I had no idea that tonight was about to be the worst night of my life.

I had just finished a late shift at the vet clinic, after being on call, and was ready to go home. More than ready. I was nearly asleep on my feet after the long day of appointments and emergencies, but I still had to make it to my apartment. Fresh out of vet school, I couldn't yet afford my own car, and I was forced to pray that the city bus still ran at 9 at night.

After locking the front doors of the clinic, I placed my keys between my knuckles and prepared to run a block to catch the bus. I had forgotten my hoodie, which would have helped mask my feminine appearance, and kept me safe from the nighttime creeps. I am naturally voluptuous, so I get too much attention, and also I have to work out often to keep my stomach at least relatively flat. Relatively.

I jogged down the sidewalk, careful to stay under the street lamps and watched every dark corner. As I rounded a turn, I ran right into someone, smacking my nose on his collar bone, and nearly fell over.

"Hey, pretty girl, you okay?" the voice was low. I glanced up at him, eyes watering from the pain. He was tall, and wore a hooded sweater. He leered down at me. I felt my throat beginning to tighten.

I nodded and moved to go around him. He immediately blocked my path.

"Where ya going?" he asked mockingly, "I think you owe me something for running into me."

I felt adrenaline pour white-hot into my veins, sending my heart pounding , and I gripped my keys tighter between my fingers.

"Move." I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. He laughed and grabbed my arm, hard.

"Why don't we—" he was cut off as I plunged my keys into his stomach. He let go and I ran. I heard him retch and then shout,

"You bitch!"

I ran. I needed to find someone. A shop. A taxi. A stranger. Anyone! I rounded another corner, crying with fear. I could hear my shoes slapping against the sidewalk, shockingly loud. Until, I realized, that wasn't me. I glanced behind and the man was rushing after me, getting closer!

I screamed as loud as I could. I was loosing momentum. Suddenly, a fist grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me back off my feet. He slammed me into a wall.

The pain took all of my hearing and vision. I slumped, unable to move, and then fell to the ground. I could feel the pavement moving under my cheek and a grip on my wrist. My eyes fluttered open for a moment before closing, but I could see a blurry brick wall and a trashcan as I was pulled.

Alley. I realized slowly, and a shock of fear jolted through me. I tried to struggle, but my arms were so heavy!

Suddenly, my wrist was dropped and then I heard a rip of fabric. My shirt. The air was cold on my skin. I heard the jingle of a belt. I didn't know if it was mine. I felt fingers underneath the fabric of my underwear.

Almost immediately, those finger were yanked away.. I heard shouting. The grunt of pain and the impact of fists on a body. Then a loud crack followed by a scream.

"—police!" a voice said, clearer now. I heard the scrape of shoes on the ground near my shoulder.

"—me?" the voice said. I frowned lightly, "Can you hear me?" the voice was distant and faint, but getting clearer.

My eyelids fluttered as I tried to open them again. A pale glob appeared in front of me. I groaned.

"Where's the ambulance?!" the glob shouted. Then I realized it wasn't a glob. It was a guy. I immediately struggled to move away, trying to flip over and get my hand underneath me. But, everything was so heavy and so slow.

"Don't." I forced the word out.

"I won't." he said, "But, don't move. You hit your head."

I tried to move again, but I was so tired. I felt a wooly fabric touch my skin, over my stomach and chest. I didn't realize I had been so cold.

"Steve!" the man shouted, "We need to get her to the hospital!"

"Don't move her. Her neck or head could be injured. Keep her warm; the ambulance is coming. I've got a hold of the guy." the second voice was younger than the first, and softer.

I felt a hand touch mine, and I groaned,

"You're safe." the man said, "Stay still. No one's going to hurt you." I felt his fingers squeeze mine, and slowly, I squeezed back.

"Bruce, the ambulance is around the corner. Is she covered?" the second guy explained.

"Yes, she's got my sweater." he paused and squeezed my fingers again, "Honey, can you hear me?"

I let out a whimper and squeezed his hand back.

I was so tired. I tried to open my eyes, but they were so heavy. I needed…to stay…awake…

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