Page 16 of Collide

That was until a hand clamped down around my mouth as anotherhand wrapped around my waist, and I was dragged backward into a nearby alley.

The need to fight kicked in and I fought like a motherfucker, trying toscream behind the heavy hand. I didn’t go willingly, but I weighed next to nothing so it wasn’t hard for my attacker to pull me into the alley as I continued to kick behind and bite down on the hand clasped against my mouth.

I hit the jackpot when my teeth sunk into the palm of my attacker whowinced in pain, momentarily loosening his grip. It was enough to allow me to escape the strong embrace. I turned around and anger rolled through me when I saw my attacker was none other than the douchebag from the club who had tried to grope me on stage earlier in the night.

He was an older man, maybe in his early fifties, bald and overweight.His brown corduroy trousers and yellow shirt had stains down the front, if I had to guess, I’d say he’d puked all down himself at some point since being thrown out of the club.

Nice.

“You’re a fucking little cock tease,” he slurred, his eyes fixed on hishand. From the faint streetlight, I could see I had drawn blood.

Good.

“Get the fuck away from me,” I tried to keep the fear out of my voicebut even I heard the nerves.

He was a big man both in height and build, and he could easilyoverpower me. It took all of a second to realize that the asshole had me at a disadvantage, he was standing at the entrance to the alley blocking it, behind me were trash cans and trash bags, and beyond that was a solid brick wall that must have been at least ten feet tall.

The only way out was passed the douche who had clearly come tothe same conclusion as me if the cruel smile twisting on his lips was anything to go by.

I had two options. Fight or become a victim of whatever he intendedto do to me.

Well, fuck that.

Huh, maybe I would use a weapon if I had carried one.

He took a step towards me and I took a step back but raised my fists,ready to go into battle. If I was going down, I’d be going down fighting.

“Oh, sweetheart, I like it when my girls fight,” he chuckled and tookanother step toward me.

I didn't want to let him back me any further into the alley, even if Icouldn’t overpower him, I just had to do enough to get past him and then run like hell. I summoned the last bit of bravery I had, which granted, wasn’t much, and then lunged at him.

He wasn't expecting my sudden attack which was fortunate, it meantI got a swift punch to his ugly face. But he was stronger than me and within seconds he had my wrists pinned to my sides as he pulled me flush against his body. The overwhelming stench of whiskey, vomit, and body odor assaulted my nostrils and made me gag.

“I'm going to enjoy fucking you, you little whore,” he whisperedmenacingly against my cheek.

Preparing myself to go into battle again, I managed to raise my legenough to kick him square in the shin but all that rewarded me with was a hard shove to the chest, causing me to fly back and land in the pile of garbage bags.

“Cunt!” the man squealed, spittle flying out of his mouth and rageflashing in his piggy eyes.

True terror flooded my body, I was exhausted and I knew there wasno way I’d be able to fight this man off. Still, I wouldn’t lie down and take whatever it was he wanted to do to me.

I was about to hoist myself up and try again to get away from thedickhead when a dark figure grabbed my attacker from behind.

I gaped in astonishment as I saw a pair of hands grab my attacker'shead and twist in such an inhumane way that I instantly knew the move was intended to end a life.

The sickening sound of bones snapping echoed down the alley,confirming what I had just thought.

My attacker was dead.

Chapter 6

Kai

RileyAlyssaBennett,bornon 15th May 1999, in Richmond CityHospital, making her fourteen years younger than me.

Not that I gave a fuck about that.

Her father was Eric Bennett, Mother was Janine Bennett, nee Smith.Both were deceased, father killed in a drive-by shooting by a stray bullet, mother died from a drug overdose. Riley and her younger sister Angel, reported missing, although, when Riley turned eighteen, her file was closed and she was noted as being the legal next of kin for Angel. It seemed the authorities didn’t give two fucks about where the girls had been the last two years, all that mattered was they no longer had two missing children on their books.

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