For as long as I could remember, I've walked to school. When I moved to Tally, I made sure my apartment was within walking distance of my classrooms. Sometimes, my projects run late at night. My friends with cars always offer me rides after it gets dark. They worry if I'll make it home ok. I've never worried, though.
I was walking home one night, later than I usually do. Normally, I have my headphones on while I walk. I had a feeling in the bottom of my stomach that I shouldn't wear them tonight. I didn't notice anyone as I was walking past the courtyard. Before I knew it, there was one hand on the back of my neck and another wrapped around my waist, forced up underneath my sweatshirt. "Keep walking," a low voice whispered in my ear. As something sharp flashed up my side where his hand was- not his hand but a knife pressing into my side. His other hand was holding the back of my neck so I couldn't turn and get a glimpse of who was taking me.
We sculled along, any passers by would have assumed we were a couple embarrassing each other. He could sense when I was about to try something and pushed the knife firmer into my side. He pushed me towards a basement door or a maintenance room. A door that should be locked but wasn't. He let go of the back of my neck to grab the door handle. I saw this as my opportunity to run. He was too fast. I was caught by the collar of my sweatshirt. I could hear some of the fabric ripping, but it didn't rip enough for me to slip from his grip. He pulled me through the door and pinned me against the inside wall with all his weight.
His chest against my arms, my arms against my side, my back against the wall. I was panicking now. Now, no one was going to find me here. One of his hands had moved to cover my mouth and nose. Had I screamed? I couldn't remember. My heart was beating too fast. I could grasp just enough air through his fingers to stay conscious. He kept me like that for a few seconds. He didn't have to say anything, but I knew the only way I would make it out was if I played the toy he wanted. He lessoned his weight on my chest but firmly held my skull into the wall with the hand covering my mouth. He took his knife away from my stomach and started out lining half of my heart-shaped face. He knew exactly how much pressure he could put on my skin without drawing blood. He told me to be a good girl, and it would all be over soon as the corners of his mouth arched up with a smirk.