Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

They threatened to open fire to the crowds if the police approached while Kyle took me up the stage. I threw a fist to his face when we were at the backstage. He avoided it and grabbed my wrists, twisting them to my back.

"Move and I'll tell Jerome to blow someone's head off," he said, breathing hard against my ear. I could feel his smirk, even though I could not see him. He directed someone to tie me up, my arms were strapped around my abdomen. "Now, let's get our little nugget!"

My eyes widened in dread as he took hold of the rope around me and forcefully jerked me out from the backstage to a car. "No! You stay away from my son!" I writhed against the rope and attempted to tug away from him.

"He's my baby! My son!" he yelled at my face. Then he slammed me against the side of the car and I grunted because of the strong impact. "Did you forget?" He tilted my chin up and pressed his pelvic against my body. Closing in, he forcefully placed his lips over mine. I pressed my lips together and curled in disgust, screaming with my mouth closed. I thrusted my knee up to him and it hit his inner thighs, then I pushed him away with my shoulder.

He laughed that sickening laugh. My hand itched to wrapped its fingers around his neck and suffocate him, so that he would stop laughing. I growled and rammed my shoulder to his stomach until he fell on the ground.

Arms spread wide at his sides, he remained lying on the asphalt. "Are you really that mean, Sarah?" he toyed. "Our son deserves to know his daddy."

"Hassan is his father," I spat, kicking his ribs. He winced, trying to move away.

I was about to send another kick but he seized my foot and twisted it. Instantly, I pulled away before it got too painful. The man rose up to his feet and stormed towards me with fiery eyes. A snarl reached his lips when he fisted my hijab and hair, dragging me to the car, pushing me inside at the back seat. I fell at the foot rest with a thud, my face smacked against the floor.

As the car sped abruptly, I could feel my body was hitting the enclosed space. Even with bounded arms, I tried to get up to the seat. He was speeding so fast and he suddenly made a turn, causing me to fall against the door with my face again. I silently winced at the throbbing sensation at my forehead and nose. After a few tries, I managed to land on the seat.

My eyes studied the blocks outside. They were very familiar so I panicked. We were heading towards my old apartment in a very reckless speed. "Kyle. Please, I'm begging you. Please. Please. Leave him out of this. Please."

His body was shaking because he was giggling while gripping the wheels until his knuckles became white. "Family must stay together, Sarah. Which part of that you don't understand?" My apartment building was at sight and my fear escalated. He then hit the brake, making me jerked forward. I almost fell back to the foot rest but I hindered it by leaning my feet against the shot gun seat. "Stay here. Be right back with Kyle junior," he sang while I panic.

I tried to position myself in many awkward poses to open the door. Next, I banged the car window in desperate manner and screamed profanities to Kyle. "Don't you dare lay your hands on my baby, you son of a bitch! Stay away from him! I'll kill you! I'll kill you myself!" Not giving up, I turned and kicked the window until my soles and knees were hurt from the impact. "Mrs. Weller! Mrs. Weller!" I screamed again, wildly looking up to the window of my apartment. I moved to the driver seat to kick the car horn. To my dismay, it was broken. I kicked it multiple times in frustration.

Breathing hard, I looked outside of the car, asking for help from anyone, but there was no one around. I felt like I have lost hope. "Mrs. Weller… please. He's gonna take my son. He's gonna take Malik…" I whispered in distress. Then my sight landed on a parking space – Mrs. Weller's usual parking space. And her car was not there.

A heavy breath escaped my lips. Glimmers of hope emerged in me. I prayed and pleaded that Mrs. Weller and Malik were not home so that Kyle couldn't confront them. I also remembered police protection. The patrol car which was supposed to park outside the apartment was also absent. A few seconds later, Kyle exited the building with a pout and more importantly, empty hands.

"They're not here," he grumbled, after opening the car door. "Where. Is. My. Son?"

The sudden dead drop of his tone send shivers down my spine. "I don't know," I managed to say. He sent me an angry stare for a few seconds before relaxing his face muscles. He slouched his shoulders, faking a forlorn look.

"Oh well. We could get him next time. But tonight… let's focus on us," he paused, his lips slowly lifted into a naughty smile. "It's been a while. I missed you."

No. Not again.

Terrified, I backed away from him when he reached his hand towards me, trying to grab me. My back hurt as it hit the handbrake. Then I kicked him squarely on the face and shoulders a few times. "Get away from me!" He managed to secure both my ankles and tugged me towards him. "No, no, no, no, no, no. No! No! No!" I kept on tossing abrasively against his control, never giving up.

"My patience is running- ugh!" His words were cut off as I thrust my knee to his chest.

In a swift, I moved my legs so that his head was position between them, then I clamped his head with my thighs, squeezing as hard as I can. His muffled grunts reached my ears and he kept on smacking my thighs and tried to open them. But I hold on. I suppressed the hits and punches and twisted my body so that his face suffocated against my thigh.

Come on. Come on. Stop moving.

I could feel his movements weakened and eventually he became motionless. Cautiously I slackened my limbs and kicked him away from me. His upper body fell onto the seat while his lower body was kneeling on the ground outside. I sat up, still breathing hard from the battle. Since my arms were still tied, I can't open the other door so I had to use the door which Kyle was lying at currently. I shifted closer to him to push him out the car and he fell on his side, while I managed to finally get out of the car.

I was panting so hard. I need to get help.

Suddenly, I heard a stifled laugh and my blood drained from my face. I didn't waste any time as my legs sprinted to the road. However, he fisted my shirt before I even get to my third step. I grunted as he grabbed the back of my head and slammed my head against the side of the car. I let out a silent scream at the massive pain. He pulled me back and slammed my head again until I lost conscious.

I woke up feeling cold. But I didn't open my eyes right away. My head is painful. I tried to move but my movements were restricted. My forehead was freezing; something was placed on top of my forehead. And I was underdressed, so I opened my eyes immediately, wildly looking around the place.

My bedroom. In my old apartment.

I cocked my head to the side to let the frosty thing slide from my head. It's a packet of frozen green peas. The expiry date was right in front my eyes. As I read the gray printed numbers, I just realized that they had expired already, three days ago. Shit. But that's not what I should be worrying about. I tried to tug my upper limbs from the bed frame but they were tightly secured with tape.

The door of the bedroom was ajar and I could hear someone in the bathroom, showering and humming. Kyle, I spat his name in my head. I had to get out before he finished showering. But these tapes won't come off unless I cut them off with something sharp.

Unless…

Unless… I kicked off the metals of the bedframe. Is it possible? He would most probably hear the kicks. After praying in my heart, I stretched my legs up to bedframe and kicked one metal rod where my left hand was strapped with. Then, again and again. I stopped for a while to listen for him. Still showering.

It was tough trying to kick in this position – lying on my back with both legs up to my head. I took a deep breath and started kicking the metal bar again.

Someone cleared their throat. I cursed in my head and repositioned my legs back down, breathing heavily. "Having fun? I am," tittered Kyle, hair still dripping after the shower.

"Let me propose you a deal," I said after a few seconds of silence. I had these thoughts over and over again after he got me. He raised an eyebrow and flashed a derided smile. "I'll stay with you as long as you keep away from Hassan and Malik."

"That is a huge offer, missy. Let them go and I'll have you, all of you, your scars and your disability. Hm…" I puckered his lips and looked up at the ceiling, pondering of my proposal. The way he acted; he was taunting me. I knew he was pretending to be thinking of the options. I knew he wouldn't take it. I know he would go and hunt down my husba…

"I'll take it."

"What?" I whimpered, clearly did not expect his answer.

"I won't touch a hair on them. But if you break the deal, a few friends of mine will do the honor. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna contact them first about this plan."

No… I was thinking of fighting him off and then go find my family. This plan is a failure. I'm so stupid. Why didn't I think of that in the first place?!

I could hear indistinct conversation of Kyle before he returned to my bedroom, smiling victoriously while I looked at him in defeat. This is going to happen over and over again for the rest of my life. I had to live with the person that I hated this entire universe.

"If they didn't hear from me in an hour, your husband's dead," he sang. He walked to the vanity and took something that did not belong there: a cutter. My heart raced faster when he walked to me, thinking that he might want to stab me with it or craved my face like Jerome since he was obsessed with him, but he approached closer to the bedframe and cut off the tape, freeing my wrists. I kept my eyes on the cutter when he placed it on the night stand. "Try it," goaded the vile low life.

My eyes shot to his wild eyes. He was still hovering over me, daring me to attack him. Cold drops of water from his hair were dripping on my chest. The cutter was just an arm length away, I could grab it easily. But he knew I can't. His contacts would slaughter my family. I began to imagine plunging the blade into his neck until he choked onto his own blood, but I shook the thought away. That is not an option.

Reluctantly, I placed my hand at the back of his neck and pulled him down, smoothing my lips with his. I forced a gag back down as I moved my lips, closing my eyes tightly. Moaning, he was eager, roaming his hands over my skin. He climbed onto the bed and over me, throwing the packet of green peas away. I wept inwardly as this violation is going to happen again. I bit back my tears to avoid Kyle's anger.

I involuntarily slid my hand to his naked chest. He pulled away and brought my amputated hand to his lips softly kissing the scarred skin like he did almost a year ago. "Beautiful," he murmured to the skin. It burned; everything he touched burned in a bad way. I hate it.

It will get over soon, Sarah, I convinced myself.

I refused to see his face so I kept on engaging open kisses at his neck and shoulder, imagining that the person on top of me was Hassan. Suddenly, he grabbed my jaw and made me stared at his face.

"I'm gonna make you forget everything about your husband. We belong together." He pressed his toweled crotch against my center. I tried not to show a scowl but I guessed it showed. "Why are you not enjoying this?" he whined. Then, he pushed his other hand down to my private area and palmed it not so gently over my underwear. I yelped at the sudden touch and attempted to recoil. "No. You stay with me, remember?" he harshly said.

I changed my mind. I don't want this. I refuse to do this. I was beginning to panic. It was difficult to choose.

But Hassan's live is at stake.

Then, I felt a tongue licked my neck. Kyle moaned and complimented the taste. His other hand groped my breast.

No. I don't want to do this.

I pushed him away. "No," I determined.

All of a sudden, there was a gunshot.

Kyle grunted and rolled over to hide at the side of the bed. I stared with widened eyes at the man who I was supposed to protect. He was standing by the door, holding a revolver in his hand. His lips were twisted into a snarl and his eyes were red in rage. I was quick to my feet, rushing towards his side.

"You okay?" my husband questioned but still glaring at the location where Kyle was hiding. I didn't get to answer when we heard his laughs. I could hear some footsteps entering my apartment and saw two officers rushing towards us.

"So the husband came for some action?" he chortled. "An hour, Sarah. Our deal." I could feel Hassan's burning gaze at me. "They didn't get any calls from me, there's going to be blood. Him and little me."

I looked down at the floor, contemplating his words.

"No," whispered Hassan. "We do this together. I won't let you protect our family alone. I want to protect my family, too."

Guilt crept into my heart and mind, thinking that it was my fault for letting Hassan into my life, endangering his live. Endangering Malik's life.

What have I done? They don't deserve me.

"Sarah, together," he repeated.

There was only determination in his eyes and it assured me to some extent though not wholly. I still felt insecure about this. But I nodded. "Together," I told him.

Hassan gave me his gun and took a bathrobe and put in onto me. The two officers walked stealthily to the other side of the bed, where Kyle has not been moving out from. There was a bit of blood on the bed, I guessed the bullet grazed his skin. My eyes coincidently landed at the nightstand. Something was missing.

I furrowed my brows at that, feeling a bad premonition. Then I remembered. There was supposed to be a cutter on the nightstand. Before I get the chance to warn the officers, Kyle leapt out and jumped on the officer, closest to him, pushing the cutter from under his chin. The blood splattered to Kyle's face as he pushed the officer forward, causing the other officer to get pushed as well. Then, he charged towards us and Hassan pushed me away, causing me to trip on the floor and collapsed to my knees.

"No!" I roared as the blade entered Hassan's stomach. Kyle pulled the cutter out and was about to stab again. Instinctively I pointed the gun to Kyle and pulled the trigger, before the cutter plunged into Hassan's stomach again. The bullet entered the side of his head and he collapsed to the floor. After dropping the gun, I rushed to Hassan, analyzing the stab wound. Blood was gushing out of the deep gash. He groaned in pain. "Oh God. No… Keep pressing on it," I ordered, bringing him to the bed. The uninjured officer radioed for ambulance, saying that he got two injured men and need of assistance ASAP.

I had checked at the injured officer as well. The stab was not fatal because the blade entered from under the chin to the floor of his mouth, cutting a bit of his tongue though infections could easily entered the blood stream. I was very worried about Hassan, praying that the stomach wound won't cause any severe problem in the future.

I made him like this. He was resting on the bed, while I sat by his side, head bowed down, muttering prayers.

"I'm hungry," he breathed.

I quickly stared at his smiling face. I furrowed my brows at his attempt to make this like a trivial matter. "Shut up," I snapped. He should save his energy like that injured officer, though he can't really talk because of the wound.

The unharmed officer, Officer Ralli, curtly informed us that the ambulance will arrived in less than five minutes. I sighed in relief at the news. Officer Ralli assisted his partner, Officer Woods, out of my bedroom to wait at the living room. A hand reached for my arm and I ignored it.

"I wouldn't forgive myself too if something happened to you," he spoke. I gulped as I maintained a poker face. "But I'm here, now. You can stop blaming yourself."

I stayed silent. I have been doing this wrong. I should have moved out of Gotham at every chance I get but I didn't, my inner self said. I am one selfish bitch.

"Stop. You're not a selfish bitch."

Oh, I said that out aloud.

"Yeah. You did."

I pressed my lips in a tight line and frowned. Stop voicing out your thoughts, Sarah. "I'm gonna change before the ambulance come," I said, randomly taking some clothes from the cupboard, storming to the toilet to escape Hassan's kind words.

I splashed water to my face to get a grip of myself when I heard Officer Ralli called that the ambulance arrived. Putting on my instant hijab, I exited the bathroom as a few paramedics entered my bedroom to check on Hassan. Officer Woods was brought out already while they got Hassan on a wheelchair.

"How is he?" I asked the paramedics.

"We got him, ma'am. We have to go before his BP is falling. Lucky that he didn't hit any major area," a young man responded, pushing the wheelchair out.

I walked out of the bedroom and noticed that there were another pair of uniformed police officers entered my home. "Officer Ralli. As I told you before, we were threatened. Kyle's people will come to attack us again. I would like to request some officers to accompany the ambulance to the hospital please," I asked.

"Two motorcycle officers are downstairs. They will escort the ambulance," one of the new officers answered.

"Thank you." I passed them the apartment key and jogged out of the apartment to join the ambulance.