CHAPTER TWO

ALIYA

“Come on, let's dance!” Maya yelled excitedly. Before I could grasp what she said, she was already pulling me to the dance floor.

My surroundings spun as I staggered to the dancefloor and without her hand holding me, I'd have been one with the ground already.

I felt my body get loose as I swayed to the music, holding my hair up and moving my waist in a way that made me feel sexy and confident.

I heard a whistle behind me and a man shout “nice ass,” but I didn't pay him any mind. If at all, it urged me to dance more.

“And when you hold me like that! I can't get you out of my mind!” Maya and I sang simultaneously to the music that blasted through the speakers, swaying our hips to the rhythm of the sound.

“Hey hot cake,” I felt someone pressed up behind me and whispered into my ear. “Wanna dance?” The voice said behind me, the breath fanning my neck. It smelled like whiskey and smoke and I felt the sudden urge to throw up.

“No, I'm good,” I said, pushing away from him and taking a step away from him.

I scanned the dance floor looking for Maya that I was dancing with a second ago only to see her rocking a guy, her hands raised up and tangled in his hair while his both hands held on to her waist.

She saw my distressed state and immediately abandoned the guy, rushing to where I stood.

“Hey, are you okay?” She asked, concern evident in her voice.

“Yes, yes. Just a bit dizzy. I'll just get some water from the bar.”

“Alright, I'll come with,” she said, already reaching for my hand.

“Oh no, you don't have to,” I said, looking behind her to see the guy she was dancing with earlier waiting for her. “Seems like your partner is still waiting,” I said and she turned to look back, her face spreading into a wide grin as she saw him watching us.

Guess someone already found a crush!

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, definitely,” I said with a smile.

“Alright. But just stay right there okay. I'll come find you in a bit,” she said then hesitated for a bit to make sure I was really okay.

“I will. Have fun,” I winked at her then reached up, giving her a quick peck on her cheeks before heading to the bar.

“I'll be with you shortly,” I heard her call from behind me and I raised my hand to wave at her, acknowledging that I heard her.

I sat on one of the bar stools, resting my elbow on the table. These heels were killing me.

“Can I get you anything?” The bartender asked.

“Water. Just water.”

“Coming right up,” he said, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

I unscrewed the cap and gulped almost all its contents down, feeling my vision get blurry.

I shouldn't have drank that much tonight. I knew I couldn't handle much alcohol in my system yet I drank like I was in a drinking competition.

How much did I drink? Ten? Fifteen? I honestly couldn't remember.

“All here by yourself hot cake? I can keep you company, you know,” I turned at the sound of the voice only to see the man that was pressed up against me earlier on the dance floor sitting on the empty stool beside me. He had tattoos all over his body including his face and I honestly couldn't tell where they ended or where his beards began.

I ignored him, looking the other way at nothing in particular, hoping to find Maya and her new crush on the dance floor but they were nowhere in sight.

“Playing hard to get huh? How about we take this conversation somewhere more private hmm?”

I wasn't paying attention to him anymore, hoping that he'd read the room and grab the obvious fact that I wasn't interested.

“Hey! I'm talking to you,” He grabbed me harshly on my thighs, forcing me to look at him.

“Don't touch me!” I pushed his hands off me.

“Stop pretending you don't like it bitch! I know girls your type. I bet I can give you some nice time tonight. Probably fuck some manners into your thick skull while we're at it.”

Oh my God I was going to throw up.

Panic rose in my chest. This creep was beginning to scare the hell out of me. I turned around to call for help but everyone was in a world of their own, oblivious to what was happening here.

I pushed away from the stool and rose to my feet, trying to steady myself. I grabbed my purse, already reaching in for my phone as I made my way away from that creep.

Everywhere around me was chaos as I staggered to the dancefloor in search of Maya but the loud music only amplified the throbbing ache in my head.

I turned back only to discover that the man was still following me.

Oh my God! What the hell was wrong with him?

I squinted my eyes at my phone as I tried to dial Maya but everything blurred over. I found an exit sign and I hurried through it.

I managed to exit the club through the back door but the man only followed after me. I was getting really pissed at this point.

I turned to face him, taking in his indecent appearance. “I'm not interested! Let me be and stop following me!”

“I'm sorry sexy shit but I can't do that unless I get a taste of ya,” he said, stepping closer to me.

I scanned my environment, looking for help but no one was in sight. This place was completely deserted.

I felt like I was drenched in a tub of ice and he probably noticed the fear in my eyes and the trembling of my feet because a smug smile appeared on his face.

“I–I'll call the police! If you come any closer I swear I'll call the cops!” I threatened, holding my phone up so he'd know I wasn't bluffing.

“Nice try. Before the cops get here I'd have had my fun with you,” he winked and in a step, he was right in front of me, grabbing my arm and yanking me closer to him.

“Let me go!” I tried to wriggle in his hold, feeling bile rush to my throat but he didn't release me, instead he forcefully tried to kiss my neck.

“Stop struggling and maybe you'd just enjoy it,” he grabbed my hair, pulling it back so hard that I could feel some strands rip off.

“Please…please let me go,” I tried to free myself but I was no match compared to his build. Tears stung at the back of my eyes and I let them fall freely as he tried to rip off the arm of my dress.

God no. I prayed, shutting my eyes as I hoped for it to be over.

“What part of let her go don't you fucking understand!”