Chapter 21

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been so busy of late, but here is the next chapter and a shocking chapter for Emily which ends with a terrible experience…..

News of Emily's departure for Spain after the summer holidays had spread like wildfire. Despite doubting her commitment towards Alicia, Katie was happy that her sister was heading off for a new life, full of bliss of unhappiness. When Naomi found out from Katie, she put on a front, pretending not to care after the previous stunt that Emily had pulled on.

With the Easter break looming, Emily decided on arranging a night out with the gang. However, it would be minus Naomi for obvious reasons, Cook: Who was now on the run from the cops having escaped jail and Effy, who had been admitted to a psychiatric ward, after going fully loop-de-loop!

Emily, Katie, JJ, Freddie, Pandora and Thomas headed in the direction of the Fishponds Tavern and it wasn't long before the tequila shots were being downed at an excessive rate. That was except Freddie, who still pining for the ill Effy. Emily's words of comfort were not going to help him, when they both emerged from separate toilets.

"Come on Freds, cheer up, it could be worse." Emily suggested.

"What do you mean? Seriously, Emily, how could it not be worse?" Freddie replied sternly.

"Look Freddie, I'm sorry for what's happened to Effy, but you've got to move on. She's gone fully loop-de-loop! To be honest, she was a fruit bowl that was seriously going to explode sooner rather than later. You're best to move on and forget about her." Emily suggested

This irritated Freddie even more. Emily and Effy weren't exactly the closest of people, but this felt like sharpening the knife and really turning the screw.

"Like you and Naomi?" Freddie hinted.

"I'm just trying to be a friend Freddie. Snap out of it before she kicks the shit totally out of you, because she will." Emily hinted.

This time, Freddie really lost his temper; grabbed Emily's top and pushed her against the wall.

"No-one tells me what to do with my fucking life! Stay out of my business, and stop destroying others you selfish slag!"

Emily looked horrified, was this really what Freddie was capable of….Freddie released his grip and then gave Emily a stark warning.

"Watch out tonight Emily, because you may not enjoy the final act of entertainment!" Freddie shouted, before storming off out of the pub.

Emily was taken aback by his words, but regained composure and headed back to face the others.

"Where's Freddie gone?" JJ enquired.

"He didn't want to stay, still pining for Effy I think." Emily said, gritting her teeth at her latest confrontation.

"Well we all knew that Effy was a virus waiting to happen!" Pandora said, in her usual kooky fashion.

There was a brief silence, before a nervous, but charming giggle from the gang. The Freddie incident was soon forgotten, and the remaining five continued to drink away the rest of the night.

As midnight approached and the pub called for last orders, Emily suggested they should continue the party marathon going at one of the local nightclubs. Pandora decided enough was enough and headed home in a taxi, but JJ, Thomas and Katie all thought it was a great idea and would go with Emily, maybe to get lucky in the case of the former three. However, Emily was looking the worst for wear….and she went to the toilets again to throw up violently. It was crystal clear that she had too much tequila and red rosé wine. Never a great idea to mix your drinks….

Unaware of Emily's whereabouts, and thinking that she may have made a head start, JJ, Thomas and Katie headed for the nightclub, though Katie left Em a quick text message:

"Headed to Groove with the lads, see you outside sis. Xxxx Kat"

Emily dusted herself down, checked her phone to read the message and ran out of the pub, dashing as quickly as she could to catch up with the others.

She nearly arrived at the destination, when she headed for a dark alleyway, when an masked stranger came up from behind and asked her a simple question.

"Hello darling, do you have your phone?" The stranger said.

"No, who's asking…." Emily said her head still faced backwards to the masked individual, still trying to reach Groove at redneck speed. At this moment, the stranger jumped on Emily, ransacked her pockets and stole her phone, handbag and money, pushing Emily's face hard to the ground.

Emily was screaming out loud, but the cries for help weren't heard by anyone. Katie, JJ and Thomas had already entered the club. The stranger ran off, leaving Emily conscious, but clearly dazed and stunned. Emily somehow managed to climb up to her feet, her nose was bleeding horrifically. Luckily, her house was around the corner, so she didn't have far to go. She scrambled for her key, which was in her trouser pocket, that hadn't been attacked by the stranger. She stormed in, slammed the front door shut and as the blood dropped onto the laminate floor and burst into tears.

Rob and Jenna were woken up by the noise and rushed downstairs to see Emily in a state that they'd never ever seen her before. She had been attacked and all confidence had been shattered.

Who had been responsible for the attack though? Was it just a stranger, or closer to home? Freddie? Naomi? Cook?

The aftermath will be revealed soon….

NEXT CHAPTER: Emily struggles to deal with the aftermath, who is Emily going to turn to in her hour of need…..