This Town
Chapter ten
Trigger warning – self-harm and rape
Shaky hands stained with blood, messy hair stuck to her sweaty forehead, arms dripping blood, legs barely able to hold her thin body. Saint was spiraling. She hadn’t taken her medication since the Ft. Lauderdale venue. They were now in Las Vegas meaning she hadn’t her medication in over a week. She even went as far as to flush them. Just like her medication, she hadn’t eaten in over a week either. Her therapist had been calling her nonstop but Saint never answered. She’d make sure to call after hours to leave a voicemail saying she was busying helping with the tour.
Saint glanced down at the shard of glass she had mutilated herself with and picked it up once more. One cut for every time she had hated herself; by the time she was done her stomach was seeping blood just like her arms. Lazily, Saint tossed the glass back into the sink and grasped the sink to keep from swaying. Where were the others? They were out partying. Had they asked Saint to come along? No, they just figured she’d want to rest because of how tired she looked lately.
Shard of glass in hand once more and her thighs had joined the bleeding party. No longer able to stay standing, Saint collapsed onto the ground. Whispers of how useless and pathetic she was being the only thing there to comfort her. But the need to run was crawling up her throat. She knew she couldn’t leave the venue in the state she was in so she stripped out of her bra and panties and climbed into the shower. The water was cold but it made her feel more alive.
Major cuts bandaged and a new set of clothes on, Saint grabbed her purse, but left her phone, and took off. Some of the techs gave her weird looks, others called her name. She kept running. The initial cause of her breakdown nagged at the back of her mind; Austin. Thoughts of how hurt he would be when he found her gone tried to convince her to stay, but the voices reminded her that he didn’t care. He’d never care.
Saint made it to the strip an hour later. With her messy hair and how she was dressed, she looked like she belonged there. The bright lights guided her way down the sidewalk but she had no idea where she was going. As she passed by one of the bars she caught a glimpse of Alan and the guys. For a split second she thought about going inside, but the sight of Austin’s lip attached to a tall brunette’s neck deterred her.
“Hey baby you lost?” Saint turned around to find a tall man with sky blue eyes smiling at her. His face had a bit of scruff on it but it complimented his strong jawline and high cheek bones. He was dressed in blue jeans with a hole in one of the knees, a black t-shirt, and a red and black flannel.
“No, I’m fine,” Saint answered and pulled her leather jacket closer to her body. She went to walk away but the man grabbed her arm and on instinct Saint flinched. Immediately the man let go.
“Can I at least call you a cab or something? It’s not safe on this part of town especially for a pretty woman like you,” the man tried again. Saint regarded him warily and he smiled shyly. “I promise no funny business.”
“Thank you for the offer but I’m actually wondering the streets so I don’t have to go back home,” she replied and started to walk away. But the man followed.
“I’m Nick,” he told her as he walked beside her. “What’s your name?”
“Saint. Why are you following me?” Saint stopped walking and looked up at the man through narrowed eyes. Nick went to answer but was interrupted by someone yelling Saint’s name. Simultaneously they turned and saw a group of guys approaching them. Saint recognized them immediately and took off running hand in hand with Nick.
Taking the lead, Nick lead Saint through the streets until they ended up at a small mom and pop diner. “Can I ask what that was about?” Nick questioned as they slid into a booth across from each other. Saint picked up a menu and pretended like she was going to order something.
“Those are the people I’m avoiding and would rather go back to anytime soon,” she informed him vaguely. Nick nodded but didn’t say anything. Instead he picked up a menu as well.
“Can I get you guys something to drink?” A young waitress asked with a small smile. Saint asked for a water while Nick ordered a soda and some fries.
“You don’t want anything else? My treat,” Nick offered. Saint shook her head.
“Thanks, but no thanks.” They sat there awkwardly for a moment and Saint felt like she was suffocating. “I’ll be back, I have to use the restroom.” As casually as she could, Saint hurried to the bathroom and locked herself in one of the stalls. For once she wished she hadn’t flushed her meds. She took a few deep breaths before exiting the stall and going over to the sink to splash cool water on her face. A minute so later she returned the table.
She was pleased to find her water on the table. Once the straw was in the glass she took a large drink and tried to relax. She noticed Nick watching her but she tried to ignore him. But his intense gaze was making her nervous so she took another drink of her water. Gradually she started to feel almost intoxicated. Her eyes struggled to stay open and her body wasn’t responding.
“Are you okay Saint?” Nick asked with a malicious grin on his face, but before she could respond she lost consciousness.
When she came to, she was greeted by a weight on top of her. She tried to push it off but her hands were tied to what felt like a bedframe. Her body ached and she realized she was naked. The room was dark but she could hear heavy breathing and a few other voices around her.
“Who’s next?” Nick asked. Even though she couldn’t see him, Saint could hear the smirk in his voice. No one replied but suddenly she was being thrusted into roughly and a hand was clamped down on her throat. Tears streamed down Saint’s face and she struggled to get away but there was nowhere for her to go.
For hours Nick and his friends took turns with Saint. When they were finished, they beat her and threw her out onto the streets for her to either die or for someone else to find. Saint had no idea what was going on around her, she was consumed by darkness and she could only hope that it stayed that way.
“Guys did Saint ever come back?” Alan asked curiously the next morning. He had checked her bunk but she wasn’t there.
“Not that I know of. Is she in the back?” Aaron replied from his bunk. Alan went to the back but found Austin in there writing lyrics. Saint wasn’t in the bus that much was obvious.
“She probably stayed with that guy last night,” Phil pointed out. Alan nodded in agreement but knew that wasn’t likely. Considering how unstable Saint was, she wasn’t going to just going to stay the night with a stranger. But there was nothing else Alan could do since Saint had left her phone so he sat down next to Phil and played around on his phone.
To: Alan
From: Dave
Turn on the news right now!
Alan furrowed his eyebrows as he read the text but did what he was told. “Hey!” Phil whined when Alan snatched the remote but shut up immediately when they were greeted with a cringe worthy headline. Woman found beaten and raped in Las Vegas alley.
“The woman has been identified as Saint Riesling. Around midnight she was found by a woman leaving a bar to go home. Ms. Riesling was unconscious and naked. The witness also says her body was covered in what looked to be self-inflicted wounds. The victim was rushed to the hospital and sources say she is in a stable, but comatose like, condition. Back to you Rob.”
Alan turned off the TV and exchanged a looked with everyone. Austin had joined toward the end of the report and looked broken beyond repair. Without a word, everyone rushed to get their shoes on and into the rental car so they could go to the hospital.
As they rushed inside and piled into the hospital elevator they only had one thought on their minds: “what if we’re too late?”
Shaky hands stained with blood, messy hair stuck to her sweaty forehead, arms dripping blood, legs barely able to hold her thin body. Saint was spiraling. She hadn’t taken her medication since the Ft. Lauderdale venue. They were now in Las Vegas meaning she hadn’t her medication in over a week. She even went as far as to flush them. Just like her medication, she hadn’t eaten in over a week either. Her therapist had been calling her nonstop but Saint never answered. She’d make sure to call after hours to leave a voicemail saying she was busying helping with the tour.
Saint glanced down at the shard of glass she had mutilated herself with and picked it up once more. One cut for every time she had hated herself; by the time she was done her stomach was seeping blood just like her arms. Lazily, Saint tossed the glass back into the sink and grasped the sink to keep from swaying. Where were the others? They were out partying. Had they asked Saint to come along? No, they just figured she’d want to rest because of how tired she looked lately.
Shard of glass in hand once more and her thighs had joined the bleeding party. No longer able to stay standing, Saint collapsed onto the ground. Whispers of how useless and pathetic she was being the only thing there to comfort her. But the need to run was crawling up her throat. She knew she couldn’t leave the venue in the state she was in so she stripped out of her bra and panties and climbed into the shower. The water was cold but it made her feel more alive.
Major cuts bandaged and a new set of clothes on, Saint grabbed her purse, but left her phone, and took off. Some of the techs gave her weird looks, others called her name. She kept running. The initial cause of her breakdown nagged at the back of her mind; Austin. Thoughts of how hurt he would be when he found her gone tried to convince her to stay, but the voices reminded her that he didn’t care. He’d never care.
Saint made it to the strip an hour later. With her messy hair and how she was dressed, she looked like she belonged there. The bright lights guided her way down the sidewalk but she had no idea where she was going. As she passed by one of the bars she caught a glimpse of Alan and the guys. For a split second she thought about going inside, but the sight of Austin’s lip attached to a tall brunette’s neck deterred her.
“Hey baby you lost?” Saint turned around to find a tall man with sky blue eyes smiling at her. His face had a bit of scruff on it but it complimented his strong jawline and high cheek bones. He was dressed in blue jeans with a hole in one of the knees, a black t-shirt, and a red and black flannel.
“No, I’m fine,” Saint answered and pulled her leather jacket closer to her body. She went to walk away but the man grabbed her arm and on instinct Saint flinched. Immediately the man let go.
“Can I at least call you a cab or something? It’s not safe on this part of town especially for a pretty woman like you,” the man tried again. Saint regarded him warily and he smiled shyly. “I promise no funny business.”
“Thank you for the offer but I’m actually wondering the streets so I don’t have to go back home,” she replied and started to walk away. But the man followed.
“I’m Nick,” he told her as he walked beside her. “What’s your name?”
“Saint. Why are you following me?” Saint stopped walking and looked up at the man through narrowed eyes. Nick went to answer but was interrupted by someone yelling Saint’s name. Simultaneously they turned and saw a group of guys approaching them. Saint recognized them immediately and took off running hand in hand with Nick.
Taking the lead, Nick lead Saint through the streets until they ended up at a small mom and pop diner. “Can I ask what that was about?” Nick questioned as they slid into a booth across from each other. Saint picked up a menu and pretended like she was going to order something.
“Those are the people I’m avoiding and would rather go back to anytime soon,” she informed him vaguely. Nick nodded but didn’t say anything. Instead he picked up a menu as well.
“Can I get you guys something to drink?” A young waitress asked with a small smile. Saint asked for a water while Nick ordered a soda and some fries.
“You don’t want anything else? My treat,” Nick offered. Saint shook her head.
“Thanks, but no thanks.” They sat there awkwardly for a moment and Saint felt like she was suffocating. “I’ll be back, I have to use the restroom.” As casually as she could, Saint hurried to the bathroom and locked herself in one of the stalls. For once she wished she hadn’t flushed her meds. She took a few deep breaths before exiting the stall and going over to the sink to splash cool water on her face. A minute so later she returned the table.
She was pleased to find her water on the table. Once the straw was in the glass she took a large drink and tried to relax. She noticed Nick watching her but she tried to ignore him. But his intense gaze was making her nervous so she took another drink of her water. Gradually she started to feel almost intoxicated. Her eyes struggled to stay open and her body wasn’t responding.
“Are you okay Saint?” Nick asked with a malicious grin on his face, but before she could respond she lost consciousness.
When she came to, she was greeted by a weight on top of her. She tried to push it off but her hands were tied to what felt like a bedframe. Her body ached and she realized she was naked. The room was dark but she could hear heavy breathing and a few other voices around her.
“Who’s next?” Nick asked. Even though she couldn’t see him, Saint could hear the smirk in his voice. No one replied but suddenly she was being thrusted into roughly and a hand was clamped down on her throat. Tears streamed down Saint’s face and she struggled to get away but there was nowhere for her to go.
For hours Nick and his friends took turns with Saint. When they were finished, they beat her and threw her out onto the streets for her to either die or for someone else to find. Saint had no idea what was going on around her, she was consumed by darkness and she could only hope that it stayed that way.
“Guys did Saint ever come back?” Alan asked curiously the next morning. He had checked her bunk but she wasn’t there.
“Not that I know of. Is she in the back?” Aaron replied from his bunk. Alan went to the back but found Austin in there writing lyrics. Saint wasn’t in the bus that much was obvious.
“She probably stayed with that guy last night,” Phil pointed out. Alan nodded in agreement but knew that wasn’t likely. Considering how unstable Saint was, she wasn’t going to just going to stay the night with a stranger. But there was nothing else Alan could do since Saint had left her phone so he sat down next to Phil and played around on his phone.
To: Alan
From: Dave
Turn on the news right now!
Alan furrowed his eyebrows as he read the text but did what he was told. “Hey!” Phil whined when Alan snatched the remote but shut up immediately when they were greeted with a cringe worthy headline. Woman found beaten and raped in Las Vegas alley.
“The woman has been identified as Saint Riesling. Around midnight she was found by a woman leaving a bar to go home. Ms. Riesling was unconscious and naked. The witness also says her body was covered in what looked to be self-inflicted wounds. The victim was rushed to the hospital and sources say she is in a stable, but comatose like, condition. Back to you Rob.”
Alan turned off the TV and exchanged a looked with everyone. Austin had joined toward the end of the report and looked broken beyond repair. Without a word, everyone rushed to get their shoes on and into the rental car so they could go to the hospital.
As they rushed inside and piled into the hospital elevator they only had one thought on their minds: “what if we’re too late?”
Notes
This chapter is a bit heavy, but it's necessary. If you haven't yet you should go check out my new story Renfield Syndrome. I only have the first chapter up at the moment, but there are more sure to come.
Thanks for reading,
perpetual
Amazing!
6/4/17