Shattered Bonds (continued)

Several meters ahead of her, a young couple, their arms snuggled around each other, walked slowly across the compound. It was only then that Lorelei realized that she had not spent any time with anyone but Sean since she had seen him transported on the ambulance. While she could not claim that she missed the human contact, or even the sex, both seemed of secondary importance now.

As Lorelei walked through the shadows that filled the middle of the compound, she became aware of footfalls from somewhere behind her. She hesitated, slowing, and turned her head to see who it might be. Nothing was revealed in the shadows, but she became aware that there were two sets of footsteps. Pausing for only a moment, she listened to see whether they were retreating or growing nearer.

From what she could tell, they seemed to be coming closer.

It’s probably nothing, she told herself. Probably someone else heading home in the dark.

Nevertheless, she began to walk a little faster, balling her hands into fists in the pockets of her jacket. The footsteps grew closer, increasing their pace to match her own. Lorelei fought the urge to run, afraid she might trip over something in the dark, making the situation worse.

She felt a sudden presence on her right. Before she could turn to look, a male voice called out to her in a low, casual tone.

“Hey, Lorie,” it said. “Wait up.”

Lorelei slowed, but only because a new presence on her left now blocked her way. Peering at their faces, she recognized Pollack and Tyler, both about her age. Neither of them had interested her, chiefly because they tended to behave like ill-bred barbarians. It was a trait, Lorelei suspected, shared by most males their ages, but these two were among the half-dozen or so worse offenders of the group.

“I’m on my way home,” she explained, hoping her firm tone might be enough to dissuade them from annoying her any more than necessary.

“You shouldn’t be out walking alone,” Tyler suggested warningly.

“I was visiting Sean.”

This brought an unexpected snicker from the two young men.

“I’d think you’d want to be getting it from someone a little more . . . awake,” Pollack remarked snidely. A narrow smile formed on his lips. “I’m available.”

“Go to hell,” Lorelei whispered hoarsely.

“Good thing I don’t believe in one,” Pollack grinned, his teeth shining in the dark.

Lorelei turned to run, only to have Tyler grab her arms, holding her firmly in place. He was at least two centimeters taller and 20 kilograms heavier than she was. She considered screaming for help, but her voice cut out with surprise as she felt Pollack’s hands massage her breasts from underneath her jacket.

One of his hands came up to cover her mouth before she could react. It pressed the back of her head firmly against Tyler’s chest. His other hand groped down between her legs. She squealed behind his hand, trying to squirm away. The fingers of the hand between her legs just pressed harder.

“We’ll take turns,” Pollack told her in a soft, casually menacing tone. “I’ll bet you’d like that.”

Lorelei twisted her head, trying to break free of the hand that covered her mouth. She suddenly remembered a trick that someone had once told her about—or had she read about it somewhere? Quickly working up a mouthful of saliva, she ran the surface of her tongue across Pollack’s palm. As expected, he reacted with surprise, pulling back his hand in disgust. Lorelei took a quick intake of breath in order to scream, but it was abruptly cut off as Pollack’s hand fastened tight around her throat.

“You’ll pay for that,” he hissed. “Try that again and you’ll never speak again.”

Lorelei tried to swallow past the constriction in her throat. Pollack’s other hand had left her breasts and was now fumbling at his belt. For whatever reason, he seemed determined to do this.