The pulsing bass of the music echoed in Emily's ears, mixing with the dizziness that clouded her mind. Her body felt foreign, burning with an unfamiliar heat that made her thoughts blur and her limbs weak. Sweat clung to her skin, but her cries for help were swallowed by the heavy air and music, the leering faces, and the hands that surrounded her.
She had made a mistake—a huge mistake. What was in that drink? She had only taken a sip, just trying to blend in, to get by for one more night. But now she was trapped. And nobody is gonna help! She screamed! She tried to run but her hands were shaking as her legs gave way beneath her. She was on the ground. Surrounded by lustful eyes. She could feel hands on her body. She could feel the top was ripped apart, only leaving in bra. She could feel the cold air on her bare skin. She tried to cover up but in vain.
The bright neon lights of the strip club blinded her, making it difficult for her to perceive the faces or sounds. She needed help, but her voice came out in a rasping whisper. "Please… someone…"
The leering faces around her only grew closer. Ten men, predatory and laughing, closed in, their hands reaching out to touch her. Panic gripped her, but her body wouldn't obey her desperate commands to move, to run. She felt like she was burning alive.
She could not do anything other than lying there helpless. She tried to call for help again, her voice hoarse. "Please… someone…" But no one paid attention. No one ever did.
Except him.
She saw, out of the haze, someone stepped forward.
Pushing his way through the crowd,
"Back off,"
he snapped at the group, his voice cold and commanding. They hesitated, grumbling, but his presence and the sudden appearance of authority made them back down. Alex reached her just as she collapsed. "Hey!" His voice cut through the noise, demanding attention. His voice was harsh but full of worry.
Alex knelt beside her, catching her as she fell,her small frame trembling. He covered her with his jacket.
"Hey, can you hear me?" he asked urgently, lifting her face to look at her.
Her skin was flushed, sweat beading at her forehead, her eyes glazed with panic and confusion.
"What happened to her?"
"Sayyyy!!!" He shouted.
"Nothing, she is just drunk. We are just trying to help her. Leave her to us." The leader of the group muttered.
Her lips trembled as she tried to speak. "Help… help me… I'm burning… I can't… I'm going to die…"
His chest tightened as he recognized the signs —probably something meant to lower inhibitions, like an aphrodisiac. He glared at them with killing intention. And punched the leader in the eye.
There was no time to waste. "We need to get you out of here," he said softly, hoisting her up. Her body was limp, her head resting against his chest, but she managed to whisper, "Please… make it stop."
"Where do you live? Do you know anyone here? Who are you here with?"
But her response was nothing like he expected. "Please… I'm burning… It's too hot… Help me…" Her voice was desperate, her body shaking uncontrollably as she clutched at him, trying to press herself closer, her behavior frantic and unnatural.
She had an aphrodisiac, that much was clear.
"What kind of person would have left her in that vulnerable state in such a dangerous place?"
Guilt churned in his stomach for being at the strip club in the first place. And now he had to encounter this type of thing. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. He had to help her.
With no other option, he made a split-second decision. He couldn't leave her alone in this state, nor could he bring her to the hospital—it would raise too many questions and there was no time to find help elsewhere. He brought her to his apartment, hoping to do something to stabilize her.
Alex could feel Emily's body trembling against his chest. Her body was covered with his jacket. The humid night air hit them both as they stepped outside, but her skin was still burning hot, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and the soft murmur of her voice kept repeating the same words: "Help me... please."
He glanced at her. Her eyes fluttered open, glazed and unfocused. The drug has taken a toll and the effect is too strong to counteract with some common medicine, he knows that.
"Hang in there," He muttered.
He quickly unlocked his car and gently placed her in the passenger seat, making sure she was secure and the jacket was in place before he started driving. The cool night breeze did little to relieve the fire that was consuming her from the inside, so he switched on the AC to the lowest temperature possible.
It took fifteen minutes to reach his apartment complex, hastily parking the car, he scooped her up into his arms again.
She moaned faintly, her fingers weakly clutching at his shirt as he carried her up the steps, her head lolling against his shoulder. She was trying to remove her clothes. His arms tightening slightly around her as he felt her shiver, her body battling the heat surging through her veins.
Alex moved quickly. He laid her gently on the couch. He first relaxed himself and took her vitals. Her skin was still flushed, temperature rising, her pulse rapid, and her breathing erratic. He cursed under his breath, he has no medicine for this type of case and cannot even bring her to hospital to avoid police, formalities and all that.
He is a fucking doctor, of course he cannot violate her in the name of treatment.
"Fucking hell! Can't do this, can't do that. What am I supposed to do? I can't let her suffer like this. I have to save her!"
His heartbeat quickened at the thought. He looked at her. Wasn't sure how she would react once she woke up. He didn't want her to think he'd taken advantage of her, but he had no other choice. She was in danger, and the drug's effects needed to be neutralized as quickly as possible or else it would be deadly.
He looked at her face, focused only to find she was in pain. And he couldn't bear it anymore.
"Fuck it! I need to save her! It's not the time to think about the consequences!"