Free Hush by Micalea Smeltzer Page B

forehead.
    “I need some air,” I said suddenly jumping up from my seat. I grabbed my bags and ran out the door. I could still feel his fingers creeping over my skin despite their absence.
    Fresh spring air flooded my lungs as I exited the bar. I ducked around the corner of the building, out of sight of the window, but in sight of the street, and pulled out my blackberry. I quickly called Siva. He had programed all of his information into my phone.
    “Kapur,” he said.
    “Siva it’s me,” I said breathlessly.
    “Sloane, what’s wrong?” he asked.
    “Nothing,” I tried to hastily recover my composure. “I- I’m ready to get picked up. I’m across the street from my work.”
    “I’ll be there soon,” he said.
    “Thank you,” I said but he had already hung up.
    I tried to blend into the shadows and draw as little attention to myself as possible. Despite it being spring the air was quite nippy. I wished desperately that I had a sweater. I wrapped my arms around myself and leaned against the building. Time seemed to slow down. I hummed a tune to myself to fill the never ending silence and wished that I could just twitch my nose and be at Siva’s flat.
    A man exited the bar and looked both ways before pausing when his glance landed in my direction. I sank further into the shadows wishing I could melt into the wall. He sauntered towards me at a slightly awkward gait. I recognized his shoulders.
    Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
    “Sloane,” he said. “I believe you’ve had quite enough fresh air.”
    “No, not quite,” I squeaked in fear.
    “Sloane, Sloane, Sloane,” he breathed and his beer ridden breath engulfed me. He shoved me forcefully against the wall. Both of his hands rested on either side of my body blocking any sort of retreat. Fear ensnared me like a vicious drug. He spread my legs with his thigh. “Sloane,” he breathed into my hair. Tears threatened to leak out of my eyes. His hands moved down to my legs, lifting my skirt, while his body pressed me forcefully into the wall. The bulge in his pants rubbed against my leg.
    “Mac, please don’t do this. MacAuley!” I said trying to push him away but he was too strong.
    “Come on baby, I know you want me. You always have,” he rasped in my ear.
    His tongue roamed from the dip in the top of my dress, up my neck, to my chin, before he settled his mouth forcefully on mine. Air could not breach my lungs. Panic ebbed and flowed through my veins. I hoped I had an adrenaline spike or whatever it was that people had that gave them the strength to lift cars. His lips locked on mine. One hand disappeared from my body while the other kept me forcefully pinned to the wall. I tried to wiggle away from him but it didn’t work. I tried to scream but his lips quieted the sound. I heard the sound of the zipper on his pants and my blood went cold.
    I closed my eyes as the tears started to fall. I couldn’t believe this was about to happen.
    “Please, please, don’t do this,” I cried into his mouth.
    He groaned in the back of his throat. The hand that had me pinned to the wall was suddenly around my neck closing off any form of oxygen.
    “Shut up, bitch,” he growled.
    Tears leaked out of my eyes. I knew I was a wet sobbing mess. Could no one see us? Hear us?
    I had never been so scared in my entire life.
    His lips were back on mine and his tongue in my mouth. I bit down sharply on his tongue and he howled.
    He pulled away but before I could move he slapped me hard across the face. Blinking , white lights flooded my vision. I was disoriented.
    “Don’t do that again ,” he growled pushing me against the wall again and hiking my skirt up. He fingered my panties and began to slide them down my waist.
    “Help!” I screamed.
    “Bitch,” he said and shoved me into the brick wall so that my skull clacked roughly against it.
    Oh Sloane, what have you gotten yourself into now? Fight the bastard!
    “Get off of me!” I cried shoving futilely at him. I was