Chapter 2: Anniversary

 

Emily is pacing furiously in her room. She feels as if she's going to
come out of her skin. Her mind flashes back to one year ago...


She was in the park, getting high with Matt. The high was so good.
Nothing mattered. They were giggling about nothing. Then she remembered
seeing Dorman standing over them.

D: "Well, well, well. What do we have here? You've started the party
without me."
Emily responds boldly: "You aren't invited, so beat it Dorkman."
D: "Oh, but I was. In fact, I financed this little celebration. Didn't
Matt tell you?"
E: "Matt, what's he talking about?"
Matt looks nervous as he gets up to leave. "I'm sorry, Emily..."
Dorman interrupts. "I think it's about time you left, Matt."
Matt nods. "Yeah, gotta go. Bye Emily."
Emily gets up and tries to leave with him. Dorman grabs her arm roughly.
She cries out in pain.
E:"What do you think you're doing?!"
D: "Sorry, honey. But the party has just begun. I can take you to
heights you've never imagined."
Emily struggles to break away. "I'm not interested! Let me go this
instant, or I'm going to scream!"
Dorman immediately clamps a handkerchief containing chloroform over her
mouth.

Emily struggles frantically for a couple minutes before passing out.

Emily is back in the present. She is shaking now. She can't seem to stop
the memories from flooding back. She stares at the phone. Her mind
flashes back to that day again:

She remembers waking up on the couch of a strange cabin. She feels
slightly nauseous and fuzzy. Then she hears his voice.

D:"Well the sleeping beauty finally awakens. Took you long enough."
Emily starts to panic. "Where am I? Where have you taken me?"
Dorman sits on the couch with her and strokes her hair. "Sweetheart. it
doesn't really matter where we are. Suffice it to say no one will find
us. That's all you need to know."

She knocks his hand away and attempts to get off the couch. "Keep your
hands off me. When my parents find out what you've done, they'll kill
you!"

Dorman pushes her back on the couch roughly. "But they will never find
you. You see, everyone thinks I've left town in search of another job.
So they won't be looking for me. As for you, well, by the time they come
looking for you, it will be too late."

Emily is terrified. "Why are you doing this? What have I ever done to
you?" She looks around for a weapon she can use.

Dorman laughs. "Sweetheart, your mother needs to learn a painful
lesson. She ruined my reputation and my career. I won't allow her to get
away with that."

E: "You're going to kill me?" Emily spots a large vase within her reach.

Dorman smiles coyly at her. "Maybe, maybe not. I haven't decided yet."

She lunges for the vase and hits him over the head with it. It shatters
into a million pieces as he staggers back. She jumps off the couch and
races for the door.

He grabs her arm a few feet from the door. She fights him frantically,
kicking and striking him as hard as she can. But he is stronger and
bigger than she. He regains control of her as he pins her hands behind
her back and pulls her body against his. She can't move.

Both of them are panting . Dorman gives her an indulgent smile.

Dorman. "My, my. Quite a handful, aren't you? Did Monica tell you I
like my women rough?" He tries to kiss her.

Emily spits in his face. "LET ME GO!!" She finds enough strength to
kick him in the groin hard. He lets go of her as he bends over in pain.

She runs toward the kitchen door. She tries to open it but it's locked.
She looks back at Dorman who is coming at her. His face is filled with
rage.

The next thing she knows, she has a butcher knife in her hand. He tries
to get it away from her. They struggle over it.

The rest is a blur. The next thing she remembers is being covered in
blood. There was so much blood. And Dorman is on the floor, deadly
still.

Emily is back in the present. She shudders at the gruesome memories..She
only knew one way to stop them. She picks up the receiver. She decides
to make the call.

As she picks up the phone, Nikolas stands in the doorway watching.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He says in a casual tone.

Emily jumps away from the phone guiltily. "I was just going to call
Lucky, that's all..."

N:"Yeah, right. That's why you look so guilty."
Emily slumps on to her bed in defeat. "I'm just so tired of trying to do
the right thing. It's no use. I feel terrible no matter what I do."

Nikolas walks over and sits on the bed next to her. "Your Mom was
downstairs looking just as upset as you. You have another fight?"

Emily:"Everything is fine as long as I pretend I'm okay. But the minute
I look upset or anything, she hovers over me feeling guilty. I'm sick
and tired of pretending.. and I'm sick of telling her it's okay. If I
have to do it one more time, I'm going to scream!"

Nikolas rubs her back soothingly. "It's okay, Emily. You don't have to
pretend with me."

Emily's starts to cry. Nikolas pulls her close and holds her, rubbing
her back soothingly. "It's okay, Emily. I'm here."

Emily continues to cry for several minutes. Finally she slows down long
enough to say,"I'm just so tired of Dorkman ruining my life. Why can't
I just forget it?"

N:"We both know it's not that easy. Especially not today."

Emily starts to calm down. "I know. I just wish it was."

Lucky walks up to Emily's room and watches as Nikolas comforts Emily.
While he's thankful that Nikolas is helping Emily, he feels a twinge of
jealousy.

Emily notices him first. "Hi, Lucky."

Lucky smiles at her encouragingly. "Hey, Em, Nik."
Lucky comes into her room and sits in one of the chairs.

Nikolas fills Lucky in. "She's having a rough time of it. Almost made
the mistake of calling a 'friend'."

Emily looks down at the floor. "I know I almost let you guys down... I'm
sorry."

Lucky:"Well, you didn't, Em. That's all that matters. You held on long
enough. Sorry I was late. Saw Sly while I was on my way over."

E:"Can we get out of here? I can't stand to be in this house. The walls
are closing in on me."

Lucky:"Sure Em. Shall all we take Raoul for a walk?"

E:"You'll come with us, right, Nikolas?"
Nikolas smiles at her."Of course. Raoul and I are best buds."

They all get up to leave Emily's room.

Lucky pretends to pick a fight with Nikolas. "Now wait a minute man, I'm
Raoul's favorite."

Emily smiles at their attempt to cheer her up. "You guys are too much,
you know that?"