Chapter Three

I was breathing hard. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. My would-be rapist was now passed out on the floor and this dark stranger had saved me.

I let out a long steadying breath and ran my fingers through my hair. Ouch? My throat was sore and so were my arms. That bastard!

The stranger was staring at me. I couldn't think what to say. What did you say when you'd been attacked then rescued in the weirdest way.

I stared at the unconscious lump on the floor again, before finally bursting into very noisy sobs and slumping to the floor.

I groped around for my top and pulled it on unconsciously. I rocked there for a few minutes, the silence eating away seconds of my distress.

The stranger stared at me shocked. He seemed confused and shifted about uncomfortable.

"What ails you?" He asked carefully "He cannot hurt you any longer." He indicated to the sleeping Dickhead.

"Nothing ….oh nothing... Just thank you thank you so much. He would have rapped me and then killed me but then you came and then everything was okay, even though you did nothing at first but then I screamed at you and then you….and then you stopped him and just thank you thank you thank you" I rambled as I sat there shaking on the floor relief, happiness heart wrenching gratitude rushing all around me al at once. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Oh heck I wanted to do both. Sob, sob, laugh, laugh! Dark and Mysterious didn't say anything to my mad grateful rantings, just continued to gawp bewildered by my sudden explosion of emotion.

"Ermm…you are welcome my lady. I will take my leave now. Thank you." He coughed quietly, turned away and then he was gone.

"Huh?" I'd been hugging my knees and in the two second it took me to raise my head he was nowhere to be seen.

I stared around the alley hoping that he was still in the shadows but no... He was truly and utterly gone!

Okay now that was weird. But with another look at Dickhead still slumped in the corner, I decided that I didn't bloody care why, or how he'd suddenly vanished. I just want to get the Hell out of that alley.

Slowly standing up and sniffing, I took a few small shaky steps back toward the street. My legs felt like putty and they were seriously shaking. I saw the flashing lights of the club ahead and I think that was when shock took over.

Waves came plummeting up through my body, and that's when I ran sobbing and stumbling toward the crowd. To where I knew my friends would hug me and make me feel safe again.

There was a crowd of people coming out of the club and to my absolute delight there was Leo. I could see him just checking out his coat and all I could think about was him; putting his arms around me in one of his big warm bear hugs.

"Leo!" I yelled a little frantically. He looked up and waved then froze at the sight of me. Hurriedly he began pushing his way thought the crowd but there were so many people that he didn't get very far.

I started to feel very vulnerable in such a wide-open space, where anyone could grab me, and as I got to the entrance to the club a hand came out and latched on to my arm.

I screamed and tried to pull away. It was only George one of the bouncers but in my panicked post traumatic stressed out body I was still on flight reflex.

I looked up at George, he was still holding on to my arm and giving me the strangest look, but all I could see when I stared at him was Dickhead's malicious little grin and wicked eyes.

George must have realised that I was frightened and let go immediately but I'd been puling back so hard that I went stumbling back into the street.

I heard Leo shout "Lissy?!" over the crowd as I tripped (backwards) over the curb and toppled over. Blasted High Heels I was definitely going to give them to Leo now!

I landed right on my arse, in a cold puddle, in the middle of the lay-by the taxis used. I felt humiliated and stupid and cold! Sniffing horribly I got up and turned around just in time to see a pair of bright lights head straight towards me and hear Leo screech "LISSY LOOK OUT!"

I remember putting my hands up to shield my face... Yeah like what good would that do me? But the Mini bus did hit me!

I felt a great pain rip through my chest, and then I was flying backwards and crashing through a sheet of bus shelter glass. I must have whacked my head incredibly hard because I blacked out pretty quick, but not before seeing the broken glass showering down upon me like tiny crystal stars.

Of course I don't know what the Hell happened next… Cos lets face it I'd just been knocked unconscious by a bloody Minibus driver. But here's how I believe it went….

"Oh my god Lissy, are you okay?" Leo was frantically kneeling beside me waving his hands about in that gay mans' fashion when they don't know what to do.

The minibus driver came puffing up behind him and crouched down too. "Shit man I just couldn't brake in time, she was too close."

In fact my lifeless body was now drawing a bit of a crowd it seemed as people came swarming over to get a good look at a bloody (I use this in the descriptive sense) road accident.

"Someone call an ambulance!" Taz shouted as she pushed her way through the crowd to also knee before me.

That's it…Thanks Taz, I knew you wouldn't panic.

Someone ran back into the club to report that there had been an accident and that they needed an ambulance pretty darn quick.

Well needless to say the blue light and screeching siren where soon rushing along at illegal speed to help my poor damaged body. The paramedics jumped out along with a stretcher and a huge red bag and rushed to my side.

"Hello love can you hear me?" one of them said as he strapped a mask to my face and slipped a collar around my neck.

"I'm just putting a mask over your face, nothing to worry about!"

I don't know why they feel it appropriate to be so loud or condescending to their patients. I couldn't hear what he was telling me.

"What happened?" asked the woman paramedic, checking to see if anyone else was hurt.

Taz was holding Leo tight to stop him shaking, as he relayed what he'd seen as he came out of the club.

"…then she just fell off the curb and stumbled in to the road. The minivan was just driving along when she stood up. He hit her and she went through the glass..." He pointed to where I was lying surrounded by glass.

The woman nodded sympathetically but Leo couldn't stop talking. "She looked so frightened… I'd never seen her like that before. The last time I saw her she was heading outside with Warren from the club…. Oh my god I hope he didn't attack her or anything! I'd never forgive my self!" He puts his hand up to his mouth and closed his eyes as tears start to flow.

Awww Leo, I think I love you even more now.

"Don't worry she's in good hands now. She'll be fine." The paramedic places a soothing hand on his arm and gives him a gentle squeeze.

"Are you friends or relatives? She asks "because we'll have to contact her parents."

"We're friends" answers Taz, as Leo is crying noisily on her shoulder.

"Well call them as soon as we get to the Hospital. They live in Dorset so it'll take them a while to get here."

The paramedic nods and writes it on her chart. "Okay you can both come to the hospital but only one of you can fit in the ambulance."

Taz and Leo look at each other, but Taz firmly pushes Leo forward. "You go Leo; I'll go back and get the car. I'll meet you there." He nods solemnly and after a quick hug he follows the paramedic back to the waiting vehicle.

Meanwhile, I've been prodded and poked, strapped, wrapped and blanketed on a stretcher. I have an I.V in my arm and a huge red block thing on my head to keep it from lolling about.

Also by now the Police have arrived and are interviewing the Driver. They are asking him loads of questions and most of the crowed now too is being harassed, but thankfully are moving away.

Thank God I wasn't awake is all I can say. How embarrassing!

I'm then lifted into the ambulance and carted away to the nearest hospital with Leo in tow.