Her eyes grew wide, realizing what he’d done as her limbs became heavy and lethargic. Panic seeped into her bones. Relying on the trace of adrenaline surging through her from a primal urge to defend herself, she rammed her body into his despite him being twice her size. The two struggled for several seconds before he turned her around, pinned her arms down against her body and clenched one hand over her mouth to muffle her screams. She continued to flail and lash out but the world around her was swaying. It was like she was fighting through murky water, her arms and legs giving up on her one by one.

A jingle of keys from just outside the front door filtered through her cloudy but frantic thoughts. Oh thank God! Sara! The man paused for a millisecond at the sound and then began to drag her toward her bedroom down the small hallway. Frankie realized that rather than being able to save her, her roommate may actually be walking right into the danger, about to meet the same fate. She tried to scream to warn Sara but it came out muffled under his hand and she was weak. She pried her lips open under his grip and bit his finger as hard as she could muster. His hand immediately released her mouth, just as the front door flew open.

‘I got Chinese. I know I’m late, but I hope you’re hun— What the—?’

Frankie could just make out Sara’s shape in the dim lighting from the solitary lamp next to the couch. Their porch light had been out for weeks, she had been meaning to replace the bulb.

‘Sara, run!’ she screamed with everything she had left in her, fighting to stay conscious.

Sara stood frozen in the doorway. The man stiffened, then dropped Frankie to the ground. Her body fell to the carpet in a heap, her head landing sideways in the direction of his retreating form. She watched as he ran to the back door and darted out into the night, her eyes level with his white athletic sneakers. Sara rushed over and rolled Frankie over onto her back, gently shaking her shoulders.

‘Frankie! Frankie, are you okay? Stay with me, Frankie.’