Risen (Page 15)

“Cheers!” Ken said, holding his drink up in the air.

Rachel grabbed her glass and held it up cautiously, not wanting it to drip down the sides.

“Cheers,” she said, clinking her glass to his.

She took a small sip of the drink and braced herself for the worst but was pleasantly surprised that it tasted like sour pineapple. She actually liked it. She took a bigger sip and before she knew it the drink was empty.

“Looks like that was a hit!” Ken said, pointing to her empty glass.

Rachel let out a laugh and said, “Yup!”

“So want to dance?” Ken asked.

“Sure,” Rachel said, awkwardly knowing that she’d surely make a complete fool out of herself.

As the two headed onto the dance floor the music grew louder and louder. She could hardly hear herself think over the thumping of the base. She could see Ken saying something to her but she had no idea what it was. Then, her world started to move in slow motion. The flash of the strobe lights were shining on the faces of the people dancing near her. She took another look at Ken and suddenly, he looked completely different. It was as if she’d been talking to someone she’d known her whole life and now, she didn’t know who he was. She took a step back and looked at him inquisitively, but she still couldn’t understand what was happening. She looked towards her friends but couldn’t find them, her palms began to feel sweaty as she started to have flashbacks. She couldn’t quite make out what she was seeing, but she knew something was happening. Then, she saw the silhouette of a person she’d seen before. It was a man, with long hair dirty blonde hair, and unshaven face and the brightest blue eyes she’d ever seen. She smiled longingly at him and his pearly white teeth sparkling as he smiled back. She was amazed at how beautiful this person was and she couldn’t help herself but to reach out and touch him. As she extended her arm towards his pale skin, he disappeared into thin air.

Rachel’s face dropped as she put her arm down at her side and started looking around to find him again.

“What’s wrong?” Ken asked, yelling over the music.

“Nothing. I have to go,” Rachel said, walking away.

She felt Ken grab her arm as she started to walk away, but she pulled it out of his hand.

“I’m sorry. This was all a mistake. I have to find my friends and get out of here,” Rachel said.

“Your friends left a long time ago,” Ken said.

“No they didn’t!” Rachel answered.

“They did, they left with my friends,” Ken confirmed.

“Where did they go?” Rachel asked, feeling nervous and scared now that she was left all alone with this stranger.

“I don’t know why they would leave me behind. I don’t believe you,” Rachel said, getting angry.

“I told them I’d bring you home safely,” Ken said in a creepy voice.

Rachel didn’t like the sounds of what Ken was saying and could tell with each word he wasn’t the cute, nice guy she thought he was. He was creepy and she couldn’t tell he was up to no good. She knew he had ulterior motives and didn’t have her best interest at heart.

Rachel looked at her watch and couldn’t believe the time. It was almost 3 in the morning. She had no idea how it got to be so late. The music shut off and the dance floor cleared off. She was left standing there, alone with Ken.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Rachel heard a loud scream coming from inside the club. It sounded like a girl was in pain or hurt. She had to go see where it was coming from.

“Where are you going?” Ken yelled as he chased her down the hallway towards the scream.

“I have to find out what happened,” Rachel yelled over her shoulder.

“I’ll come with you!” Ken said, trying to catch up with her.

“No! Please just leave me alone!” Rachel yelled back.

“I can’t leave you!” Ken said.

“Go away!” Rachel retorted.

Rachel turned around and looked at Ken feeling a surge of anger towards him. She couldn’t understand why he was glued to her side and why he wouldn’t just obey her wishes and leave. She knew something was seriously wrong with this guy and that she was going to have a hard time getting away from him. It was almost as if he had planned their meeting tonight and knew what was happening. Suddenly she felt a surge of hunger, stronger than she’d ever felt before. She didn’t know what was happening, but she couldn’t stop herself either. She started running away from him towards the screams that were getting louder and louder from inside the men’s bathroom. She ran towards the door which was jammed closed with all her might and kicked it open with her foot sending one of the guys flying towards the back wall of the bathroom, hitting his back and head into the urinal.

She couldn’t believe what was happening. It was Kelly, clearly out of it and drugged.  Her feet and hands tied together with a rope and three men were standing around her about to attack her. She blinked a few times to make sure this was real, and it was. She had to stop them.

“Ken! Bro! We’ve been waiting for you,” one guy said.

“What happened?” another said, pointing towards Rachel.

“I thought you were going to get here, too?” the third said.

“Guys! I tried! She wouldn’t let me,” Ken said, looking at Rachel.

Rachel couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was a whole scheme to get her drugged as well. Now she was pissed and angry and ready to fight.

“Kelly! Kelly! Are you ok?” Rachel started yelling.

Kelly didn’t respond and Rachel could tell she was in big trouble. Her eyes were starting to roll back in her head and her eyelids were shutting. She hoped she wasn’t too late and that there was still time to save her.

“Kelly! Don’t worry!” Rachel yelled.

“Not so fast, pretty lady!” one guy yelled back at her grabbing her from behind.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

“Let go of me!” Rachel shrieked.

“Grab her!” the guy yelled to his friends.

“Hold her back!” Ken said. “She’s feisty!”

“Get off of me!” Rachel yelled. “Somebody help!”

Rachel tried to shake them off of her, but couldn’t. She was outnumbered and trapped in the bathroom.

“Hurry, get the door!” one guy yelled.

Rachel watched as Ken ran towards the door, and just as he was slamming it shut Trista arrived in the doorway yelling and screaming, too. Rachel couldn’t believe it. The three of them had been targeted and now, Trista was there, about to get attacked as well.