We only made it through two rounds of shots before we went stumbling drunk onto the dance floor. Devil knows how I made it in the heels I was wearing, but I did. The techno beat of the music kept me going as one song blended into the other. Around me, the room seemed to be gaining more energy as the club continued to fill with people. The lights dropped into a darker hue as the music became louder.

“I’ll be right back!” I yelled to Moira.

She turned her head fractionally and shouted, “What?”

“Bathroom,” I said back, trying to mouth the word so she could read my lips.

“Need me to come with you?” she mouthed in return, laughing and pointing to herself and then to me.

I shook my head no, waving her off as I began weaving through the crowd. The surrounding people pushed and pulled, swaying with the music like one living thing. I stumbled off the dance floor and caught myself on the stair railing that led to the next level.

The bouncer next to it smiled at me. He was the same one from outside, but it was only then that I realized I recognized him from somewhere.

“Have we met before?” I asked. He said something, but I couldn’t hear his response. The words came out distorted. They didn’t blend with the music; they warped around it. I needed to find the bathroom. Maybe some cold water would help me. It was difficult to communicate that I needed the toilets, but he seemed to know what I was asking.

He pointed upstairs and said, “Your boyfriend’s up there waiting for you.”

I must have heard that wrong. I didn’t have a boyfriend. Maybe he said bathroom?

He unclipped the rope and ushered me through. I was halfway up the stairs when I started to get dizzy. A sudden need to lie down hit me and gripping the rail was the only thing that kept me upright. I eased my way up the rest of the stairs and stumbled down the hallway.

My legs didn’t want to cooperate. I lost my footing and fell towards a door. Strong arms caught me, pulling me back.

“Thank you,” I slurred. One of the hands that caught me reached forward and opened the door. I stumbled in, my eyes having trouble adjusting to the low light. Hot breath fanned my skin as someone’s lips began trailing down my neck.

Behind me the door gave a harsh audible click.

“Wha—” I started to protest, but the world tilted as the stranger pushed me onto something flat and hard. My face smacked into the surface and sent pain shooting through me. Sharp and cruel. I whimpered as the stranger started turning my body over, my back against the cold surface beneath.

Even in the dim light with inebriation setting in, I recognized the man pulling my legs apart.

“J-joshhh…wh-why are—”

“You wouldn’t listen to me, Ruby,” he said harshly. His voice sounded far away as my consciousness began to retreat. I wanted to move my legs to kick him, but I no longer had control. My entire body had gone numb.

“This is your fault. You think I want to do this?” My legs hanging limp over the edge, he placed himself between them. His hands wrapped around the back of my thighs, pulling me closer. I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t form words anymore. I couldn’t do anything.

“I can’t get you out of my mind, but you won’t come back to me. I hurt for you so much, Ruby. Not even Kendall can soothe it anymore. It must be you.” He continued speaking, muttering to himself. A blind panic set into me. I knew what was about to go down, but I couldn’t put the words to it. I couldn’t stop it.

Josh’s hands continued groping me, reaching beneath my top. His sweaty palms wrapped around my breasts, and terror seized me. He was seriously going to do this.

“You wouldn’t let me touch these when we were together. You were such a prude. Not anymore, though, are you, Ruby?” Squeezing my breasts, his face in my neck, I could feel his pathetic excuse for a cock pushing against me. Pins and needles prickled my skin as I tried to cry out for someone. Anyone. I screamed and screamed, but I was locked in a nightmare where no one could hear me.

Josh’s fumbling movements worsened the more he touched me. My skin did that to people. I was such a fool for even wanting someone to pass the time with. I was lonely and starving. For attention. For sex. For everything. I was a fucking demon deprived of all that I needed, so I played with fire and now I was going to burn.

Burn.

I was burning inside.

“You’re mine, and I will have you.” Josh pulled back, fumbling to undo his pants. I couldn’t see the movements, I couldn’t move my head, but I could hear every notch of his zipper, and every rustle of clothing as his pants dropped to the floor.

It was so similar to before. It was scary.

Except this time, I didn’t have Moira to save me.

Josh’s filthy hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer as he rubbed himself against me. It was savage and disgusting. His hands clumsily tugged at my shirt, pulling it off, my head lolling as he jerked the fabric over and tossed it aside. I could feel everything and nothing, and I couldn’t escape. I was no longer me. My consciousness retreated further, searching for safety in some dark corner of my mind.

The girl on the table was pinned and helpless, but not so far away—I was burning with hatred. Burning like I never had before.

As his mouth wrapped around my nipple, I stopped screaming for help, and started screaming for death.

His death.

I wanted him to bleed for this.

I was going to hurt him.

Hell, when I came to, I was going to kill him.

It was that simple thought that unlocked something inside of me. Something I’d never known was there. For the first time, lying on a table, drugged and unable to move, I saw a glimpse of something…not of this world.

Something dark.

Deadly.

And as his hands unbuttoned my pants, that something cracked its eye open.