11. Abbey

11

ABBEY

Abbey stared straight ahead as she was strapped into yet another alien vehicle. Of course, she couldn't see anything but she got the impression she was in the cockpit of a plane or a spaceship—that was because most of the blurs in her field of vision were especially bright and colorful—like the lights on a bank of controls, she thought numbly as the big Monstrum buckled her in.

He was taking her away—taking her and there was nothing she could do about it. He was going to get her alone and do what he wanted—do what Henry had tried to do and what Chris, back in high school, had succeeded in doing. And he was going to keep doing to it to her for a full month and there was nothing she could do to stop him.

Nothing at all.

Abbey felt numb but she knew it wouldn't last. She could feel the fear—the terror—churning just under the surface. The thought in her head was,

Not again, not again, oh please—not again!

But she was helpless. She couldn't even run and hide because she couldn't see where she was going! She had asked about her mobility aides and he had ignored her, so clearly he didn't want her to be able to get around. He probably liked the idea of a blind, helpless victim—just like Henry had. Henry had even admitted that was why he had pursued her while he was attacking her.

"Little blind girl," Abbey could still hear his voice in her ear. "Poor little blind girl—so helpless and sweet. You can't even see me—how can you stop me? You're going to bleed tonight, little blind girl. Bleed and scream and cry…"

No—no! She tried desperately to push the memory away but it wouldn't go. She had been told by a therapist that Aunt Rose insisted she see for a few sessions after Henry had attacked her, that she had some form of PTSD and that she might experience symptoms from time to time.

Abbey had brushed the idea aside. She was strong and Major had stopped the attack before it had gone all the way—before he'd been able to hurt her like that bastard Chris had, back in high school. That had been truly terrible but she had buried it—hidden it away. She told herself that both attacks didn't affect her anymore—that she had gotten over them.

But she could no longer lie to herself. Now that she found herself in this situation—helpless prey to yet another predator—a male who was bigger and stronger than her, who was taking her away somewhere to hurt her, she was feeling panic and fear so strong that it was nearly making her faint.

I can't faint—maybe I'll still be able to get away somehow. I have to stay conscious!

But how? How could she get away once he got her up to the Monstrum Mother Ship? It was in orbit around Mars, for God's sake! How was she supposed to get back to Earth and Aunt Rose?

I'll find a place to lock myself away, she thought. Maybe the bathroom. I'll say I have to go and once he lets me, I'll lock the door somehow and stay in there where he can't get me.

For a whole month? whispered a skeptical little voice in her brain. What about food, Abbey?

I'll starve, she thought grimly. I'd rather starve than go through that again.

For a minute she remembered both attacks—the feeling of a heavy male body on hers, pinning her down. Hot breath that reeked of alcohol blowing in her face, angry, hungry hands roaming over her body, ripping at her clothes. A knee between her legs, forcing them apart. And then the pain and humiliation of?—

"We're here," a deep, rumbling voice beside her said.

Abbey jerked out of the horrible memory but it lingered in the back of her mind.

Hide, she thought. I have to hide as soon as I can. He can't get me—I have to find a place he can't hurt me—can't force me.

But until she got to that place, she would have to play along with her captor. If she fought him now, he'd know she wasn't willing and he wouldn't trust her enough to let her go off on her own.

Calm, Abbey—be calm, she told herself. So though her heart was pounding fiercely, she kept her face blank as he came around to help her out of the ship.

She would have to bide her time and find the right moment to run and hide.