Page 21 of Raw & Vulnerable

What sort of question is that? It’s hard to keep a grip on her sarcasm. “You know, I think I might. Just maybe.”

They sit for another moment, thinking over the gravity of Minnie finally spreading her wings and taking a risk for the first time in forever when Minnie feels anxiety begin eating at her again, claws sinking into her spine.

She pulls her feet back into the car, exhaling shakily. “Nevermind. You’re right. I can’t do this.”

“You were ready five seconds ago, don’t get cold feet now. Not on my account.Ugh.” Ariel leans her head back against the seat. “I should just shut my mouth. Just go, Minnie! You’re cute. Have fun. He’s not going to kill you, we’re being overcautious, but your back might hurt in the morning.”

“Are you being crude? I can’t tell.” Placing her feet on the cement after sliding out of the vehicle, Minnie tries to calm her mind. “You’ll lock the door at my place? All the locks?”

“Yes.”

“My windows?”

“Minnie, please tell me you’re not going to his place just to lock all his doors and windows obsessively.”

Feeling her lips pull into a nervous smile, Minnie wrinkles her nose fondly at Ariel. “No promises. Come get me in the morning, at five-thirty AM? I wake up early and I don’t want to stay the night. I’ll send you the location.”

She shuts the car door with a painful sound of finality.

Ariel groans. “Yes. I’ll set my alarm. What if I wasn’t visiting you this week? What would you do then, huh? I wish you’d take a damn cab.”

Fat chance.

************

The bar is pretty tame, all things considered. Just a few local townies drinking, spread out at tables and at the bar. Trying to act like she knows what she’s doing, like she’s an empowered young woman, Minnie strides right up to the bar and takes a seat, ordering herself a beer.

She might as well drink something light to ease her nerves while she waits for him. He’ll find her easily enough. Minnie just needs to keep it together for a few minutes more, mentally counting down the time.

It’s going to be alright. You’re fine. No one is going to hurt you.

But things never go as planned, do they?

She notices the smell first, like motor oil and unwashed body. Then, comes the lecherous voice. “A pretty little piece of ass like you shouldn’t be lonely, eh? How ‘bout this big daddy give you some company?”

Minnie’s soul shrivels up a bit. Okay, more than just a bit.A lot.

Her shoulders nearly curl up like a snail sucking into its shell. Oh, this was such a bad idea, why didn’t she just wait in the car with Ariel until he arrived? She’s such a fool. Turning her head slightly, Minnie takes in the sight of an utterly greasy-haired bastard, long stringy strands in his face, tobacco stained teeth grinning in a wide mouth.

Even his bitten nails are filthy.

Minnie feels every single hair on her body rise. For a second, her mind blanks, confronted with a situation she mentally wants no part of.

“Pussy got your tongue?” He cackles at his own cleverness while Minnie tries to keep her mind together.

It wants to fly apart, her brain. Scatter into a million little pieces, disassociate from confrontation, from a possible threat to her person. It takes all the effort in her body to get the words out, “N-no. No, thank you, I’m waiting for s-someone.”

Her breathing increases in speed, fast, fluttering like the wings of a hummingbird. Her hands are trembling already and clenching them doesn’t help.

“Suuuure, you are. You’re waiting for me, sweetlips.”

He licks his lips as he comes closer and Minnie feels herself cringing away. “N-no, I’m quite certain that’s not th-the case.”

She’s lost in tunnel vision, darkness creeping at the edges when someone wraps their arm around her. Then, a familiar voice says, “Is he botherin’ you?”

Blinking away the fear eating her alive, Minnie takes in a deep breath, focusing herself. Looking up, she sees Gage beside her, glaring at Greasy menacingly. “You’re ten minutes late.” It’s the only thing she can think to say, halfway torn between terrified and scandalized.

He snorts, likely thinking that’s a typical accusation from her.

---