Trigger warning: this chapter deals with sexual assault/rape
Try to be like the turtle - at ease in your own shell.
-Bill Copeland
The big grandfather clock struck eleven. On cue, Rowan came running out of her room as she put an earring through her ear. Tonight, we're going to a New Year's party at one of PJ's friend's house.
"Are you ready?" I asked. "PJ's going to be here any minute."
A few minutes later, PJ arrived. I happily pranced over to the door and opened it, his wonderful face greeting me. He asked us if we're ready to go before we followed him out of the building and to PJ's car.
Rowan went and got us both something to drink and then ditched us to go "hang out" with another friend.
"I'll be back in a second," PJ said as he left me and went to the bathroom.
"Alicia?" said a familiar voice. "Alicia Deveaux?" I looked up from my bubbles in my drink to see an old classmate standing in front of me. Matthew, I think. He was always the weird one.
"Hey, Matthew," I said. "How have you been?"
"I'm alright. I go to school here. What brings you to London?"
Thankfully, PJ showed up right on time and took me away before I could answer.
As the clock inched towards the twelve, everyone gathered around the huge plasma TV in the living room to watch the ball drop. The clock chimed and everyone started shouting, cheering, and throwing confetti around.
"I'm getting tired," PJ said half an hour later.
"So go to bed," I said, moving a curly lock of hair out of his face. "I'll be fine. I have my phone and Rowan's here. She'll be here if I need anything."
"Okay..." he said warily as I walked him to his car. "Be safe, okay?"
"I will."
"I'm serious. Please, be careful. Don't walk home alone. If you need a ride, just call me and I'll come get you. Promise me you won't walk home alone."
"I promise I won't walk home alone," I sighed. He gave me a hug and a kiss, got into his car, and drove away.
I waltzed back into the house and partied. I hadn't even realized how much time had passed.
First, the blurry vision came. I brushed it off at first as just being slightly tipsy. Then, it dawned on me that I only had two drinks that entire night. Being drunk would be near impossible. Next, the tiredness and the light-headedness followed by the nausea. Breathing started getting harder and harder.
I started crying and rummaging around in my bag for my phone.
Thankfully, Matthew came along. I told him I felt like I was going to die and he said he'd get me help.
Then, I lost consciousness.
By the time I came to, I realized I wasn't in a hospital or at home or even anywhere I recognized. My vision was still out of focus but it had cleared up a lot. I could hear Teenage Dream by Katy Perry playing in the background.
A blurry outline of a person appeared out of the corner of my eye. At first, I thought it was PJ but then the person started speaking.
"You're awake!" he said. I instantly recognized it as Matthew's voice.
I still couldn't see much. The most I could make out was a large flesh-coloured blob moving towards me.
I want to die.
When he was finished, he walked out of the room without another word. The front door closed loudly a few seconds later.
Despite the tiredness, I managed to fight it. I quickly got up off the bed and left through the fire escape without any of my belongings. Even though my vision's still extremely blurry and stability is difficult, I managed to make it to the alien street even after tripping on the last step and crashing to the ground. As the blood trickled down my forehead, I just started following streets until I came to a main road.
I just started running.
I ran until my chest burned from lack of oxygen.
I ran until the soles of my feet began to bleed.
I ran until I thought I could forget what happened.
I just kept running and running and running…
Why would I let this happen to me?
After a lifetime of running, I finally reached my building. I collapsed onto the floor in tears. There on the counter, I saw my phone.
"Help me, PJ. I've been raped."