Chosen by the Goddess

    I shut the door behind me and turn around to lock it.      “‘night” says Susan, before she opens the door on the passenger side of her boyfriends car. She gets in and I watch them drive away. I look around me, Im standing in front of the bar I work at, Susan helped me close.      It is three in the morning and the street is only dimly lit by some far away street light. The one closer to me doesn’t work, it flickers from time to time. I am suddenly very aware of the fact that I am alone out here and it sends shivers down my spine. Sometime, even New York seems lonely.      I close my jacket and start making my way home. I want to get to a busier street, as I feel safer with at least some souls near me.      I haven’t been walking for long as I notice the sound of footsteps. I stop. nothing. I turn around. Large buildings towering over me and casting shadows, bathing the alley behind me in darkness. I start walking again.      It was probably nothing, I might be a little tipsy. Sometimes I take a few shots with the guests, usually increases my tip and I can really use the extra money. Nevertheless, I pick up my pace and try to listen to my surroundings.      I hear it again, this time closer, there is someone behind me. I keep walking as I reach into my purse, trying to find the pepper spray I keep there for emergencies. I can’t find it. Why can’t I find it? Then I remember, I gave it to Stephanie last week because she was afraid to go home by herself. I haven’t gotten it back. Great, really great timing I think to myself.      I feel adrenaline rush into my veins. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me, I turn around again. I see someone behind me now, he is moving in the shadows, but I can make out a shape, moving towards me. I walk faster, trying to bring get space between me and whoever. Im almost running now. Just when I notice the person behind me increasing their speed as well, it is too late. He catches up with me, grabbing my right arm.              Shocked by the sudden movement, my body loses its balance, I stumble, my purse slides down my arm and drops on the ground. My pursuer tightens his grip on me and pushes me against the brick wall of one of the buildings lining the alley.      His face is only a couple of inches away from mine, still, I can barely make out his features. It is dark and tears start to cloud up my vision. He smells of alcohol and cigarettes. He has a tight grasp on my body and I cannot move, even if he’d let me, my body feels numb.      He takes a step forward and is now using his body weight to press me against the wall. I feel his hand, brushing my face, he mumbles something, then runs it down the side of my body. Im shaking, I know what is going to happen to me and I know that no one will stop this man, unless I do. I snap out of my paralysis as he reaches one hand down and I hear him unbuckle his belt.      I scream.      He tumbles back, but quickly gets a hold of himself and reaches to cover my mouth. I scream again, this time, its only a muffled sound, nowhere to be heard.      A dirty grin flashes on his face, he leans forward to whisper “no one cares baby”.     I close my eyes. My whole body is tense, I feel tears running down my cheeks. I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to defend myself.      “Please… please, don’t do this” I mumble, desperately, knowing well that it will not help me.     I start to pray, I don’t know tho whom, but quietly and to myself, as the man in front of me runs his hands down my body. I am begging fo someone to help me, for someone to end this hell.      Please, I think, please save me.      Just then, I hear a growl and the next thing I feel, is the man in front of me being ripped away. I inhale sharply, partly shocked, partly relieved. I blink my eyes to be able to make out what’s happening. I see a figure laying on the ground, a couple of feet away from me.      I can only assume it to be my attacker, he is not moving. I am standing there, still pressed against the bricks, as I watch the body being pulled into the shadows.      I slide down, unable to hold myself up, glad that the wall is there to support me. Sitting on the could concrete, I let my legs sink to the ground and take a couple of deep breaths to calm, and collect myself. I am still not safe, I am still sitting a dark ally, with who knows what happening in close proximity.      I hear some noise, unable to recognize what it is, not very loud, but loud enough for me to notice. Then, I hear a cracking sound and everything around me is quiet again. My heart starts to pound in my chest. I try to push myself up, I stumble and drop down again.      “May I?”     My head shoots up, my eyes widen. A man is standing in front of me, reaching his hand down, offering to help me up. I hesitate, but decide to accept the help. He pulls me up and holds on to me until I am stable enough to stand on my own, without falling down again.      “Thank you” I mutter, too agitated to care about courtesy, I avoid looking at him.      “You alright?” He sounds concerned.      “Sure” I lie. I can feel him looking at me. I did not convince him. I probably wouldn’t even have believed myself. Of course I was not alright, but I wanted to be left alone, go home, and forget about everything.     “Hey” he says in a soft voice. He is still holding my hand, noticing that, I look up to him. There is very little light shining on to us but still, as our eyes meet, I can see the color in his changing. Slowly, they’re being fogged up with darkness, until they are pitch black.      His body tensing up notably, he takes a step towards me. I don’t move. He brings his face down to mine until it is only a couple of inches away. A growl escapes from his lips and with a deep undertone he whispers “mate”.      What? I scream, this time, with all I have. I turn around and run, as fast as I can.