Page 36 of Reversal of Fate

It didn’t take much for them to drag her upstairs to her room. They tossed her on the bed, but fear gave her strength, and she immediately kicked Todd and shoved him back. But Steve was holding her down now.

Todd approached and unbuckled his belt. Fury was written on his face.

“Help!” she screamed again, while trying to twist out of Steve’s grip, but he was too strong. “Somebody help me!”

“She’s quite a wildcat!” Steve commented. “I think I’ll have a go too, once you’re done.”

Panic, fear, and desperation collided in her. They would rape her, violently, and then? Would they let her live? A chill went up her spine. She couldn’t let them succeed.

Todd had already opened his zipper, and was now sliding his pants down to his knees. His boxers followed. Julie kicked, but Steve snatched one of her legs and twisted it. In pain, she screamed out. Then Steve leaned sideways over her torso, trapping her arms and holding her body down, while Todd opened Julie’s pants and stripped them off of her.

“No!!” she screamed. “Stop! Don’t do this! Please!”

But there was no use pleading with them. Tears shot to her eyes. A sob escaped her throat.

She felt Todd’s hand on her panties, ready to pull them off, when he suddenly screamed in pain and let go of her.

Steve was still partially blocking her view, but he’d turned his head to see what was wrong with Todd, loosening his grip in the process. She took full advantage of it and worked her right arm free. She punched Steve in the neck, and he let go of her, rearing back.

That’s when she saw that somebody had come to her rescue: Carter.

On the floor, Todd lay on his stomach, his bare ass bloody from a deep knife wound. He was whimpering in pain. Carter stood over him, holding the bloody knife. His face was bloodied and swollen. It looked fresh but not from seconds earlier. He’d had a fight with somebody in the last couple of hours, and it wasn’t hard to guess with whom.

When Steve made a move toward him, Carter pointed the knife in Steve’s direction.

“If you want to end up like your friend, go ahead, and come closer,” Carter taunted him. “Just a warning: my grandfather was a butcher.”

Steve tossed him a worried glance, then lifted his hands and made a wide berth around Carter and Todd. “I’ve got nothing to do with this. It was all Todd.”

Julie jumped up. “All Todd? You were planning to rape me the moment Todd was done.” She spit in his face.

Steve reached out toward her, perhaps to slap her out of anger, but Carter was faster. His knife sliced into Steve’s forearm.

Steve screamed in pain, while blood dripped onto the floor.

“You touch her, you’ll wish you were dead.”

Carter glared at Steve, and in that instant Julie realized that Carter would do anything to protect her. Even after the things she’d said to him.

“Now grab your fucking friend and leave, or I’ll toss you both down the stairs.”

Steve hurried to give his friend a hand to get up. Todd leaned on him, but moaned with every step. Carter followed them, and Julie heard them walk downstairs. Moments later, the front door closed.

She heard Carter walk up the stairs again a few seconds later. He appeared in the door and stood there.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No.” She walked toward him, unconcerned about being half naked. “How did you know what they were planning?”

He pointed to his face. “They followed me to my place and beat the living crap out of me. I knew they were coming for you next.” He breathed heavily. “I blacked out. I don’t know for how long. I was scared I’d be too late.”

She closed the remaining distance between them and put her hand on his cheek. He winced, so she removed it quickly. “They must have waited until my roommates left for Michaela’s birthday party. They arrived only a few minutes after everybody was gone.” She wanted to hug him, but she didn’t dare, not knowing what injuries he had. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“I do,” Carter said. “Please listen to me for half an hour, so I can explain who I am, and why I’m here.”

She nodded. She owed him that. “But first, let me take care of your wounds.”