Page 93 of Orion Ruined

“Excuse me?” I’m shocked, but then I get it. “Kirstie! How could you?!”

“Oh come on, you’ll enjoy it!” She slaps my arm, not remotely apologetic because she’s high on God-knows-what, and walks away. I’m left with two men who are ogling me repulsively. This is what I’m trying to get away from constantly and yet, somehow, I always end up in the same position.

I try to cover the tremble in my voice. “I’m not interested. Please move along.”

The second frat guy grabs my wrist, holds it above my head, and checks me out fully. “You must be Maisy.” The way he smirks is revolting, and when he wraps his other hand around my waist, he forces me flush against his front. I sense the swelling in his slacks as he grinds into me.

“Get lost, fucker!” I raise my knee sharply, aiming at his balls and bingo, I got them. He shrieks, the sound drowned out by the music, and he falls to the floor in pain. By the time his frat bro realizes what’s happened, I’m running, hoping to lose myself in the crowd.

Where the fuck am I going to go? Stupid me. I have zero protection here, and those who I thought were helping me actually are not.

I check behind me but can’t see them, so I allow myself a breather in the kitchen, to calm my terrified heart now thumping in my throat. I drink a glass of water, spilling half onto my dress while doing so. I look around for a towel to dab at my chest and spot four frat boys smoking weed in here, quietly gawking at me with the same look in their eyes as the other two. I don’t even take my chances this time. I run outside onto the lawn, and I intend to keep running, as far as I can get. It’s back to the streets for me, I see.

I’m halfway across the lawn when I hear them.

“There she is! Get her!”

They seize me before I can take two more steps. I’m captured by their claws and dragged to the hedge while I kick and scream, but only for a little while. One of them grabs me from behind and clutches me tight, covering my mouth. The other man lifts my dress, and all this is getting too close to home. I feel nothing but blind terror. I cannot allow myself to be hurt again. Never.

I can’t see it, but I hear a belt unbuckling as my legs are spread and held open. There’s a painful burn on my skin from my panties being torn, my eyes are wide open in terror, and I see a cock being pressed between my legs. The pounding of my heart sets a rapid pace the moment I see his face, the scariest of all. A sickening scowl, set firmly in his narrow, sinister eyes. This is it.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, expecting the hell I remember like it was yesterday. They can rape me, but I’m in control of my mind. I’m in control. I’m in control. I’m in control.

“What are you doing, man? Come on, get on with it!”

I open my eyes in time to see the guy in front of me nodding to someone behind us. My captor turns around, taking me with him, and under the streetlight I make out three shadows standing too close. In an instant, a spurt of hot, metallic-tasting liquid sprays over my face, and I’m dropped to the ground as a gurgling sound fills the air.

I can’t see clearly. I wipe my eyes and can just make out both frat guys falling to their knees and clutching their necks, but the streetlight’s too strong for me to see who those three, sinister shadows belong to. This is it. My time has come.

One of them grabs me by the arm and I recoil, kicking him and trying to get away. Ignoring my pleas, he pulls me up. The streetlight hits his somber face–a face I know.

“Maisy.” He’s incensed, his sharp, obsidian eyes making him look mad, heartless. He inhales through flared nostrils and looks down at my dress that’s still bunched at my hips.

I breathe a sigh of relief, although the smell and the stickiness on me is nauseating. “Orion, h-how did you find me?” Pulling my dress down, I see I’m covered in blood. “Th-they killed them.”

He’s wearing an impeccable three-piece suit and black leather gloves, but I can just about spot the bracelets on his wrists. He’s looking suave, perfect. Definitely not dressed for this low-key frat party. Where they’ve killed two men already.

“Thank you,” I say.

“I didn’t come here for your thank-you,” he snaps back.

He still hates me. “Then why did you come? Why did you bother saving me?” My voice trembles, tears brimming under my lashes.

He’s as cold as ice. “There’s a meeting tomorrow with my uncles. They want to hear more about Milan.”

“I’ll come tomorrow.” I suck in a breath, hoping a sob won’t come out. “This is where I’m staying now.”

“This is where we let you stay. But that shit’s over now. Especially after what just happened. See that car across the street, with the tinted windows? Get in.”

I look over at the car. The two men with Orion are heaving the frat boys’ bodies into the trunk. I glance back at the house. The party’s still going strong. Someone’s throwing up on the lawn. Nobody would’ve been any the wiser had I been raped. Maybe Kirstie called them for that reason only.

One of Orion’s men opens the car door for me. This battle is lost, and fighting is futile. I want to leave this god-awful place. But more importantly, I want to go back to them. Into my safe, clean haven.

Orion walks beside me as I take slow steps across the street. He reaches the car first and waits on me to get in. He thinks he’s mad at me. It’s actually the other way around. Does he know that?

“Get in.” Nothing, no pleasantries. Just that cold voice.

I get inside, and he follows closely behind. Sitting beside me, he exhales sharply and looks out of the window as we drive off.

---