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Chapter 8
We were getting closer and closer to the alley and I was beginning to panic.
Even though there was no one outside the club, I began yelling for help as
loud as I could, hoping there was someone nearby. The sandy haired man then
easily picked me up and put his had over my mouth. I struggled even more
and then kicked him in the shins, HARD.
"You’ll pay for that you b****!" he snarled at me angrily. We had now
reached the entrance to the alley and he threw me in. I landed in a cluster
of garbage pails, knocking them over and hitting my head on the jagged metal.
I quickly jumped to my feet and began backing away. Smiling evilly he advanced
towards me. He grabbed me by the thick straps of my tank top and I pulled
away causing the straps to break. His smile widened as my top began to slide
down. Suddenly, my back hit cold metal. He had cornered me against a dumpster.
I was so scared. I felt like crying, but I wouldn’t allow myself to.
No way would I give him the satisfaction. Long ago I had promised myself
that no one would ever see me cry, except for three people. So far I had
kept my promise. Only my sister, my mom, and one aunt had ever seen me cry.
Not even Deb had seen me cry, and I wasn’t going to break my promise
now.
The sandy haired man was advancing on me faster now. I glanced over my shoulder
around the corner of the dumpster and saw that the end of the alley wasn’t
blocked off. If only I could get to the end of the alley, around the corner,
and in through the back door of the club. Then I’d be safe.
My only chance was to run. He was very close now. There was no way I’d
get away unless………….
Thankful I learned something useful in high school, I swung my right leg
out, around, and behind the man, knocking his own legs out from under him.
Then, I turned and ran like hell.
I heard footsteps behind me. He had recovered quickly, and was now gaining
on me. I began yelling for help again and pushed myself to run faster. Suddenly,
I heard music! Someone had opened the back door of the club!
"HELP ME!" I screamed as loud as I could.
"What’s going on here?" I heard someone demand. I kept running with
my head down. I hit something solid, a person. I didn’t even look up
to see who it was.
"Help……me ………please," I gasped between deep breaths.
The sandy haired man had reached me by this point. He grabbed me by the wrist
and began to drag me back into the alley, apologizing to whoever I had run
into. "Sorry, she’s had too much to drink, hallucinations or something."
"NO! Help me," I croaked. I looked up in desperation. I was staring at Brain!
This is the second time today I had literally run into him. "Help me Brian,
please!" I screamed struggling once again.
At the sound of his name Brian looked at me startled. A look of recognition
came over his face. "Melissa?" he asked in a disbelieving way. He saw the
terror in my eyes and immediately called, "Hey guys? I think we have a problem
here. Come help me. Quick!"
Four other guys suddenly appeared. I knew I was looking at the Backstreet
Boys, but I was so terrified that I didn’t even think about it then.
I was just grateful that someone was helping me.
All five of them flew down the alley. The sandy haired man released my wrist
and tried to run. I stood my ground. This time I grabbed his wrist and held
on long enough for Kevin and AJ to reach us. They then each grabbed one of
the man’s arms. Brian, Nick, and Howie formed a protective circle around
me.
"Melissa, are you OK?" Brian asked.
Before I could answer Nick cut in. "Bri, you know this girl?"
"Yeah, we met this morning," he explained. Then he turned back to me. "Are
you OK?" he asked once again.
I didn’t answer. The horrified expression on my face answered for me.
I think I was in shock. I began to shake.
"Howie," Kevin commanded, "go call the police. Nick and Brian, make her sit
down on the bench by the door." They led me out of the alley and told me
to sit. I saw Kevin and AJ, still holding the guy, stop at the entrance to
the alley.
Now that we were in the light by the back door of the club, they could clearly
see what I looked like. I heard someone gasp. They could all see that I was
covered in garbage, my shirt was ripped to the point where I had to hug myself
to keep it from falling off, and my head was bleeding from when I was thrown
into the grouping of garbage pails. Yup, this was a great way to start my
vacation.
Howie came out at this point and announced that the police were on their
way. Just then I remembered, "My friends. They’re still inside. They
don’t know where I am." I said quietly.
"Don’t worry," Howie spoke up. "I found them. They were paging you inside."
Right on cue, Stacie and Deb exited the club. Although they were still pretty
drunk the sight of me sobered them up very quickly. They rushed to my side.
"Meliss, what happened," Stacie whispered in a scared voice. Before I could
answer the police arrived. They arrested the sandy haired man and then told
me that I had to go down to the station.
"Can you drive there yourself?" one of the officers asked.
"Well, I’m too shaken up to drive, and my friends are drunk," I replied
softly, still shaking.
"I guess we’ll have to send another squad car for you," said the officer.
"You don’t have to," another voice interjected, "we’ll drive them."
I turned. It was Brian who had spoken.
"Are you sure Brian?" I questioned anxiously. "You don’t have to."
"I’m sure," he replied kindly. "We took two cars here so we’ll
split up and drive to the station. You and your friends can come with me
and Nick."
"OK," I agreed. The police officers nodded, got in their car and drove off.
During this conversation Deb and Stacie’s heads had popped up upon hearing
the names Nick and Brian.
"You, you’re………the…….B…..Backstreet?
8230;….Boys," Deb stuttered. They had finally noticed.
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