Chapter 4 – Good Deeds, Bad Rewards

Carol was eternally grateful for having Doug as a seatmate. His stories of his family were sweet and full of pride. His wife was a retired teacher, and he was retired from Enercon. He had spoken at length about his son, daughter and two grandsons. He helped with the oldest grandson's little league team when they needed a coach. His daughter was following in her mother's footsteps and going to school to become a teacher. They lived in Kennesaw, an outer ring suburb northwest of Atlanta.

She had not told him about her husband, Ed, but had shared with him that she was just getting out of a toxic relationship and starting a new life. She spoke of her growing anxiety about all the changes she was making, but kept it pretty generic, talking about finding a place to live and work. Doug had listened to it all, even holding her hand when the growing anxiety over her situation pulsed through her blood. Surprisingly, she had not worried as much through the earlier legs of the journey. The minute she spotted the 'Welcome to Georgia' signs, her head began throbbing and her hands began itching. Now though, they were nearing the outer ring Atlanta suburbs, and she was edging on a full-on panic attack.

Doug, being the caring person he was, held her hand and rubbed her back soothingly. He recognized her state of mind for what it was. He talked through it all with her, validating her concerns but reminding her of the happiness she had shown when mentioning her fresh start. He was there for it all, even hugging her a couple of times. Carol found herself awed at the compassion he must have shown his children and grandchildren. It was his suggestion that placed a temporary balm to her unease.

He had explained briefly before that he was not riding into Atlanta proper. He was returning to his home in Kennesaw. His wife would be waiting to pick him up, otherwise he would be happy to assist her with her relocation. It was then that he offered a solution. It only took some brief cajoling and a promise of his wife's home cooking and a roof over her head for a few days to get Carol to agree to get off the bus with him in Kennesaw. She did so only after he agreed to repayment after she got a job. With the agreement in place, Carol got off at Doug's stop.

They were the only two people exiting the Greyhound in Kennesaw. Doug helped Carol off the bus, mentioning how great it was that she had stopped shaking. After they stepped out, he gave her a hug and welcomed her to Georgia. Carol recognized that his offer was extremely generous. His generosity meant the fifty-two dollars still in her possession could last her a bit longer. She would be eternally grateful and told him as much. Stepping out of the bus, Carol discretely set about throwing away her ticket stub with her name on it as well as her ID. They had served their purpose and were no longer needed or wanted. She was a new woman after all.

As they gathered their belongings, Doug was regaling her about his wife's fabulous cooking, saying she would never have to leave their home hungry. He asked her if she would like to go to church with them on Sunday and told her about how much he missed his family. He couldn't wait for her to meet them. Carol began to feel a tad overwhelmed with his mannerisms, but she couldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. She followed him to the parking lot, her nerves beginning to return as a low hum throughout her body. He noticed and squeezed her hand again reassuringly.

Doug led her to the curb and looked around the small parking lot, searching for his wife's car. He shrugged, saying she must be running late. He said he only lived about a mile from the depot, so they began to walk. About five blocks away, the homes started to thin out a bit. The homes here were truly magnificent Victorian era homes on large lots. She let her mind wander to the hopes of living in one someday. Her flights of fancy immediately bit her in the ass however when Doug wrapped an arm tightly around her shoulders in a firm, semi-forceful embrace.

"What are you… "

"Quiet now. I won't hurt you." His hold on her relaxed enough for her to start to turn around. He immediately grabbed her back.

"Stay still now."

"Let me go!"

"Don't play coy with me. You sat beside me wearing that tight shirt showing off your tits. It's not fair to be playing with a man's mind like that." As he said this, his hand went to her cheek and then ran down her neck, eventually grazing then holding her left breast.

"I wasn't! I swear. Just let me go!"

"I don't think so. Now Carol, didn't you ever learn it's not nice to be a cock-tease?"

She didn't have the opportunity to get out a reply or even a yell. Suddenly his hand was over her mouth, and he was dragging her towards a shed behind a run-down house. She struggled but was losing the fight. Doug didn't appreciate her fighting back. When she was able to scratch his face with her fingernails, he became even more violent. One, two punches to her face. Her shirt ripped. Her snap on her jeans being unfastened, her pants were yanked down partially around her thighs. That was it for her. She kicked him square in the balls with the toe of her treasured boots. He cupped himself, but her attempt at escape was thwarted by the position of her pants. She fell flat on her face. The last thing she remembered was a violent kick being delivered to her head.

Carol briefly opened her eyes after a few moments. It was long enough to register the two men hovering over her. New fear struck her in such an overwhelming wave, that she passed back out. It would be quite a while before she woke up again. She never heard the two men talking to her. She never heard one of them tell the other to call 911.