WPW 03/09
Ellie let her body move to the music of the DJ. She had finally allowed herself to take some time alone to do something she loved. Clubbing. Her friends would argue that there was more to life than going out to party. Normally she would agree with them and stay at home to watch a movie with snacks. Each of them trying to make a piece of popcorn into the other's mouth, laughing when they missed so badly that the dog had a chance to eat it. However tonight she just wanted to drink her worries away and melt on the dance floor. Drinks came at her from all different directions. Most were from men who thought they had the slightest bit of chance with her, others were from large groups that she ended up meshing with for a song or two before they all parted ways. As soon as the DJ slowed down his mix a bit, she made her way to the bar and ordered herself a dirty martini. “Mind if I buy you a drink? Eloise.” Hearing her name off the man’s tongue caused her to freeze. She knew that voice and it wasn’t one she wanted to hear. Benjamin. She immediately sat up straight. “You know. I think I am good.” She tried to keep her voice firm but it faltered. She blamed it on the alcohol. “Oh come on. A gorgeous little thing like you. Left all alone in a place like this….” His voice trailed off as he reached out to touch Eloise’s face. She immediately flinched the moment his skin made contact with her. He was repulsive. “I think I should be going.” she twirled the small black stir stick through her martini a couple times before picking it up and throwing it at him, running toward the club’s exit doors. “Get the fuck off me!” Eloise screamed as she ripped her arm from Benjamin’s grasp. At this moment she wished she hadn’t gone against both Sebastian’s and Cassian’s wishes. Both of them had their reservations about her going alone yet neither of them wanted to go with her. What was she supposed to do? Stay home alone to her mind's own vices? She would rather drink herself to death than do that. “Don’t you fucking talk to me like that. Learn your place bitch!” He grabbed her arm again, this time tighter than before. She tried to wiggle herself free but this time she couldn’t. Her agoraphobia was now kicking in. “You have something that belongs to me and I will get it one way or a fucking other. You aren’t making it away from me alive this time.” His words caused a shiver through her spine. Wanting to inflict harm to herself was one thing, but having her life threatened to be ripped away by his hands scared the living hell out of her.
“Think Ellie. How would you escape Benjamin in these situations?” she thought to herself. Her mind ran through every past possible scenario. She let her eyes flicker from her attacker to her sparkling seven inch heels. Eloise was thanking herself for even wearing them tonight. Before she could get her heel off and into her hand, his grip tightened on her fragile arm as he began to drag her though the poorly lit parking lot. She tried to scream but no sound came out, the pain now getting too much to bear. “Let go of me you son of a bitch.” She spat out. She dug her heels into a spot of loose gravel and immediately caused the two of them to stop. He tried to pull her but she wasn’t moving. Eloise quickly stomped her heel into his foot, the counter breaking through his shoe fabric as it drove into his skin. He immediately let go. She inhaled deeply. Eloise only had seconds to think and she wasn’t going to waste her time. She kicked off her heels, her feet touching the cold asphalt beneath her. “You stupid little hoe. You will pay for that!” Without a thought she gave him a swift kick in the shin and took off running into the night.
The city lights were blinding as she tried to make sense of what had happened not even twenty minutes before. How did he find her? Did someone snitch on her? How the hell did he know where she would be that exact night? Her mind was now in overdrive. Well as much as it could be for being intoxicated. One thing she did know is that he was back and that she was scared. “Where am I supposed to go? I can’t really go home.” She took a deep breath and fell to the concrete. She wanted to do nothing but sit there and cry. But she couldn’t bring herself to. Eloise turned toward the sky. “You think this is a fucking joke?! What did I ever do to you!” She yelled towards the clouds wondering if anyone or anything was listening. “I was a fucking child! No sense or care in the world and you robbed me of that!” She stood up and pointed upwards. Her anger started to take over her sadness. “Was it a lesson?! What twelve year old needs a God Damned lesson like that?!” She could hear her voice echo through the streets. It was oddly quiet for a Friday night. “Fuck you!” Before she could get another word out, the sound of thunder roared through the streets, rain starting to pour. “You have got to be kidding me…” she mumbled as she stood in the middle of the downpour. Eloise looked around at her surroundings. The town homes looked familiar. She unknowingly made it to the Bronx. Pointing a finger at each house she counted. “Three….four….that one.” She looked back up toward the sky. “I still hate you. But thanks.” She walked a few feet to the fifth house on the line. Even under the influence she knew where his house was. She smiled ever so slightly as a small wave of relief washed over her. Sure he would be mad when he answered the door but she would take him scolding her in disappointment over being alone right now. She showed up at his door soaking wet, bruised and covered in glitter. Eloise could hear him fumble around in the dark to answer the door. She looked down at her feet, her eyes meeting his the moment the door opened. “I already know. Can we do this in the morning. I really just need a cup of tea and a bath…” the moment he let her inside Eloise quietly made her way to the kitchen, thankful that no matter what she could always count on him to be there.