“Oh hi, its Steve isn’t it?” Lilly said, wishing she could be left alone for five minutes.
Her in-built manners dictated she was polite to the man who showed concern. She didn’t like him and was immediately wary.
“It’s Simon,” he said and smiled.
“Oh, I’m sorry, please forgive me Simon,” Lilly answered, she had a fifty-fifty chance and didn’t care she’d got it wrong.
“That’s ok. I’m always willing to forgive a beautifullady,” he said and winked at her. “Keep me company while I have a cigarette?” He asked her.
“I don’t smoke,” Lilly replied.
“You don’t have to smoke just keep me company. We’ll have to nip around the corner as the doormen don’t like anyone smoking in front of the building,” Simon said.
Simon made a prayer action with his hands and showed his puppy dog eyes. Always the polite person, she agreed but didn’t take his proffered hand as she pushed herself off the wall. Lilly thought that if he were up to no good, the doorman would hear her screams from where they were.
He offered her a cigarette even though she had told him she didn’t smoke. Shaking her head, she felt awkward that she had agreed to chat with him. Simon lit his cigarette, dragged long and blew out the smoke in rings, making a circular action with his mouth.
“I have these if you prefer a buzz?” He said and held out his hand and showed four small pills.
“No, that’s fine. I don’t take drugs, thanks for the offer though,” Lilly said, she couldn’t hide her tone of disapproval and knew as soon as she said it.
“Too good to take drugs are you?” His tone changed in an instant.
The menacing look he gave Lilly chilled her, and she wrapped her arms around her body. Stepping to the side to move past Simon, she was pushed up against the wall. Simon had her pinned by his hips and had dropped his cigarette to grab her hands to her side. Lilly couldn’t move and opened her mouth to scream. She had no voice because Simon’s mouth was on hers and his tongue roughly ramming itself into her mouth.
Her heart raced as she felt what he had done. She felt the pills on her tongue and then drop down her throat. Shehad no idea what they were. Trying to struggle, she screamed into his mouth. She screamed again only to hear the screech in full volume. Simon was no longer there. She swayed for a second to gain her balance and looked in front of her.
Lilly heard the crack before she saw what had happened.
Elijah.
Simon was on his back on the floor with his forearms in front of his face trying to dodge the blows, but Elijah was too quick. Elijah was able to hit Simon with one hard blow with a quick jab to his ribs as the second hit directly connected with his jaw.
Shaking uncontrollably, Lilly looked on in shock. It was all a bit fuzzy to her. Everything was happening slowly and quick as a flash at the same time. Elijah grabbed her arms and shook her hard. Lilly’s eyes half closed, and she giggled at him coming to her rescue. She didn’t feel so good. Her legs gave way, and she slumped to the floor.
“Lilly, are you ok? You look pale, did he hurt you?” Elijah asked urgently.
“He fed me drugs, some pills of some kind, and he forced them down my throat when he kissed me. Elijah, I don’t feel so good, can you take me home?” Lilly asked.
Elijah let go of Lilly and stood as he heard movement behind him. Elijah drew back his arm and punched Simon, who had managed to stagger to his feet. He knocked him so hard he started to fall backwards. Elijah caught him by his shirt mid-air and held onto him just inches above the ground.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing to her?” Elijah snarled his words at Simon.
Simon shook his head to clear the fuzziness that wasrushing through his head. The pain from Elijah’s punch had stunned him and made him dizzy, but he was aware of what was happening.
“Stuck-up bitch. I thought she liked drugs, you know, because he does it,” Simon said.
“What are you talking about? Who is he?” Elijah asked.
“You know that guy she was with. I got them from him, she needed to loosen up a bit, all stuck up and proper. She looks like she would be a real goer in bed,” Simon goaded.
The crack of another punch echoed along the alley as Elijah dropped his limp body to the floor.
“Piece of scum,” Elijah muttered.
Elijah crouched next to Angie, who was stroking Lilly’s face, sobbing words of comfort to her friend.
“The ambulance is on its way Elijah, why would he do this to her. She’s never taken drugs in her life. What an arsehole,” Angie bit out through her tears.
