Broken (Reapers Reign, #1) Read online

  I attempt to fix my hair and face. Pulling my lip gloss from my bag, I try, in a feeble attempt, to look half human and then go looking for Tammy. Walking slowly but surely, I count the steps as I walk down them, anything to help ease this queasy feeling in my stomach. I spot her when I’m on the second to last step. She’s in the lounge, sitting on Clarke's lap. It looks like she’s getting warmed up for their plan to lose her V-card tonight. God help that girl, not only for that but for me too, I’m not happy.

  “Tammy, I need to talk to you,” I say, shocked to hear my words slurring. It doesn’t sound like that in my head.

  Tammy sounds the same. “Why?” she slurs out.

  Looking from here to Clark, my reply is harsh, “Now.”

  “I can’t feel my legs, at the moment,” She giggles, “To be honest, I can’t feel much, and I like it Sarah-Jane; so, you’ll have to talk to me here.”

  “What’s up?” interjects Clarke.

  “I want to know what was in that drink for us both to be feeling this way. What’s going on here? I know about your little plan to sleep with Tammy, but do you think drugging us is the way to do it?”

  “Huh? Babe, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he smirks out,

  “Like hell you do, Clarke. I’ve been off all night and just now I’ve been sick in a dirty ass bathroom,” I spit out at him, trying to sound stern but the slur really does little but bring a grin to his lips.

  “Dan! Bro, come over here and take Sarah-Jane for some fresh air, will you? She’s not feeling too good,” He called out, flicking his finger over to Dan, who I see now sitting on the edge of the chair across from us.

  I try to give him my best evil eyes, “Don’t come near me,” I say under my breath as he steps into my bubble.

  “Sure Clarke, don’t need to ask me twice. I was just coming to find you, babe.”

  “Don’t you babe me!” I say as he grabs my arm.

  I pull free and stumble forward. “Shit” I snap.

  Tammy starts laughing, “Ha! You swore, S.J!” I look down at her in disbelief, how is this funny?

  I go to grab Tammy’s arm to pull her up and leave, “Come on Tammy, let’s go. These guys aren’t worth it!” I’m not an idiot. I know there is something other than liquor in the flask, they both have been way too cagey, tonight. I can feel it swimming in me I’m not an idiot. This isn’t just a normal effect from drinking the way my body moves and the way my mind is fuzzy I’m stumbling when I didn’t drink much at all enough to feel a buzz but no way near enough to feel like I’m floating outside my body watching as this train wreak unfolds around me.

  She is in full hysterics by now, and rolling her eyes, hanging onto Clarke like a life raft. “Sarah-Jane, I’m fine. I’m not going anywhere. I feel a little fuzzy that’s all, from the drink and cheering tonight. Nothing a bed won’t fix, right Clarke Baby?” she mouths into his neck. His eyes meet mine,

  “Sure, thing, babe,” he leers.

  Yuck, this guy is something else, all right, he and his sick sidekick. Both have my skin crawling.

  “Fine Tammy, I’m going. If you want to stay and entertain this loser, be my guest. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Hun. I don’t like this at all!”

  She looks up from under hooded eyes and just laughs and slurs out “Fine, see you later!” That’s it? That’s all I get? Confused, I just stare at her as Dan wraps his hand around my elbow. I rip my arm free from his sick touch. No where near as fast and forceful as I had planned my limbs feel heavy as my body starts to sway under the intense air in this room. Clarkes glare never leaving mine as a sick smile kisses his lips my mouth is dry and I need water but I also need to get my friend out of here I don’t understand it.

  What has gotten into this girl? She’s not the Tammy I know. But then maybe she is, deep down, just like all of us; screaming to get out of the box.

  Fuck, this goddamn fuzz and swaying and heaviness just won’t leave me. Running my heavy hands through my sweat laced hair I try to step forward but I can barely move my legs or feel any of me for that matter. Struggling, I try hard to push past the masses of people, drinks, and smoke. I manage to stumble my way to the double doors that lead to the kitchen. I turn to take one last look at Tammy who, by this stage, is doing way more than sucking Clarke’s face off! I shake my head and take a deep breath. What can I do? She won’t listen to me. Maybe I’ll run into Knox when I get outside. I hope so. I need to get away from here, I need him to take away from Dan and Clarke, the fact that I think I have been drugged and its terrorizing me to think that there is no-one here that I trust let alone know. I’m at the mercy of them all if I fall and let this drug laced liquor takes me. I don’t know anyone here to take me home. Shit, I don’t know if I trust him but he’s been nice and I need to get away. Shit, not home though. Dad will have kittens if I stumble in like this.

  I get lost in thoughts of Knox, the gorgeous specimen, the butterflies forming instantly at the thought of him. As I walk out the back of the house, just my luck, I walk straight into Lord Dick. He seems to be just standing, watching me, and blocking my way. Great, just what I need! How did he get here so fast? Right I’ll give the dick a piece of my mind, that’s about all he will ever get.

  “Move! I am not in the mood Dan. Why don’t you go in there and lap up one of the many cheerleaders that seem to be falling all over you? I’m sure they will be happy to sit on your dick.” My voice is a slurred mess and he just stands there, looking me up and down, giving me the creeps. He emits a low groan and a smirk forms across his face. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and a sickening chill runs down my back. This guy screams danger! His eyes bore into mine and fear ripples through me this is not good this feeling is not good.

  I will my legs and body to do what my brain is screaming at it to do. Kick the guy in the nuts and run, FAST! This doesn’t feel right. Goddamn it! I can’t see straight and can’t seem to feel my body any more. It’s like I’m floating. Hell, this is getting worse, my vision is blurring. SHIT, what is happening? I take a step forward and stumble; his hand reaches out and grabs my arm tight, like a vice. It hurts, an intense burning grip. I try to shake him free. My mind is screaming ‘fight, get loose, RUN!’ Sucking deep breathes of air into my burning lungs my mind runs wild with nothing but sick thoughts of what he could do to me if I don’t run and run now. I see it swimming in his eyes a sick movie of his hands over my body and his breathe hot on my skin.

  “Get the hell away from me,” I spit out at him. “Let me go!” He pulls me into him, my back to his front. “Not going to happen, sweetheart. You’re mine tonight. You need to be quiet. Can you feel the effects of the cognac and the little magic ingredient? You hit the nail on the head, accusing us of lacing it with drugs. I made it special, just for you! To loosen you up a bit. You see, darling, playing hard to get is only cute for so long. Time’s up, I’m tired of waiting. Why don’t you be a good little girl and just go with it, like your friend? She’s smart and more than willing to give it up!”

  “You’re sick,” I slur at him hatefully. “Let me go!”

  His grip tightens. I can barely breathe. As he pulls me tight into him, his arm snakes around my waist. He bites down into the flesh of my neck and my body convulses as he drags his tongue up my neck to the base of my ear. “Relax, I’ll take good care of you, sweetheart.”

  I’m screaming inside. I can feel the bile rising up from my stomach to the base of my throat, the burn tickling the back of my tongue. I have to think. I have to let him believe that he’s in control. It will be my best chance at getting away so I have to think, calm down my raging heart and slow down my erratic breathing. Think Sarah-Jane think. I can’t though my mind is mush my senses are leaving me and I feel alone. Just then all thoughts and pleas to actually fight this drug in my body are put on hold as his little friend springs to life behind me as he pulls my body tight back into him. His bulge assaulting my backside instantly makes my skin crawl and I want to just unzip my bones
and step out from my body and get away from this sicko. He starts to pull me back towards the darkness of the back of the house. I need to do something; I need to get loose from him. I go to turn in his arms; maybe he’ll think I’m caving and turning into him. I try this a couple of times while he’s inhaling the scent of my hair. His breath on the back of my neck is so gross. He licks up the side of my neck again, trails his free hand down the front of my top, over my breast, down further to the waist band of my jeans and rests it on the front of them. I feel him push his hand slightly harder onto me. I wiggle; I need to get free, but my body just won’t respond. It’s like a bad dream, I just can’t wake up from. I feel his breath in my hair. “Just give in baby. I won’t hurt you. You’ll like it, I promise.”

  “Really?” I keep my voice low. “You think?” I am trying to sound calm and in control. “Do you think you could handle me and all I have?”

  In that moment, he lets his grip loosen just enough for me to spin and kick the prick right in the nuts with all I have. He falls to the ground, pulling me with him. I hit my head on the side of the house as we go down. A scream escaping me as the pain surges through my head. I scramble to get up in the dark and dirt. God, I’m so dizzy. As I get to my feet, he’s screaming “Stop! Don’t you dare run! I will get you Sarah-Jane! You can’t hide from me.”

  I hear him and I rush to my feet. I run, run with all I have my legs are so heavy. I think I’m gaining space between him and myself, only to be proved wrong when I feel his hand around my legs. I fall, face first into the harsh cold dirt my hands sprawled out in front of me as dirt puffs up around my face stinging my eyes and shooting up my nostrils. Fear ripples and dances over me as his strong and forceful body pulls me backwards into the shadows of the house the dark inclosing around me.Grating my nails through the dirt and ground, trying to slow down his pull, to no avail, as his hands snake up my legs and waist, pulling me back into him. My butt ends up in his lap and he wraps his legs around my waist. His arms entrap me; one around my neck and the other over my breasts. I try to fight back. I snap my head back so the back of my head hits his nose hard, I do it again but his grip never loosens. His anger vibrates through me, as I wiggle and kick, scream and snap my head back again, this time with all I have. It is now or never.

  I have to get free. I will not be raped! Not here. Not in the dark. Not in the dirt. Not by Dan freaking Johns! I will not let him take the purest part of me That is for someone I love. I lurch back and I feel the crunch of his nose as my head slams into it. He gasps out in pain, his hands and legs drop from around me and I jump up on shaky legs my heart beating to the point of explosion, looking down as his hands cover his nose. Blood is seeping through his fingers. Pure anger in his eyes, they meet my terrified ones a sick feeling of power washes through me that I just did that I the most terrifying time I had it in me to inflict just a little of the pain he has embedded in me this night his sick actions have caused me to fight and I will not allow him anymore of me. I turn and I run. I don’t know where I’m going but I need to go. I don’t even know which way to go! I get just through the trees and feel a sharp pain in the back of my head. It whips back. He has a handful of my hair and pulls me to him. SHIT. My scalp burns as I feel his breath and he spits, “Bad move Sarah-Jane, you’re going to pay for that. I won’t even try to make this pleasant for you, now. I’ll take what I want and leave you here in the dirt, like the bitch that you are!”

  God, how did this happen, why didn’t I listen to my instincts? I scream for help. A sharp slap to the right side of my face snaps me round and brings water to my eyes. My cheek stings and flames up with pain. I bite down hard on my lip and taste the metallic tang of blood. I try to blink away the tears that I feel forming as his hands grab me around my throat and squeeze so hard it takes all the air out of my lungs; small stars form at the back of my eyes. I try to blink them away too. As his fist connects with my face, more stars. Water starts to stream out of my eyes and down my face. I can’t even stop it now, the pain is shattering, the stars are there, taking up most of my vision. He’s there then nose to mine, lips so close to mine. I feel sick rising, trying hard to stay calm.

  “You do anything to defy me again and I’ll knock your ass out right here and fuck you so hard it’ll take a month for you to walk straight!” I didn’t answer him as I stood there, shaking uncontrollably, too disorientated to try anything else.

  FUCK! Where is everyone? Panic embeds deeper into the fibre of my soul and sweat beads down my spine. I try hard again to break free, to run. But his vicelike grip around my neck doesn’t loosen as he slams his fist hard into my gut. I curl over, gasping for air as pain sears through me like a fire balls ripping through the clean crisp summers air. He pulls me up by my hair my legs buck out in front of me as the will to survive takes over I allow the pain of my hair being ripped from my scalp to fuel me to thrush against his grip. He holds me out in front of him and his sick seedy eyes slide down my body to my breasts and back up to meet my horrified gaze. His hand drops from my scalp and I stumble slightly only to have his hand grip the front of my shirt and in one swift angry movement he rips it right open exposing my breasts to the cool night air. My skin is so clammy; I feel as though I could pass out and be sick all in one horrified moment. He licks his lips, takes a sharp intake of breath and makes some gross animal like sound. His hands snake around me so fast it takes my breath away. The white spots of fear kiss the corner of my vision as the world starts to spin around me I am going to pass out.

  Dan starts to drag me backwards; one arm around my waist, the other around my neck. A renewed strength takes over me, I have to fight him. I don’t give a shit if he said not to. I can’t think of anything worse than this. If he does knock me out then maybe that would be better than this, the inevitable, right here, right now. I’m sweating and panicking, my breathing is so heavy and fast. I can feel my heart beating so rapidly it could break through my chest. I need to think, to calm down and think of a plan before it’s too late. All I can think to do is go limp in his arms to make it harder for him to drag me. I try to dig in my heels and start to wiggle and scream. His hand comes up around my mouth to muffle my screams. I don’t think so, I’m going to fight you all the way.

  I bite down hard on his palm. He lets go for a split second. “Fucking bitch,” he says furiously. In the brief reprieve, I act fast and spin around and slash my nails down his face, kick him for a second time in the nuts. As he curls up to regroup and try to get air into his lungs, I whack him over the back of his head with the side of my fist. He falls to the ground; I kick dirt into his face and I turn and run screaming “HELP ME, SOMEONE!”

  I take one quick look back over my shoulder to see if he’s up and coming after me, but he is trying to get air back into his lungs and wiping dirt from his face and eyes. Relief floods through me maybe this time I can get away from him and his sick clutches

  “FUCK! You little bitch!” He is seething. “Stop if you know what’s good for you! You won’t get far. I’m going to fuck you up so bad when I get my hands on you.”

  Not likely, this time I’m not stopping. I take off, stumbling desperately away until I round the corner and slam hard into what feels like a brick wall. I fall backwards with the sheer force of it and hit my head hard on the ground that it snaps back up and I bite my tongue blood pools in my mouth as my head falls back into the dirt with a thud. It’s getting dark and all I see are little white dots everywhere. I feel so dizzy so sick. I’m exhausted from the battle. I try hard to fight off the darkness, to get up, to move. I can’t let him get me. ‘Please,’ I plead inwardly over and over. ‘Please stop.’

  Then there it is; his face, that voice, those eyes, so piercing. Just as fast as it came, the darkness takes it away but this time I welcome it.

  Chapter Four

  Knox

  We load up the guys as fast as I can muster them after the game. I fill them in as we go. I’m fucking furious. I can’t get there fast enough. If he’s touched he
r, I’ll fucking kill the little cunt. My hackles are up and I can’t seem to shake the look he gave me when they walked away. “Fuck” I scream at the traffic. “Get the FUCK out of my way!” I slam my hand down on the horn, raging more than I should.

  “Bro,” says Jamie, breaking through my rant. “Come to think of it, some of the cheerleaders said that a few weeks ago. They had some drinks with the Omega boys and a few of the girls were acting strange and slurring, complaining of feeling dizzy and sick. A few of the guys had offered to take them up to bed and then they just carried on partying and drinking with no more thought to it, till now, when we were talking about Sarah-Jane. They mentioned they had no memory of what had happened the night before.”

  SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! Man, this is not good; I have to get to this girl fast. What could they have given her? And Tammy too, for that matter.

  Finally, we get out of the damn game traffic and head for the expressway that led to the Omega housing on the outer side of the campus. He had better not touch a single hair on that girl's head, but my gut’s telling me otherwise – I hope we’re not too late.

  It’s packed; there are cars and people everywhere, guys and girls making out, bodies already passed out in the yard, drink cups, bottles and cans strewn all over the place. Shit, we didn’t take that long to get here. Looking over at my boys, I tell Kash to go inside and see if he can find Sarah-Jane and Tammy. She’ll also be coming with us if these pricks have drugged them. He nods.

  “Yup, sure thing brother.” He replies as he stalks off towards the house.

  “I’ll go around back and meet you in there somewhere if she isn’t outside.”