Finally, Andy took his hand away from my mouth and I gagged and coughed. Pain bloomed in my chest and I shuddered as sobs began to wrack my body. When I looked at Andy, he looked smug and satisfied.
“Hi, June,” Andy said coldly. “I was hoping you’d see my drawings.”
“Why?” I asked softly. “Why would you do something like that, Andy?”
Andy’s eyes flashed with anger and he stepped closer, balling his hands into fists. I shivered with fear.
“Please don’t hit me,” I said softly. “Please, Andy. I’m sorry – I know I shouldn’t have stood you up, that was wrong and I’m sorry.”
“You’re right,” Andy said coldly. “That was a shitty thing to do, June. I thought girls like you were nice – I thought girls like you didn’t mess with innocent men and their emotions.”
“I swear, I wasn’t trying to hurt you!” I shrieked. “I was just feeling scared. Andy, you made me feel like I couldn’t say no to you! But I don’t have time for a relationship,” I added quickly. “I don’t have time to date you – or anyone else!”
Andy shook his head and licked his lips. “I don’t believe that, June,” he said softly. His voice was as cold and chilling as steel. “I think you lied to me on purpose because you wanted to hurt me. Tell the truth, June – you lied because you wanted to hurt me.”
He stepped closer and my heart began to pound in my chest. Cold sweat raced down my back and I put my hands up in a weak defense as Andy advanced on me. My bag slipped from my shoulder but I was barely even aware of the contents spilling all over the wet asphalt of the alley.
“Andy, please,” I begged. “Please, please don’t hurt me!”
“I’ll do whatever I want to you, June,” Andy hissed. “So don’t think you can get out of this alive.”
When he put his hands on my shoulders, I screamed and screamed. My throat was burning as I called for help. Knowing that I was only feet away from the safety of the street somehow made me feel even more panicked, and I twisted furiously, trying to free myself from Andy’s grip. Enraged, Andy pulled one of his hands free from my body and slapped me across the face.
The pain stung, but it was enough to startle me into action. Before I could even think about what I was doing, I screamed and threw my whole weight to one side.
“Help!” I screamed. “Help, someone’s trying to assault me!”
Andy was clearly stunned and he made another grab for my arm but I darted out of the way and started to run towards the street.
“Help!” I shrieked again. “Somebody, please!”
My heart was pounding and the adrenaline was rushing through my body as I tore out of the alley and stumbled onto the sidewalk. A curious pool of people circled around me and I launched myself towards one of the men who had gathered in confusion.
“Ma’am, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Please,” I sobbed. “The man in the alley! He was trying to assault me!”
A couple of the people nodded and ran into the alley while someone else called the police. Suddenly, I felt faint. The world around me began to zoom and spin and I clutched at my chest. Sharp pains were spreading from my heart out into my shoulders and I gasped as my eyes rolled back in my head and I passed out.
When I came to, I was surrounded by uniformed police and EMTs.
“Miss Rogers?”
I nodded weakly. “Did you get him?” I asked softly.
Two of the cops exchanged a dark look.
“No,” one of them said shortly. “He ran off before we were able to make the scene.”
Despair welled up in my chest and I began to shiver as the tears came rushing back to my eyes.
“Please,” I begged. “He was trying to assault me! He grabbed me from the street and dragged me into the alley!” Please, you’ve got to help me!”
One of the cops nodded. “That’s why we’re here,” he said. He sounded tired as he pulled a small notebook from his pocket and began to scribble notes.
But as I recited the story, including the part where Andy and I had gone on a date before, to the cops, I could practically see my chance of success draining from their eyes.
“This is someone you’ve dated before?”