This chapter deals with the issue of rape, not the actual act, but the after effects some victims go through. If this might be a trigger for you please do not read this chapter. The basic story is about what Asshole did to Karen, 2 years ago comes to light, and how Ben deals with it and tries to help Karen.
Ezzie and I have been having an ongoing argument if you will about Karen. I don't want to subject Karen to reliving whatever Asshole did to her by asking her, but I need to know. I want to know why she was so upset last summer, and what came to the surface the other night. She exploded on Natalie supposedly in my defense, but I think it was more fear. I think Karen recognized something in Natalie that reminded her of Asshole.
I finally get mad one night in my room at school, and put my mental foot down. "God damn it Ezzie. Tell Me! That's an order!"
She doesn't answer me. Instead I am flooded with images and feelings of fear. I realize Ezzie is flooding me with what she saw in Karen's mind. The emotional abuse, the physical, the forced sex, and rape I experience it all. I suddenly realize I am laying on my bed crying. The last memory was one of Asshole stripping her and holding her down while he and two friends fucked her. She was screaming and crying the whole time.
I am going to Kill Him and his friends. I lay awake all night planning. Beating to a pulp crosses my mind, but then I realize I have Ezzie. I can get a whole lot more creative. I start on social media creating a fake woman's profile hidden behind the best VPN I can find online and download. Me Too is already in use. I end up with Mee Twoo. I set it up everywhere. I then work on finding his friends on social media. Now that I have names I can work on destroying their lives. It's now 3AM, I set to work writing Karen's story anonymously. I fluff some details being as general as possible, except for the actual acts. I tell them in graphic detail. The emotions Ezzie pummeled me with are so real, I realize I am crying as I type out the post. I end it saying I just couldn't live with the guilt of some other girl possibly being treated by him the same way, and hashtag everything I can think of. I want everyone, everywhere to see this. I hashtag Me Too, the school, the sororities and fraternities, the baseball team Asshole is on and the football team the other two are part of, the cheer squad, everything.
The sun is now coming up, it's now officially Friday. My one class today I care about is this morning, but I have to head to Karen's college. I email the professor and explain there is a small family emergency, and apologize for missing today's class. I shower and get in the car.
I am driving up there and I realize I haven't heard from Ezzie since I yelled at her. "Ezzie?" I get no response, but I can feel her sulking if you will. "Ezzie, I am sorry I yelled, but I had to know, and now I need your help. I want to ruin these guys, and I need your help."
"I know you do. I can see what you are thinking, remember." Ezzie says.
Ok she is peeved, but talking that's good. "Ezzie, what would you have me do? I can't just let this go. I just can't. Knowing I could have done something, and I didn't would eat at me for the rest of my life."
"Ben, I don't want to see another good man ruined by my power." Says Ezzie.
"The only man that is about to get ruined is Asshole and his friends for what they did to Karen." I tell her.
My first stop is campus police. I see a Sargent getting out of his car. "Ezzie, make him remember a very generic looking girl coming up to him in the parking lot crying, wanting to file a sexual assault complaint against the three of them by name. She is crying hysterically so he sits her on a bench to come inside and get a second officer for help. When they come back outside she will be gone. He will insist on talking to all three immediately." I tell Ezzie.
It takes some time, but I follow the Sargent, and take a picture of him talking to all three of them outside their three different classes. I take pictures of all three of them. One by one I have Ezzie make all three of them forget about that night with Karen. I never want them connecting the dots and going after Karen. At one point the Sergeant sees me, and I ask Ezzie to make him forget he saw me.
As I walk to the Dean's office. I post all three photos, and again hashtag the crap out of them. They are already blowing up. I am sure the photos will just add fuel to the fire. I stand outside the door to the Dean's office. I ask Ezzie. "Can you see the Dean in there?"
"Yes Ben."
"Ezzie, has the Dean ever been sexually assaulted or harassed?"
"Yes she had been assaulted years ago." Says Ezzie.
"Did she ever report it?"
"No Ben. She was too embarrassed to report it." Says Ezzie.
"Ezzie, please have her notice the social media posts, and reach out to campus police. When she finds out about the report and the girl running away, have her get mad and want to do everything within her power to see these three young men kicked out of school."
I walk over to admissions and again with Ezzie's help I get copies of all three guys' full files. They hand me three thick Manila envelopes.
I look at my watch. Karen should be in her chemistry class. I go and sit outside waiting for it to end. As I am sitting there I ask Ezzie. "Has Karen noticed the posts yet?"
"Yes Ben. She is upset by them. They have stirred up a lot of memories she would rather forget, but she is happy he has been outed."
About 20 minutes later Karen emerges from her class screaming as she sees me. She runs to me, dropping her bag at our feet and wrapping her arms around me. She just stands there holding me for a moment when she finally says. "I really needed this." Her voice is a little heavy.
"I know Sweetie. That's why I am here." I say softly.
She pulls back and looks at me. "How do you know?"
I just smile at her. "You think I don't follow you and this school? Did you think when I saw it I wouldn't come running?"
She starts crying. I just hold her and rub her back. "Sweetie, he did things like this to you didn't he?"
She just cries harder. I just hold her. People stare, and I don't care. I have Ezzie make them all keep walking. Karen gets herself under control. "Take me home please." She says.
I just wrap my arm around her and walk her to my car. The walk to my car, and the ride home are quiet. Karen just sits in the car holding my hand. We get into her house and sit on the couch. She just stares at me. "I am afraid to tell you." She says
"Why?" I ask
She just looks at me for a moment. "Two reasons actually, and both of them scare me for different reasons."
"Karen, I Never want you to be afraid of me." I say.
"Oh Benjamin, I am not afraid of you. I am afraid of losing you because you kill him, get caught and put in jail, or you are ashamed of me and...". She can't finish, she just cries.