Warning: Some censored words used in here

Once again, a good looking woman finds herself being used as a mere toy to satisfy a macho's desire. Theresa, we know you don't want that, it's not the kind of price you are willing to pay! But there is no one near to your rescue, you must help yourself. Show us your way

How to End a Nightmare

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What could she do?

Theresa fought down the rage and tried to think reasonably. The rush hour was over but there was still some traffic. In a city as big as Chicago, you would never find an hour without. Although Farlinner passed every car he probably could and pushed trough two junctions whose lights had just turned to red, she figured that he had to stop somewhere in a queuing up. She decided to play on time and gave herself as the girl he succeeded to intimidate.

"Well, ah... I've never done it in car before." Theresa tried to take out her most sugar-sweet bedroom-voice. "Just a minute... let me imagine how I can lean over to you..." She started fiddling with her safety belt. "Dang it, I can't find the click of the safety belt." So let Farlinner think that she was clumsy. However, too much delaying would be suspicious and she pressed at last the belt switch she had found long ago. "Oh there it is!" Theresa was almost in despair. ...where's the next damn red light?... she silently wondered while Farlinner snorted "See baby, is all that easy. And afterwards, you can always show off that you're the one that did a good, hard b***j** in Chicago beyond 60 miles an hour."

At last! There was a red light which was impossible to ignore. Two cars stood in the lane already. He braked rudely and managed to stop just two feet behind the car in front of him.

There was an eighteen-wheeler coming from behind that Farlinner had passed just a few seconds ago. The trucker must have been very upset, flashing his lights and honking the horn. He approached, it seemed at a frightening speed and for a moment, Theresa thought that they would get crushed. Even Farlinner saw the oncoming in his rear view mirror and was puzzled for a moment when the truck started braking, almost too late, accompanied by a very annoying noise. There wasn't much room left behind Farlinner's car. He was trapped!

This was now or never. While Farlinner was distracted with the truck behind him, Theresa gave him a very unpleasant surprise. He wanted it hard, he would get it hard! With all her strength she hit her fist on his b***s. Farlinner collapsed and shouted out of pain. "Why, are you crazy, you damned ..."

Theresa didn't hear the rest. Since she was off the safety belt already, she pushed her door open and escaped the car. Farlinner couldn't even try to hold her back. The pain was too much for him.

Theresa left the car's door open on purpose, hoping this would keep Farlinner busy for a while. She ran as fast as she could. There were two more lanes to be crossed before the sidewalk and the traffic lights just turned green. A few drivers hooted. To them, she seemed crazy indeed, hushing so headlessly across the lanes.

But finally she reached the sidewalk and headed to the direction they were coming from. If Farlinner indeed intended to chase her, he'd have to turn the car first, which wasn't easy for him right now. She slowed down to her usual jogging rhythm. Thankful that she was into this kind of sports, she knew she could keep the speed up for quite a while.

The question was where should she go? Chicago was absolutely unknown to her and the strong rain immediately turned her wet to the bare skin.

Strange enough, this moment brought back to her a memory with Garrett. She remembered their discussion when he wondered to be able to live in Boston, the moment when he said: "Without you I would be completely lost here". Now she felt as if she were completely lost in this city without him.

Theresa put away the thought, she was in big trouble now. Obviously this was a six lane avenue. It seemed best to her to turn into the next side street. She didn't like to get lost in one of the smaller and somewhat darker passages between the buildings.

It was late evening, but a few restaurants and street cafes were still open. Theresa slowed down in order to walk the last steps before she turned to one of them. There was much place and she didn't pay attention to the few guests that stared at the dripping wet and out-of-breath woman entering the cafe. She chose a table far away from the front windows, just in case Farlinner roamed the streets now. The waitress instantly noted her embarrassing situation: "Can I help you in a way?"

Theresa shook her head: "No I'm fine thanks. This was just a junkie that wanted to catch me, but I was faster." The waitress was convinced "O yeah, we got a lot of them, unfortunately. Glad you came away. Can I bring you something?" Theresa managed a smile and ordered an orange juice. Now that she had come to a rest she felt her feet aching. Those pumps were definitely not made to run! All the more she was glad that she didn't wear high-heels.

While she was waiting for her drink, she tried to think clearly. What would be best to get out of this nightmare? She still held her lady bag with all her valuables. Okay, she thought, I can pay the dept and call a taxi. But in no way was she willing to stay in Chicago even one second longer than needed. Should she return to the hotel and risk that Farlinner would wait for her or go directly to the airport? But then she'd have to leave her suitcase for good in the hotel. This wouldn't really be a problem for she had paid her two-nights stop in advance. But her clothes were soaked now and that wasn't fun either. So back to the hotel then! The waitress was much in favor of Theresa and ordered a taxi which earned her a good tip. When it arrived she entered quickly, not without checking anxiously for a certain sports car.

But Farlinner didn't show up.

When Theresa arrived at the hotel, she made the taxi driver wait, went to her room, changed her clothes quickly without taking a shower and checked out immediately. An hour later she was at the airport already. It was two o'clock in the morning and the booking desks opened at six. She had to wait.

Theresa was the first customer this morning and she had good luck: There was a flight to Boston that would leave in the morning rather than the scheduled one in the afternoon. But the change was expensive. Economy was fully booked, she had to board business class. Since this was a trip for the Boston magazine, her expenses would be paid, but because of the amount she knew she had to explain Deanna quite a lot.

Tired from being up all night long, Theresa found the seat in the aircraft comfortable. There was ample room to stretch her legs. She relaxed and finally fell asleep. For a moment, illusion mixed with reality and took her at least a little bit away from that horrible night in the city. She dreamt that the plane would fly to Wilmington and Garrett stood there, waiting to take her in his arms.

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Fine, Theresa, have a little rest, you'll need it! And since you're dreaming of it, we'll head off to Wilmington now, where a not-so-happy Garrett feels not too comfortable when he gets a surprise in the evening.

To be continued.