Justin. She was looking up at him from the flat of her back, the night sky seeming to be pressing down upon her until she realized that it was Justin’s boot. It was on her chest, pinning her to the ground like an insect caught by a pin.

He moved his feet to either side of her waist and she seized the opportunity to get up and try to run to safety when he dropped down so he was sitting on her. He wiggled a little, laughing.

‘Now we’re having fun,’ he laughed. Wade laughed along with him.

‘Justin! Get the fuck off her!’ yelled Wren, moving toward Justin, but Wade’s meaty hand of his shoulder halted him. ‘Let her go, you fucker.’ Wren tried to break free from Wade’s grasp, but he hung on, wrapping both arms around the smaller Wren.

Olivia could feel the weight of Justin pushing her further into the ground. She could feel each burr from the weeds underneath her, each pebble as it cut through her thin singlet.

‘Stop!’ she yelled as he leaned down to kiss her, pinning her arms above her head with one hand.

‘No, you fucking cocktease! I won’t.’ Instead of kissing her, like she thought he would, he reached down with his free hand and ripped her singlet, exposing her chest to the warm night air. Olivia’s breaths were coming out in ragged gasps as she tried to fight against Justin. She screamed, a loud sound in the largely quiet night, the sound of the music too far away. ‘No one’ll hear you bitch. Scream all you want.’

She saw past Justin, Wade holding Wren around the waist as he struggled and tried to get to her.

He’s not gonna make it, was her last coherent thought. ‘C’mon, Livvy – I like my women feisty.’ He ducked his head back down and bit into her breast. She screamed, then his hands were around her neck. The night seemed deeper, darker somehow, like it was rushing down to devour her. She tried to fight, to speak, to beg for her life, but the darkness swallowed her whole.

18

Olivia lay on the ground for God knows how long. The stars above seemed much further away than they had before. Now she felt as inconsequential as a speck of dust. When she tried to stand up, her hands cut by the sharp pebbles, her body felt heavy and in pain. Pain like she’d never felt before. Her heart hurt almost as much as… She couldn’t even put words to it. What had happened to her?