“I was running, running as fast as I could, the soles of my feet were raw, and probably blistered. I couldn't run in heels so it was an easy choice to run barefoot. Considering if I was running in heels I would get caught and get raped... again. I could hear him breathing hard, his footsteps landing heavily on the pavement. It wasn’t my fault that I was in this mess, that I was going to get raped any second. Maybe I should’ve known. Living in Reno, Nevada and all, I shouldn't be alone in the cities ghetto at two in the morning on a school night but hey, what else is a bored teenager supposed to do anyway?
I wasn’t surprised at all that I lost my way after the club, but I will admit I was a little tipsy from drinking all of the Uncle Sam shots. You see that’s what gets you drunk, the mixture is vodka red, white, and blue Jell-O and it had flames on top of It. Thanks to Lewis who is a friend of a friend of a friend’s brother, for giving me the best fake ID ever.
It had hurt so much, I could only feel the pain when I took a deep breath in. The air was cold and to make it worse, it was very dry due to the polluted night air. It could not compare to the pain in my feet, I knew they were bleeding and the red wet liquid has proved me correct. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to run. Hell, it even hurt to keep myself standing up. But me running was the only thing keeping me away from my rapist. A wave of pain shot up my leg from an empty can of soda underneath my left foot. When I cried out in pain I lost my footing and dove head first into the cement.
I tried to scream out in pain again, but all that came out of my mouth was a moan. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to be safe this time; I was supposed to walk away still being half a virgin. But sadly that wasn't how my life is, or this city. I was supposed to get away this time. Please oh just let me find a way to get out of this... Please.
I’m feeling too woozy to barely walk from hitting my head so hard... but that was to that man’s advantage, All i can remember is how he wears a black mask and the faint smell of lemon on him. I could feel him dragging me into an alleyway. I tried to fight him but my limbs were too weak, I couldn't fight... I could only see and hear, like a corpse. He came over me leaving a looming shadow over my body... I could feel him breathing heavily over my body. I am crying hysterically, blood, dirt and snot all over my face. I could feel him leaning over me and putting his mouth to my ear as he whispered to me:
“I told you that I would find you, I will always find you.”
“Why?” I cry. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“Because you have no idea who you really are,” He says, hissing through his mask. I knew what was going to happen at this point. He was going to finish what he started.



“I always hate this part... where I am raped, where I become officially broken,” I say to my therapist, Mrs. Templeton.
“Yes. But Luna, how are you broke, where did the crack start?” she says in her therapeutic voice.
“Maybe when my parents gave me and my brother up because they didn't want us, maybe it was when we were moved into the group home. Maybe when all the little girls and little boys got to go home with their loving new parents when we were stuck to watch all of our friends go away,” I say simply.
The timer goes off before Mrs. Templeton could say anything more. At that sound I grab for my bag.
“Luna wait,” she said putting a hand on my shoulder.
“Yeah, what is it?” I say simply getting angry. If the money meter was still running I would not be allowed to leave the group home for a week.
“I just wanted to say good bye for the last time. I will miss you,” she said looking at me in the eyes for the first time. I probably freaked her out, seeing a girl with violet eyes wasn't normal. Yeah, you're gonna miss my money.
“What are you talking about? Why is this the last appointment?” I say confused.
“Oh they didn’t tell you? Oh well this is such exciting news! You’ve been accepted to Carlton High Preparatory School. It is such an honor! You must be so proud of yourself!” she said with a big smile on her face.
“Uh, I don't know what that is,” After I say that she looks at me like I am stupid.
“Oh honey, it is the most respected boarding school in the world, and its in England. I researched it when Alisa told me the amazing news!”
Great the land of tea and crumpets, and Doctor Who, or is he British? Or is being English and British the same thing? Uh, I need to get my facts straight. Alisa is basically my mother. She is the person running the group home. She was the only one that stuck around. She was supposed to retire fifteen years ago, because she was now turning eighty-three, but she stayed for me. She loved me. Like I was like her very own daughter.


“Nope, no, doesn't ring a bell,” I said trying to be nice. I have a bit of an anger problem. I get so angry over the stupidest stuff. Life just gave me anger issues.
“Oh dear, then they must be telling you today. Please don't tell Alisa, even though she can barely walk she still scares the heck out of me.”
At that I smile, she really did know how to put an impression on people.
“Its ok. You didn't know, I promise that I won't tell.” I smile. Wow, mood swing or what?
She brings me into a short and awkward hug, and walks me to the door.
“Have a nice life, Luna,” she tells me smiling.
“Same for you,” I say, just trying to be courteous.
As I walk over to the elevator I smile. Finally no more therapy, no more having to relive how I was broken. Don't think about it Luna, its over now. Wow the elevator is taking forever! I start to sing, because I didn’t see anyone there, and I was really bored.
“You have a very nice voice,” a voice caught me off guard. I knew that voice. It was him.


“How did you find me?” I whisper. Backing away from the monster. The rapist. My rapist.


“Oh, Luna. I told you that I would find you. I guess that you don’t listen very well,” I start backing away when he lifts his hand to my face.


“Leave me alone or I will scream,” I say running into the wall behind me.


“No one will hear you. Just like last time. Although on our first encounter you got lucky,” He wears the mask, the same white mask, hiding his face, he wears it every time. All i can ever remember him by is his scent of lemon grass and water, and his voice, deep but soft. As the elevator door opens, the ringing bell sound caught him off guard and I ran towards the staircase leading to the main lobby where there has to be someone, maybe even a security officer.


“And where do you think you’re going?” he grabs my shoulder and turns me around his fist pulled back and ready to knock me out, but falls to the ground with a sound of glass breaking. As I stare at his attacker I blush. I consider the situation, and realise that I should not be blushing right now. The unknown stranger walks over my rapist’s out cold body.


He grabs me on the shoulders and says, “Are you ok? Did he hurt you?”


“Yeah, I’m fine we just need to get out of here, and we need to call the cops I don't want him to get away this time,” I say looking at the unconscious body.


“Let me watch him and make sure he doesn't go away... you go to the main lobby and call the police,” he said to me. I just nodded and ran into the elevator before it closed. I hit the button to the main lobby and shook in silence. I thought that he was gone for good after he finished what he started and now he was finally going behind bars. I won this time... not him, I won, I won, I won. This may finally be over, done, over with, kaput, no more.


When the elevator door opened I ran to the manager and screamed, “CALL 911 NOW!” that brought all of the people in the waiting rooms eyes to me. When all that the manager did was sit there I say, “Do it now!” at that he jumps and dials 911 on the building’s phone. “Tell them that there is a criminal upstairs passed out and armed!” (I was pretty sure that he was armed... even though I didn't see it.)


I was waiting in the waiting room for about five minutes before I heard the police siren approaching the building. I run outside and direct the policemen to the floor that had my rapist out cold. When the five police officers that did take the elevator started to ask me questions the elevator door opened and we walked into the entryway to the floor level. There was no one there, no broken glass, no beautiful stranger, and most of all no out cold, and armed rapist.


“Ma’am there's no one there,” said the police officer with dirty blond hair.


“But, but, but he was right there six minutes ago, I even left him with the guy that knocked him out!”


They just looked at me like I was stupid.


“Ma’am you know that it is a federal offense to place a false distress call, with the fine of five thousand dollars.”


“But it wasn't fake! They were right here!” How could this be happening!


“What's your name? Who do we need to call to pick you up?” the policemen said to me.
“But he was there! I'm not lying!”
“Hey! We're letting you off with a warning but we wont be so generous next time do you understand,” I just nod in reply.



*************************************************************************************

“Hey, so what exactly is Carlton High Prep? School?” I say to Alisa, while having a mouth full of fruity pebbles.
“Were you grown up with no manners missy!” she said looking at me. “Sorry Liss, won’t do it again,” I say wiping my mouth.
“Will not do it again. I swear you and your generations use of words,” she said shaking her head.
“Well my generation wasn't partying during WWII now were we?” I say getting smart. Ah I love it when her face gets red, it’s so funny.
“Now don't get smart with me missy,” Alisa said with her British accent, and smiling.
“Ok so we need to talk about Carlton prep. Were you going to tell me?” I say looking down at my cereal bowl and chasing the last little speck of fruity pebbles. It’s basically saying to me, ‘you can't catch me b****!’
“Yes actually, today. And you are going. After the incident that happened yesterday I don't want you to stay here. Its too dangerous,” she said having her serious face on. If looks could kill... maybe half the population would be dead from her death stare.
“Ahh, so you do believe me. And here I thought that you were being truthful to the police,” I say smiling at her.
“I may have said one thing but I thought another,” she said.
“And that my dear old Liss is the definition of lying,” I say after giving up on chasing the little piece of fruity pebbles and start slurping the fruity tasting milk.
“I know,” she said totally ignoring the comment that I had just made. “ That you would never lie about that. And this city is just full of heartbreak and sin, this school, this prep. School is going to help you start a new life,” she said setting her hand on my cheek. I wouldn't know what to do without Liss.
“There you go using that word again... sin,” I say smiling.


Liss was a huge Christian and every Sunday morning she would go to church and be PRAISING TO THE LORD! I never went, of course. I never did believe in any kind of god or any higher power. Just in chance and in the big bang. And I’m also talking about that show. If there was a religion for that show... you’d see me apart of that.


“Why isn't anyone up yet?” there was a new class of kids now coming to live with us. Most of them were through the ages of 4-6, still sad that their mommy or daddy didn't want them. I was the only teenager that was here, some of them are scared of me because I am a teenager, and I’m older. I understand it, I mean; I was the same way when I was that age.


But now I am going into my sophomore year, and I’m not scared anymore. I have no more fear left in me.