To Be A Prize

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The next few hours, come as flashes of memory. A second here, a minute there, but mainly just scary drunken unconsciousness.

I drag myself out of the toilets and back to the bar on unsteady legs, crashing into people as I go. There's a hazy memory of falling over on the long walk over, and a kind group of girls lifting me up and asking if I was ok. I must've seemed rude as I ignored their worry and carried on with my mission.

"Another shot, please" I ask the same Barman from before. He just shakes his head at me, knowing I've had too many already. I vaguely remember him pointing at me and telling his colleagues that I was cut off for the night.

I flick my hair, irritated at his refusal and slouch across the bar, elbows rested on the sticky surface with my head in my hands. On any other night I would've commended the Barman for putting a customer's safety in front of making a sale but in that moment all I felt was annoyance and need for more alcohol.

"You just can't keep away from me, can you?" asks a familiar voice from next to me. I gently turn my head to see the same disgusting man from before, although now he is even sweatier.

My face pulls into a grimace, my mouth turning down and my eyes rolling with revulsion at the thought of ever being attracted to this man. I don't remember dignifying him with a response, but I must've said something as he his face changed from predatory to furious; his brows bent to meet in the middle and his nostrils flared.

Suddenly, he grabs me by the arm and pulls me away from the bar.

My intoxicated self pulls away from him, but his clammy hands are wrapped so tightly round my upper arm that I'm sure he will pierce through my skin.

I look around desperately, trying to catch someone's attention to beg for help.

I've felt eyes watching me all night and this is the time people decide to give me my space?

I try to call out, scream, shout, but my body and mind aren't cooperating, disconnected due to the alcohol. Instead, a steady string of slurred words falls from my lips that do no more to help my situation than convince the few watchful eyes that I'm singing along to the music.

Gradually, as the man pulls me along, the confusion of what was going on combined with the flashing lights and loud music leads me to black out.

Next thing I know, we're at the back of the club.

Its quieter here.

There are less people around.

The sweaty man is standing about a metre away from me, watching me and mumbling something under his breathe that I don't remember.

I'm swaying, trying to keep my balance on jelly-turned legs.

My mind has gone completely numb, probably my body's reaction to try to protect myself. Nothing's wrong if I don't acknowledge it, right?

The man takes a step towards me. He stinks of body odour and cigarettes. Licking his lips, he grabs a lock of my hair and twirls it round his finger as his breath collides with my exposed collar bones.

His face inches closer to me and I turn my head away and seal my eyes shut, my legs trembling, anticipating what will happen next.

Instead of the man's hands on my body, I feel his chest slam into my own, causing my head to collide with the wall behind me. I rip my eyes open in time to see my attacker's eyes roll into the back of his head as his body slumps down into a pile on the ground, one arm strewn across my feet.