I walk into my apartment after a long night at work and go to rest my feet on the couch. I turn on the television, Late Night with Letterman is on.
"Ugh, I hate that guy," I mutter under my breath as I flick it off, annoyed. I walk into my bathroom and start to undress myself, pulling my work shirt up over my head and throwing it onto the floor. I sigh as I unbuckle my jeans and they slide to the floor. I step out of them and throw them into my dirty clothes hamper when I hear a knock on my door.
Living in LA, I'm used to noises in the night. I pause and cock my head, listening, as another knock sounds on my door. I nervously put on a loose fitting robe and walk to my entry area. I grab a baseball bat I always have and I peer through the peephole. Outside in my hallway is my neighbor, Josh.
I open the door. "Hey Josh, what's up?" I let out my relief and set the baseball bat by my shoes on the mat.
"I'm going to a party, wanna come along?" Josh was cute, I even had a thing for him a few months back when I first moved in, and I was tempted to say yes, but I was far too exhausted.
"I think I'm going to pass on this one." I shrug up at him, taking in his disappointed expression. "I just got home from work. Raincheck?"
His puppy frown turns into a smile as he shakes his head yes. "I'll hold that to you!" He walks away and I shut the door, making sure to lock it.
I get myself a glass of water from my kitchen and a few minutes later I hear a knock on my door again. I walk back to the door and unlock it before throwing it open.
"What do you want Jo-" A huge hand muffles my mouth as a man shoves me back into the room, his hand still muffling my scream as I almost trip.
The man is wearing all black, is almost 6'1 and strong as an ox. I kick at the man, trying to reach my baseball bat I placed by the door, but the man leers down and starts to laugh. He looks over at the bat that I am desperately struggling to reach and extends his arm to knock it far out of my reach.
"You won't be needing that tonight, babe." I look up at him, taking in my situation as I start to sob. "Shut up you slut" The man violently drags me along in his strong arms as he walks to my bedroom. I drag my feet and fling my hands, desperately trying to grab onto something that would help me.
We finally get to my bedroom and he turns on the light before throwing me onto my bed. The man shuts and locks the door as I sit up and try to arrange myself in a defensive position. The result makes the man laugh as he walks menacingly towards me, grabs my arms, and twists them. I scream in pain.
"Why are you doing this?" Tears stream down my face from the pain and fear.