His Love

Chapter 12: Lights Out

Jade POV

TW: Sexual Assault

March 18th, 2009

10:17 PM

I walk into a quiet bar a few blocks over from home and sit down at the counter. "What can I get you tonight?" the bartender asks sweetly. I think for a minute. "Let me get a double Titios and soda neat please." I respond with a sigh. 

"Rough night, huh?" she inquires while pouring my drink. I look out the window "You have no idea..."

She slides my drink across the bar to me and I suddenly get bombarded with calls and messages from Ev. I turn my phone off and slug down the drink. The bartender looks at me, shocked, and hands me another. I toss back the second drink and ask for her to keep them coming.

She hands me my fifth and final drink, which I sip slowly. I think about why Ev would do this to me. I have been nothing but a good friend to her. I pay my tab, tipping the bartender $25 for keeping the drinks coming and get up from my chair, wobbling slightly. I feel eyes on me as I walk out of the bar, but I just ignore it. I decide that I'm going to confront Ev when I get home. I may be drunk, but I'm still fuming. As I walk down the empty sidewalk, I hear heavy footsteps close behind me.

"Hey gorgeous." an unfamiliar voice echoes. I keep walking. "Hey, I'm talking to you." The voice grows closer. I pick up the pace and turn down what I think is a side street to get him off my tail. I look forward and my heart drops. Dead end.

 I hear a sinister laugh behind me. I turn to see an older man, probably in his mid to late forties. Gross. "Playing hard to get, huh?" he says with a sick grin. I try to move past him, but he grabs me by my elbow before I can escape.

"I can show you a real good time sweetheart." he says as he slithers his hand up my leg and under my skirt. I push him off of me, only getting a few steps away before something hard collides with my skull. I'm forced to the pavement, swaying in and out of consciousness. I feel my skirt being pulled off of me as I lay there, unable to fight back. My heart drops to my stomach as I feel the man's rough hands assault my body. Tears roll down my cheeks as I fade in and out of reality.

".... Jade?....Jade!...." I hear a familiar voice call out to me. Heavy footsteps approach me, as the stranger shouts my name. The sound of a gunshot rattles me, and the man's hands quickly leave my body. I feel strong hands lift my head off the ground, trying desperately to keep me conscious. But before I can see my savior, my head hits the pavement. Lights out.

TOM POV

Jade's body lays limp in my arms as I carefully carry her to the car. Her body is covered in blood from the man I just killed to save her. I gently set her in the back seat, making sure she's still breathing. I sit down in the driver's seat and speed home, keeping an eye on her as she lays in the back.

----

11: 47 PM

As I pull into the driveway, Bill stands in the garage, a cigarette hangs from his lips. He watches as I pull in past him, smirking at me. I step out of the car, and he gives me a onceover. I look down, realizing I'm covered in that creep's blood. I silently walk around to the back of the car and open the door to Jade's still limp body. 

"Help me bring her in." I say to Bill, who gives me a confused look. He steps around to where I am and looks into the car. "Dude, what did you do? Drug her?" he asks sarcastically. I shake my head. "No, I've been following her around today and she was attacked by some creep in an alleyway." I say, annoyed.

"Is that why you're covered in blood?" He inquires, looking me up and down. I nod as I hoist Jade over my shoulder. "No mercy. I don't take too kindly to people like that. I thought I'd bring her here so she would be safe." I respond. Bill opens the door to the kitchen and helps me bring her upstairs to my bedroom.

Christine's stuff is still here. Gross. I'll drop it off at her place tomorrow.

 I gently set Jade in my bed and carefully undress her. Her skin is pale and smooth. I quietly pull one of my T-shirts and a pair of sweatpants from the closet and bring it over to the bed. Carefully, I slip the shirt over her head and slide the sweats up her legs. I notice a huge gash on her forehead, bleeding heavily. I quickly find my first aid kit in my bathroom and gently clean and dress her wound. I sigh as I cover her with the blankets and head back to the bathroom for a shower.