Taking Chances

Chapter Twenty-Two

I picked up one of the pieces and wrapped it around my right knuckles

“I don’t have brass knuckles but these will do” I then hid my hand inside my pocket and rode a bus to Elise’s university where James’s apartment is near

I turned off my phone during the bus ride just to make sure no one calls me during my meet-up with James. The bus ride was quick due to lack of traffic so when I got off, I quickly went to James’s apartment

Not caring what would happen, I gripped the bicycle chain on my right hand and with my left, knocked on James’s door

I breathe heavily as I waited for the door to open, I heard footsteps and the door finally opened and James stood, looking carefree as ever

When I saw his face, my right hand instinctively rushed towards his head, punching his face as hard as I could. One punch led to the other and then another and then some more

I lost control and before I knew it, James was lying on the ground, with me on top of him, pummeling him endlessly as he covered his face with his arms

I came to my senses when I felt something wet on my hand, it was James’s blood, I made him bleed. I breathe heavily and stared at him as he continued to cover his face, my eyes wandered and found his cell phone on the floor, next to us. It must have fell from his pocket while he was lying down

Without a second thought, I quickly took James’s phone and hid in my pocket.

I was about to stand when I felt instant pain on my left temple, it caused me to stumble on the ground. James had punched me

He slowly stood and looked down on me then with a swift move of his fist, he landed his second punch on my face, causing the skin on my cheek to pop and bleed

I was still lying on the ground, when James grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me up

“You bitch! You’re gonna pay for this!” James spoke through gritted teeth

I glared at him and spit on his face, James scoffed and raised his fist, ready to punch me again but Jasmine suddenly intervened

“No James! Stop!” Jasmine shouted as she entered the house and saw me at James’s hands

Jasmine made him let go and back away, she then turned to me and asked “Are you alright?”

I looked at her but didn’t answer, I then glared at James, and in that moment, pure rage just filled me

“You fucking bastard!!” I shouted at him “Do you know how much Elise is suffering because of what you did?!?!”

James scoffed, “Yeah, so?”

“So?!? Elise is pregnant with your fucking baby, you fucking asshole!!!”

The room fell silent for a while, as I clenched my fist, trying not to bursts out in rage

James looked at me with sudden distress, “…s-she’s pregnant..?”

Jasmine, confused, turned to James and when the realization came to her, Jasmine looked shocked and in disbelief

 “Oh my god!! James, what did you do?!” Jasmine exclaimed

“Don’t you pretend like you didn’t know this Jasmine, you gave him the drugs!! You were in on this! I can’t even process why you would agree to this!!” I screamed aas i pointed at her “James drugged Elise and raped her and you helped him!!”

Jasmine looked bewildered, it’s like she’s been hearing this for the first time, she then slowly looked at her brother, ”y-you told me you were just going to blackmail her with pictures of you two together in bed..” she spoke then she slowly walked towards her brother “that’s why I helped you with the drugs, y-you promised me you wouldn’t touch Elise...” and Jasmine started to cry “you had me lie to the police about drug possession when the truth is, I was there for a rape investigation. y-you actually raped her…”