This chapter contains a scene of rape, which is the reason for the M rating. All other story content from here on out is rated T.

Chapter 3

Hospital room… July 22

The following day, July 22, Good lord, was it already almost August?, the policeman returned to my room as he said he would. I found I couldn't continue the day before. It was just too exhausting. Speaking of the memory felt so much like actually being there that I had to explain it in sections.

"Ms. Daae?" The man spoke as if I had lost my hearing during the traumatic event, as well as many other things..

"Yes sir?" I asked to let him know I wasn't deaf.

"If it's not too strenuous for you, I would like it if you would continue where we left off... Do you remember-?"

"Yes, I remember. Of course I will continue. I'll do whatever it takes to catch him."

--

Flashback to… July 15

I continued to run, although I knew it was probably hopeless. He was gaining on me. I knew this because I could hear the crackling of leaves getting closer.

Crazy wishes were forming in my brain. I wish I could fly! I wish I could fly far away from here! No, I wish I were invisible! Please God, make me disappear! The more I thought on my wishes, the slower my pace became due to lack of concentration. He was very close now…

Suddenly, my hair was yanked viciously from behind. I screamed louder than ever as I lost balance and fell to the ground. My clothes were pulled from the grasp of my right hand, and I looked up into the masked face of my kidnapper and, most likely, soon-to-be murderer.

I was left momentarily paralyzed from shock as I watched him place a finger to his lips indicating a command of silence. It was the first human act I had witnessed and, somehow, it terrified me worse than anything as of yet.

Then, I watched through clouded eyes as he took hold of the shirt I had worn previously and brought it towards my face. In a matter of moments, I was no longer able to see. He had blindfolded me!

I screamed and thrashed my limbs about violently in a desperate attempt at self defense. "Stop! Please stop!"

Before I could continue with my pitiful cries, my arms and legs were stilled and crushed by the weight of his body, and I felt his lips upon my own.

I tried to jerk my head away, but, as fate would have it, his lips were firm and demanding. Although I was most certainly aware of what he planned to do, it didn't make the situation any less disgusting. The demented pervert was trying to arouse himself before raping me.

As a sick growl of unwillingness escaped my throat, he brought his mouth from mine only to replace it with my own right hand that he was holding.

My overwhelming terror was causing a strange dizziness to take over, and I was barely able to hear the sound of his belt and pants being removed.

I shrieked the best I could into the hand covering my mouth and made my last frantic attempt to flee. Of course, it was to no advantage whatsoever, so I proceeded to take the deepest breaths I could manage. My virgin body wasn't ready for this, but there was no way out. I closed my blindfolded eyes tightly, and my whole body tensed in fear.

Then, without any warning, the worst pain I had ever known overtook my body. My entire lower body was throbbing in pain! My eyes widened to the size of golf balls as, it seemed, he tore an ungodly hole into me. It felt like I would surely die. There was absolutely no way this kind of pain was curable. I would bleed to death! I just knew it!

Much to my surprise, the pain lessened slightly as he slowly left my insides. My screams faded briefly, but the key word was 'briefly'. The pain returned ten-fold as he plunged back into my depths. Over and over again it came. My poor body would never be the same. Deeper and deeper… Harder and harder…

I felt so controlled, so violated, and so weak. Tears ran mercilessly down my cheeks as I endured the pain…

Time passed, and I begged for him to just be done with it already! Finally, I heard a strange sort of groan escape him, which meant... He had completed the act.. Seconds later, he was out. He was finally out! And, on top of that, his hand let go of my own! Although my body felt like it was literally on the verge of death, I refused to let this moment of freedom be put to waste.

I quickly removed the blindfold from my eyes and let my hand drop to the ground. I had a small, albeit pretty hopeless plan. Since this was the woods we were in, there just had to be sticks and stones on the ground. My hand stopped on something that was hard, solid, and rough. Could it be? Could it actually be? A rock?

In one quick and seemingly glorious moment of strength, I crashed the rock against the side of his head, which was inches above my own. I heard a sickening crunch, and he fell to the side, completely off my weak body.

I wanted to run! Oh, how I wanted to get away from him! But, that was the last bit of strength I possessed. I couldn't move.. Lord, I could barely breathe! An odd sigh escaped my lips, and I fell into a state of deep corpse-like sleep.

--

Hospital room…

I was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably by then. Explaining it made it feel like it was happening all over again! The policeman was forced to say soothing things and pat my shoulder to try to calm me. When that didn't work, a nurse had to come in. She transmitted something into my IV and mouthed "twenty minutes" to the policeman before leaving the room. Almost immediately, I was calm again. "I- I'm sorry.. It just- it was so horrible.."

"It's ok, Christine." It was the first time he had addressed me by my first name. I could tell he was being sincere. "I am so sorry for all of this."

"Um," I managed, trying to gather my thoughts. "Let me continue. The sooner I say this, the sooner you can find him." He nodded, and I continued.

--

Flashback to… July 16

When I awoke, it was daytime. That either meant I hadn't slept for long or it wasn't the same day. At first, my brain acted in slow motion, and I thought, just maybe, the whole thing was a nightmare. But then, why was I outside… in the woods… with blood everywhere… Blood… Pain then came into focus full force. Oh God, it hurts.. I tried to sit up but found my lower body didn't want to cooperate.

Lower body… "Oh, God!" My pain was briefly forgotten as I turned my head from side to side looking for the masked man.

He was nowhere to be found.

Where could he be? I.. I hit him.. with a rock! I swear I heard something crack in his head! Was it not enough to.. to kill him? I guess not, since he's gone.. But, why would he leave me here? Oh no, what if he comes back?

The biggest question I had was, Why aren't I dead? I seriously did not think it was possible to survive what I had endured. Or, maybe, it wasn't that I didn't think I could be alive, it was that I didn't want to be alive. I wanted to be put out of my misery. I'm alone in the woods. There's no way I'll make it out. Sadly, I had lost the will to even try. I had already run from him once, and look where it got me!

Then, one oddly optimistic solution came to mind. Maybe he thinks I'm dead. I mean, I probably look like it. Maybe he figured I wouldn't survive his beating or him raping me, so he left my body to rot or be eaten by crows or something… Well, I proved him wrong! I'm not as weak as he thought!

I looked down at my disgusting naked form, and tears streamed down my cheeks. My optimism came crashing down. No, I am weak. Look what I allowed to happen to me.. I was so ashamed of myself.

Loss of blood had probably caused my complexion to pale tremendously, but I couldn't help but blush in humiliation. I had always thought this sort of thing would never happen to me, but I could no longer keep that promise… If only I had been stronger…

If I lived through this hell, I would always be full of regret. I'd never be the same again. No more innocence… The thought broke my heart. Do I really have a reason to live? Would anyone miss me?

A memory from childhood suddenly floated to the front of my mind...

"Daddy, will you tell me a bedtime story?" I was six years old, and my parents were still alive.

"Of course, little angel. Come, lay beside me," my father gently instructed. I scrambled onto my parents' bed and lay in between both my mother and father.

"Ah, your father is such a good storyteller, I think I might listen, too," Mom said with a grin.

I giggled and rested my head on my father's shoulder to listen intently. He told the story of a little girl named Lotte. He was always telling stories about her. This time, however, he added a character… the Angel of Music. This angel coached Lotte in her singing and watched over her. Little Lotte loved her angel very much.

I was so enamored by this fictional angel that I made my father include the character in every bedtime story up until I was eleven years old… up until the car crash…

Before he died, Daddy promised an Angel of Music would find me someday…

Of course, my angel had yet to find me. I needed him right now, more than ever, but he would not come. He was fake! Made up! A fictional character that died with my father. I couldn't muster the will to live by wishing for an angel… but, there was one thing to live for. Music. I needed and wanted to live for my music.

The future I had been dreaming of since I was little could still come to pass… but, only if I live! So, that was my anchor! I would, somehow, become my own Angel of Music and coach myself through this weary time. I will live!

I mentally gained the strength needed to stand and struggled to my feet using my right hand for support. Oh, how it hurt to move! I couldn't even fully close my legs. The evidence that a man had opened them was very obvious. And, to think, I considered the clothes I wore to the club slutty! I feel like the trashiest person alive right now! Using my right hand, once again, I put on my clothes, which were lying on the ground. I was sick of being naked…

Shuddering at the thought of the masked man returning and stripping me once more, I began walking as quickly as my lower body would allow. There's no way in hell I will be caught again!

--

Hospital room…

"I am sorry, Ms. Daae, but we must stop for now. I will have to come back tomorrow," the policeman said while standing. "I know I have told you this before, but you really are doing well. From what I have heard, you are a remarkable lady."

For once, I wasn't at all ready to stop speaking. I was just getting to the good part of the story! Well, maybe not the 'good' part… What I had yet to say certainly was strange, though! Actually, I was still very confused by it…

The policeman, Mr. Norris, really was being so nice. "It's ok. We'll just continue tomorrow."

"Yes, tomorrow."

"Have a good night, Mr. Norris."

He briefly looked at me, and I could see the pity in his eyes. I had never appreciated people feeling sorry for me, but I could understand now. "You too, Ms. Daae."

With that, he left the room. I rested my head more comfortably against my pillow and closed my eyes to try to sleep. Every so often, though, I would open them to check my surroundings. I'll never be able to trust again, will I?