Chapter 2

                                    

                                          
   EDITED
                          
My dreams were awful the first few nights after I almost got raped. I'd wake up in cold sweat and rub my skin trying to get the feel of slimy hands off my body. Every time they would always end the same way. Me on the ground and a man hovering over me laughing. It got to the point where I'd wake up with my sheets wet from all the tears and sweat. The nightmares were especially horrendous this night. 
                          
"Lana. Wake up. Lana please wake up. Lana!" Carmen's voice ringed in my ears as I awoke. She was straddling me and had my wrists pinned behind me. "Are you ok?" I nodded and pulled my body free from hers. 
                          
"What happened?" I questioned while slowly rubbing the itchiness the dried tears left on my eyes and cheeks. The nightmare was quickly fading as I stood up against the headboard. 
                          
"Well I heard screaming and I came here to investigate. Did you have a bad dream? It certainly looked bad, you gave me a wrestler worthy punch." She rambled on while rubbing her red cheek. She kept on talking but I tuned her out; trying to calm myself down. I let out a deep breath and got up. 
                          
"I'm going out for a walk, I need to breath." I explained while pulling on some yoga pants and a hoodie. 
                          
"Well alright, I'll just crash here. Tell anybody who calls that I won't be up 'till noon thirty....at the least." She yawned and her head instantly hit the pillow. I chuckled a little at her randomness and headed out into the cold morning air. I hadn't told Carmen about what had happened that night, she already worried about me enough I didn't need to add that to the already lengthy list.
                          
I headed down the vacant street sticking close to the neighborhood. We were fortunate enough to live in a quiet area where most of the citizens were in retirement and usually gone. Not much happened and for that I was thankful for. I made my way towards the little dog park a few blocks away from the house; near the police station. There wasn't much activity at this time except for the occasional jogger. I sat down on a far off bench facing a brown puddle leftover from yesterday's rain. 
                          
I felt like my life was just like that puddle right there. Dried up and unnoticed. Left there just for people to walk upon as if they couldn't see it. And when it is noticed people splash on it for fun or avoid it like the plaque. Just like a puddle with a dirty past. I shook my head and forced the tears that were coming back. The past is the past no matter how ugly. I sighed and pushed my hands into my pockets; searching for my phone out of instinct. After patting a flat pocket all over I remembered I had lost it that night. I would have to get a new one soon.
                          
"Fancy meeting you here love. I was just coming to look for you." I looked up and saw Nathan leaning against a tree; his cold green eyes staring into mine. Out of instinct I moved a bit away. He frowned upon my movement and moved closer to me sitting at the edge of the bench. "I got something of yours from...er...from that night." He looked away from me as anger covered his tone at the mention of that night. He pulled my phone out of his jean clad pocket and reached it out towards me. Still a little shaken up from him and well just anyone from the male race I retreated and covered myself. From the look on his face I could tell this angered him tremendously. He reached over and before I could move away he gripped my arm; forcibly pulling my body towards his."Lana! God dammit stop moving, I'm not going to hurt you!" 
                          
"What do you want with me?" I punched him in the face and got out of his hold grabbing my phone along the way. I ran with everything I had in me towards a small cafe shop that was coming along. I entered it and sat at a far off booth that wouldn't be noticed unless you were a regular. I stared at my feet as I waited for a waitress to approach me. I was soon lost in my thoughts for no apparent reason. Thinking about anything and everything other the past or Nathan.