Carla slowly edged forward, pulling her legs round in front of her and sitting on the top step. Frank wasn't moving, he didn't appear to be breathing either but she really wasn't close enough to tell. Michelle stood beside her, frozen to the spot and in shock as to what had just happened. She stared down at Frank just as Carla was and thinking exactly the same.
Carla knew they had to act fast, do something before someone came into the factory and caught them in this compromising position. She slowly started to slide herself down the steps, one by one, her bottom bumping against the metal of each one. She was almost at the bottom when Michelle caught sight of her and shouted out to her to stop.
Carla ignored Michelle's warning, she needed to know if he was dead or not. Perched on the bottom step Carla reached her hand out as steadily as she could and placed her fingers gently onto Frank's neck to search for a pulse. His skin was cold and she was struggling to find anything. It was looking as though he was finally gone. Retreating back Carla pulled her arm slowly back to her body as Michelle watched from the top step of the landing. She turned to look up at her friend as she rested her hand on her chest and took a deep breath.
Michelle wasn't looking down at Carla, her eyes were focused just passed her at the figure of Frank's lifeless on the factory floor. Just because Frank wasn't moving didn't mean he was defeated, she was watching with such intensity convinced that at any second he would move. Carla, slowly stood up and took her first step back up the staircase when Michelle noticed movement from behind her. Her jaw dropped and she meant to speak out but words failed her.
Just behind Carla, Frank twitched. At the sight of Michelle Carla stopped and gave her a look of confusion. What on earth was wrong? Michelle wished the words would come out, Carla was in danger again and she was failing her. Carla smiled up at her, thinking it was just the effect the shock was having on her and took the next step.
That's when she felt something wrap around her suspended ankle as she tried to make the step. Carla turned and looked down to see what was causing the restriction only to see Frank. He was sprawled across the staircase, one hand supporting his weight and the other now firmly wrapped around her ankle. In a frenzy of panic she kicked, trying to shake off his grip but he managed to disrupt her balance causing her to fall back and tumble down onto the factory floor. He crawled on top of her, feeling triumphant in his defeat of her yet again. He was stronger than she gave him credit for.
In a panic herself Michelle was useless, trying desperately to come to terms with the reality of what she was seeing. It was up to her again to save Carla. Looking around the landing for something she could use for defence. Carla was clawing away at Frank's face and body, determined now not to let him hurt her. He moaned each time her nails caught him and ripped at his skin but she wasn't going to make this easy for him, she had to fight.
Michelle noticed that there was a bottle of whisky placed on the side, she grabbed it and smashed it against the railing, spilling the contents on the floor of the landing where it dripped through the little holes of the metal net effect floor. Now in her hand she held the bottle neck with a jagged edge where she had broken it. A weapon in her hand. She ran down the stairs as fast as her feet would carry her to try and rescue Carla from being attacked.
On the floor Carla struggled against Frank, still desperately trying to stop him from completing his goal of raping her for a second time. As she fought him he was running out of breath, turning red and starting to feel exhausted. Why was she putting up a fight, surely she knew she couldn't win. Her hair covered her face as they scrapped, she could only see flashes of him now as they thrashed around frantically on the floor, her feet kicking awkwardly and she was panting heavily feeling exhausted herself.
Michelle hovered over them, her rage building as she waited for the opportune moment to catch him so that she wouldn't hurt Carla. She raised her hand high, the glass of the bottle glinting in the dim light when it caught it, she was poised and ready. Frank leant down to kiss Carla, pinning her down, his weight crushing her. Carla flung her head to one side so as not to receive his malicious affections and caught sight of Michelle standing over them.
She gasped in fright and shook her head in warning for Michelle not to do it but when Frank's hand slipped into her leggings and started inappropriately groping her as he tried to attack her further Carla screamed. Michelle couldn't wait a second longer, he would be physically abusing her as a next stop if she didn't stop him now. Carla was red hot and flustered as a result of her attack, hot tears streaming down her cheeks and she gasped for breath's having given up struggling because she just didn't have the energy to fight back any more.
Frank laughed, deep and evilly thinking he had once again defeated her and won this round. It was a triumph until Michelle from above hit him hard with the jagged bottle and knocked him to the ground beside Carla.
"No" screamed Carla anticipating her friends next murderous move but it was too late. Michelle had already lunged the self made weapon deep into Frank's chest and had managed to get it lodged there. Her hands were still wrapped firmly around the bottle as he choked gasping for air. His body in shock as blood slowly crept through the material of his shirt. Michelle was scowling at him, no regrets for her actions and heartlessly then ripped the bottle from his body. The second she did blood flooded from the wound now soaking the material of his shirt and Frank fell back onto the floor. His body fitted momentarily and he struggled to breathe before falling back lifelessly.
Michelle was sure this time as she stared at him that she'd killed him, he was definitely dead and there was no coming back from it this time. His blood was on her hands, literally and she knew she would be found guilty. It had been her intention this time to kill him in cold blood and she was proud of her achievement. Dropping the bottle beside him, slightly shocked that she had managed to complete her goal with so little struggle and no fight Michelle dashed to Carla to pick her up from where she lay.
She offered out her blood covered hand to Carla, who took it and allowed Michelle to hoist her up on her feet. She looked over to Frank, his wide glazed eyes seemed to be staring at them both. It was very disturbing. Where Michelle had her eyes fixed Carla couldn't look a second longer she turned and threw herself at Michelle, who took her in an embrace and held her tight. There was an eerie silence now in the dark factory as they stood silently both mulling over the consequences silently in their heads. What to do now?