Chapter 5 On The Run[2]

[Emily]

Warning: Slight scenes containing sexual assault are included in this chapter.

The men checked around the place, finding nothing unusual and slowly began to leave. It seemed my prayers had been answered, and I'd be able to leave there still alive until 'August' by Taylor Swift filled the air. Shocked, I could barely process the fact that the song was coming from my phone until the men turned their gaze to where I was hiding.

My heart raced as the men closed in on my hiding spot, the lyrics of the song echoing in the air, creating a dreadful difference in the tense situation. I fumbled with my phone, desperately trying to silence it, but the damage was already done.

"What do we have here?" A man with a menacing glare pointed a gun at me. It was the same gun that had killed the pleading man earlier. The others stood closely behind him, their hands in their pockets. They were probably ensuring easier access to their guns. I gulped as panic surged through me, but I knew I had to think fast. With trembling hands, I held up my phone, showing it was just a harmless music alarm.

"Sorry, it's just an alarm", I said. My voice cracked, betraying the fear I felt inside. I tried to be calm and collected, as though I hadn't just witnessed a murder. It was the opposite of what I felt at the moment. The men exchanged glances, suspicion written on their faces.

"Music alarm? At a time like this?" he sneered, clearly unconvinced. I nodded frantically, my mind racing for an explanation that would sound plausible.

"Yes, it's just a reminder to wake up. I must have set it without realising."

"Well, you've got an interesting choice of alarms, miss. Surely it's going to lead you into trouble one day," he warned, the threat in his voice making my blood run cold.

The men chuckled amongst themselves, amused by what the man had said. I was not!

The man pointing the gun at me was a stern-looking man with piercing eyes. He seemed to be the leader of the group, and he stared at me as though he could see right through my b*llsh*t. He signalled for the others to hold back as he stepped closer.

I started ranting as he did.

"It's just a silly habit, you know?" I forced a nervous chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood. "I sometimes forget to set it off. My apologies if it disturbed you. I'll take my leave now."

I didn't even take a step, and his hand was on my shoulder, pushing me back.

"You're not going anywhere, miss." He spoke close to my ear. The next thing I knew, his hands were tracing down the buttons on my shirt. It sent chills down my spine, and not the good type. His eyes were fixed firmly on my breasts as he made circles with his hand on my shirt before grabbing one of my breasts.

I let out a scream and pushed him back, but he was so strong that he barely budged.

"P...please stop", I yelled, shaken as it dawned on me what he planned to do with me.

He sneered and approached me again. I moved back, trying to get away from him until my back hit a wall. There was no escape!

The others joined him, and I was dragged to where the van was parked. I was shaking all over, fearing for my life and what they might do to me before they took it.

"Please let me go! I didn't hear or see anything. Please believe me!" I pleaded, but it was of no use.

"Who are you trying to fool? You've been here the whole f*cking time. You know what happens down here. You're a beautiful lady. It wouldn't hurt to have fun with you before getting rid of you."

I was tossed into the back seat of the van, hurting my back in the process. The door was left ajar, and I could see the man unbuckling his belt.

Fear consumed me, pushing me to continue pleading as tears strained effortlessly down my face.

He got on top of me and began opening the zip to my skirt. I tried to stop him, but he pinned both my hands with one of his. He was too strong!

He pulled down my dress and worked on my panties. I shut my eyes, accepting the fact that I was going to be violated and that I'd never be the same after tonight. I'd lost all hope.

He finally took off my panties and almost made his way inside me until a shot sounded in the air, freezing his movements.

"Get off her!" someone shouted from behind him. The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't see who it was. He had a gun pointed at the man's head.

The man raised his hands and slowly got off me. Stepping down, my saviour's face finally came into view, and I was shocked by who it was.

"Are you alright?" He asked me, and I nodded my head, speechless. I never thought he'd be my last hope. I stepped down from the car and realised there was a different gang of men pointing guns at the man who nearly r*p*d me and his men.

"What are you doing, Cyrus? I thought I told you not to cause trouble here?"

"And I thought I told you not to interfere in my business",, the man who nearly r*ped me, Cyrus, sneered back.

He looked p*ss*d, but he was outnumbered and could do nothing. I avoided looking at him and prayed that this would all end soon so I could get the hell out of there.

"I will, but I'm taking the girl with me."

"No, you won't. She owes me, and so she comes with me"

"Don't let this turn bloody, Cyrus. She's coming with me, and that's final."

"Is that a threat?" Cyrus let out a laugh, finding the situation amusing. He looked briefly at me, but I turned away from his gaze.

"Take it how you want to."

" You'll pay for this, Alan. Mark my words, you will. And you, miss, you better watch your back."

He called his men off, and they climbed into the van before driving off. He looked at us through the review mirror, and there was an evil grin plastered on his face. I watched them retreat until I was certain they were out of sight before letting out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. The men waited a few moments longer to ensure they wouldn't return.

"I should have listened to you when you warned me to leave. All this wouldn't have happened if I did." Suddenly overwhelmed, the tears I had been trying to hold back flowed effortlessly down my face.

The bartender, Alan, pulled me in for a hug. I didn't care that I barely knew him; all the problems I had been facing for the past few weeks suddenly crashed down on me, and I sobbed like I'd never done before.

He held me close until I finally calmed down.

"Thank you for saving me. I would have been violated if you hadn't shown up the time you did."

He moved back slightly and said, "It's nothing. I don't help people that often; I'm not a good person.

And I'm sorry about the way I spoke to you earlier. You were being so stubborn, and I just lost it."

"It's okay. I should have listened to you, too."

"Cyrus is a dangerous man, someone not to mess with. His threat means nothing to me because he needs me. The same can't be said for you. I'll advise you to leave New York for a while because I know he'll try to find you. His pride's been hurt, so he won't let it slide."

I nodded, overwhelmed by everything. But I knew I had to listen to him this time, and so I smiled at him and said, "Okay, I will."

Alan gave me his number and told me to contact him if anything came up. I thanked him, and he shook my hand before turning to leave. He opened the door, but I called him, halting his steps.

"I have a question"

He nodded as if telling me to carry on.

My voice was shaky as the words tumbled out of my mouth, "The man I met the other night, is he someone I should stay away from?"

"Yes", he said before disappearing behind the door.

My heart sank. Just thinking of how dangerous my baby's father could be made me disappointed with myself.

There was no way I'd allow my child to be tainted with the impure deeds of its father. I had to go away, raise my baby somewhere far away. It was the only choice I had at the moment.

I took a moment to collect myself before taking my bag that lay forgotten on the ground. I made my way out of the alley and hailed a taxi. As I sat in the backseat of the moving vehicle, the lyrics of 'August' flowed through my lips as I thought of everything that had happened. I was determined to put distance between myself and the disturbing events that had unfolded today..