4. Never Talk to Strangers #3
“NO!” I hollered and kicked. My attackers held me back adequately, one of them hurriedly placing a hand over my mouth to muffle my cries for help.
“Hurry up, Silas,” One of the men, clearly older, said. He was irritated. “She might tell...”
Now knowing his name, I bit back my tears and was prepared to beg. His pants were all the way open now, giving me a perfect view of his boxers.
“Silas,” I begged as loud as I could through the man’s hand. His fingers were covered in dirt and tasted of salt and alcohol. Disgusting. “I know that you don’t know me,” the tears fell shamelessly, “But please don’t hurt me!”
Silas knocked his man’s hand away from my mouth and I took the opportunity to gasp for air. He grabbed my chin roughly, causing me to wince. His eyes penetrated mine, and I could not look away.
“I’m sorry dear, but I think you’re confusing me with someone who actually cares.”
I didn’t know if it was shock or fear, but for some reason when he ripped open my shirt like it was paper, I said nothing, didn’t move at all, just stood, petrified.
“She was the prettiest one in the room,” the older of the men spoke again. “Trust me, she’s what you need.”
My chest heaved under their scrutiny. What were they even talking about?
I looked from the men to Silas, noticing the look of frustration in his face.
Observing the forceful way his hand groped the inside of his boxers.
We remained in that moment for what seemed like hours, although it was probably just a minute or so.
I concentrated on the hands that held my arms so tightly I could feel my heart pulsing there and wondered why Silas hadn’t hurt me yet.
Then it hit me.
I was a virgin, but I wasn’t an idiot.
He couldn’t get it up.
“This is taking too long,” the other man said, nervously glancing over his shoulders.
Angrily, Silas’s hands seized my waist, tugging at my pants. That’s when my trance broke. I thrashed with all of the force I could muster, causing the two holding me down to have to work together to keep me still. When I couldn’t move I screamed like there was no tomorrow.
And for all I knew, there might not have been.
“Somebody help me!” I shrieked as they pinned me to the ground, Silas brutally yanking my jeans down to my thighs. Asphalt cut into the backs of my exposed skin.
“Shut the bitch up,” he hissed to the other two.
“But, Silas–” The younger one complained. He looked scared. Maybe it was working. My screams were getting to them and they knew that someone was going to hear me soon enough.
I had to keep at it.
I focused my pleading gaze up to them. “You don’t have to do this. I know you two are good men, and–”
My head snapped back from the force of Silas’s slap. I saw stars, little green and purple blinking dots floating in from the corners of my eyes. He had hit me hard. I managed a groan of pain in response.
“I have to do everything myself, don’t I?” Silas growled, kneeling to the ground next to me.
At that moment, I understood that this man could kill me. He didn’t give a shit about me, or that I was a human being. A stranger. A woman. A person. Fuck, this man might actually kill me.
“Please…” I choked, pleading with my eyes to the others.
They were silent, their hands only tightening on my wrists.
I closed my eyes and using the last remainder of my available breath, prayed that I was loud enough.
“PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!”
The second man reeled back and hit me, with a closed fist this time, drawing blood from my lip and nose. A sound escaped me, one that my body had never made before. It was incoherent, halfway between words and agonized groans. My head lolled from side to side from the force of the punch.
“Don’t hit her face anymore, you fucking idiot!” Silas hissed.
“If you could get your fucking priorities straight, we wouldn’t even be here!” The man who hit me roared, causing Silas to rise from his position on the ground.
“Who the fuck are you talking to in that tone?” he snarled, chest touching chest.
For a minute, I thought I might have found my way out.
The older male clearly wanted to respond, but bit his tongue when Silas challenged him.
“Stay the fuck out of it, and maybe I’ll finish faster,” Silas asserted, shoving him backwards.
“Alright, deal with it then,” the man barked, ushering to the other to release my wrist. Both of them backed away, moving out of range of my sight.
And it was just Silas.
I couldn’t help but speculate if he would keep me alive when he was done raping me. Would I at least be able to go home? If I continued to fight, would Silas kill me out of spite? He obviously wasn’t afraid to rape me, and as far as I was concerned, death wasn’t that far from this humiliation.
But now that it was just him, I had a better chance of getting away unscathed.
“Please,” I tried again as he turned back around, hands pulling at the straps of my bra from behind. “Please, don’t–”
I immediately shut up when a small pocket knife flicked out in front of my eyes, the thin blade gently placed against my mouth.
“You’re prettier, when you’re quiet,” he said menacingly, circling back around me.
A new calm came over me. I would be taken. My virginity meant nothing to this man, but maybe, if I went along with his incredulous demands, my life might.
And I was prepared to fight for my life now. Even if it meant fighting silently.
My heart clenched as he trailed the knife down my chest and cut off my bra. They were all looking at me, I was sure. Exposed and helpless, I couldn’t stop the uncontrollable sobs that wrenched their way from my throat.
Was there no one that would help me?
“Now, you just stay quiet, and I won’t cut you, alright love?” Silas smiled, almost sweetly, before leaning in to press his lips to mine.
I did nothing when he pulled my face to his and forcefully shoved his disgusting tongue into my mouth. I didn’t fight.
When he put his hands on my breasts, all I could think was how badly he smelled of alcohol and smoke, and that he was touching me in every way I had dreamed of being touched by my soulmate.
But this was repulsive and unwanted. I hated myself for forfeiting the fight.
The fear was crippling, and I just wanted him to be done with me.
I just wanted to go home, back to my comfort and safety, without being hurt worse.
You tried. I told myself. You tried, and that’s good enough. You’ll be okay.
My own head still spun from the alcohol intake when he tried to take off my panties. Instinct came through like muscle memory, and I fought away his hands, desperately trying to cover myself.
Another slap rang in my ears, knocking my head to the side. I coughed and watched as blood dripped from my mouth onto the ground. I had never known the definition of cruelty before.
I knew it now.
I turned my head back to witness his face, telling myself that this was the time in which I would burn his expression into my memory. I wouldn’t forget him.
And I would have my revenge.
His gaze was barbaric, his chest lifting with excitement from causing me pain. Through his pants his erection was clearly visible now. I understood finally, it wasn’t about me. His pleasure derived from pain and control. That’s what he got off to.
A new wave of emotion swept through me, rippling under my skin, warming my cold and exposed body with fire.
Hatred. I absolutely hated him.
Before I had the time to think, I said it.
“Fuck you,” I seethed, spitting, relishing as the blood from my mouth splattered across his face.
He flinched, grey eyes glinting in surprise. Ever so slowly, that shock turned to satisfaction.
It was not the reaction I had hoped for.
“If you insist,” he sighed, smirking as he wiped his face on his sleeve.
I exhaled and braced myself for his next move.
I would be ready the next time he seized me.
He may not have those pretty grey eyes when I was done with him.
I was prepared for the pain of fighting back, and the sharp blade of his knife.
I was ready to spend my entire life hating this man, whether I escaped or not.
But the violence didn’t continue, because Silas froze.
His eyes were fixated on something behind me, the brutality vanishing into something else…confusion?
A warm surge of hope swelled through my entire being.
“Silas, you dirty, little punk.” A new voice came, velvety low and stern.
An angel, I thought. It had to be.
I turned to look at the voice, hoping it belonged to the person who would save me.