Looking
over her shoulder in a panic, Quinn continued franticly running through the ever-narrowing
streets. A few meters behind her, she could still make out the shadow of her
large follower. Her heart was racing faster and faster with every step, she
took. From her recently twisted ankle
right up to her thigh muscles were twitching with pain. Running for miles had
begun to take its toll on her body, Quinn needed to find a hiding place and
quick.
Noticing a small alleyway to her left, she
quickly glanced behind her. Hoping that her follower was far enough behind her
not to see her, she slipped into the darkness. Searching through the darkness,
she found a large dumpster at the end of the alley. Creeping down beside it,
pulling her knees into her chest breathing deeply Quinn sucked in heaps of air
and tried to quiet her loud puffing.
She was
safe for only a few minutes before she could hear the footsteps of someone
heading up the alleyway towards her. Looking around beside her for a weapon for
protection, she spied two tiny pairs of eyes glimmering up at her from the
darkness. Slowly the moved closer and closer, the sound of scratching claws
could be heard on the concert beneath her. A small squeaking sound began as the
reached her hand, and she could feel fur tickling her hand. Rats!
The
sweat began running down her forehead, Quinn couldn’t scream. Her life depended
on her not making a noise. Sitting terrified beside the bin as the rats ran up
her arm and onto her head, she closed her eyes and prayed for a miracle. The
footsteps moved slowly closer and closer until they were within just a few
meters. Opening her eyes, she began to brace herself for what might happen when
her hiding place was uncovered.
Reaching
around beside her, she prayed for a weapon, her fist were strong but she felt
safer with something of backup. Sliding her hand slowly along the coarse tar
road, her fingers discovered exactly what she was after. Long solid and heavy!
Using all upper body strength, she pulled herself up against the wall. Holding
her weapon against her chest Quinn waited breathing deeply, she could feel the
tears slowly dripping down her cheeks.
Through
the darkness, she could just make out a tall figure just a meter in front of
her. For the moment she had the upper hand, she could see him but he was yet to
discover her. In one quick movement, she launched from her against the wall.
With her whole body weight behind it she swung, she didn’t know where she was
aiming but she knew she had connected. Her attacker groaned with pain as he
crumbled to the pavement. Not waiting to see what happened next she ran from
the alley back out into the open and down onto the street.
Quinn
was glad to under the bright street lights, whoever the man was in the alley
would be able to see her clearly but then she would also be able to see him.
Though she wasn’t sure she wanted to see his face, she knew the shadow figure
was enough for her imagination to frighten her for months. If she saw his face
than she could go to the cops, maybe get some help from someone. Thankfully she
blessed living in a city of a few million people; someone was always around no
matter the time of night. They might have all been strangers but she wasn’t
alone now, no one would risk trying something with witnesses would they? All
she knew was that she wasn’t going to wait around to find out.
Making
her way through the streets towards graffiti covered bus stop, she searched for
her wallet. Closing her eyes for a moment, a single tear ran down her cheek…
her wallet was in her handbag, and her handbag was most likely sitting beside
that dumpster! And she knew what was lying near that dumpster. Panic hit her as
she crumbled to her knees on the hard
concrete footpath, not only did that handbag contain the money she would need
to get home, it also held something even more valuable. Her driver’s license,
her license which had her name and her address. Letting out a mournful sob, she
realized that it also held the keys to her apartment.
Whoever
the guy was hopefully laying on the pavement hurt had her whole life laying
just a few centimeters away from him. If he found her handbag she would never
be safe, he would know everything about her, if he didn’t already. She had
never seen his face the whole time she was so focused on running, so focused on
getting as much distance between them that she hadn’t once stopped and tried to
identify him. She couldn’t think about this now! She had to go back and get her
bag, there was no other option.
Lifting
herself slowly from the pavement, ever muscle in her body ached. She felt sore
in muscles that she didn’t even know she had and she was sure there was skin
off her knees. Walking back towards the alleyway, her stomach twisted and
turned. Taking deep breaths she tried to remember the personal safety courses
that they had demonstrated during school. Was it an elbow to the head and a
knee to the groin, or was it the other way around. Oh why hadn’t she kept her
weapon that she’d found earlier. She knew it had done some damage, she had
heard the crack as it made contact with his bones and the cry that came from
his lips.
Standing
at the opening of the alley, squinting her eyes to see through the darkness. Quinn’s
internal monologue started up a chant ‘You can do this! You can do this!’ The
first step was the hardest, she had just made it from the devils clutches and
now she was putting herself smack bang back in his grasp again. Ignoring all
her bodies urges to turn and run, she slowly walked towards the dumpster. Her
heart was pounding so loudly, it was hard to hear anything else. Stopping and
grasping hold of the nearest brick wall, she took three deep breaths, sucking
in air and filling her lungs than out again. Her heart slowed, and she focused
her ears on the silence of the alleyway. If anything in this alley moved, if
anything breathed, she wanted to hear it.
She
could just make out the dumpster through the blackness, quickly darting her
eyes down to the ground. She was glad to see there wasn’t a body lying there in
wait, her happiness rapidly turned to fear as she realized now she had no idea
where her attacker was. While she was on the street, she had still kept an eye
on the gap in to wall and no one else had entered the street. So he was either
waiting for her, hiding somewhere in the darkness or had turned and limped back
out the way they had came. The more she thought, the more the panic build
inside her again. Clambering down on all four she searched around the side of
the dumpster. She needed to find her handbag and get out of this place, as fast
as possible.
It only
took a few minutes before her hand rubbed against the soft cool leather of her
handbag. Wrapping her hands around the handles, she rose to her feet in one
quick motion, turned on her heels and bolted back towards the safety of the
street. As she came back out into the bright lights she spotted a bus coming
turning the corner into the street. She didn’t even care where the bus was heading;
she was getting on it and getting out of this place. Running back to bus stop,
she quickly dug through her handbag for some cash, taking quick notice if
anything was missing. She let out a shy of relief; thankfully it didn’t appear
as though anything had been touched. Climbing aboard the bus she kept her eyes
low to avoid having to explain her disheveled appearance to anyone.
Making
her way to the first free seat, she sat down taking deep breaths as she tried
to calm her heart rate. Slowly she unzipped her handbag, this time taking a
deeper look at the messy contents. Taking out her pocket sized make up mirror
she opened it slowly and peered at the reflection looking back at her. Mascara,
eye liner, foundation and lipstick ran in all directions from her eye lids down
underneath her chin. Her skin was puffy and red from crying and running and her
hair was doing its very best impression of a birds nest in a cyclone. It definitely was not her finest hour! Her
new dark blue dress now had a side split, revealing a dark purple bruise
already formed just above her hip. Her faithful black stiletto heels, which she
had been her first purchase when she moved into the city, now resembled open
toed ballet flats. As much as it pained her to see her favorite shoes in such a
state, right now she was glad not be wearing heels as her right ankle had
doubled in size and had its own pulse. Strange how she had forgotten the pain
of her twisted ankle while she was concerned about ditching her follower but
now as she stared down towards it, the pain running up her leg was excruciating.
Gazing
out the tinted windows at the buzzing city lights as they drove by, she hadn’t
noticed the man that carried a slight limp and held his left arm closely at his
chest who climbed onto the bus a few minutes after her and who was now sitting
just three seats behind her, watching her ever movement with a suspiciously
cheeky grin resting across his face.
Quinn focused
all her attention on keeping her emotions under control; she didn't want to
have to deal with the any other passenger asking her if she was okay or what
happened. Quinn didn't even want to think of those questions herself without
having to talk with a complete stranger about them. She didn't even know if there
were other passengers on board, she was too focused on herself to check out her
fellow travelers. So slowly and gently she shifted in her seat so her back was
against the cold glass of the window and she could look down along the bus. At
the back of the bus sat three very gangsta looking boys, who couldn’t have been
any older than thirteen, Quinn could see one had a small pocket knife in his
hand and was carving something into the handle of the chair in front of him
while the others kept an eye on the driver and were taking long sips from a
bottle in a brown paper bag. Quickly looking away before they had a chance to
react to her prying eyes, she continued along the rows until she came to two
short women dressed in nurse’s uniforms. Who were obviously on there way home
from a busy late night shift as they yawn and rubbed there darkened eyes. Quinn
thought of asking them to check out her injuries but the thought quickly
disappeared from her mind when she eyed a man sitting just a few rows back from
her. His eyes were focused on her from underneath a dark hooded jacket. A chill
ran up Quinn’s back, it couldn't be the man from the alley, could it? She
hadn't paid that much attention to anything as she climbed aboard the bus, but
he wasn't in the alley when she'd gone back and she knew he hadn't followed her
into the street, she'd made sure to watch dark gap in the wall for any
movement. 'Stop it!' She thought to herself, 'he was probably already on the
bus before I hopped on and he probably seen the way I looked and was curious
about me'. Quinn tried to focus on those thoughts, she wasn't about to start
jumping at ever shadow or live in terror.
The
next stop on the buses route was outside a little corner cafe called 'Rouges'
where Quinn had eaten many times, finally her luck was coming round, the bus
was heading right to her building. As Quinn watched another few passenger’s
board the bus, she recalled the few stops she knew the bus would make before
she was home. The newsagent on Campbell Street, the community garden on Lexiton
Avenue, the office block just across the road from the police station! Maybe
she should get off there; maybe she should report what had happened to her. But
really what could she tell them, some guy who she had absolutely no description
of, chased her for a few miles. He had never actually touched her, or said
anything to her. They'd probably laugh her out of the place then she'd have to
walk the five more blocks to her apartment, with a badly sprained ankle and in
the dark! That was settled she'd just go home and lock her door and just hope
that tomorrow she'd wake up and it would have all just been one big scary
nightmare.
Quinn
stood and raced off the bus as soon as the doors swung open, she continued
running up the three flights of stairs and along the hallway till she arrived
at her apartment door. She wasted no time in pulling out her keys and opening
her front door before racing inside and locking the door behind her. She was so
grateful now that her over protective father had installed extra locks on her
doors and put locks on all the windows. He was so worried about her when he
moved to the city, he'd even done research on the crime rates to try and
persuade her not to move. 'I'll be fine Dad' Quinn had repeated over and over
as he rattled off all his percentages of how likely bad things were to happen.
She had been fine though, up until tonight. Quinn had moved to the city just
after her twenty fifth birthday to purse her photography dreams and things had
only looked up from there. She'd made some amazing friends, had a very cool job
working as a photographer for a high end fashion label, owned her own flat and
had been on the occasional date with a few not so bad men.... though she was
yet to find 'the one', her prospects weren't looking too bad.
Opening
the lid of her silver bathroom bin, Quinn removed her tattered dress and ruined
heels and placed them inside. She wasn't even going to attempt at doing any mending;
they would always hold unpleasant memories. The warm shower felt beautiful
running down her skin, it felt nice to wash away the dirt and grime of her
night. The water ran clear from the tap but disappeared down the drain a
strange dark brown. Quinn spent hours standing under the warm water, scrubbing
herself clean and feeling her strength and confidence coming back. No one could ever call Quinn a Barbie or a
princess, even if she looked like one with her silky chocolate nearly black
hair, her big blue eyes and long legs, which had earn her the nickname of Crane
at school. But she was brought up to be tough and fearless. Growing up any one girl
child with three football playing beefed up brothers, she'd learnt to hold her
own.
Her
mother had run off with some investment banker when she was twelve and Quinn's
only communication since had been a single card each year, signed with her
mother's name with a single x beside it. No phone calls, no emails, no weekends
at her new place. Her mother had moved on and made a new life for herself.
Quinn had stopped caring by the time she hit high school, she wasn't about to
cry any more tears for a woman who obviously hadn't cared much for her
daughter. Quinn's dad Charlie on the other hand, was all a girl could want in a
father. He protected her, loved her and still now would have done absolutely
anything for her. He wasn’t the best 'mother' figure but who could really blame
the guy, how was he to know the difference between pads and tampons or what
size B meant bras.
Charlie
was a typical guy’s guy, a beer drinking builder with permanent stubble on his
chin and a she'll be right attitude. He'd taught Quinn to fix just about
everything around the house, which had come in really rather handy. He taught
her to throw a punch, as he believed every woman should at least know how to
throw at least one decent right hook and she'd learnt some more moves wrestling
with her brothers on the back lawn. Quinn had learnt to chop down trees, to
change the oil, tires, brake fluid and spark plugs in her car. Anything her
father taught the boys, Quinn had lined up for too. She was happy though when
her dad had met and later married her stepmum Heather. It was at age eighteen
that Quinn was taught more womanly experiences like cooking and sewing on a
button but she was still mostly found outside in the shed with the boys.
Quinn's
three terrible brothers could have easily turned her off men for life but there
was something in each of them that she found charming and lovable, oh course it
did help that they were extremely protective of her especially around members
of the opposite sex. Most boys are afraid of meeting their girlfriends fathers,
well boys were afraid of, meeting Quinn's brothers. Luke, the oldest was the worse;
even now he'd quiz her on the phone about her dates. Asking her just about
everything but there driver’s license number, and reminding her that things weren't
allowed to get serious until he'd given the okay. Luke had a beautiful wife Abigail
who was expecting twins in September and had the heart of a saint. They both
worked in a law firm, with Abigail even after being married to Luke for four
years and dating three years before that still taking pleasure in being his
boss.
Michael
was born two years before Quinn but you'd think he was the baby of the family.
A typical playboy bachelor, he'd made the professional football league straight
out of school and loved the attention and lime light that came with the fame.
Last time she'd spoken to him, he was at some new recording artist’s birthday
party with an up and coming model and was laughing about how he'd talked her
into modeling lingerie just for him. Quinn hated the way he was with girls, but
was so proud of the success he was making for himself. She knew how hard he
trained and studied and how badly he'd always wanted his dream of playing
football professionally and he'd made it happen for himself.
Little
Tommy, the baby of the family at just twenty had all the brains. He was at
university training to be a heart surgeon and was flying through with high
distinctions in every class. He had no time for girls and even less time for a
social life, "I'll do all that after I've got my qualifications" he'd
say. Quinn had to hand it to him; the kid had focus and was definitely going
places. He phoned like clockwork at six Monday night, every fortnight without
fail. He told Quinn he loved her at the end of every conversation and had a way
of making her feel she was the most important and beautiful woman in the world.
Quinn knew she didn't have to worry about him being single for long, once he
was ready to start dating the girls would just melt at his feet.
Quinn walked
the perimeter of her flat twice, checking the windows and doors were securely
locked and turned all the lights on before she went to bed. She had never been
scared of the dark as a kid, but after tonight that was going to change and
tonight she wanted to make sure she could always see everything clearly. As
soon as Quinn's head hit her pillow she was out like a light and only awoke
once from her slumber after hearing her neighbor’s dog barking through the wall
in her apartment. Again she checked all the locks before she felt safe enough
to climb back into bed, even though she was completely use to her neighbors
pets, old Mrs. Simmons chatty little poodle, Princess made noises at just about
anything and sometimes at her own
shadow. Quinn had never complained though, she was quite found of the
old lady and Quinn knew how lonely she'd become when her husband passed away
just over two years ago. Princess though her name would suggest otherwise was
also one mighty talented mouse catcher, which Quinn had discovered one weekend
when she was asked to babysit while Mrs. Simmons was visiting her daughter. As
with all lower price ranged apartments, Quinn's building had its fair share of
problems and unfortunately the odd mouse was the least of her problems but it was
nice to not have to pay someone to come spray or spend money on traps and bait
which was why Quinn never said no to any of Mrs. Simmon's 'favors'.
The
next morning came all too soon, though Quinn had been asleep most of the night
her mind had never once shut off crazy nightmarish thoughts. Even when she
tried to dream of something happy and bright, her mind always had a sneaky way
of bringing it back to ugliness. Thankfully it was a Sunday and Quinn didn't
have to get up and force herself to go to work and act like everything was
fine. Rolling over and wrapping her wool doona around her Quinn resigned
herself to have a whole day in bed and not doing or thinking about anything but
before long she heard the buzzing of her mobile phone calling for her attention.
Scrambling her way through the tangled mess of sheets, Quinn managed to reach
off the bed without too much effort and grabbed her hand bag from her dresser.
Dumping the contents of the bag onto a pile on her beige carpet, Quinn
collected her phone just as the call had ended. Dialing her message bank, she
found a disappointed message from her best friend Beth "Ah! Quinny didn't
we have plans to meet at the river side markets this morning. You know I woke
up early on a Sunday.... yes a Sunday of all days to and got myself already
because you didn't want to come to check out these markets alone. But now I’m
here alone! You better be on your way here and that’s why you’re not answering
your phone".
Quinn
was usually so good at remember dates and times and names, but her shopping
date with Beth had completely slipped her mind. Sighing Quinn rolled onto her
back feeling the breeze of her fan blow across her face, how she wished to stay
exactly where she was but Quinn knew her best friend and knew that as soon
Quinn hadn’t answered her phone, Beth had hoped in her car and was heading
straight to Quinn's apartment. Beth was a worrier, she'd be thinking all these
terrible things that might have happened and probably be frantic by the time
she arrived. That’s why Quinn didn't even need to debate whether to tell Beth
about the night she'd had, there was no way she was telling her anything. Quinn
was yet to come to grips with her in counter and she certainly didn't need Beth
panicking too. As she had expected ten minutes later there was a knock at the
door, Quinn slowly rose from her comfortable spot and limped towards the door.
"What happened to you" gasped Beth as soon as she spied Quinn,
looking her up and down. As she knew it was her best friend at the door, Quinn
had just gotten up and not worried what she was wearing or what her hair looked
like. This was a usual occurrence but as Quinn looked at the worried expression
on her friends face, she realized last night must have still been showing on
her body.
As
quick as she could Quinn devised a story to cover herself, “Oh you know how bad
I can be in heels sometimes Beth! I wore my favorite blue heels yesterday and
ended up twisting my ankle and falling over in front of the bus stop"
Quinn hang her head in pity. Beth followed as Quinn limped her way over to the
couch and sat her ankle atop a cushion on the small wooden coffee table that
sat snuggly in the middle of the lounge. "I thought all these awful things
on my way over here" Beth admitted "why didn't you answer my call?
Did you forget about the markets? Oh my god Quinn there was the cutest guy
there selling... well I don't really know what he was selling but he had the
most amazing green eyes and this shaggy mop of blonde hair. I so could have
jumped his bones right there, but then I thought of Guy and ............."
At the mention of Guy, Quinn dazed off. As much as Quinn loved Beth, she was
completely obsessed with men! Guy the newest boy toy, was three years younger
than Beth and had a maturity level of a teenager but somehow Beth just thought
he was adorable and could see none of his flaws. What's the saying love makes
you blind? That was defiantly the case with this and nearly all of Beth’s
'relationships'. If you could even call them that, Beth dated, slept with
whatever you'd like to name it with a guy for about four months, give or take. Then
she has a terrible break up, with crying and buckets of ice cream, and then as
quickly as it started she was over it and on to the next guy.
Beth
did have her good qualities though; she was extremely loyal to her friends.
She'd never slag you off, she'd stand up for you in any fight, argument or
break up and Quinn could trust the girl with any secret. But Beth had grown up
in the city, only daughter of extremely wealthy power couple who showered her
with money and spoilt her with every one of her hearts desires, though they'd
made her very weary of people and their motives. Quinn was Beth's first real
friend you could say, a friend that wasn't in Beth's life because of who she
was or how much money Beth had. That’s why Beth worried so much about her,
"I just couldn't lose you!" Beth had said countless times 'I didn't
know what real friendship was until I meet you'. Quinn quickly snapped out of
her daze as Beth's phone began to ring and Beth began her high pitched giggling
laughter which signaled one thing.... she was talking to a boy.'
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