Eliza's Night Out

           Music blared and people moved all around me, but I felt so alone as I sat in the corner at the club. It had been two weeks since my car crash, but I still didn’t feel the same. I wasn’t injured, but my heart was pained. Ash hadn’t returned at all.

           I had only been with Ash for mere minutes, but his absence from my life seemed so heavy, as though a part of her was missing. It was a strange feeling, grieving for someone you hardly even knew.

           “Eliza! Get your ass out on the dance floor with us!” Ally’s loud voice snatched me out of my daydream as I stared off into the crowded club. “Come on, we are all waiting for you.”

           “Go on, I’m just going to finish my drink.” I sipped my overpriced whiskey sour and pretended I was having a good time.

           “This is my last night out before I move away Monday. Let’s have some fun. Let’s dance!”

           “I’ll be out in a minute.” I smiled.

           Ally looked across the club and her eyes grew wide.

           “You know what, stay here. In fact, don’t move.” She told me.

           “What? Why would you say that?” I turned to see Seth walking towards me. “Why the hell is he here? Did you invite him?”

           “He just wants to talk to you. He feels really bad how things went between you two.”

           “You mean he feels bad that I walked in on him screwing someone else?”

           “Eliza, just hear him out.”

           “Ally, I know he’s your brother, but he’s a real asshole. You shouldn’t have invited him here.”

           Seth was only a few feet away. It was too late for me to leave the awkward situation.

           “Hello.” Ally reached out and hugged her brother.

           “You ladies look pretty tonight,” Seth told them both, but Eliza pretended not to hear him as she looked the other way.

           “Can you give us a minute to talk alone?” Seth asked his sister.

           “Sure.” Ally nodded at her brother and then disappeared into the crowd. I took a big gulp of my drink and looked the other way.

           I was irritated that Ally would put me in this position. She knew that I didn’t want to be around Seth after breaking up with him a month ago, but the girl continued to try to get me to give him another chance or to listen to his played-out excuses for cheating. It was understandable that Seth was her brother, but Ally needed to give up the concerned sister routine and let the relationship go.

           “Eliza, why haven’t you answered any of my calls or text? I’ve been worried about you.” He sat down at the table across from me. “I really need to talk to you.”

           “Why?” I turned to face him. “There is nothing left to say. You lied and cheated. The end.”

           “But it’s not the end for me. I still care about you. I made a mistake, I’m not perfect. It was stupid, and I wish I could take it back, but I can’t. I’m not asking you to forgive me, I just want you to know I am sorry. I love you; you know that.”

           “Love me?” I laughed and shook my head. “Seth, you don’t love me. If you did, you’d have never cheated.”

           “It was one time. One stupid time. It will never happen again, I promise.” He grabbed my hand and scooted his chair closer to me. “Just give me another chance, please.”

           “No.” I pulled my hand away from him and got up from my chair.

           “Eliza, please.” He begged.

           “I need some air.” I suddenly felt flushed with heat and frustration.

           “I’ll go out with you.” He stood up.

           “No, stay here. I need a moment alone.” I hurried away from him, hoping he wouldn’t follow.

           When I got outside the club, I rushed away from the doors and down the street. I felt overwhelmed with anger and sadness, it seemed to be boiling inside me and sizzling up my throat, holding my breath and keeping me gasping for air. I made it around the corner to an alley and leaned against the brick wall. Finally, I was able to breathe again as I pushed away all the emotions.

           “You okay?” A man asked from the darkness.

           “Yes, I’m fine. Thanks.” I looked up and saw him.

           Something wasn’t right. He was huge, probably six foot five and at least two hundred and fifty pounds. His eyes were gray, and his shoulder-length hair was a burnt orange shade. Hell; he was like Ash. I turned to go, but the man grabbed me by the back of my hair and threw me to the ground. Suddenly, he was on top of me with a disgusting grin.

           “You are beautiful. No wonder Ash tried to keep you to himself.” He ripped my shirt open.

           I screamed and tried to get loose, but it was pointless. He was much too strong for me to get out from under his body. The clubs that surrounded us played music loudly, drowning out my screams.

           “Get off me!” I yelled.

           He laughed at me and then slapped me in the face. It stunned me, the impact blacking me out for a quick second. When I finally came too, I saw his evil eyes start to glow as his right hand wrapped around my neck. Struggling to breathe, I tried to fight him off with my free arm.

           “I want to feel you from the inside.” His hand reached down and pulled up my skirt. “There’s something special in you, I want to know it.”

           I wanted to scream, but his grip was so tight around my neck that I was fighting just to get enough air to breathe. No, this could not be happening. Not like this. My eyes closed shut tight as tears rolled down my cheeks as I couldn’t bear to look at him. He pinned me down and unbuckled his pants. Just when I had given up hope, a familiar voice echoed through the dark alley.

           “Talla, let her go!” Ash demanded. “Now.”