Fragments

1.6

1.6

            "I can help you."

            I ignore the man only a few years older than me with short hair and bloodshot eyes. My eyes stay forward, not wavering into the alley as I pass it. But I'm not even to the brick on the other side when he reaches out, his fingers like talons as they grab my jacket and yank me back.

            "Hey!" The words barely leave my lips before he's covering my mouth with his palm, holding my back into his bony chest. A scream rises in my lips before I can understand what's going on and his hand is clamping down harder, preventing me from being heard.

            "Shh, now," he murmurs, his lips brushing my ear. The touch sends shivers up my spine and I wince. "Sweetheart, I just want to talk."

            I elbow him with all my might and his grip loosens as my bone contacts his gut. His breath exhales onto my skin as I step away, whirling around as his arm grabs my wrist and pulls me back. I bash my fist against it to no avail, and turn to yelling as I try to pry his fingertips from me.

            "Scooter," someone sighs from the other end of the alley. It sounds more amused than disappointed, and when I look over, another man is walking towards us, his hands shoved into his pockets. "You have to stop picking up these pets."

            Scooter smirks as I try to yank myself away. "I wasn't doing anything. I just wanted to talk, didn't I, pretty thing?" He looks down at me, his eyes even more red than before.

            Disgusted, I smack my hand against his again. Nothing. "What a stupid name for a stupid jackass."

            The new guy tsks, slowing his steps to keep a little distance between us. "I think you're in the wrong position to be throwing words around like that."

            "And for the record, I think you're an even bigger jackass," I grunt. I twist my arm and throw my face towards the street. "Help!" I scream. "Somebody help!"

            Crazy guy who's still holding onto me doesn't even seem fazed. He just watches me, as still as a statue. His bloodshot eyes never blink.

            "Who do you think is going to come?" The other man tilts his head to the side slightly, as if I'm putting on some kind of show. He takes his hands out of his pockets and gestures to the alley around us. "Do you think the people here are saints? Martyrs ready to come running to your rescue? You aren't the first to scream bloody murder."

            "I saw somebody get raped yesterday," bloodshot eyes says suddenly, his eyes barely moving from mine.

            "But seriously, S, you're smashed. You need to stop toking and running off on me and the guys. It's hard to catch up with you when you're high."

            Goose bumps run up my arm but Scooter doesn't notice. He just smiles.

            This is when my free arm drops, and even the one not so free dips. My adrenaline, my fear, my anger and desperate need to get away deflate. I'm left with the same, numb feeling as before. Fearless. Hopeless. I'm giving up.

            "Now, what are we going to do with this one, Scoot?"

            His smile turns into a full on grin, his grimy teeth on full view. When his gaze lands on me, my body no longer trembles from a chill. I'm accepting my fate.

            "What do you want to do, sweetheart?"