Swirl

5. Assumptions, assumptions.

A/N:
I really like the end of this chapter.
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Thato stood up and shielded himself with the back of his forearms but James continued to beat him senseless, barely allowing him the privilege to comprehend what was happening to him. As James went apeshit on him, Achim dragged Lerato and backed away a few steps towards the entrance of the alleyway.

Lerato squirmed and tried to shimmy her way out of Achim's death grip, but he wasn't budging.

Assuming that she was indeed about to be raped, he coddled her while he watched the merciless beat down that James had been giving Thato, never stopping to heed her pleas.

"Shh baby, shh. We're here now," he cooed, "Don't be afraid. We'll protect you."

In response, she elbowed him in the stomach but he flexed his muscles so that it wouldn't hurt. "You're traumatized, sweetheart, but we got here just in time. Let me comfort you," he said as he turned them away from the violence.

She screamed at the sound of the guttural cries that had been escaping from Thato. She could have sworn she heard James break a few of his bones.

Thato was defenseless. He took all the punches and kicks that were being served without resistance. If it came down to it, a police officer would have taken James' side over Thato's, without a doubt.

With Lerato and Achim's backs turned, James punched Thato hard enough for him to collapse onto the ground and then kicked him in the stomach.

Thato grunted hard and it made the hair on Lerato's neck stand and salute.

"Dear god, why? Please stop!" Thato begged in between kicks and punches.

"You deserve to die, you rapist piece of kak!"

Lerato couldn't take it anymore. Her handsome stranger was being beaten incessantly and it was because of her. Her kicks and cries were proving to be futile as Achim could barely hear a word she was saying over her hysterical tears and his useless coos. She did the next thing she could logically think of that would force him to release her.

She kicked her foot back and hit the space that hosted the apex of his thighs.

Fearing for the safety of his family jewels, Achim swore loudly and released her slightly to ward off any further attacks, to which she took as an opportunity to break free from his clamping grip.

She ran the short distance to James, who was taking a short break to rub his raw knuckles, and threw herself in front of Thato's nearly wilted and trembling body as a human shield. Tearstains kissed her plump cheeks as she yelled with all her might, "James, stop! Please, I'm begging you! You'll kill him!"

Achim stepped forward and tried to reach out for her, but she recoiled. "Lerry, please. We're protecting you! Come here."

James clenched and unclenched his sore fists as he looked at the collusion between the body he wanted to protect and the body he wanted to destroy. His breath came out in heavy breathes; he was livid and in 'kill mode.'

"Lerato, let me do this for you," he said in a strained voice, "Let me defend your honor as an apology for thinking you were a prostitute. I'm so sorry. Had I known it was you, I'd have-,"

James didn't get to finish his sentiment. Nothing about what he said brought any form of reprieve to Lerato's tumultuous chest.

"If you'd known it was me, you wouldn't have said it because you know me," she spat, "Otherwise, that's what I am to you, a common whore! That's what every female my skin color is to you, you jerk!"