Broken Strings

A close call with hell

“Can I help you?” the familiar man from last night greeted me with the same attractive smile.

“I was just wondering whether you knew where I could wash these?” I held up the small plastic bag.

“Sure this way,” I didn’t think that the local pub would have a wash room. This place never ceased to amaze me. “The washing machine is twenty cents and the dryer is thirty,” he handed me a few small coins, “Here, on the house.”

“Thank you,” I opened the washing machine and threw all the clothes in at once. There was no colour clashes so I was going to be able to get away with just one wash.

“So where are you from?” I thought the man was gone. He startled me with a hand on my waist.

“Uh from-” he cut me off with a hand around my neck.

“It’s okay, you don’t need to tell me,” he pressed his finger to my lips to hush me.

“I should go, I have to-” he cut me off once again. My body racked with fear as he pushed me, his hands pressed against my shoulders and he walked me backwards until my body was pressed against the wall.

“There is no one else here,” he sang. “There is just one obstacle, you’re boyfriend,” he pressed one hand against my chest pushing me against the wall. His eyes were wild and his mouth twitching as my breath brushed against it.

“He isn’t my boyfriend!” I yelled. I prayed someone would hear me.

“Oh so your brother?” I knew giving him was my information was a mistake so I shut up. “It doesn’t matter who he is anyway, he’s not here and I am.”

“He knows I’m here,” I lied, “He’ll come after me if I don’t return soon.”

“You don’t have to worry, this will be quick and painless, for me anyway. This could hurt for you,” he began unbuttoning my shorts and the more I tried to push him away the more pressure he pushed me back with.

“Let me go!” I screamed.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” he chuckled. He looked young now that I got a proper look, even though he looked much older than me. Probably his mid-thirties. I felt my body begin to tremble. He tried hard to keep eye contact with me as my shorts reached the floor.

“Get off me!” the more I squirmed the more he pinned me to the wall. His lips came crashing down on mine and I moved my head in an attempt to make it harder from him. I’ve never done this, the thought had washed through my head before obviously but I’m a virgin. I wasn’t about to let this man take one of the only things I could control from me.

“Keep still!” he screeched.

“Get off!” I screamed one last time before kneeing him in the place I knew he wouldn’t like. I ran from him and swung the door open.

“Amelia?” Peter took me by the shoulders. He stood just outside the door, “I heard you scream are you okay?”

“No, that guy!” I cried. Tears streamed down my face and I stood stock still when his body stood at the door frame.

“Come on baby, come back inside,” he gestured to the washroom.

“How about you leave,” I knew that Peter’s words wouldn’t affect him.

“How about you come in here with me,” he took my arm but didn’t keep hold of it for long. Peter’s right arm swung past my head and his fist planted itself in the man’s face.

“Quick,” Peter ran back in the washroom and gathered our wet clothes and shoved them in the plastic bag. Then he was out of sight. The man on the ground became to regain consciousness and I took several steps backward until Peter came running out, my shorts in his hand. “Are you okay?” he asked as we ran up the stairs. He slammed the door behind us as we reached the room.

“I’m okay, I think,” he sat me down on the unmade bed.

“I’m so sorry,” he said taking my hand. “What did he do to you?”

“You don’t have to be sorry,” I replied, he saved me for goodness sake.

“On behalf of mankind,” he gave me a half-hearted smile.

“When you went for a shower I threw all our dirty clothes into a bag and went downstairs. I asked that man for a washroom and when we got in there he gave me a few coins,” remembering the coins I took my shorts from Peter, pulling out the silver and throwing it to the floor. Also I remembered I wasn’t wearing anything but underwear and a singlet. “He pushed me against the wall and…” I couldn’t finish before I burst into tears. Peter held me close, caressing my head.

“It’s okay, you’re fine now. I’ve got you,” I pulled back so he could see my face.

“I thought he was going to-” Peter cut me off.

“Don’t say it,” he whispered. “He’s not worthy of your tears.”

“I was so scared, I’ve never… you know?” he got the picture.

“Don’t worry,” he assured me, “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, not from my experience anyway,” his face saddened.

“Nicole?” he nodded.

“Yeah, it was horrible. She was experienced and I wasn’t but she didn’t care. The pain was unbearable,” tears welled in his eyes and I realised it was something he deeply regretted.

“I’m so sorry,” I stuttered.

“It’s okay, now I know I just have to wait until I stumble across her.”

“Her?”

“Yep, the one,” he answered.

“Do you think you’ll find her?” there was silence between us while he thought.

“I believe so.”

Hello guys! I hope you are still enjoying all this. This chapter is a little different to the others in the fact that it has a little more action in it. Not good action honestly. Love you all! xoxo