• “Are you all right, miss?”
    Lip tremble
    Damsel in distress.
    No man could resist.

    “No.”
    Careful thoughts.
    Don’t let them leak.
    Don’t let them show.
    That’s the weakness.

    “What is it?”
    A helpful smile.
    God, he really has no clue.
    This will all end soon.

    “Would you mind terribly…?”
    A voice caresses.
    A tone, pleading.
    All manners lift.

    “What is it?”
    Lovely.
    Make him care.
    Make him give.
    Tisk Tisk.

    “I need your help.”
    Need it indeed.
    This same act again.
    Delicate?
    Me?

    “Do you now?”
    Suspects nothing.
    It’s better this way.
    He’ll forget.
    Unable to pick out.
    Unable to tell.

    “Please…”
    Almost a whine.
    Also a lie.
    Shaking all over.
    That was the wind.
    Perhaps excitement blended in.
    Could he tell?

    “Please what, my dear?”
    A new voice.
    A new shiver.
    The air is still.
    Noting to blame.

    “Help me home?”
    Uncertainty?
    In me?
    Get out of here.
    Something is different.
    The mood has changed.

    “No.”
    No.
    A simple word.
    Turn.
    Get away!

    “S-sorry to have bothered you.”
    Polite.
    Wide eyes.
    Shaking voice.
    This is no act of mine.
    The thought broke through.

    “Oh look,”
    The first cries
    “She’s terrified.”
    Eyes are sharp.
    Staring into onyx.
    What a strange hold they have.

    “Thought you were going to get him?”
    The seconds asks.
    Shake my head.
    No.
    So wrong.

    “Liar.”
    It’s a hiss.
    But it hits the air hard.
    My body turns to run.

    “Listen to me.”
    Cold anger now
    My wrist in his hand.

    “No.”
    A whisper.
    My voice is a whisper.
    Try to pull away.
    He barks a laugh.
    His grip becomes stronger.

    "b***h."
    His laugh turns to a growl
    The heal of my hand connected.
    Serves him right.
    A broken nose.

    “We were going to spare you.”
    The first one intones
    A smile.
    The same as before.
    Mocking.
    Dear God.

    They pull me in.
    Darkness.
    Screams.
    Were they mine?
    Did I scream?
    Me?