Raped

The Rape

"It was raining on the third day of our trip. The drops were steady and soft, while the streets were covered in water and mud. It was too muddy to go out that day. It rained the entire day. At night, Zen's phone rang. After she hung up, she ran up to us, and asked us to go out with her. It was about eleven at the night. Looking her this excited, it was hard to say her no. We went to a park that was about fifteen minutes away from our apartment. There was no one, but the four of us. Soon Isaac and his friends joined in. Isaac told me he liked my cousin and wanted to spend some time with her, that's why he asked us to join them.

We had Burger King for dinner. After we were all full, Isaac and Zen decided to go for a walk.
Ian handed beer cans to us, and everyone started smoking and getting 'pumped up,' according to Ian."

"And you too?" Ellen asked placing the finished cup of coffee on the table.
"No. I don't drink or smoke. My friends did however."
"Okay I see, go on."

"So.. They were insisting me to have it too. Ian and one of his friends were smoking weed. They were like, 'this is your only chance don't miss it- moreover its legal in Canada' and all that crap. I was getting a bit irritated, and that's when Leroy asked them to mind their business. I got up and started strolling. Leroy came after me. He told me he wanted to talk. Remember I told you that I met him a few months before the trip? At that time, he told me he was interested in me, but I wasn't, so I rejected him. As I was walking, he told me how I should be giving him a chance and not say no to him. There was a point where we had an argument too."

"Can you go through that too?" Ellen asked, at this point, she was jotting down words in her notebook.

"Yes sure. He actually grabbed my hand and pulled me close to him. So I asked him to leave my hand, but he didn't. So I slapped him.
'This will cause you trouble, Halsey' is what he replied. I thought he was just trying to scare me so I paid no heed and started walking. That's when he grabbed my wrist and locked my hands. I got angrier, and so I started kicking him and moving my hands. I started yelling at him. All his friends arrived. I could tell by their faces, they were all high. Finally, Leroy let go of my hands, and asked me to apologize to him for the slap. I slapped him once more. And then Ian and the others started walking close to me. I started running towards the main gate and to the streets. They came after me. After about five minutes of running, I tripped and fell down. My heart beat faster. I got up and started again, but a hand was by my waist pulling me backwards. It was Ian. Leroy stood in front of me. Their presence made me feel disgusting. My eyes were full of thick, moist tears. I did not intend to cry in front of them. Leroy smiled, scooted closer and whispered, 'trust me, I wouldn't have done it this way, but you forced me to.'

They laid me down onto the street. The road felt cold and hard. It was midnight, and there was no one around. I was too scared. I thought my heart will burst. I closed my eyes, and started begging and pleading to them. I was twisting and fidgeting my hands and legs. All in vein. I was locked, and no movement would work at the time. I was too embarrassed to open my eyes. I felt one hand, unbuttoning my shirt. As soon as it touched my skin, I started moving in all directions, screaming and cursing them.

I heard a sound. It was a bike. I opened my eyes, and the bike slowed down while passing by. It was Isaac on the bike, he looked right at me. And I screamed his name. Zen was sitting right behind him. But he left. Isaac left. Just like that. Leroy, Ian and the others were laughing. Their inhuman laughter still plays in my mind. I feel like stabbing them with a knife. Why Ellen, why? Why me? Is it really a crime to say no to someone?"

I was crying too much. I could no longer speak to her. After a moment, she patted my head. I looked up at her, and figured even she had tears in her eyes. However, she said nothing. There was complete silence between us. Why was Ellen crying? Does it mean she too have been through something similar to this?