Colt's Game : A Playing for Keeps Story

And This Was A Bad Idea

****WARNING: INTENSE VIOLENCE/ATTEMPTED SA - RATED MA****

Nikki

It's been two nights since I've spoken to Colt, which is strange to say the least. Since we started dating, it's like we can't get enough of one another. All of a sudden he's disappeared.

I call him again, and just like all the previous times my call goes straight to voicemail. 

It's already half an hour after the time that we're supposed to meet for our night practice. Something must be wrong. It's the only thing that I can think of.

He told me he could handle everything going on in his life right now, but I've already seen first hand how fucked up things are in his home. What if something happened to his mother? 

As I race to my car, all the worst case scenarios are passing through my mind.

It takes about fifteen minutes for me to get to his house, but I only see a slither of light coming through the windows.

There is a car out front that I've never seen before. 

It's rusted and dirty, and it looks like it's on its last legs.

I knock on the door and wait for someone to answer. When they don't, I knock again. This time the door opens slightly and I poke my head inside.

"Mrs. Graves? Colt?" I call out for either of them, but instead of them, I hear another voice.

"Who the hell are you?"

I jump in shock as a tall man pulls the door all the way open. His features resemble Colt, but they are much more worn.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in. I was expecting Colt tonight, and when he didn't show, I got worried." I explain biting my lip with nervousness.

"Colt? You here for my boy? Hmm, well, come on in then. Can't have your pretty self out in the cold now, can we." The older man opens the door wider and peers at me.

Every hair on my arm stands up, but I don't want to be rude, so I accept the invitation. After all, even if he is a dick, he is Colt's father.

"Have a seat. Colt should be back any minute. He went to get some groceries."

"Oh, okay, great. Thank you." I sit down on the couch as far against the armrest as possible. Mr. Graves sits down in the middle, his legs spread out wide as he picks up the beer he has on the small table in front of him. 

He has an old battery-powered TV set up in front of him, the kind you can take with you on camping trips and such. It's bad reception, but I guess when you have nothing, it's okay. The electricity was off, no wonder I hadn't been able to see any lights when I drove up. A few candles flicker in the corners. The shadows made the already intense atmosphere even more eerie.

"Come on over here. I don't bite." Mr. Graves pats the cushion next to him. "You can't possibly see this little piece of shit TV all the way over there."

I move over a centimeter just to appease him.

"Colt never told me anything about having a girlfriend."

"Oh, well, we just started dating not very long ago." I wring my hands together. Everything feels wrong about being here.

"I see." He cocks his head to the side, "you're very pretty. I understand why he would want to keep you a secret." Mr. Graves turns in my direction. His eyes roving over every part of me until I'm sure he can hear my heart thundering in my chest frantically like a wild animal trapped in a cage with no way out. The look on his face makes me sick inside. It makes me want to cover up even though I'm fully clothed.

"Thank you." I reply politely.

"Oh, what's this here?" He leans forward, and I jerk back when his hand reaches up near my hair. He stinks of sweat, booze, and tobacco. His breath a mix of whiskey and sour milk. It's hard not to gag when he so close, but I force down my reaction. 

"Don't be like that. You want to have a good relationship with my son, right? I think impressing Daddy is only customary." He pulls his hand back, a dry leaf had somehow gotten caught in my hair.

This all feels wrong. I want to leave. "You know what. I think I'll just come back for Colt some other time. If you could just let him know that I was here." I stand, and Mr. Graves grabs for my hand.

"Wait a minute. Don't run off. I still want to talk to you."

I try to yank my hand away, but he doesn't let go. "Get off of me," I say between clenched teeth.

"I should have known he would find someone just like his mother. A fucking bitch." In the quickest I've ever seen anyone move, Mr. Graves moves from the couch and flings me down on top of it.

"No! Leave me alone!" I scream out, but it's too late. The man is already on top of me, trying to get my clothes off.

"Shut up! Just show me how much you want to be with my son. Fuck me like the good little girl you are."

"Stop! Help, please!" I scream at the top of my lungs and claw my fingers into the flesh of his face trying to get him to release me.

"Ahh, you bitch!" He rears up once and brings the back of his hand against my face. The force of the blow is enough to get my ears to ring.

"Stop! Stop! Get off me!" I scream loud. 

My muscles tremble as adrenaline floods through my body. I'm fighting with everything I am but it's no use.  Emotions get trapped in my throat and I blink back a flood of tears as I prepare myself for what I know is about to happen. 

One moment, I'm begging and crying for mercy and the next, an explosive bang sounds from the other side of the room.