LAST GASP
******
Julie awoke once more for a moment she felt the nightmare
had ended. But no, she realised she was still trapped in
the cold,dank building. Her hands were tied tightly behind
her as she lay on the hard,wooden floor. Every joint in her
body seemed to ache and there was a dull throbbing pain in
her head. She couldn't cry out, summon help the gag over
her mouth saw to that. Her back was against some sort of
post,she couldn't see what exactly, but part of it dug into
her left shoulder blade. The girl tried to move slightly, to
ease her discomfort,but her legs were also tied allowing
very little movement. Julie's mouth felt dry and she found
it difficult to breathe through the gag. She didn't know how
long she had been like this, how long since the man had
last paid her a visit. He'd worn a dark blue hood, with only
his eyes visible, black jeans and a dark sweater. The only
other thing she'd noticed was his smell, dirty, sweaty as if
he hadn't bathed for some time. He had not spoken the only
sounds he'd made were grunts and groans as he carried her
into the building, even in the lane, where he had attacked
her, hardly making a sound as he grabbed her from behind
and forced her down onto the path. Julie had screamed then.
But the man's short hard blow to the head silenced her.She
had lost consciousness. The man picked her up and carried
her across the field a short distance to the derelict farm
building. Julie had gradually come around to find herself
bound and gagged the man seated opposite her on a small
wooden stool. Through the gaps in the hood he stared at
her. In the building a single candle flickered and cast
long doomy shadows along the walls. The mans eyes, even
in the poor light, looked dead,lifeless. They held the
girl's in their cold silent stare.Julie attempted to speak
but the tightly tied material across her mouth prevented
her. The man stood up and approached her.Julie's already
pounding heart felt it would burst. In her mind she
screamed out. He crouched down near her and reached
out and touched the long blonde hair, brushing it away from
her face slightly. Lowering his hand he let it slowly run
down her neck to her breasts. Julie stiffened and drew
herself further back, but the object at her back restricted
any movement. The man's hand undid the top few buttons of
her blouse, revealing the black bra beneath. Julie felt
sick, revolted. She felt as if she would pass out at any
moment. Heavy, laboured gasps issued from the man as he
ripped the rest of her blouse open.
"Oh, God...Help me...!" The plea in Julie's mind.
The man paused for a second or two and stared at the girl
before him, almost as if unsure what to do next. He was
breathing even heavier now, as if it was causing him
great effort. His eyes never left her face. She could
see no compassion in them, only that cold almost inhuman
gaze. Her own eyes blurred with tears as she stared back,
imploring him to set her free, let her go home. His hands
then slid down her body over the thin, red material of
her short skirt.
*********
"Gerroff!!" Lyn protested, as Tony fumbled with the
back of her bra.
"What's the matter, babe. I thought you wanted...."
"Not in the back of a bloody car. I don't.....It's
too uncomfortable!"
"But, sweetheart...."
The girl smothered his whine with a kiss and gently eased
herself away from him.
"Patience, pet. You find the right place and then I'm
all yours".
"So, now what?"
"Home, please....promised ma I wouldn't be late...."
Tony looked crestfallen.
"Don't sulk, Tony. Just be patient...."
*********
Julie couldn't believe it. He had not gone any further.
Not violated her. His rough calloused hands had slowly
moved down her legs, pausing only at the small holes in
her tights, caused when she had fallen on the path during
the attack. He had then removed her high heeled shoes and
after placing them down beside her,stood up and as if
losing all interest in the girl, turned and went from the
room.
*********
She slept fitfully, her mind awash with fear and disbelief.
This couldn't be happening. She wished she'd stayed at the
club, stayed with the others. If only she hadn't fallen
out with Justin. If only she'd ordered a taxi, as Lorna
had suggested. But no, she hadn't listened and besides it
was a nice early summer evening,still fairly light and
after all she had gone home that way many times before.
She wondered what the time was. How long had she been tied
up here. Mam and dad would be worrying. Perhaps they
had called the police. Perhaps they were already out
looking for her. But where would they start? Her thoughts
were interrupted by the creak of the door as it opened.
The man had returned.
*********
"Turn the radio up. I like that one....."
"It's crap...."
"You miserable get......"
Lyn reached forward towards the radio's knob.
"Leave it alone....!"
"God, what a big kid you are Tony Wells. Just 'cos
you didn't get a shag...."
The man didn't respond.Lyn turned the volume up and began
singing loudly to the music. Tony gritted his teeth and
pressed his foot down on the accelerator.
*********
The smell of alcohol wafted over her as the man pushed
his hooded face close to hers. His stench was almost
overpowering. She felt the bile rise in her throat. His
hands roamed over her body again. She stiffened, felt
herself losing control. Her very being seemed to scream.
A low ugly laugh issued from behind his mask as he stood
up from the girl.He staggered drunkenly,as his hands slid
down to his trouser belt and began to tug at it. Julie
kicked out at him. It was a wild, instinctive movement.
Her legs caught him hard on both knees. He fell backwards
his arms clutching at thin air. A loud angry roar broke
from him. Unable to regain control the man crashed hard
against the wall behind him, his head hitting it with
great force. He slid to the floor. The hood had slipped
and it revealed his mouth beneath, an eye still peered
from one of the holes. The man was motionless, rasping
gasps coming from his throat.
*********
They drove in silence. Tony had turned the radio off.
"You're a right pain in the bum, sometimes" she
moaned at him.
The man increased his speed.
"Shut up, Lyn!"
*********
She tried to get to her feet. It was impossible, her
bonds were too secure. Maybe she could shuffle towards
the doorway, somehow get out of the building. To her
horror Julie realised she was tied to the post
behind her. She was trapped. Her eyes strayed once
again to the man. He lay propped against the wall,
unmoving, a trickle of blood from his lips, the one
eye still staring over at her,one eye seeing nothing.
It then dawned on her that his breathing had ceased.
*********
"Will you slow down, Tony....we'll have an accident"
Lyn sounded concerned.
"Want to get home don't you....."
"....in one bloody piece........"
"Mammy might be worried....."
"Oh, shut up, prat. All because you couldn't get your
way....." Lyn glanced at her watch, "Hell,I'm late
anyhow. It's half past three...."
"If you want I can go faster...."
"No....pull in here..."
"What?"
"It's already too late now. Might as well make the
most of it then" she turned to him, "put the smile
back on your mug....!"
"You mean...."
"Nice, quiet country lane. Nice field,nearby.Get the
rug out of the boot......"
*********
The candle flickered, then died. Only a faint light shone
through the window. Julie was cried out, the gag at her
mouth was soaked and tasted salty to her lips.Her thoughts
wandered back to home, to mam and dad and her younger
brother Richard. To Justin. They were to be engaged next
month, when she was twenty one. And the argument they had
had all over nothing, something trivial. Julie felt her
self drifting again. Trapped here, trapped with this dead
body. She shivered and drew her legs up to her chest and
prayed.
*********
Tony looked down at the woman beneath him.
"You're lovely" he breathed.
"Thanks. Now if you're quite done, chuck, let me get
up, something's digging in my arse..."
Lyn grabbed her pants.
"Was it okay?" Tony's voice was a little hesitant.
"Perfect, pet...." responded Lyn, as she buttoned her
blouse, "Got a fag?"
Tony picked up his jacket and pulled out a packet which he
threw to the girl.
"Catch!"
"And your lighter....."
"Oh, er, sorry....."
Lyn finished dressing and then lit up her cigarette. She
blew out a thick plume of smoke.
"Wonder what this building is.....Lucky for us we
spotted it when it started chucking it down with bloody
rain...."
"I thought you'd want to go back to the car"
"No way, baby....I was gasping for it...."
She leaned forward and kissed him.
"Love you......" she whispered.
*********
A strange sound awoke Julie. She couldn't discern what
it was or where it came from. Heavy rain was hammering on
the roof of the building and yet she had heard the noise
above it.
A woman's shriek. Of what? Pain? Pleasure?
Julie was almost delirious. She knew she would die here.
No one would find her. Not until it was too late. Two
dead bodies. Two victims of the other's action.Strange
partners, bound in death. She tried to move to ease her
discomfort, her bottom and legs were sore, she had wet
her knickers earlier, been unable to stop herself. She
felt foolishly ashamed and humiliated. Sleep started
overcoming her again. Must let go,drift off into the
oblivion of death.
"I love you mam, dad......"
Her own words alarmed her. Then she realised, the gag
had somehow loosened from her mouth.
*********
"No need to drive fast, Tony...just a slow, gentle
drive home...."
"But what about....?"
"I'm already up to the neck in it now. So bugger it"
Tony started the car engine.
"Got the lighter, Tony...."
"Eh? You had it last"
"Me...No,you....God, I must have a smoke"
"Back in the building...."
"What?"
"Must have left it back there...."
"We'll have to get it.....
"It's too dark, never find it...."
"There's a torch in the car isn't there....? Get it
I'm gasping.....!"
"Lyn, for crying out loud....."
*********
The scream rang through the building. In the torch light
Lyn stared open mouthed at Tony.
"What the hell....?" gulped the young man.
"It came from over here...." Lyn headed across the
floor.
"Be careful, Lyn....."
"It's someone in trouble...hurry up"
*********
Gentle hands eased Julie's bonds from her feet and arms.
"You're okay, darling...." the girl spoke in soothing
tones, "Call an ambulance on your mobile, Tony. Quick...."
Lyn helped Julie to her feet and kept tight hold of her to
stop her falling. Julie began to shiver violently.
"There, there, pet...You're okay now."
"I've had an accident" Julie's voice broke and the tears
came in floods.
"The ambulance and police are on the way" Tony shone the
torch towards the body against the wall.
"Bastard" he hissed under his breath.
He crossed over to the two women. Lyn gave him a wan smile.
"Help's coming soon, pet" she told Julie.
*********
The ambulance and police had driven off. Tony started the
engine again.
"Now, maybe I can have that fag.."sighed Lyn. "Thought
the cops would never be done with us!"
"I just want to get home.....that poor kid...."
"I know......"
"God. I need a smoke too, give us the lighter, before
we set off".
"The lighter......?"
"Oh, bugger...!"
THE END.