Chapter 4

Erica's POV

It's been three weeks since resumption, I was still trying to get myself familiar with the school environment.

I have been unable to make more friends aside from Beatrice. Most guys in my class only want to date me and the girls don't seem to like me at all.

It's been difficult trying to stay in the good books of my roommate, as I have been trying to avoid her gorgeous breathtaking stepbrother.

I have never really fancied any guy since I became a teen as I do for him, since our first encounter, I can't seem to get him off my mind.

Not that I plan on throwing myself on him though, but I sure do like him a lot. This day I take extra time to make myself beautiful.

I even bought a few dresses from the mall recently. I guess college has influenced me a lot after all.

It's a beautiful Saturday evening as I take a walk around the campus. I wore a short chiffon flower dress with a small side bag in which I kept my phone. I needed to clear my head from the craziness of the week.

It has been a very hectic week, we had countless seminar presentations. Shuttling from one class to the other, meeting up with deadlines. College can be a crazy place to be in.

I saw a not-so-busy field and I decided to explore. There were few students around as I walked into the field, I have not walked too far when I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned around and saw no one, the sound must be in my head I reassured myself. I walked a few steps and found a comfortable spot to sit and relax while reading the novel with me.

†*****†*****†******†******†****†****

I woke up, choking on a strange smoke, I saw people surrounding me, as I cleared my eyes to see who they were and I discovered they were all men.

They smell badly of excessive intake of alcohol, whenever they take in the cigarette, they will release the smoke on my face. I was scared.

"Please, let me go," I said pleading. It was already very dark and could barely see their faces.

They dragged me into the bush surrounding the field, with one of them closing my mouth with his hand.

They took me far into the bush, and when they felt safe enough, they released me and asked me to sit on the floor.

"What are you doing in the dark? expecting company?" one of the men asked teasingly, while the others laughed.

"No, please, I came here to relax and read my book, I didn't know when I slept off, please just let me go, please don't hurt me," I said crying.

Unsure of the danger that lies ahead, the men laughed at me again.

"No pretty girl, you don't need to cry. we don't hurt people, we just have fun. If you are obedient and just relax, we promise not to hurt you." He said running his strong hardened fingers across my skin.

"What a nice portable orange you got baby girl"

The person I assume to be the leader of the gang said, as he slide his hand into my dress to grab on one of my breasts.

"It hurts, please, stop please" I kept pleading.

Another of the gang member squatted to force a kiss on my lips, I turned my face away and got a dirty slap instead, I felt disgusted and dirty.

"Tie her up" he ordered the others, immediately an idea came to my mind immediately

"Please don't do this, I am HIV positive," I said crying

They all froze at my utterance.

it working!! Maybe I should take an elective in acting

It was when they all started laughing that I knew, they obliviously saw through my lies.

"We know, and so are we" they all chorused as they all laughed again.

I knew I needed to do something, I gathered all the strength and courage left in me.

"help!" I screamed as I was punched in the face by one of the men the same instant, which made me blackout.

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Damian's POV.

I was having an evening walk with my friends when I heard the call for help. The voice was so familiar but couldn't place where I have heard it before or maybe I just fooled myself into believing that I don't know who it was.

The same voice has been living rent-free in my head. What was she doing out here this late I wondered. The school forbids any students from going out into the fields late at night and if you must, you go in groups.

The field had a low fence that allow bandits to cross over to commit numerous atrocities. Most victims are girls and a few unsuspecting boys who have lost their phones, cash, and another gadget to the criminals.

There have also been stories of girls being raped and strangled. The school restricts anyone from going out there at night.

"Let's find out what is going," I told the guys I was taking an evening walk with.

"let's be on our way I'm sure it's a date gone wrong," Nelson said nonchalantly.

“People don't scream for help on dates, perhaps this person could be in real danger," I said walking towards the woods while Lucas followed closely behind me.

"Common guys, I'm sure it's nothing serious, let's go," Nelson said while he

reluctantly followed us.

As we all got further into the woods, we walked towards the direction we heard the sound from using our phone touch as a source of light.

Moments later, we heard footsteps of people running further into the woods. After some time, we found her. She was tied on both her hands and legs. She had bruises from an ants bite, she was lying on the floor unconscious and semi-nude.

Lucas quickly went to her side and picked up her hand to see if she still had a pulse. A second look at her cured my curiosity, she was Sophia's roommate.

Lucas quickly loosen the ropes on her hands and legs while nelson and I stood as a guard.

We tried to make her stand but She was too weak, so I carried her. Lucas wanted to call the school ambulance, but I stopped him.

"Let's just take her to my apartment, I'm sure she will get better there"

I said trying to move faster

"Your apartment?" asked Nelson puzzled at my suggestion.

"Yes my apartment nelson" I answered giving him back off look.

"do you know her" nelson inquired further?

"I don't need to know anyone before helping them, do I?" I answered. Hoping it stops him from asking more stupid questions.

"I guess not" answered Nelson still not convinced of the answer I just gave him. After going some distance with us, he stopped.

"I have to go check up on someone," he said with an I don't want attitude.

I almost confronted him in that instance, but now was not the time. I knew the consequences of helping her, but I was ready to damn it all.

There was something about her right from the moment I saw her that makes me want to protect her.

I felt something that I have never felt before. With a rapid beating of my heart, I felt weak and loosed all the playboy manners I have always had with me since I was twelve.

Yeah, you heard right, when your dad is constantly on the news for being one of the wealthiest people alive.

There is no hiding place for a golden fish like myself. Girls will sniff you out, no thanks to the media.

But with this girl, I feel different.

Like I have been missing something, and she is the only one that fills that vacuum inside my heart.