I step out of the shower. The steam swirls around me as I glance at the droplets of water beading on my soft, pale skin in the hazy mirror across from me. I step out onto the carpet and reach for the towel on the door. My mind is rolling over the events of my day. "Mmmm, that towel smells nice. Who was that creep on the bus, and why was he staring holes through me? Did I lock the back door when I came home? Why am I so rattled? Tea, I need some tea to settle my nerves. Yeah that's it, tea . . .and a damn joint wouldn't hurt either."
I close my eyes and bury my face into the soft towel inhaling deeply. When I bring the towel down and open my eyes, the room is black. "Oh Gawd!" I gasp.
I reach for the light switch flicking it up and down repeatedly. I can feel my muscles tighten. I shake my head and chuckle at myself as I take a deep breath and try to regain control.
"Laura you chicken shit. The power must have gone off."
I stand there silently in the darkness, mentally traveling the path I will take to the fuse box. I wrap the towel around me.
"What was that noise? A squeak . . .shhhhhh. There it is again!"
I take in a sharp breath as I hear the bedroom door open. "Creaaaaaaak" I am the only one home. I freeze in my spot trying to push out all other sounds. "Hold your breath, Laura so your ears can hear better." The floor in the bedroom creaks as I hear slow footsteps coming towards the bathroom. My hands fly to my mouth to cover it. Adrenaline pumps through me making my stomach burn as the muscles tense up. I want to scream but the sound is frozen in my throat. I can't make a noise. My heart is pounding so loudly I'm certain it can be heard outside the closed door. I hear the knob on the bathroom door as it starts to turn. My brain is running. "Run, Laura! Oh fuck, did that creep on the bus follow me? Shhh, be quiet! Oh Gawd, this isn't happening!"
There's nowhere to run. My feet are stuck like glue to the floor. My eyes widen with fright as they try to adjust in the dark.
The door opens. The moonlight filtering in from the bedroom allows me to see a form as I press myself against the wall in the tiny bathroom. "Blink. Look harder!" I can't make out a face. The figure moves towards me in a flash. A hand grasps my arm roughly pulling me into the bedroom and tossing me against the bed as I struggle to catch my breath. I feel as if my heart is about to burst from my chest. I gather enough air to begin to scream. As the first shrill sound pierces the air a hand clamps roughly over my mouth. "Aahhhhhh.. . . mmmppphhhhh."
My head is shoved back against the mattress and the scream is caught in my throat. I hear a deep voice hiss out. "Lay still bitch!"
"My head is spinning. Oh Gawd, I'm gonna throw up. Wait, do I know that voice? Please let me know that voice. I can't be sure, it sounds so muffled" I open my eyes and blink. " Look at the face. Oh no! Gawd, don't look at the face, he'll kill you! Yes, look at the face!"
In the moonlight I can barely make it out. "Where are the eyes? I should be able to see eyes!"
There are no eyes, only blackness. I am staring into a face with no expression. My heart races wildly as my hands fly up to claw at it. "A Mask! The Son of a Bitch coward is wearing a mask!"
My wrists are caught, shoved down against the bed roughly and then moved over my head where they are captured in one hand by my captor. I hear the sound of a slap and then feel the sharp stinging pain shoot down my thigh as the voice repeats loudly.
"I SAID TO BE STILL"
I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Tears sting my eyes. I can feel them sliding down my cheeks, hot tears of fright, anger, frustration.
I hear the unmistakable sound of a zipper sliding down. Panic rises again. I whimper and squirm wildly on the bed. "NO!"
The pain shoots again as another sharp slap is directed at my thigh. Fingers twist in my hair and clutch tightly against my scalp turning my head to the side. My captor leans over my trembling body pressing the cold faceless mask against my ear. "Don't test my patience slut," he hisses behind the mask. A rope is slipped around my wrists. I wince as it is pulled around the bedpost yanking my arms up tightly. I can hear heavy fast breathing from behind the mask. The towel is ripped from my body. The air feels like the blast from an opened freezer against my once warm skin. Goose bumps prickle instantly.
"Oh Gawd, no please!"
Warm rough fingers slide over my soft skin as I gasp, up and down my sides, over my inner thighs. The motions of my attacker are deliberately slow and torturous. "He's enjoying this. That asshole wants to see me get all worked up"