Thrust Into His Arms

"I wasn’t abused by a stepdad. It was by someone else." I really do not know why I am opening up about this right now.

"Huh. . .? Who was it then?" He asked keenly.

"Some guy at the school I used to attend." I exhaled and continue, "It started with bullying. He threatened my life on multiple occasions.

Every school day for me was like. . . . Always filled with fear and constant unrest and paranoia.

Looking over my shoulder, heart galloping not knowing what to expect.

I ignored it all and pushing through with the hope that I would graduate and get a chance to a top university.

I always look past whatever they did. I saw it as a sacrifice that I had to make for a stable future. I should have left when it started. If I had known that it was going to end up so badly for me, I would’ve. . . . .

The reason I cried when I saw that interview is because it should have been me.

I was perfectly on track and set for the state swimming competition. I was better than anybody else, it was a given that I could’ve won. But then they ruined everything." I swallowed to ease the choking feeling in my chest and throat.

"It wouldn’t have mattered much if it was only just the abuse. I could’ve willed myself to forget it. But he just had to upload the video.

He documented every bit of the humiliation and let everyone see it because his friends who had been there to film it weren’t enough. And then he the guts to tell me to return, that he would fix it." Remembering how he had made it sound and seem like it was my fault instead of apologizing for what he had done forces up grief and tears.

Richard pulls me up and takes me into his embrace, letting me cry and wet his shirt with snort and tears. "It’s okay. Let it out." He comforts. No amount of letting it out is going to make this go away. I got a hold of myself and pulled back minutes later. "Sorry about your shirt." I say.

"It’s okay. You can even use it as a handkerchief." He jokingly responded. "Well I’m glad that it wasn’t a family member. There is a little bit of relief there.

Did you ever thought about getting revenge?"

"I did. But I could not think of anything I could possibly do to someone like him as a payback because there isn’t a single one.

So I just left and came here."

"We gotta hope on Karma then. For him or his future spawns to go through the same thing he did to you."

"That would take a long time."

"But it’s still going to happen."

"No, because his children are going to be even more evil than him.

What is that besides you over there?" I ask, noticing the bottle next to him on the other side. He picks it up, "Oh this? It’s a bullet."

I frown slightly, "Bullet?" In a can?

"Mmm mmm. It is a drink made from mixing different kinds of alcohol together. Not the regular kind of alcohol, but ones with very high alcohol content. Together it hits like a bullet and makes one high very quickly.

I had stopped by a friend’s party and gotten it before I came here."

I take the bottle from him and discovered that it is a rubber can and it’s not cap is not properly screwed on. He tells me not to leave it that way and not cover it completely when I touched it. "It would burst. The drinks do not all have compatible ingredients." He said.

"How does it make one feel?"

"High." He simply answers.

You and your brain forget each other for a while. Your body would feel light like it’s floating and defying gravity.

Why are you curious? Give it to me." I turn my back and block his hand as he tries to take it.

"Can I try it?" I asked naughtily. I just feel like getting a taste of this substance. I have never tasted alcohol in my life. Come to think of it, I missed out. I should have long tried it since it is said to make one forget their troubles.

Why did I not think of this?

"No you cannot. You won’t be able to handle it."

"I know. That is exactly why I want to try it."

"No can do. Give it back now!" It is fun to see him become stern. I get up and start running, he is chasing me trying to get it back. Now we are both running like little kids. This feels so fun! I giggle mischievously while still running like my life depends on it.

The liquid spills on my hand. It feels so warm—almost hot. I remove the cover and bring the mouth of the can to my lips, taking sips—more like gulps. Richard catches up to me and drags it away.

"Damn it." He cussed, looking very annoyed, seeing there is only just a little bit left. "It’s not water! Why would you chug it like that?"

"It’s not like it was much before." I open my mouth and start sucking in air to cool my tongue. "Man, that’s hot and bitter! How do you even enjoy that?" I exclaim, fanning my tongue.

"There is weed mixed in it." He said.

"What? Why are you just telling me that now?" I shouted.

"You took it and ran off and did not listen when I was yelling at you not to drink it!"

"Okay fine, it is my fault. And it’s not that bad—I mean it is not cocaine or opium. Those aren’t in it right?"

"No. But the weed is really strong. You are going to be so dizzy that you’ll think the world is a rollercoaster.

Can you see me clearly? How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Are you doing drunk testing?"

"Answer me."

"Four." I smoothly answer.

"Good.

You’re still sober. Go get your bag and let’s you get you to the motel so you can sleep it off now and feel less terrible when you wake up tomorrow." He moves ahead to the spot where we had been sitting.

I had run far.

Why are my legs moving so slow?

Why is the ground suddenly soft and unsteady? Am I standing on a pillow? I want to call out to Richard, but my voice refuse to come out audibly.

I feel myself becoming lightweight. "Gina. . .!!" Richard shouting my name was the last thing I heard before everything went black.

CALIX

I saw her falling and immediately ran to her. That guy lifts her and carries her over his shoulder. "What the hell did you just do to her?" I growl at him.

"Piss off, man. Who the hell are you?" He says rudely.

"Put her down this instant."

"Get out of my way." He hold him back as he tries to move past me. "What the fuck is your problem?" He snarls.

"I said put her down."

"And leave her here? Not a chance. What are you planning to do to her? You’re not even bothering to hide your sick intentions. I’m not letting you have her."

"You are painting me as vile when you were the one who drugged her. Do not even think about lying." I knew that this guy has no good intentions. Who knows? This might not even be the first time.

"I did not drug her. I swear it was an accident! Call the cops or whatever and I will explain that to them right now.

But hold on a second, how did you know that she is drugged?

For you to easily tell and just appear out of a sudden. . . . .

That means you must have been watching.

Am I wrong?

Your physique is quite similar to the person I had seen standing suspiciously outside the restaurant this morning.

Was that you?"