Arizona

After a 16-hour shift, I am more than ready to crash out in my bed. I walk quickly towards my car, rifling through the junk in my handbag in hope of finding the car keys. A-ha! Got them. I unlock the car and put all my stuff in the passenger seat, feeling relieved to have unloaded the extra weight.

The second I close the door, I feel a huge hand surround my mouth. Just as quickly, an arm is wrapped around my torso and binds me against my will. What the hell is going on? I feel my breathing quicken as I start to panic. Someone I don't know has hold of me and I can't move.

"I've been watching you..." a voice says quietly. It's male, deep and sends shivers down my spine. "The way you... present yourself, the way you talk, the way you move... it fascinates me. You're quite stunning... a temptress, one might say..." He tightens his grip on the bottom half of my face and I unwillingly let out a muffled whimper. "We're going to have some fun," the voice continues. I feel sick to my stomach. I need to get away. With all my might, I elbow him in the stomach and he lets go enough for me to turn around and kick him in the crotch. Putting all my weight onto my prosthetic leg was not a good idea. I fall to the floor and look up at my attacker in the dark. I recognise him but I don't know where from. He's quick to respond, picking me up by the hair at the nape of my neck and throwing me into my car window. My head floats for a few seconds. I feel warm liquid trickle down from my cheek and forehead. He grabs me again, in the same way as before. I summon all my strength to try and struggle out of his grasp, but to no avail. "Goodnight, Princess..." he says before I feel a sharp prick pierce the skin by my collar bone. I gasp for air as I feel an unwelcome substance invade my body.

"HEY... HEY!" It's a distant female voice this time. I'm dropped to the floor and stay flat on my back. I'm in total darkness. My head is woozy and I can't open my eyes. I almost slip away completely, until something brings me back.

"Arizona?! Arizona?! Can you hear me?" My face is this time surrounded by gentle, caring hands. I try to open my eyes to look at my rescuer but I can't...

Amelia

It's the middle of the night, and I'm awoken by an outlandish cry. I move my body to face the source; it's Arizona, writhing around in pain. I think she's still half-asleep. Before I even realise what I'm doing, I pull her towards me and hold her close. Her skin is hot to touch and she is sweating profusely. I plump some pillows up and move her so she's in a half-sitting up position. I run to the bathroom, and drench a face cloth with cold water. I rush back in and drape it across her forehead. I open the French doors that look out onto the back yard to let in as much air as possible. All of a sudden, her eyes are open. She looks completely lost. Her breathing is too quick.

"Hey," I say it gently, but she is still startled. I sit on the edge of the bed and take her hand. I watch as the scared glint in her eye turn to one of realisation. "It was just a dream," I whisper. I take the cloth from off her forehead and wipe it carefully down each cheek before placing it on the bedside table.

"The attack... I dreamt about the attack!" Her breathing is still quick and her eyes are streaming. "I remembered stuff I'd forgotten," she says breathlessly. "He's been following me!"

"Shh, you're safe now," I keep her hand in mine and repeat myself. "You're safe now." I stall as I think about what she's just said. He's been following her? Like a stalker?

"Did they get him?" She asks, weakly. "Please tell me they got him," she begs. The look of pure desperation on her face almost makes me say "yes", but I can't lie to her.

"You don't have to worry about that right now," I say as calmly as I can, choosing to avoid a direct answer. "You need to focus on getting better."

"They didn't, did they?" I grit my teeth and close my eyes not wanting to tell her. I shake my head slightly and I hear her erratic breathing turn into uncontrollable sobs. Between the side effects from the drugs and the emotional torment, she is a broken woman. I wrap my arms around her, and I feel her return the embrace, arms tightly around my neck. I let her cry; I don't want her to, but I let her. Her body continues to jolt violently. She breaks the embrace and throws her body over the side of the bed. She expels the contents of her stomach, luckily into the bucket I'd placed there earlier. I think she's having a panic attack. I help her sit up again. I put one hand on her shoulder and one hand on her knee. Her breathing won't return to normal.

"Tell me what you need," I look into her eyes, trying to reassure her that I will do whatever I can to ease this.

"I-I don't know..." she blurts out. Her sobs are still loud and unruly. My eyes scan the room for ideas. I spot the iPod docking station. I move towards it and rapidly scroll artists, searching for something calming. Bon Iver - perfect. The most mellow band around. I press play and soothing tones start to play through the speaker.

Up with your turret
Aren't we just terrified?
Shale, screen your worry
from what you won't ever find

Rushing back towards the bed, I pick up the cold water I'd prepared earlier and help her sip it slowly. This reminds me that I also laid out more comfortable clothes for when she woke up. I practically tear her shirt off, hoping that the lack of any restricting material will make it easier for her to catch her breath. As I help her put the vest top on, I notice several bruises up and down her body. I swallow the lump that's formed in my throat and look back to her eyes.

I don't know if it's the music or the water or the change of clothing, but something is helping her. Eyes still wide, her breathing is settling. But, she's not going to sleep despite her exhaustion. Once I'm convinced she's composed enough, I crawl into bed next to her. I move our bodies so that we are both lying down. I spoon myself around her and use one of my hands to stroke her hair. I use my other hand to graze her arm with my fingertips.

We are silent. For a long time, we just stay like this. The sky starts to turn lighter before either one of us says anything.

"Amelia?" She whispers.

"I'm here," I confirm. "Are you okay?"

"The attacker... He-he said some things..." The next sentence she utters knots my stomach in a way I didn't think was possible. "I think he was trying to rape me."