Blinking blearily through still tired eyes, she made her way down stairs, the smell of pancakes waking her as she bounced into the room.
"Cassie," her mother looked up from her coffee, "Remember last week I told you I would be away visiting Grandma until next week. Are you sure you don't want to invite a friend from church to stay over whilst I'm gone?"
Cassie grinned, remembering her plans- movies and reading. No way did she want to ruin that plan with company. "No, I'm good. Thanks though" she smiled as she started eating.
"Alright, well I made a batch of muffins for the new neighbour who moved in down the street. Since I will be away, would you mind dropping them by after class? Mrs Grady said he was nice, and can you apologise for the delay, I've just been so busy lately."
"Sure mum, anything else?"
"No that's all sweetie, have a good day and enjoy your weekend."
"I Will, thanks mum."
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Cassie tugged lightly at her favourite red sweater, slightly shrunken on her curvy frame. At 18 she was well developed, with an innocence borne of country charm, Sunday church and a quiet upbringing.
Making her way up the door of her new neighbours' home she balanced the food in one hand and reached up to knock on the door. As the door opened she beamed her most welcoming smile using manners ingrained in her since childhood "Welcome to the neighbourhood Sir. My mother apologises for not welcoming you herself and for not coming by sooner." She feels every inch the adult as she makes her spiel, grinning happily as she hits all the right notes.
"Does she now?" he smiles, and she nods enthusiastically as she hands the food to him. Cassie smiles politely as he invites her inside, leading her through the loungeroom to the kitchen as he introduces himself. She nods and answers the questions he asks, things about church and the neighbourhood. As far as neighbours go he seems nice, maybe around the same age or younger than her mum.
They discuss how she's home-schooled and how he moved here from the city. She's pleased she will be able to tell her mother about him, and like her mother would expect she invites him for dinner someday soon.
He guides her down a hallway towards the front door. When he thanks her for stopping by she starts tuning out, mind on the movie waiting at home. So, caught up in her plans, she wasn't listening to what he was saying until she lost her balance, falling to the floor, landing awkwardly on her side.
"Oh god honey, stay still. Don't touch the acid."
"Acid?" she squeaks shocked, freezing at the fear in his voice.
"Let me help you up, but stay still alright? This stuffs' strong enough to eat through anything. We need to get your clothes off straight away before you get injured."
He lifts her up, standing her in the middle of the hallway, before moving back and she almost moves before remembering what he'd said. Glancing down reflectively she sees her jeans and sweater covered in the stuff, the smell burning her nose with its intensity. Skin starting to feel itchy, she looks up afraid to see Drew approaching with a pair of scissors.
"Are you alright honey? Is it okay for me to cut your clothes off you? We need to get you straight into the shower."
"Yes, please" she whispers, desperate to get her clothes away from her before the acid touches her skin.
Watching as her sweater is cut from neck to waist down the cleanest side. He disappears for a moment before brandishing a knife to cut her jeans, which slice apart cleanly like leggings. Standing there in just her shoes, skin itching she's desperate to move but she waits not wanting to risk slipping again.
"Honey can I carry you to the bathroom? Don't want you walking acid through the house."
She nods, and he picks her up, moving quickly up the stairs. In the bathroom he turns the shower on carrying her in, so they are both blasted with water. He moves out once she's on her feet, telling her to wash thoroughly. She rinses herself as much as she can, barely aware of her nakedness or being naked in the presence of a stranger, focus solely on cleaning herself.
Lathering her body in soap she scrubs roughly, the hot water biting her skin increasing the itchy feeling.
Stepping out she realises he had shed his sweater and pants, leaving him clad in just his underwear. Realising how improper it was for her to be naked now the panic had started to subside, Cassie looks for a towel or something to cover herself with. Glancing to him, she realised how distraught he was and moved instinctively to comfort him just like what was expected from her.
"I'm so sorry Cassie. Should I call your mum? We should probably check you over, I can still see some stuff on your skin. Otherwise I can take you to the hospital and hope by the time we get there; any damage is reversible."
Breath caught in her throat, she glances down to see several streaks of the acid on her skin. Feeling itchy again and seeing redness near the liquid her mind races. She doesn't want to go to the hospital, doesn't think they can afford it- they would call her mum and she would have to be examined there anyway. Not to mention there isn't even a hospital nearby, and by the time she got there who knew what damage would be done. He seemed nice and had helped her, so she trusted him. "It's my fault, I wasn't paying attention. No hospital, please can you help me?" she looked pleadingly at him. When he agreed she sighed thankfully, moving to sit on the vanity as he suggested, eager to put this whole ordeal behind her.
"I need to touch you, search your body. Is that okay?" she nodded in an affirmative whilst he wet a rag.
Closing her eyes so she wouldn't see the damage, his hands moved over her, the dampness of the rag rubbing occasionally at skin.
"Cassie, I need you to keep your eyes open now to help search your body. I don't want to miss anything."
She nods, opening her eyes to see his hands cupping her breasts, moving them side to side, up and down, creating space between them in the search. Her skin tingles and she fears the acid may have damaged her body. His hands glide over her waist, down her stomach before skipping down her legs and tracing up.
"Honey I need you to spread your legs wide, prop them on he vanity if you can, so I can make sure your clean down here. Don't want any of that nasty acid, here do we?"
She shakes her head, hesitantly moving her legs wider, moving back so she can bring her legs up beside her. She can feel her face reddening as she exposes herself in a way she never has before. His hands move down there touching where no one had ever touched before. He examines her in such detail that she can feel his breaths on her skin, her body heating as she fears the acid, making her spread her thighs wider so he can see.
"Cassie, your too dry and I don't want to hurt you. Can I wet you down here?"
She mumbles yes, expecting to feel the roughness of the cloth, holding back a gasp as instead his mouth covers her, jerking at the unexpected attention. His mouth moves away from her, and she feels wetness trickling down as his finger dips inside, just the tip and Cassie clenches at the intrusion. Her worst fears are confirmed when he rocks back, moving away from her.
"I'm sorry Cassie. It's worse than I thought. The acid has made its way inside of you. I can't tell how far it's gone but we need to act immediately."
Thoughts spinning, she blinked at him. "What can you do? Please I can't go to the hospital."
He looks away for a moment, and she fears the worst before he looks back at her. "I have an idea that I think could work. But I don't think you can do it."
