Kathy's trembling hands convulsed around her coffee cup. Her wide, brown eyes, which normally looked so innocent, were ringed with dark circles as if she hadn't slept all night, and there was a haunted look about her as she fixed her gaze on anything but Betty. Betty sipped her coffee. "How much sleep did you get last night?" "Not enough," Kathy said, eyeing every man in the diner suspiciously. She wanted to be sure they weren't checking her out. Kathy didn't feel like fending off any unwelcome advances, especially not tonight. Betty rested her chin on her hand. "Tell me what's wrong." She shook her head and for a moment Betty thought she wasn't going to answer. "I've always wondered why rapists rape." It only took her a second to realize that Kathy wasn't really changing the subject. "Oh my God," she gasped. "Were you raped?" Kathy drank her coffee the way a condemned man sips his last drink and nodded slowly. "I was cornered by a tall man when I got off the bus last night. He ordered me to strip. When I resisted, he put a gun to my head. I can't even tell you how scared I was when I felt cold metal pressed against my face. I came close to fainting." She sighed and lowered her head. "You wouldn't believe how helpless I felt when he pinned me to the asphalt so he could have his way with me." "Did you get a good look at him? You've got to report this to the police!" Betty's slender fingers circled the rim of her cup. "Yah, I got a real good look at him. In fact, I've seen him before. He's half a head taller than me and skinny with short brown hair and icy blue eyes." Kathy pushed her cup aside. "I would've kicked him in the balls if he hadn't pulled a gun on me first! I was too scared to fight back. I screamed for help, but there wasn't anyone around to hear." She took her friend's hand in hers and squeezed. "Did you go right home after it happened?" Kathy nodded. "I was too scared to do anything else but get out of those filthy clothes and take a hot shower right away. I felt so dirty." "Too bad. You washed away the best evidence." Betty finished her coffee and paid the waitress. "What were you wearing?" She thought for a minute. "Let's see...My black mini, black pantyhose and a white blouse that's a little too tight." "I think I remember the outfit. You wore it out to a club a few weeks ago. It doesn't leave much to the imagination...." Betty snickered. "What's that supposed to mean?!" Kathy said defensively. "Admit it. Most men think women are asking for it when they dress like that. A lot of women probably feel that way, too. It's not going to strengthen your case against him." She looked up in alarm. "Are you crazy?! I don't want to press charges and have him stalking me!" "Don't tell me you're going to let him get away with it?" "No, of course not, but...I just want to forget about it. My cousin was raped...The guy got off scott free. The police made it look like it was all her fault." Kathy frowned. Betty headed for the door. "Do you still have the outfit?" "It's on the floor in my bedroom. Why?" "I'll drive you over to your place so we can take it to the police as evidence." She unlocked the car and got in. Kathy bit her lip. "As evidence of what?" "Proof that you were raped. A few strands of his hair are liable to be on your clothes, putting your attacker at the scene." Betty put the car in gear. "This is your chance to screw him like he screwed you. Don't you want him to pay for what he did?" She nodded. "Of course, but what good will it do? In a few months he'll be out on the streets doing the same thing all over again, even if I report it to the police." "Then I think we should take matters into our own hands." Betty winked. "What have you got in mind?" Kathy perked right up, anxious to right a wrong. She lowered her voice to a whisper, even though it was just the two of them in the car. "I think you should get your hands on a pair of handcuffs, track him down, with my help, and rape him." She parked and walked Kathy to the door. Then Betty pulled a pair of handcuffs out of her purse. "Will these do?" Fascinated, Kathy stared at the shiny pair of metal rings dangling between Betty's fingers. "Where did you get those?" "My last boyfriend was a cop who got off on handcuffing my wrists to the bedposts." Betty rolled her eyes. She unlocked the door and stepped inside. "Handcuffs or no handcuffs, I don't know if that's such a good idea..." Kathy laughed, feeling better already, despite her skepticism. "Oh, come on. You could use the handle of a plunger and fix his plumbing for good!" Betty followed her inside, urging her on. "He won't be able to sit down for a month!" She nodded. "I'll slip it in a plastic bag, so no one will suspect a thing." Kathy locked the door, turned on the lights, and sat down on the couch. "Good thinking, but don't get too comfortable yet, we have to find you something eye-catching to wear." Betty dragged her into the bedroom. The outfit she wore the previous night was still balled up on the floor beside the bed. Kathy frowned. "Why would I want to do that?" "So you can attract his attention, get a rise out of him if you know what I mean..." Betty nudged her. "Yeah, right. What if something goes wrong and he gets his hands on me again?" She laughed nervously. "Remember what happened last time." Betty laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't let him touch you. I know personal defense." "I guess we could sneak up on the bastard." Kathy bit her lip, still not entirely convinced their scheme would work. "Now you're talking!" Betty went through her closet. "Where's that hot little number you wore to all the Christmas parties we went to last year?" Kathy started to pace. "It's hanging up in the back, I think." Betty pulled it out and handed the red dress to her. "Here, stop worrying and slip this on." She did as she was told and smoothed the material out so it clung to her sumptuous curves. "What are you going to wear?" Kathy rested her hands on her hips and started at Betty. "These jeans are so tight it looks like they were painted on. I think they'll do quite nicely. And this blouse isn't exactly loose, in case you haven't noticed. Besides, I'm not the one he's after." "I don't think he's too choosy." Kathy went into the kitchen and grabbed a K-mart bag from the table. Betty followed. Then Kathy rushed into the bathroom, yanked the wooden rod from the plunger out of its rubber base with a mighty tug and thrust upward, practicing. "That's going to hurt." Betty watched her and winced. "Wait, something's missing." "Like what?" Kathy raised her eyebrows. Betty pulled a carving knife, dangerous and sharp, out of the dish rack. "You want to make sure he gets the point, don't you?" "You'd better believe it! He's got it coming!" Kathy grinned. "You should cut his face, to let him know you mean business." She wrapped the blade in a dishtowel and stuffed it in her bulging purse. "What time does the bus usually drop you off?" "Seven o'clock, but I don't think he'll be on the same street corner where he saw me last night. Do you? Thatís too obvious." Betty glanced at the clock in the kitchen; it was already six-thirty. "You're right, we'd better drive along the whole bus route. Who knows where he'll turn up." Confidence mounting, Kathy stood up and tossed her makeshift weapon in the bag along with the handcuffs and nodded. "You're the boss." Betty headed for the door and opened it. "Keep your eyes peeled and we'll ambush the bastard." "Why didn't I think of that?" Kathy followed her out to the car, steeling herself for action. "Beats me." Betty started the engine and drove off. "Trust me, when this is all over you'll be glad you settled the score." "I hope you're right." Kathy sighed. "It's the only way to put your mind at ease." Betty eased the car along the bus route, scanning the sidewalks for the man who matched Kathy's description. As they neared to spot where the attack occurred, Kathy felt her heart beating fast, summoning her to action. She tightened her grip on the shopping bag as her eyes darted back and forth, seeking out her attacker. A minute later she saw him. "There he is!" She pointed, with a trembling finger, to a man standing on the corner watching the women who passed with keen eyes, choosing his next victim. "This is no time to panic. Take a deep breath and get a hold of yourself!" Betty pulled the car over and cut the engine. She got out first to prove there was no reason to be afraid. Reluctantly, Kathy followed, trying hard to follow her friend's brave example. She closed her eyes for a moment, mustering the courage to act. They walked seductively towards him with a wanton look in their eyes, swinging their hips all the while. The tall man with short brown hair and ice blue eyes standing on the corner sauntered over without a second thought and leered at them. "Back for more, huh? I see you brought your friend along for the ride this time." His eyes were glued to Kathy's dress. "The more the merrier." Kathy gritted her teeth and glared at him. "I'm surprised you remember me." The rapist looked her up and down. He liked what he saw. "I always remember the screamers. They excite me most of all." He licked his lips. "Oh, really?" She tightened her grip
on the wooden rod behind her back. "You're about to find out." Betty pulled handcuffs out of her bag of tricks before the rapist could make a move. His eyes got wide. "Hey, are you chicks cops?" Kathy shook her head. "Not even close." Betty rubbed up against him and grabbed hold of his wrists. She managed to snap the cuffs on his bony wrists while he was busy ogling Kathy. The rapist's mouth twisted in a disgusted grimace as he strained to push her away with little success. Betty looked around; the street was dark, deserted, and menacing. Kathy was too absorbed in the task at hand to notice her surroundings. With Betty's help, she managed to turn him around, so his back faced them; then Betty grabbed his wrists and pinned him against the rough brick wall of the nearest building. Without hesitating, Kathy unzipped his faded jeans and yanked them down to his ankles along with his underwear. Wide-eyed, he gawked at them. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" His enormous erection jutted out in front of him like a dull knife, inches away from the wall. "Giving you a taste of your own medicine." Kathy pulled the wooden rod out of the bag and tried to ram it up his hairy ass, but missed, jabbing his left cheek instead; he was too tense to allow for easy entry. Betty handed her the knife for good measure. "How does it feel to be cornered like an animal and violated?" Kathy pressed the blade up against the man's face, leaving a jagged, stream of red in its wake. "You don't seem to be enjoying yourself, or is that just my imagination?" He howled. "You cut me, bitch!" "Temper, temper! I wouldn't fuck with me if I was you. Especially since I've got the upper hand." She waved the knife in front of him. Betty nodded her approval and positioned the rapist's ass at a higher angle by adjusting his waist with one hand while she held his wrists down with the other, applying the right amount pressure to keep him right where he was. Betty slapped his thigh. "Bend over and take this like a man!" "Open wide, you little shit!!" Kathy tired again, thrusting the rod halfway up his ass. "How does it feel to be fucked? You don't seem to like enjoying yourself, now that you know what it's like. Or is that just my imagination?" She whispered her query in his ear, the way a lover speaks sweet-nothings to her beloved, while she watched him writhe in agony. "You look scared and you should be!" The rapist howled again, like a wounded animal trapped in a snare. Betty released her grip and they watched him stagger around until he tripped over his jeans and fell face first onto the filthy sidewalk. Blood dribbled down the back of his hairy thighs as he lost his erection and his bladder let go. "You want some more?" Kathy twisted the wooden rod, splintered and bloody, pushing until she felt it snap. "I'm just getting warmed up." The man's eyes glazed over and his face turned bright red. "Let's get going, Betty. Our work here is done." Kathy wrapped the bloody knife in the dishtowel and tucked it under her arm. Betty nodded and gladly followed. The rapist was still howling when they left. Amy Grech's short stories have appeared in
69 Flavors of Paranoia, Altered Perceptions Magazine, Blue Murder Magazine, Classic Pulp
Fiction Stories, The Darklands Project Issue #1, Dark Muse, Funeral Party 2, Gathering
Darkness, Hoodz, House of Pain, Massacre, Nasty Snips, Penny Dreadful, Pulp Fiction
Magazine, and Weird Stories. Stories are forthcoming in The Blue Lady, Eldritch Tales,
Gallery. Her story, “A Splash of Crimson”, which appeared in February 2000 HofP |