Apologize for the wait for this new chapter, RL is getting in the way. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
My gratitude to Jammequin for encouraging me to keep writing and to my wonderful beta heatherpeters for being amazing.
*** I do not own the Blacklist or any of its characters. ***
It was 2 am, and the club was packed with a dancefloor full of swinging bodies.
Loud RnB music was blasting through the speakers and a DJ was calling the patrons to put their hands up and raise the roof.
It was the Friday before the week long Thanksgiving break and Samar and Liz had decided to go out clubbing, an idea they seemingly shared with thousands of other college students in the city.
Samar was going to go straight to JFK airport from the club since her flight to Israel left early in the morning. She had already decided to just sleep on the plane instead of in her own bed. Both girls were so excited they were finally done with their classes and they wanted to have fun for as long as they could. Sleeping wasn't part of the plan for tonight.
"Let's grab another drink," Samar said, "Plus I really need to sit down for a second, these new shoes are killing me." They both managed to crawl their way through the crowd towards the bar and, by some miracle, found two empty bar stools. "Two Chardonnays please," Liz motioned towards the bartender and sighed when she finally sat down.
"Wow, it feels great to sit down," Liz said. "I can't believe we have been dancing for four hours without a break. So, are you excited about your trip?"
"Sure," Samar said, "I'm looking forward to seeing some of my friends again, but I'm not sure how I feel about seeing my ex-boyfriend Levi. But how about you, are you excited about spending Thanksgiving with Mr Reddington?"
"You need to tell me, Liz, what is going on with you two? You always tell me everything, but since you have been spending so much time with Reddington, you haven't spilled anything. Don't tell me you're falling for him?
You do realize having a relationship with a professor can jeopardize your chances of graduating and getting into Quantico?"
Liz looked at her friend and smiled, "Trust me, nothing is going on. He is just helping me with my thesis and he didn't want me to be alone on Thanksgiving.
"You have nothing to worry about. Nothing will stop me from going to the FBI, and definitely not Reddington."
"Well, I hope you are right," Samar said. "You wanna go back out there? I love this song. Come on."
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Two hours later, Samar received a text notifying her that her limo was waiting in front of the club to take her to the airport. "I need to go; I don't want to keep the driver waiting. Do you want a ride to your apartment?"
"No, that's ok, I can take a cab," Liz replied and walked her friend towards the exit.
They grabbed their coats and started saying their goodbyes. "Are you sure you don't just want a ride? It's really no problem".
"You know what," Liz said. "I could use some fresh air. All that dancing and all those crowds, I just want to walk a bit, take in some air and then grab a cab later. You go ahead, have a safe flight, and enjoy your vacation. I will see you in a week.
Happy Thanksgiving."
"OK Lizzie," Samar said as she hugged her friend goodbye, "text me when you get home."
"Of course I will. Have a good time!"
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Elizabeth started walking towards Broadway. She wanted to walk a few blocks, clear her head and then just flag a cab. It was cold outside, and she could feel her body cooling down after being inside the hot club all night. She put her hands inside her pockets and started picking up speed.
Maybe I should have just gotten that ride, she thought.
What happened next was all a blur, since it happened so fast. All of a sudden she felt a pair of hands grab her and pull her into an alley. By the time she realized what happened and tried to scream, a hand at her mouth had her making a muffled sound. She felt the other hand tug at her hair and pull her behind a garbage dumpster. She tried to punch whoever it was, but before she could pull her thoughts together, she felt her head hit the metal of the dumpster.
"So Lizzie, I found you again," the voice said in a creepy manner. "Did you really think you could move to New York and get away from me? You know we belong together."
"Tom?" Elizabeth whispered. Her head was thumping from the hit and she wasn't sure she was hearing right. She felt blood dripping from her head.
"In the flesh, I know you missed me," he answered. "How come you never respond to my calls or my emails? You made me look all over for you and travel all the way out here."
"Are you insane?" Elizabeth cried out. "What is wrong with you? Do you know I could have you arrested for attacking me like that? Why would you even think for a second I would miss you? There is a reason I moved here."
"But Liz, your life is with me. We were meant to be together. I have never stopped loving you."
"Loving me?" Elizabeth laughed. "You cheated on me at least 2 times, with Gina and Jolene, back in high school. God only knows how many other times you cheated on me. You're even more awful than I thought, I can't believe you followed me here after all these years. Can't you just move on? I don't want you. Just get that in your head and leave me alone."
She got up and tried to walk away back into the street. Tom grabbed her and pushed her back into the wall. "No," he yelled, "we're going to do this my way. You're coming back home with me."
"The hell I am," Liz yelled, "just leave me the fuck alone." With that, she felt a fist hit her head, she fell to the floor as he kicked her repeatedly in the stomach and all over her body.
"Fine; rot in hell," she heard Tom say before she passed out.
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Two strong arms lifted her up. She tried to open her eyes but was in too much pain. "Put her in the car and take her to the Village," she could barely make out one of the voices say.
"Dial Star 77; get the doctor and nurse to meet us at the house. Tell them to hurry; she's been badly hurt."
She sensed a warm car, leather seats and a familiar scent.
She was unable to open her eyes or speak. Where were they going?
A few minutes later she felt the car stop and those same two strong arms lifted her up again. Then a door opened.
"Raymond, we arrived there too late. He was gone before we reached her."
"Take her upstairs to the main bedroom, I'll be right up. Mr. Kaplan is on her way."
TBC