Heart Full Of Needles

Chapter Five

Carnival followed Connor around the store. She wasbtoald to get whatever she wanted but all she had picked out was a couple shirts and a few pairs of pants. She wasn't used to people spending money on her. Everting she owned she had bought with her own money. She was still trying to get used to the idea that she was living with Connor. It still seemed weird and it was slightly awkward. 

"You okay?" Connor interrupted her thoughts.

She had been looking at the same shirt for five minutes, not realizing it. "Yeah sorry. I was just thinking."

"May I ask what about?" Connor smiled at her.

For some reason she felt as if she could tell him, but she didn't want to upset him. He was nice. Nicer than anyone else had ever been. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him. She thought for a moment. 

"I was just thinking that I should cook you dinner. You made me breakfast and dinner so I have to return the favor." She found herself smiling.

Connor stared at her for a moment. "You're beautiful when you smile." His smile was soft.

Carnival blushed, turning away. "Th-thanks."

Connor chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, causing her face to redden more. She found herself at a loss for words. 

"Are you blushing?" He teased. "Its so cute."

She pulled away, keeping her face out of his sight. Her heart was beating like crazy. Why would he do that?! She could hear him chuckle. Clearing her throat, she turned around, her eyes dark.

"Please don't do that again. I am grateful for what you're doing, but I still barely know you." Carnival said.

"I'm sorry. It was meant as a joke. I didn't know you were sensitive about that sort of thing." Connor apologized. 

Carnival sighed. "No. It's alright. I just... I'm just not used to that sort of thing. I have had one boyfriend and he was a major asshole."

Connor looked at her. "Did he... uh... did he try anything?"

She nodded her head. "Once and it was while he was drunk. I broke up with him the next day and he stalked me for two years afterwards."

Connor clenched his fist. For reasons he didn't know, it royally pissed him off to hear that something like that had happened to her. He wanted to know more. Everything there was to know about Carnival, he wanted to know. The good, the bad, all of it. He felt a soft hand on his shoulder and saw Carnival looking at him with a concerned expression.

"I'm okay. Sorry." He said simply.

Carnival stared at him for a moment before turning back to the rack they were standing at. "What do you think about this shirt?" She asked, holding up a black tank with a skull on it.

Connor chuckled. "I think it's cute. Which reminds me, I need to go and grab something real quick. When you're done here, come and get me. I'll be two stores down."

Carnival smiled and nodded. "Okay. Be careful."

He smiled, turning to leave. She watched him walk away and then looked in the cart. Deciding to grab a couple other items, she set it at the front by a clerk and walked outside. They had been shopping all day and now it was starting to get dark. She looked both way and decided to go left. Connor had just told her two stores down so it could only be one of the two that she could see.

She could see a group of guys eyeing her and she picked up her pace. As she passed, she heard them snicker. Quickly (and rather stupidly) she turned a corner, leading herself into a deadended alley. She cursed herself and turned around only to come face to face with one of the boys. His ruffled red hair hung down in front of his deep sea green eyes. The familiar scratch mark scar on his face made her gasp and stumble backwards. 

"A-Able!" Carnival stuttered. 

Able Thompson was the only man Carnival had ever dated, and as she had explained to Connor, He had stalked her for two years after they broke up. Or so she thought. But here he was, standing in front of her, an evil smirk on his twisted face. As he stepped closer, she stepped farther back until her back hit the wall. Fear was clear in her eyes and she could already feel tears stinging the back of her eyes as she stared at the deranged man.

"Oh Carnival. How I have searched for you!" Able smiled wider. "You are certainly looking quite delicious."

"Stay away from me! How did you even find me?!" Carnival asked, feeling her voice shake.

"It took so long, but since I know several several people, it wasn't that hard." He said.

Carnival had nothing to say. She had hoped that that part of her past wouldn't catch up to her. Able put his hands on either side of her head and leaned in closer. She could see that they were the only two in the alley now. The other men, she guessed, had left to keep watch in case anyone tried to come down the small alley. She was shaking, physically, now. 

"Please leave me alone. I didn't do anything to you." She said, her voice cracking.

"Oh but you did. You broke my heart and then left. Just like that. Not thinking twice about it." He said, his smile fading to an angry look.

"You tried to push me into something I wasn't comfortable with doing!" Carnival could feel her anger growing and her fear subsiding.

"Oh you know you wanted it. All of it. Every fucking inch." He said.

Carnival's anger had reached it's limit and, without realizing what she was doing, she reached up and punched Able in the face. He stumbled back, holding his cheek where a red mark was. Carnival knew that she had made a huge mistake. Able kicked her in the stomach, sending her to the ground, breathless. The anger on his face was intense. She gasped, trying to catch even a small bit of air.

"Look here you little bitch, you can't just punch me and expect not to get some sort of punishment." Able spat down at her.

Carnival looked up at him, knowing that she couldn't do anything to escape him. He had always been faster and stronger than her. He grabbed a fist full of her multi-colored hair and jerked her up. Carnival whimpered in pain. Her hands automatically reached up and grabbed his, trying to pry them away. 

"Don't even try to defy me this time. I'm going to finish what I started four years ago." Able said, ripping Carnivals shirt off.

Carnival went to scream only for it to be muffled by Able's hand. Tears were rolling down her face which only added to Able's pleasure. He smiled again, his eyes wondering over her body. He took note of all of the improvements. Her chest was bigger, waist a bit thinner, and she had grown a couple inches. She was beautiful. How he wanted to devour and vandalize every inch of her body, every fiber of her being.

"Please let me go. Please." Carnival begged.

"Oh yes! Please please please keep begging. I love it when you beg!" Able snickered.

Carnival couldn't help but cry. She shouldn't have turned down the alley. She cursed herself again. Why did these things have to happen to her? She could hear a blade being flipped open and she looked up to see Able holding a pocket knife in his hands, staring at it. She shook her head, unable to form words.

Oh god no! Anything but that! She thought.

He placed the cold metal blade against the flesh of her bare chest, beside one of her bra straps. She closed her eyes wanting it all to be over. Whatever nightmare she was in, she wanted to wake up from it. She wanted to be back asleep on Connor's couch. A tug and snap and her bra strap fell away. She held her eyes closed tighter. Whatever he was going to do wasn't going to be fast.

She felt the blade sink into her flesh and she held back a scream. Blood caressed her skin between her breasts and down to her stomach, soaking the edge of her shorts. Gritting her teeth, she felt several more small cuts, all of her blood draining down her body. She started getting light headed. 

"I can't..." Carnival found it hard to talk.

"Oh no. We can't have you passing out on me now. I want you to be awake for this my sweet." He whispered in her ears and he kissed her neck.

She shivered. From the loss of blood, she could barely feel or see anything. Black was taking over the edges of her vision and she could feel her legs start to give out.