Saving Lotte Sullivan | Collingwood/Carlton

5: Ashlyn's 20th

Nightclubs weren't exactly a favourite place of Lotte's since her attack in 2016.

Yet there was was, awkwardly standing in one of Ella's dresses, in combat boots hiding her weapons in her bra. Nobody could ever take her protection away from her now since she didn't have freedom of her own peace of mind.

Ella had tried to talk her out of going. Lotte said that was like telling Ashlyn she wasn't hot. It wouldn't go down well, her lifelong best friend ditching her 20th birthday party. The next year would be even worse.

She hated the guys. The guys that surrounded her, came up and asked her name, where she was from, what her number and star sign were. She didn't even know herself. Probably Sagittarius or Capricorn. That wasn't the point, though. The point was, it was borderline sexual harassment. Lotte wasn't one of those girls who died for attention. She'd rather hide from it forever.

'There you are! Ash has been looking for you all night!'

Lotte jumped as somebody suddenly appeared beside her, linking arms and trying to pull her away from her safety near the exit. She anxiously swallowed. What was his name again? Day something?

'Please let go of me. I can walk myself' she said quietly, as she tried to shake him off. He ignored her as he took her to his girlfriend.

'I found her, babe. See, I told you. Nothing happened to her' he said, as Ashlyn spun around, momentarily glaring at her boyfriend. Sometimes, he just didn't have anything intelligent to say.

'What would have happened to me?' Lotte asked, also glaring up at him, uncomfortable as she folded her arms over her chest.

'Nothing. Nothing would've happened to you. Maybe you could have gotten lost on your way in. Just ignore Nicholas, he's had a bit to drink' Ashlyn said, deliberately nudging into him as she walked over to Ashlyn. A bit to drink? That was enough to scare the poor guest completely stiff. She didn't like alcoholics.

'Isn't he a professional footballer? Are they allowed to drink?' Lotte asked nervously, looking up at him. He didn't look drunk. He didn't sound drunk.

'Relax, girl. They've been given permission' Ashlyn said, smirking as she had a sip of her own drink. Lotte looked on in disgrace. She liked a one off beer at home with Ash. She liked a glass of wine at dinner with Ella. This just looked like a recipe for disaster.

'Ay man, you're running a bit late!' Nick suddenly said, as he greeted another guest. Lotte nervously bit her nails as she felt a presence standing very closely behind her.

'Josh is here!' Ashlyn exclaimed, as Lotte's eyes widened and her heart pounded.

'HE'S HERE?' She screamed, whipping around and grabbing out her pepper spray as she violently attacked her worst nightmare, only to find out it was a completely different Josh.

The man screamed out in pain as he clutched his eyes and fell to his knees, Nick quickly pushing Lotte out of the way and running to help, another teammate making himself noticeable too. Both of them looked up in Lotte in horror.

'I - I'm sorry - I thought he was someone else' she said, choked up as she looked around, all eyes on her.

'Miss, you need to leave' security said, suddenly walking over. She glanced down at the poor victim, horrified by what she'd done.

'Lotte' Ashlyn said, looking at her best friend, disappointed.

'I'm really sorry' Lotte repeated, as she covered her mouth in shock. The poor guy couldn't open his eyes and could barely speak.

'MISS!' Security yelled, as Lotte shook her head and ran out of the club, crying. Her fear and paranoia was getting worse. Way worse. Bad enough to have just assaulted an innocent guy with an illegal weapon. She was going to jail.