Chapter 3

Ondina

"You said this was a club...... this is more like... A fancy jazz lounge or something....." Ondina stated as they walked into a banquet room with small groups of people dressed in elegant attire scattered around. Feeling out of place, she hugged herself.

People were standing around tall tables or sitting on sofas. A woman in a cream mermaid dress sang on a small stage with her hair and make up done as if Marlin Monroe had done it herself.

'Sometimes I wake up

in the morning to red blue

and yellow lights

On Monday they destroyed me

But by Friday I’m revived'

The woman sang beautifully in a soft tone.

"It is Onny. We just have to go through those doors." Camille pointed to a set of double doors that sat at the far right corner of the room.

"And Lana Del Rey has her own style of music. Its hardly jazz." Camille stated making note of the music.

"Like I know who Lana Delaray is." Ondina argued.

"Do not!" Camille takes a dramatic pause. "Get me started on that topic!"

Approaching the doors, the music became faint. Camille opened a door and let Ondina in first, then followed after. The door closed behind them, causing the small room to become pitched black. The music from the room they have yet to enter, pulsed through the floor and into their bodies. Ondina’s arms stretched out in front of her off instinct and she searched for a second door.

"I can't see shit." Camille stated.

"You don't say." Ondina replied, unable to contain the sarcasm.

Ondina continued to search for the door. Where in the f- oh! Ondina caught hold of a door nob, twisted and pushed the door open. Music exploded and filled the small room. In routine, Ondina and Camille grabbed hold of each others hands as they stepped through the crowd of people. She wasn't kidding. This is crazy.

Colorful lights flickered sporadically around the room and dance floor. How the hell are we to walk through this shit? Ondina spotted an empty table to the far left of the room and pulled Camie in that direction.

"Wait!" Camille yelled over the music. Ondina stopped and turned to her best friend. Camille tugged on her arm to get her to move in closer.

"Bar first!" She yelled in Ondina’s ear.

Like a shadow, Ondina followed her in the direction to the bar. Once they've reached the bar, she turned to examine the room, resting her elbows and lower back against the bar top. She spotted a tall redhead, in a blue mini dress that was way too small for her.

The redhead danced around in circles swinging her hair back and forth to the beat of the song. She's enjoying herself. Ondina watched the woman move from one guy to another repeating the same couple of dance moves she had.

"What do you want to drink." Camille asked.

"Whatever you're drinking. It doesn't matter." Ondina wasn't much of a drinker, and she had her reasons.

"Two, no, four shots of tequila." Ondina heard Camille order and rolled her eyes. Should have known. Tequila was Camille's favorite go to drink. Ondina stared at her best friend with a knowing look.

"What? You can never go wrong with tequila" Camille said in a Spanish accent.

Ondina retreated back to watching the tall redhead who was now dancing with a guy who was way too short for her. She was bent down awkwardly grinding back into his groin, still whipping her hair back and forth. Could she get any closer? The guy had a look of concentration on his face while he held on to her hips, dodging her hair. Ondina couldn't help but laugh.

"Onny!" Camille yelled over the music. "Take your shots!"

"Is it your mission to get me drunk? You know I haven't eaten." Ondina yelled back in response.

She took both shots while Camille was already ordering another round.

"Aren't you happy you came out tonight?" Camille asked with a huge smile on her face. It was obvious she was feeling the tequila. I give up you win.

"Fine. Yes." Ondina yelled back to her friend. Camille pushed another shot her way.

"Camie!" Ondina yelled.

"No more after this one I promise." Camille responded with the best innocent face she could make.

Ondina took the shot and began to dance with Camille. Just as they started dancing, a guy with a beer belly and a five o'clock shadow approached Camille, and grabbed hold of her wrist. She giggled at her friend as she watched her get pulled away. She watched in fascination, as the guy held on to Camille's hands and jumped to the beat. She's never gonna shut up about this.

Still leaning up against the bar, she swayed her hips to the beat. I'm such a light weight. Ondina thought once she started to feel the muscles in her legs relax.

"If I buy you a drink, will you dance with me?" A stranger spoke in her ear.

Ondina looked up at the man. He had a confident smile on his face. He's.... cute. Before she could respond, he had already ordered her a dirty martini. What is it with guys thinking that all women want to drink a dirty martini? The man handed her the drink and she took it with a smile.

"I'm Tim, what's your name?" Tim asked.

"Jessica." She lied.

"So, Jessica, your gonna drink that or what?" Tim asked.

Ondina knew she probably shouldn't drink anymore but she was tired of being careful and wanted to enjoy herself for once. She chugged down her dirty martini and Tim grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. She was definitely enjoying herself. Tim seemed to be enjoying himself too. She wrapped her arms around his neck and dropped her hips to the beat. They danced for three songs before the room started to spin.

"I need to sit down." Ondina yelled to Tim.

"Are you ok?" Tim asked.

"No. Im not feeling too good." Ondina replied.

"You need to get some air."

"No, I need to find my friend."

Tim grabbed Ondina by the arm and pulled her in the direction of a back door. She tried to break her arm free, but her body worked against her. Her head was fuming with pain each time the base dropped. Why did I have to be so irresponsible?

"Camie!" Ondina yelled.

"No one can hear you." Tim stated, moving faster towards the back door.

" I have to find my friend." Ondina stated.

She scanned the room for Camille but she was nowhere to be found. Ondina’s vision started to blur.

"What did you put in my drink?" Ondina asked, coming out weaker than she entended. Tim ignored her and continued to the back door.

Tim pushed the door open with force. The cool air hit Ondina in the face, causing her hair to blow back. There was a black Honda with blacked out windows waiting patiently as he pulling Ondina in the direction of the car. Now unable to hold herself up, she was helpless. Her vision started to go in and out. Leaving her with bits and pieces of reality.

Tim opened the back door to the Honda and forcefully pushed Ondina in. Ondina tried to push around him. In frustration, he blocked her poor attempts to fight him off. Her attempts only seemed to excite him more and with his excitement came violence and violation.

Ondina gave one more attempt bringing her knee up between his legs just hard enough to cause a temporary pause to his actions. "Bitch!" Tim struck Ondina repeatedly in the face. She could feel and taste the blood as it dripped from her nose and mouth.

Consciousness slowly began to slip away. Her attackers hand slid up her inner thigh, grabbing hold of her panties, tugging them down. Tears began to pore down the sides of her face and puddle into her ears.

"Please." Ondina pleaded. Her voice was so small, you had to strain to hear her.

"Oh shut up bitch, you know you want this."

Her attacker dug his nails deep into her inner thighs as he forced them apart. Ondina tried to close her legs. That only excited Tim more. He gripped her neck with his free hand, cutting off her airway.

"You know you wanted this." He kept repeating close into Ondina’s ear while she struggled to breathe. I don’t want to die like this. God, please.

Seeming unsatisfied with her responses he removed his hand from around Ondina’s throat. Before she could inhale, he brought his fist down into her stomach. Black spots started to sprinkle her vision.

Ondina could feel consciousness slipping away from her as he positioned himself between her legs, she braced herself for what she knew was coming, but instead, he abruptly stopped. Shortly after, she felt his absence. The last thing Ondina seen was a face. A face that caressed her dreams and her thoughts. A face she would never forget. Everything went black and one name stayed. Raphael Lahsen.