Page 17 of In His Veins

A few seconds later, blinking dots appear at the bottom of my screen.

Do I even want to know?

Despite the horrors of the night, a smile stretches across my face. There was never a doubt that Paige would cover for me, but I admire her willingness to commit to a bit.

Definitely not.

Putting my car in drive, my head swims with images of Eliott and the stranger that ripped him off of me. A sob bubbles again as I think about what would have happened if that man hadn’t shown up.

My phone vibrates as I pull into my parking spot at home.

Brunch tomorrow?

Knowing that eventually I will have to tell Paige the truth, but hoping to hold it off for a little longer, I sigh and respond.

Sure. Just maybe not at the cafe.

Paranoia as I walk into my empty apartment forces me to vow then and there to start using my deadbolt more. I use the flashlight on my phone to creep into every room of my house, turning on lights as I go. It isn’t until my entire apartment is illuminated do I relax, going to the bathroom with the determination to scrub the night’s events from my skin.

As the hot water runs from the showerhead, tears erupt and don’t stop until long after I’m under the covers in my bed, reliving the same dream several times throughout the night.

* * *

His body is heavy on mine as he grinds against me. I’m weeping, but we’re alone on this level while the party carries on downstairs. The roar of talking carries over the music, losing my voice in the midst.

“That’s it, sweetie. Such a pretty girl.” I stopped fighting a long time ago. He had wrapped his hand around my throat long enough that I blacked out when I managed to get in a solid hit. I’m not sure for how long, but it was long enough to know that he would kill me if I tried to hit him again.

My dress is on the floor, now hidden among the piles of trash and

dirty clothes. He reaches to my back and unclasps my bra before adding it to the pile. I whimper and he grabs my breast viciously. Crying out only made him grip it harder.

“Does that hurt, pretty girl?” His eyes are bright as he reaches for my underwear, staring at my core as he grabs my panties and pulls up. The fabric hurts and I cry at the sensation before he rips it from my

body. He puts my torn panties into his front pocket and uses both hands to spread me apart.

“Have you ever been touched here?” He asks, voice ragged. I don’t answer, paralyzed in fear. He pinches a nipple and twists, grinning as I sob. “When I ask you a question, you answer me.”

Sucking in a breath, my head shakes.

“No, what?” He demands. “Use your fucking words.”

“No, I’ve never been touched there.” Tears soak the sheet underneath me as my body trembles.

“Such a good girl,” he coos and circles my clit. I hate that my body responds to the sensation even though I’m terrified. Without warning, he shoves that finger into my opening and groans. Burning pain follows as he adds another, thrusting them in and out quickly.

“Please,” I choke out. “Please, stop, it hurts.” Bile burns my throat. He doesn’t listen and continues to drive his fingers into me. Suddenly, he flips me to my stomach and pulls me up so that I’m on my knees with my face pressed into the mattress.

The burn spreads to my ass as he strikes me repeatedly, making me shriek into the sheets. He leans over me and growls into my ear.

“Your cunt is mine. I’ll stop when I’m done with it.” There’s a jangling sound before something firm is against my opening. I realize what’s about to happen a moment too late.

He forces himself into me, and my vagina feels like it’s being ripped apart. His grip on my hips prevents me from escaping his machinations as I thrash beneath him.

I close my eyes and tell myself this will end soon when I hear him spit. The liquid hits my rear end and his finger comes close to my second hole. I panic again and try to crawl away. He hits me again before pushing a finger into my anus. The double intrusion becomes too much for me.

Waking up alone, dripping blood and bodily fluids, I put on my wrinkled dress and go home. My parents don’t stir as I sneak back through my unlocked window.

12

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