Being In Your Arms

Chapter 33: Mutual Respect

Emily's point of view:

After Liv had stayed with us for two weeks, she had gotten a job as a waitress and applied for the university of LA. She said she had planned on becoming an elementary school teacher, and planned on getting a degree. I was really proud of how quickly she had begun to get her life back together.

At the moment, I was walking in the streets of LA with some baby stuff. Since the babies would be here in three months, I needed to get some diapers and other things just so Eli and I are prepared. I didn't buy too much as a lot of stores were closed on Sundays and it was nine o clock at night. This was the only time I had at the moment.

Even though the streets were full of bustling cars honking horns at other cars, it was still a little disturbing to be walking home this late. Eli had the car at work, where he would be until at least eleven tonight. Walking didn't matter to me anyway. I just didn't like the quiet in some of the less populated areas I walked through.

I heard high heels walking a few feet away from me and a familiar voice talking on the phone to someone. She seemed frustrated as she talked and she walked rather quick. I looked back and saw that it was Vanessa on the phone. She must have just gotten back from work. She was wearing a white button blouse and a really tight and short black skirt. The regular office whore. She didn't seem to see me walking in front of her. I turned my head back as she turned into an alleyway. The place we were at was quiet now, no one walking around me.

I went right on a corner, everything seemed normal and I was about five minutes away from home. It wasn't until I heard a crack and a loud scream coming from metres away from me. I nearly dropped my bags when I heard it. I ran to where the scream was and hid behind a wall. In the alleyway was a man and the screaming woman getting raped by him. This woman was Vanessa.

I was faced with a standing ultimatum. Do I help Vanessa or do I run away? For all intents and purposes she is the enemy, but I can't let some pig rape her! Can I? Tears ran down my eyes as I contemplated this dangerous situation. I didn't have a lot of time, this man had her pinned down and was this close to really raping her. I can't let her get this hurt.

I dropped my bags and got a taser out of my purse. I shouted at the man to stop and shot him with the taser right in the stomach. He twitched around and fell to the ground in pain. I grabbed Vanessa by the arm and ran away with her. I left the taser with the man but I didn't care. I ran far away from the alley and stopped when I thought we had gotten away from him.

"Emily?" Vanessa asked. Finally identifying who I was. We were sitting on the ground. She was against a wall and I was against a streetlight. She was panting and bleeding along her brow where the man hit her. Her skirt was hiked up slightly, and she didn't bother putting it down.

"I heard you scream." I said to her. She nodded and I saw a tear fall from her eye. I had never associated Vanessa with crying. I guess this showed she was a person too, with feelings and emotion.

"Well...thank you, I guess, for saving me." She said quietly. Wow, this is a weird day. Vanessa just thanked me for something. It's like I'm in an alternate universe where cats chase dogs and sitcoms are funny.

"Think nothing of it. It just seemed immoral letting you get raped." I replied. She chuckled and nodded again. She sighed and shook her head.

"What?" I asked. She looked at me and leaned her head into her hand as she ran her fingers through her dark hair.

"I just-I want to apologize for how I've been to you." She said. I fought off widening my eyes. Did she literally just say that? This couldn't be happening right now! Am I dreaming?