Pulling the thin material of my coat closely to me, I smiled and nodded at the bouncers outside the club.
"Leaving by yourself love? Shall we sort you a taxi?"
"I'm OK tonight, thanks anyway. I'm going to walk down and get the bus I think."
"If you're sure love." He growled.
"Look after yourself," said the other, before shaking his head and muttering, "I wouldn't let my daughter walk home from here."
"Hey, I heard that gramps! I'm old enough to look after myself thank you!" I giggled as I waved goodbye. I'd done this walk so many times I couldn't count anymore. It was an area I came to often just to walk, clear my head.
Tonight was one of those nights, I was so glad to be leaving. I hadn't been in my bed for nearly two days, let alone managed anything resembling sleep. I had literally been dragged out by my best friend. She wanted to go meet some guy and wanted my moral support. I think what she really meant was, 'Please come with me so I don't look pathetic showing up alone.' Once she'd disappeared off, after about twenty minutes, I'd found myself trying to have a good time. A few guys tried to dance and talk to me but I really wasn't in the mood.
Sleep deprivation hits me hard sometimes. It sends my brain into frenzied overdrive. I didn't even have to think too hard about where I was going when I started walking. My body just followed my legs lead, leaving my mind to wonder.
I loved the walk back through London Bridge. The whole area is characterised by the raised, ancient trade railway line. It forms rows of tunnels, some abandoned, with grotty, cobbled, dimly lit streets running through them. Round the corner is the Crossbones Graveyard. An Eighteenth Century unconsecrated burial ground for the 'Winchester Geese.' Prostitutes that lived, worked and died in these very streets.
So much history, it never failed to fill me with a sense of awe. Over the years they estimated over 15,000 paupers and prostitutes were buried there. It was somewhere that my partner and I had stumbled across together whilst on a day out. I think we both had a morbid fascination with this particular part of London's history.
A lot of these tunnels are now being renovated and upgraded in an attempt to modernise the area. These small pockets of history all slowly being demolished, paving the way for shiny new office blocks and unaffordable housing. My train of thought was cut off as I was about to turn down the tunnel that took me to my bus stop.
I was stopped by a load of barriers set up by building works. For some reason only about two street lamps were working as I peered down. It looked empty, the lamps casting an eerie, orange sulphurous glow and shadows.I hesitated momentarily. Taking a quick check behind me, I snuck through a gap between the barriers, before making my way down the cobbles.
Builders waste was strewn everywhere as I walked further down. Large sections of the wall had been demolished, revealing the cavernous insides of the buildings normally disguised between the arches, below the railway line. Fascination took over me as I peered into the darkness. I gasped, as I felt a strong arm pluck me from the ground by my waist and spin me around; slamming me against the damp, stinking, crumbling, old brick wall.
Apparently the building crew hadn't all gone home. I didn't feel too threatened and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the two men were wearing boots, hard hats and fluorescent gear.
"I'm so, so sorry.'" I started. "It's just my shortcut to the station. I know I shouldn't hav..."
Suddenly one of the men was stood right in front of me. His immense body blocking my view to the exit and filling my personal space. He simply patted my cheek repeatedly, shaking his head, instantly silencing me. My mouth opened wide and tears pricked my eyes as I went to move his hand away from my cheek.
"Shut up." This first guy said, calmly, almost sweetly. "You shouldn't have been here should you, little lady?" He continued to purr. "I ain't got time for none of your excuses now."
"OK, no excuses yeah, I'll leave now. The way I came, alright?" I said nodding earnestly, my eyes wide with fear.
They looked at each other nodding and exchanged a smirk. My instincts were telling me I had to leave. Now. But there was something about his voice that had me transfixed. I couldn't move despite the feeling of dread; the orange light making them look even more evil, the way it cast shadows over their faces.
I started to edge the way I came, but the other guy appeared blocking my path with his muscular arm. I looked from one of them, to the other, both now silent and licking their lips menacingly. I was trying to slink away when a coursing sensation shot through my scalp. From behind, one of them had grabbed a large section of my hair, twisted it round his hand and had pulled me right up to his face.
"I'm afraid we're going to have to punish you for trespassing. You're not going anywhere little lady."
Trembling, I felt my body go limp and a strange sensation burned in my nipples causing my pubic muscles to clench. That voice was hypnotic.
"But....I....please...?!" I stammered trying to get coherent words out and untangle his hands from my hair. He simply shook me, pulling my neck back, spinning me around so he could growl into my ear.
