Chapter Thirteen
Neela had no idea how long she'd be unconscious for when she awoke in a dark room with a pounding headache. She concluded that it was either early evening or just before dawn, hoping for the latter. Blinking back tears, she tried to stand but was greeted by a sharp pain shooting up her right leg and fell back down. Not recognizing where she was, she tried not to panic. Collecting all her strength she could muster, Neela did the one thing she knew she didn't want to do but had to.
"Tony? Where are you, Tony?" She called out into the dark.
"Ahhh, you're awake." She squinted as a door was opened, filling the room with sunlight.
"Must be later afternoon… sun is setting." She thought. "What do you want, Tony?"
"Why, you, of course. Didn't know you that?"
"Yeah." Neela replied. "Where are we?"
"Now, why would I tell you that?" Was his response.
Neela didn't respond, just slid further away from him.
"You know, I talked to Abby yesterday."
"No, you didn't, you bastard." She spat back angrily. "You hurt her. You bloody raped her."
"Oh? Is that what she said?"
"Yes and don't waste your breath trying to tell me otherwise."
"You know, she's good but she's got nothing on you." He continued, ignoring her comment.
"Bastard." Neela forced herself to stand up. "You have no right to say anything about her."
"I really don't think you're in any position to be telling me what to do." By now, Tony was only inches away from Neela.
Not missing a beat, Neela brought her hand up and slapped him.
Tony was shocked but didn't hesitate to retaliate and Neela quickly found herself pinned against the wall, her hands held above her head.
"That was not nice at all, Mayday."
"Neither are you." Neela responded, trying to be strong but the pain was becoming unbearable.
Tony didn't say anything but there was no mistaking his rage.
After receiving multiple blows to the abdomen, Neela's legs finally gave out and Tony dropped her to the ground, straddling her waist. Neela wouldn't give up without a fight, though. That was one thing living with Ray had taught her. She continued to struggle underneath him, not letting him get anywhere.
Obviously frustrated, Tony let go of her hands and again, his fist connected with her stomach.
Crying out in pain at the sound of her ribs cracking, Neela clutched her stomach, still fighting back tears and did the only thing she could think of. She gathered all of her strength and brought her knee up, quick and hard.
"Shit, Neela!" Tony yelled, rolling off her in pain.
Using this to her advantage, Neela forced herself to get up. She, somehow, managed to find her way to the door and out onto the street. It was getting dark and she had no idea where she was. Against her better judgment, Neela took off running, her days spend at the gym with Abby were finally paying off. She could hear Tony yelling behind her but didn't slow down or look back .She just kept running into the night.