Bianca Chapter 13
I felt guilty. I’d been so wrapped up in what was happening with Chaos and me these past few weeks that I hadn’t done much with my list of gyms that I began compiling after speaking to the five women who had been assaulted.
However, that was brought to my attention in the worst way today.
I’d overheard a couple of women at the gym talking about a poor woman who had been drugged and raped last weekend.
As soon as I heard it, my mind went to my list. I was sick to my stomach.
I bet the police had no leads on her either.
And it reminded me that I hadn’t been to a support group in weeks either. It was time.
I wasn’t ready to talk to Chaos about the support group.
It would require me to talk about something I wasn’t able to share, not yet.
Every time I thought the pain was calmed enough, something would bring it all back.
So, I told Chaos that I had to work late because a client couldn’t come in until well into the evening. I hated to lie to him.
At six thirty, I left my apartment and went to the church where the support group met.
I walked in to find people there. I knew many of them, so I went to greet them.
We used first names only. By seven o’clock, the small room was nearly full.
I sat at the front off to one side. The group’s facilitator opened the meeting and asked if anyone would like to share.
There were a few hands. One by one, the women went up and shared how things had gone since the last meeting.
Two shared how difficult it had been and how they had struggled.
Another had a good weekend and shared that, too.
The group was composed mainly of women, though a few men were present.
After they finished, and no one else raised their hands, I raised mine.
I stood and spoke from my chair. I angled myself so that I could see almost everyone.
“I found out today that another woman was drugged and assaulted. She had been at a party, not a bar. She woke up hours later with no recollection of what happened to her, only with the certainty that she had been raped. I don’t know if the police have any clues about who did it, but this is the sixth case like this in the past three or four months that I know of.
I was almost one of them a month ago. I went to a bar and began to feel wrong.
Lucky for me, I locked myself in a bathroom and called for help.
“Everyone says to pay attention to your drinks and not to leave them alone, and watch them being poured, opened, or made. I had zero to drink that night. Nor did I eat any bar food. I’ve verified there were drugs in my system, and the kind they were can be introduced through touch.
“I’m not telling you this to terrify anyone.
I only want you to be aware and to take precautions.
Wear clothing that covers as much of your skin as you can.
Don’t go alone. And if you’re with others, don’t separate.
I spoke to one of the women, and she was with friends and ended up splitting up for a few minutes, and that was when she was caught. ”
I was moving my gaze around the room as I spoke.
I was on another circuit when my eyes landed on the door at the back of the room.
I lost my train of thought. Standing there, watching me, was Chaos.
I felt my face drain of color. He wasn’t happy.
I gulped. I resumed talking, but I couldn’t tell anyone what I'd said. I sat down when I was done. If he hadn’t been at the door, I would’ve left. But it was the only way in or out.
Moments later, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a body sit next to me. I didn’t need to see the leather cut to know it was him. Chaos leaned into me.
“You and I need to talk after this is over. You lied to me, Bianca.”
“I know I did,” I whispered back.
“I want to know why.”
There was no give in his tone. I wouldn’t be able to avoid telling him why I lied about a few things. I wasn’t sure I was ready for this conversation.