Page 37 of Cruel Promise

I wave a hand in front of my nose. “Sorry, can you not smoke that right next to me?”

“Sensitive, baby?” Blond asks.

“Yes.”

“John, put it out.”

The dark-haired one—John—scoffs and rolls his eyes, but he puts the cigarette out. Ok. So, maybe these men aren’t so bad after all. Maybe I’ll be ok.

I just need the damn train to appear, and then I can get on it and leave.

“You know, we’re heading to a party,” Blond says.

“I thought you were going to the train station.”

“Well, we are, but we’re going to a party first. Care to join us?”

“Thank you, but sorry, I just really need to get to the train station.”

“No worries.” Then he grabs my arm and pulls me roughly against him. “But you should know, baby, I don’t like being told no.”

“Please, let me go.”

He shares a look with John. “How polite she is.” Then he turns his eyes back onto me—cold eyes, I realize now I can see them up close. “But I like you, baby. I think you’re one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen. Join us. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

“Let her go.” It’s the kind older woman who bought me the ticket.

Blond and John laugh as they look her over. “Fuck off, grandma.”

She whips out a can of pepper spray and shoots Blond in the eyes with it. He screams and falls down.

“You bitch,” John says right before he punches her.

I gasp. “You bastard!” Without even thinking about it, I punch him right in the nose, and he stumbles back. I turn to the old woman. “Are you all right?”

She has her hand clenched to her face, and blood is seeping through her fingers.

As if on cue, the train finally arrives.

“We should get you to the hospital. Come on.” I quickly walk away into the train car, leaving the two assholes behind.

After we sit down, she hands me her purse, and I find a napkin inside. “Here. Remove your hand. Let me see.” I gently press the napkin to her face, “Hold it there. It doesn’t look too bad if it’s any consolation.”

“I don’t care about me. I just wanted to make sure those two left you alone.”

“You’re so sweet. Thank you. What’s your name?”

“Rosemary.”

“I’m Ava.”

She holds my hand the entire subway ride to the hospital.

I stand by Rosemary’s bed as the doctor looks her over.

“We’ll need to take an x-ray of it. I’ll be back in a bit.” He leaves us alone.

“Rosemary, once again, thank you.”

---