It was the same house I grew up in but somehow it seemed colder, more frightening than usual. I was in my upstairs bedroom cowering under my favorite Bratz duvet while I listened frightfully to the heavy footsteps ascending the stairs, intent on my room. Tears coursed down my face as I silently pleaded for the angry man to leave me alone. Assuming the fetal position, I shut my eyes firmly.I heard the creak of my door and strangely I could smell the alcohol from the man at the door through the thick material of the duvet over my head."Alex," he drew the first vowel in my name. "You've been a naughty girl."Suddenly the duvet was yanked from me leaving me cold and vulnerable to the man with the strange red eyes and feral smile. The scent of alcohol was almost choking at that point."Pl ... ease," was all I could mutter through my torrent of tears. He made a tsk sound, the animalistic smile still on his face before he

After yesterday night I got back into my normal sad, indifferent self and the alarming speed with which it happened made me wonder if I'd imagined my whole encounter. That my mind was so in need of some respite that it'd conjured up some mysterious woman.But I knew she was real. I could still smell her lavender shampoo, could still fell the soft skin of her thigh and the spark of mischievousness in her eyes.Her eyes. I found those globes even more odd than her mask. They were obviously contact lenses-they were the colors of the rainbow. Seriously what's with her and rainbows?-but she wore them like they were her real eyes. They could've easily been her eyes.I thought that a night's sleep and a good dose of reality would remove her from my mind but by three o'clock I'd replayed my conversation with her about a million times, give or take. It could've been more. I always ended up with the same question. Why'd she suddenly disappear?I sat fe

“So . . .” I started and trailed off.We were seated in a booth in a small diner and all my senses were screaming that something was horribly wrong.She'd clammed up after the talk about her car and was seating across from me staring stonily at her burger and stabbing her soda with the straw.I sighed. “I'm sorry if I upset you.” It seemed like all I was doing tonight was apologizing but in my defense it was like every breath I took irritated her.She let out a sigh and ran a hand through her hair. The rainbow colored strands fell gloriously around her shoulders and reminded me of cotton candy. “We have to lay down some basic rules,” she said.“Why? I'm never seeing you again remember?”She shot me a glare and I immediately shut my gob. In the short time that I've been with her I've learned that rainbow hair or not, this chic

I woke with the intense feeling that I was about to have a really crappy day and my premonition was confirmed when I heard my doorbell sing out.I looked up from where I'd parked myself on the couch with my laptop and a plate of chocolate pancakes.I wasn't expecting anyone other than Alex but it was just eight-fifteen — way too early for Alex to show up.I resolved to leave the person at the door and continued perusing my emails.The doorbell sounded out again and after I didn't answer it it became an insistent chime.“Fine!” I hollered setting my laptop on the crystal coffee table. “I'm coming.”I got up not bothering that the only piece of clothing I had on was pajama bottoms and a few crumbs of pancakes.I shivered a little and yanked the door open ready to glare whoever was there right back to hell.The d

I don't usually put content alerts but I thought it would be a good idea to include one here.This chapter may contain triggering content!There is abuse and hintings of rape.Please read at your own discretion.• • •The air was wonderful against my face.We were seated on the roof of an abandoned building with the magnificent skyline before us.Tonight had been a bust.Sure I'd been able to make enough to pay off the rent but I could still feel the strong fingers clutching my arm like a vice.I could still feel the warm mouth travel against my neck, the teeth grazing my skin. I could still feel the unwanted hand slide between my legs.I had a fierce temp