Page 71 of Kneeling for Them

Ella

Work at the pub goes by quickly, and I’m light on my feet.I know why, too—it’s because of Kingston telling me he loves me.My heart is full, although I ache for Sebastian’s return.

The bus stop is only half a block away.My thoughts are with Kingston and Sebastian.I still haven’t decided exactly how I feel about Sebastian.A major part of me wants to just let it all go, forget the whole thing.He’s never hurtme, has he?At least, not in any way I objected to.

Maybe it was a misunderstanding between him and the woman.I want to talk to her.

As I pass a narrow alley between the karaoke bar and a strip club, a beefy hand shoots out and grabs a fistful of my coat.I’m yanked into the darkness, yards away from the alley entrance.I try to scream, but my attacker covers my mouth with his hand.He smells of sweat and stale alcohol, like Bartleby’s at the end of a busy game night.

I know better.I’ve lived here for over a year.But I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings like I should have been.

“Don’t scream,” the man says.“I just wanna talk to you, you pretty thing.”

Talk?Yeah, right.

When he lets go of my mouth, I suck in a breath to shout for help.

“Fucking bitch!”he says, covering my mouth again.

This is what Sebastian is afraid of doing to me?Sebastian is nothing like this man.I can’t imagine Sebastian doing anything like this.I’m sure it can be different, that date rape is different from whatever this guy wants to happen here, but I’m finding new strength in the knowledge that whatever Sebastian has done, it wasn’t this.

Now I just have to get away.

“Girlie, you know you want it,” he says, leering at me.

“No,” I say against his hand on my mouth.

“Nnnnn,” he mimics in a high-pitched, mocking voice.He pushes me against the wall and reaches for my waist.

He wants to hurt me.He wants to rape me in this alley, one hand on my mouth so I can’t scream or breathe.

Panic tries to cloud my thoughts, but I can’t let it.I have to get away.Not just for myself, but for Sebastian, Kingston.For Tommy.For Natasha, Mrs.Dali.Kevin.I don’t know why I make it about them instead of about me, but listing their names in my head helps clarify my thoughts and quiet the panic.

Lessons from my dad rise up in my mind—lessons I’d long since forgotten…or so I’d thought.I lift my foot and stomp on the guy’s instep as hard as I can.He howls and jerks away for a moment.I don’t give him a chance to recover, but spin around.Bracing my hands behind me on the wall, I kick out.My foot connects with his balls and now he really howls.

“You’ll fucking pay for that,” he shouts.

But I’m already running out of the alley, screaming “Rape!”at the top of my lungs.

In this neighborhood, I wouldn’t expect much help, but Rick runs out of Kitty Cat Karaoke and rushes to my side.

“Where?”He’s pulling a phone from his pocket.“I’m calling nine-one-one.”

“It’s—I’m sure he’s already gone,” I say, panting.

“Let’s go look,” Rick says.

Staggering, I lead him to the area next to the club.Several other random people, men and women alike, huddle around the alley entrance with us.

“He ran down that way,” a woman says.“Are you all right?”

I nod, still catching my breath.

“Yes,” Rick says into his phone.“I’m reporting an attempted rape.”

“I don’t want to talk to the police,” I say in a quiet voice.

Rich taps a button on his phone.“I muted it.You don’t have to talk to anyone, but the police need to know there’s someone in the area.I’m going to put up signs in the club, as well.Can you describe the guy?”