he's looking for something, or someone, then turns back and stares at me. I have to give him an answer but I can't. He wouldn't understand.
"If I told you, you wouldn't understand. You would think me a monster. Thank you for informing me though. Now if you don't mind I must excuse myself." I start to get up and walk away but he grabs my arm. I turn to look at him my face full of alarm.
"Me think you a monster, you know nothing of what a monster is. You are too beautiful to be anything like a monster. You don't need to go away. They are supposed to be sending someone to meet you here tonight. The things they say they're going to do. Just please sit back down and tell me." His beautiful face is full of concern, but I've seen guys play this card before. I want to stay here but I don't know if he is telling the truth.
I step outside into the brisk, chilly night air. I look back and see that Joshua has disappeared. I barely turn around before someone with strong hands grabs me and slings me up against the wall. I am thrown into another flashback. This time however I am in the woods and laying on the ground, someone's hands are around my neck and he's pushing me into the ground. I close my eyes and once again I come back to the present. When the shock settles I look at my attacker. It the same man from my vision! I am so afraid. Joshua was right, I should've believed him. The man has one hand on my neck and the other against the wall. I start kicking and screaming but it isn't working. His grip on me tightens.
"Hello beautiful." The man says to me.
"Who- who are you?" I stutter. I am terrified.
"The bigger question here is what I will do with you." He loosens his grip on my neck a little but I could still barely breathe. Then he brings his other arm away from the wall and runs it along my face and along my body. When he gets to my breasts he pauses. "Wow these will make great use tonight Baby." I try to kick again but his grip on my neck tightens again. I can't breathe at all. I am starting to turn blue when he finally loosens up again.
"Plea- Please stop." I sob.
I can't stop shivering. I don't know if it's the fear or the anger that is causing it. When he gets done feeling around he takes out a knife. The tears make their way past my eyes. The fear overwhelms me. He brings it up to my face where I see it glisten from the light of the moon, and then lowers it to the top of my dress. I can't help but flinch as the cold metal hits my skin. He starts to cut through my dress. I am too afraid to speak. The sobs wouldn't let me even if I did. When he cuts it low enough he then changes his arm. He pushes me up against the wall with the hand that he had been using to touch me and with the other one he ran his arm up my leg. He is still clutching the knife so when he brings it up my leg it leaves small trails of blood everywhere. When he finally gets to his destination he puts the knife away. I can't bear this any longer.
I turn my head and close my eyes. I try to find some other place than this dark alley. He continues to run his hand up and down my body. When will he stop? This is becoming so unbearable. I can't stand it anymore so I start to struggle. I try to scream but he covers my mouth. His hands are still moving and the knife has gone into my flesh many different times now. I try to catch my breath and breathe but it isn't working. I feel so weak.
"Shh. Don't want anyone to hear and come to ruin our good time do you?" I bite his hand till I taste blood in my mouth. He slaps me and I feel myself losing consciousness. He lets me slump to the ground against the wall. His grip on my neck is becoming tighter, I can't breathe. He begins to lean over me and starts tearing my dress where he hasn't cut. I begin to think this is the end. I have almost lost all hope when all of a sudden some force throws the man off of me. I can feel myself becoming unconscious. I look up at my savior right as I fall into the darkness.
Joshua.
