"Two Years, Four Months & 27 Days"
Rating: K +
Chapter Ten
Joey awoke with a fright. Her jaw throbbing with pain. Once she opened her eyes, she felt the rest of the pain she was in. Bruising all down her side and a huge gash across her forehead, just above her right eyebrow. She could feel the sticky blood soaked there. She also noticed that her hands were tied behind her back. She was lying on the floor of a pitch-black, cold, dampened room. She tried to scream, but the words wouldn't come out. Her mind was racing with the possibilities of what had happened. I remember leaving work, walking down the street, trying to remember the closest taxi rank then...nothing. Just a sharp pain to the back of my head. Joey tried hard to remember the details, work out how she got there, and where exactly 'there' is, but was interrupted by a voice she long wanted to forget.
"Well now, what's the matter Jo? You don't have a hug for an old friend?" Robbo chuckled. Robbo switched on the light in the room, which lit up dimly, but still providing Joey with enough light to acknowledge she was in a garage and to see Robbo's form, glaring over her. He leant down and picked her up slamming her against the wall. Joey yelped in pain, as her back took the brunt of the force. Robbo stood there in front of her. Joey didn't want to look at him, but he was breathing down her neck. There was nowhere else for her to look. He'd changed. Those greasy blond locks of his had been shaven off, and he had some distinct scaring on his face. But not enough scaring for the type of pain he deserves. He put me through hell, and here he is. Still causing me pain.
"Don't you look surprised to see me? I told you it wasn't over Josephine Collins. You thought you could get away with what you put me through. Guess again kiddo, 'cause you're gonna be in a world of hurt when I'm through with you!" "Stop, Robbo please. I didn't do anything wrong," she pleaded with him. He grinned evilly at her, "Is that what you think? Because the way I see it is that you wanted me. You couldn't handle the fact that I didn't want anything more than a good ol' rough-n-tumble with you. So you decided to cry 'rape' and hurt me. And the pain I've been in since I've been behind bars is much more than I've ever deserved. And now you're gonna pay the price!"
Joey whimpered, "What about the pain I'm in? After what you did to me. I didn't want you, I didn't want anything from you. You can't do this. You won't get away with this." "Trust me Jo, nobody's gonna find us out here," he insisted. "Where-where are we?" "Take a look around, don't you recognise this place? I know it's been a while, but a long time ago you used to call this place home. Don't you remember all the fun nights? Me and my best mate watching the footy, drinking some beer, and you hiding out away. Afraid of me even back then huh?" Joey breathed heavily. "Brett's place. You brought me all the way back here to Summer Bay. Why?"
"Why not? Kept in touch with big bro Brett while I was away, he mentioned he'd be away for a few weeks on a job. So what can I say? Felt this would be the perfect place for a little revenge. Brings it back full circle to where all this mess began," he threatened. "You won't get aw...away with this. They'll find you, and then you'll be put in jail for a long time. It'll be decades before you're released again. Don't do this. I'm sure you have a lot to live for...I bet. Besides they'll find me. I have people who care about me now," she tried to convince him.
Robbo chuckled. "Really? I've been keepin' tabs on you Jo since I got sent away. Got friends on the outside that want to see you pay just as much as me. You've got an interesting past. Wished I had of taken some more time with my decision to plead guilty. I'm sure if I hadda hired a good enough attorney he would have found out the truth. The fact that you're a married woman would've helped my case. And destroyed yours. Your pathetic argument that you're gay. Little hypocritical aren't you? And what does perfect husband Nate think about your past indiscretions? Is he ashamed of you? Disgusted by the fact you've been with other people behind his back? If he's anything like me he would've offered you a threesome by now with your pretty girl-of-the-month." "He wants to see you behind bars once and for all, like I do. You're guilty and we know it. The fact that I'm married doesn't change that. He'll find me, he'll save me. So will Charlie."
"Well, well now. So the lover-girl is back in your life. It's touching really. Here I thought she'd run you out of town, away from your whole life. Brett told me about you two. How you tried to turn her. How you had the perfect epic-love for like a day. Before she showed her true colours, and slept with a guy behind your back. Then lied about it for days, while you were stupidly thinking how lucky you were to win the girl of your dreams. Face it Jo, you really know how to attract people who really don't love you. Charlie doesn't love you. Why else would she be back in bad-cop Angelo's arms as we speak?" he laughed. Joey sobbed, "You're lying. Charlie isn't with Angelo. She told me they had..." "What? Broken up? Then why did our man leave Summer Bay a few hours ago, to go searching for his flame? Like I said I have friends out here. I bet she's happily with him now, while you're here with me."
"It's not true, it's not true. Charlie still loves me...like I love her. Doesn't matter what you do to me. She'll find me. She'll come for me. She will come for me," Joey insisted. Robbo got back into her face, as close as he possibly could. Joey could smell the alcohol on his breath, and the stench of his body. He leaned in, "No...she won't. Now let's say we end this little chit-chat reunion and get to the hurting." Seconds later Joey let loose a blood-curdling scream, as Robbo started to beat her in the face. Collapsing to the floor, one thought kept her going. She will come for me. She will come for me. She WILL COME for me.