No Longer Alone

Chapter Ten

    I took a moment and headed to the ladies room, more to get away from the others and compose myself than for a real need to use the bathroom.  It was just a game for the two, they aren't from here, they just want to see who can get a reaction.  The nasty whispers in my head started, years of mental abuse, reminding me just how worthless I was, telling me in no uncertain terms that I was just the game of the night, these two were far to high above the likes of me.  I gave myself a pep talk and walked back out.

    Jen had finished and Damian was back up for his song, his long black hair falling over his face a bit as he looked down with the opening beats of the song.  Then his rich voice sang the words, and looking at the women in the room, I was certain I wasn't the only one feeling his words all the way through my body.  He had chosen Bad Things by Jace Everret, and his voice was doing bad things to all the women in the room, even me.

    I listened until almost the end, just taking the moment to myself to listen a song that I loved, being sung extremely well.  As it was coming to a close though, I took that moment to sneak outside for the cool air and a much needed smoke.

    Nothing tonight had gone as planned, normally it's a quiet night, no stress, no problems.  Maybe a touch of light flirting with boys that barely make me bat an eye.  These two though, they had to show up on my night out, and throw a wrench in everything.  I shivered slightly remembering the look in his eyes when he took that drink, like he was enjoying the chaos, he was trying to break past the mask and watching me struggle.  I took another deep breath of the cool air, and heard the door open again.

    "You didn't stay till the end."  His voice still dry, almost bored, "Not a song you care for?"

    "No, I like the song, just got a little to warm in there." I kept my eyes shut, not wanting him to see he was the one causing the heat I was trying to escape.

    "Funny, I find this area a bit cooler than I am used to.  Tell me something Nicole, if I-" He started talking but was cut off by the doors opening.  Adam and Jen came out carrying my pool stick with them.

    "Hey, we just got a call that Nate was getting into a little bit of trouble again and we need to head out.  Sorry we have to cut the night short."  Jen was exasperated, Nate being their 16 year old son that had been causing some problems for them.  I nodded and looked over at Damian and Alex as he came out as well.

    "Well it was fun, hope you enjoy your visit here."

    They nodded as Adam, Jen and I piled into their car to take me home before heading to their own place.

*Damian's POV*

    "You like her."

    "She's interesting." I brush it off, or try to, unfortunately, Alex knows me better than that.

    "You like her, you were looking for her when you sang that song."

    I sigh and admit it to myself, that I want to talk to her more, there is something different about her than what I have seen recently.  I want to know more.

    "Yes."

    Alex shows a real smile, not flirting, not his joker smile, but his genuine smile.  "So what's the plan boss, cause this sounds like fun."

*Nicole's POV*

 It started the same as most of my dreams, dancing in the woods to a song only I can hear, before he shows up.  Trapped by a net, strapped down against my will, a cold sweat breaks out along my body as I listen to their voices, tears streaking down my face as I try to break free.

    "You never dress right, you always look like a worthless piece of trash."

    "You are literally crazy.  No man could ever love you, someone would have to be drunk or on drugs to love something like you."

    Screams lodge in my throat as I try to curl into a ball, feeling a hand sliding around my waste trying to force it's way past my pants.

    "Well, you moved in your sleep, I thought you changed your mind and wanted it..." I break into full body shudders trying to avoid that hand, the feel of it making my skin crawl.

    "Well you are playing games, I guess you must be a real woman then."

    I struggle to get away from the hands, the words, everything going black around me.  The pain feels like it is dragging me down when I hear a new sound, something I haven't heard before in this dream.  In my panic I can't place the voice, warm but scared, begging me not to leave yet.

    Waking in a cold sweat, tangled in my blankets, I try and take deep breaths to calm down.  That was the same dream I had most nights, but tonight it was different for some reason.   I look at the clock and see that it is about an hour before I normally get up, but I know there will be no more sleep for me today.  Rolling out of bed I gather my stuff to take a shower, and wash away the physical traces of the nightmare, since nothing can wash away the mental effects.

    Taking my time I think about the new voice, trying to place it, but I just can't right now.  I finish getting ready for work and head in early, hoping to get lost in the rest of the work and just not having to think for a while.