Erin yawned as she got up from her stool. She'd been at Molly's for a few hours, but the day had ended well. The team had had an easy case that night, which ended early—a welcome change.
"Tired?" Hermann asked with a smile from across the counter. He took the beer bottle Erin had set down and tossed it in the garbage.
"Yeah, thanks, Chris," Erin said, putting on her jacket and pushing in her stool. "Get some rest, Linds, and be careful," Hermann advised.
The brunette nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's been quiet the last few days," she said before heading out of Molly's.
As Erin opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Kim and Atwater entering the bar. "Are you leaving already, Lindsay?" Atwater asked with a grin. "Yeah, I'm exhausted. See you two at work tomorrow," she replied with a smile.
"Okay, Erin," Kim said with a smile as she walked in. The older woman held the door open for the two younger officers to enter. "Bye," Erin said as she walked away from Molly's after letting a few people in.
The female detective wrapped her jacket around her, trying to shield herself from the icy winds. Winter's approach brought cold nights.
Erin shoved her hands into her jacket pocket to retrieve her car keys. She walked down the sidewalk towards her car, which was a few blocks away from Molly's. She couldn't find a decent parking spot near the bar due to the crowd, so she'd parked a little farther out.
Exhausted, Erin yearned for the comfort of her home and a warm shower before getting some sleep before work the next morning.
As Erin reached her car, she fumbled with her keys, her focus solely on unlocking the door. Unaware of the shadowy figure lurking behind her, she whispered, "Come on," to the car as it finally clicked open.
Just as she reached for the handle, a strong arm encircled her neck and something cold and hard pressed into her back.
"Come with me quietly," the man hissed in her ear, his grip tightening as Erin instinctively bit her lip.
"Back off, I'm a detective!" Erin warned, hoping her words would send the assailant fleeing. "I don't care," the man growled, his voice harsh and unforgiving.
Erin's grip on the handle tightened as she refused to give in to fear. "Don't resist me," the man sneered, pressing whatever object he held against her back with increased force.
The detective's eyes snapped shut as she slowly withdrew her hand from the car handle, slipping it into her pocket for her pepper spray. A yelp escaped her when her assailant's grip tightened around her neck.
"I wouldn't do that," he growled. "Come with me, or I'll drag you by your hair."
Erin weighed her options. Molly's was nearby, and her team and the firefighters were likely still there. She could cry for help, but she hesitated, unwilling to endanger innocent bystanders.
Taking a deep breath, Erin allowed the man to pull her into a secluded alley. Her heart pounded frantically as she realized the need to fight. Glancing around, she searched for an escape route.
"I'm going to let you go," the man hissed, releasing his hold. "Don't do anything stupid. If you do, I'll—"
Before he could complete his threat, Erin struck, delivering a swift punch to his face.
Erin spun around to face her assailant, but his face was concealed by black clothing. Only his piercing blue eyes were visible.
Inhaling deeply, Erin struck him in the face, forcing him to stumble backward. Seizing the opportunity, she attempted to flee toward Molly's, but she hesitated, unwilling to lead him to her friends.
"You worthless wench!" the man hissed, regaining his composure. His eyes held a murderous glint. "I'm going to enjoy this immensely!" He seized her arm, preventing her from escaping.
As Erin opened her mouth to cry out, the man shoved her violently against the brick wall behind her. Fists rained down on her stomach, eliciting whimpers of pain. Determined not to give him the satisfaction of hearing her screams, she endured the relentless assault.
The man's fist connected with her face, backhanding her. He slammed her to the ground. "Stay there, or I'll kill you," he growled.
Pain coursing through her body, Erin bit her lip, knowing she should escape. Yet, the agony held her captive. She squeezed her eyes shut as his hands explored her, his fingers tearing open her shirt.
"I'm going to take you," he hissed, his grip on her breasts firm. He lifted his mask, licking and biting her skin.
Erin remained silent, her eyes still closed. His hands moved down to her jeans, ripping them off. "I'm going to enjoy this," he groaned. When she made a move to scream, he backhanded her again.
"Silence, whore!" he snarled. Stepping away, he lowered his pants and boxers, exposing himself. "Lie still and accept it, like the slut you are!"
Erin gasped in terror as the man secured her beneath him. She cried out in agony as he forced his way into her, mocking her, "Not so tough now, Detective!" His relentless thrusts pinned her against the unforgiving ground.
Amidst the assault, Erin fought back the tears as the pain intensified. His grunts echoed through the air, "Almost finished," he hissed, driving himself into her without mercy.
Despair gnawed at Erin as she realized there was no escape. Each thrust was a brutal reminder of her powerlessness. She couldn't suppress the cries that escaped her with each tormenting surge.
The man's grunts grew louder as he reached his climax, spewing his filth onto Erin's body. As he withdrew, he kicked her mercilessly in the stomach and chest, leaving her gasping and whimpering in pain.
Erin shrieked with every brutal kick that connected with her stomach and chest. He bent down, clutching her throat. "Tell anyone about this," he threatened, tightening his grip. "If you utter a word, I'll return and do it again. Next time, you won't survive it."
"I'm leaving now. Do as you wish, but utter not a word. I'll know if you do," he whispered into her ear, sending shivers of terror down her spine. "I'll be watching your every move."
With those chilling words, he released his hold on her neck but not before delivering a harsh backhand and a rough kiss. Erin gasped in pain as she rolled away, clutching her body protectively. She needed to escape before anyone from Molly's realized her car was still there.
A piercing cry escaped the brunette's lips as she rose unsteadily. Hastily wrapping her torn shirt around her, she pulled up her jeans, each movement accompanied by a sharp intake of breath. "Come on, Erin," she whispered encouragingly.
Ignoring the biting cold, Erin focused solely on reaching her car. Once her body was partially concealed, she hobbled towards the driver's seat and collapsed into it. Blood smeared her face and legs, but she paid it no mind.
In the dim light of the car, Erin glanced in the mirror and gasped at her reflection. Her face was a sickly shade of purple and blue, blood trickling down her cheeks. She winced as she reached behind her head to touch a gash, her fingertips coming away drenched in blood.
Erin sighed heavily, knowing that explaining the events of the night to Voight and the others would be a daunting task. However, she couldn't bring herself to share the truth. Tears streamed down her face as she drove home, her mind in turmoil.