The footsteps echoed behind her as she walked quickly through the dark streets. They had been following her for almost ten minutes and no matter how many turns, she took, they still managed to find her. She considered running but she was already tired from her long shift at work and it would just make them quicken their pace too. Feeling hunted, she saw the looming sign of Helm Park and gasped in relief. For though it was mostly unlit, she knew the familiar park like the back of her hand and she doubted that the downtown men ever came this far into the suburban area.
Hurrying past a dim playground, she could no longer hear the footsteps behind her and sighed in relief. This release of air had barely passed her lips when she was grabbed roughly and thrown against a tree. A short scream escaped her lips but a calloused hand cut it off by a swift grab at her throat as a muffled voice warned her to stay silent or she would regret it. The hand then travelled elsewhere over her body, searching for that massive pay check, and she shuddered visibly causing her head to be once more knocked violently against the tree. Another brief scream left her lips and she could feel blood trickling down the side of her face. She could hear the laughter of other men as she was released before being once again thrown at the rough tree. This one’s hands were softer but his breath reeked of cheap alcohol and she once again shuddered, attempting to kick out at his briefly exposed legs. He shoved a not-so-soft fist into her stomach and she briefly choked as bile rose in her throat.
Then she heard a thump, followed by a couple more and her assailant suddenly pulled away from her, dragging her a few feet off the tree. His hand at her throat tightened and she gasped for air before her bruised airway was released. Collapsing on the ground, she was dimly aware of punches being thrown before all was silent. Shuffling back on her backside, she found herself curled up once again against the side of the tree once more. She buried her head between her knees and shuddered, reliving her ordeal. When a gentle hand landed on her shoulder she screamed before the person shushed her and she realised that he wasn’t one of the three that had followed her from her beachfront travel agency. Although he was her saviour, she still flinched as his hand reached for her and as he helped her up, she stared into those beautiful, brown, sightless eyes…
Jolting awake, Letitia Hampton stared at the mess of tangled sheets that adorned her once neat bed. They were drenched in sweat and she shivered violently despite her brief fever. Dropping back onto the pillows she remembered the horrible dream, one which she had relived nearly every day since that terrifying event. Two months had passed and she had moved on from the screaming stage a month ago, now only silently reliving the nightmares unknown to her best friend – and housemate – Kate Lucas. Kate had been her sole help in the lonely times as although her parents were caring, they were preoccupied by her invalid brother.
Glancing at the clock, Lettie saw that the time was nearing 8:30 and slid out of the mess she had created. After a long shower, she dressed in a grey pencil skirt and a ruffled, red, sleeveless blouse. With matching Gucci heels, she felt far more refreshed than she had for days and she actually took the time to curl her dark hair. She knew there was something important on today, but she couldn’t – no matter what she tried – remember what it was. Applying just a little make-up, she took her time walking downstairs and was consequentially nearly deafened by the “Surprise” that followed her entrance. In confusion she tried to remember the date, not having kept track of it other than to book dates for all of her wealthy clients.
