Chapter Text
Of all the shit happening to her today, she does not need this. Today had been bad enough as it is. Laura woke up an hour late because the battery of her clock died. Of course that had to happen on the day of a very important class in which they took attendance. She barely made it there in time. Her shirt was stained from sweat from racing on her bike. Her hair was not brushed. Her outfit was a horrible sight. But at least she made it there in time. Right? Of course she’d forgotten her laptop charger and notebook in her apartment…
Then, just when she thought things wouldn’t get any worse, she ran into a teacher holding a steaming hot cup of coffee. Of course it spilled all over her and stained her shirt. When she had finally gotten back to her apartment, she had sighed and cleaned herself up. She’d thought that maybe after a day at University, she’d deserved to go out and relax. Her project was nearly finished and she could leave it for a few hours while going out and enjoying drinks with a few friends. So that is exactly what she did. She called up Danny, her Lit TA who was also her friend, and LaFontaine and Perry: her friends who she’d met through pure coincidence on campus. They met up at a bar near campus only a few blocks from Laura’s place. She decided to walk since it was light enough out there and figured she’d take a cab back. After the day she had, she wasn’t going to hold back on drinks.
Now, that’s exactly what got her into trouble. It was around two AM when they finally had called it a night. None of them had morning classes fortunately. Laura had started off with strong drinks but by the time midnight rolled around, she’d started drinking grape soda. Her favorite. She was glad she’d made that decision. She clasped her fingers a little tighter around the key and listened to the footsteps that rang behind her.
Why weren’t there any cabs around? Seriously… She hated walking home alone, LaF and Perry all had to go the other way and Laura had assured them she’d be okay. Danny had walked with her until they had to split up to walk the last few blocks.
She really missed the tall redhead right about now. She had training in Krav Maga, and her key clutched between her ring and middle finger. Still she didn’t think she’d be able to escape from the guy who seemed to be rapidly approaching. When she saw his shadow appearing in the light, she made a split second decision. She ran.
She felt so grateful that she hadn’t been able to find her heels before and was now wearing her chucks. She ran and heard the man trying to keep up with her. She didn’t really know if she’d make it home so she decided to run into a big side street hoping to run into anyone that could help her. She couldn’t find anyone and ran faster. She turned the corner and there she saw a phone booth. Well, she could just grab her cellphone but he’d catch her if she stopped running. Then she saw it: a lock. Who the hell put locks on phone booths? What the hell Laura? Just go for it! Her panicked self thought.
She spend towards it and tried to lock the door as best she could with trembling hands. Once it was locked she sat down on the ground and grabbed her phone as she types in the numbers to call Danny. She hits dial and waits as she sees the man racing towards her. She hopes her tiny frame can go unnoticed by the threatening male but she has no such luck. He spots her and she freezes.
An unfamiliar voice snaps her from her thoughts.
“Ummm, Hello? Who is this?”
Laura gasps as she makes a split second decision.
“it’s the middle of the night and I’m walking home alone in the dark and there’s this guy following me and he’s starting to gain on me and I found this phone booth with a lock on the door and I tried to call my best friend but my hands were shaking so badly I accidentally dialed the wrong number and I don’t even know you but help me!” She took a deep breath as the guy’s nasty grin spread on his face beneath his hooded eyes. He yanked on the door handle to try and get it, disappointed to find that he couldn’t open it.
“Woah, where are you?”
“Please, he’s going to kill me. I need your help!”
“Tell me where you’re at and I’ll be there in a minute.” The husky voice said as Laura heard a door slam in the other side of the line. Even though the guy was trying to break the glass, she felt a bit safer inside the phone booth talking to this stranger.
“I’m in a phone booth at Second Street, on the corner of this little bakery. Please be quick!”
It was then that she heard glass break and hear the nasty laugh of the man as he tried to grab her. She latched out at him with her key tight between her fingers. She’d dug it into his arm as he groaned.
“Oh you’ll pay for that bitch.” His demeanor changed and he went from smiling to an angry sneer. She caught a glimpse of his dark eyes underneath the shadow of his hood and knew that she was in trouble.
The man broke the door open and grabbed her. She didn’t stand a chance as he lifted her off the ground with one hand clutched around her neck.
From the phone that slipped out of her hand, a voice shouted but the sound faded as her ears started ringing. Laura was clawing at his arm and trying to get away from him by kicking her legs. One lucky shot to his groin made him loosen his grip enough for her to fall on the ground and reach for the phone. She crawled upright and started to run.
“Hey? Are you okay? I’ll be there soon.” Came from the phone. “What’s your name, stranger?”
She was still running away but managed to blurt out a Laura. The stranger on the phone then in turn responded with her name.
“Laura, my name is Carmilla. I’m one block away. Can you hide anywhere?”
Laura wanted to respond with a no but she stumbled over a loose stone on the sidewalk and fell. Hard. She groaned in pain as she clutched her wrist. She rolled over on her back only to find the man still following her. She was dead for sure now.
His foot connected with her ribs. She felt the air push out of her lungs and gasped for air as he grabbed her by her arm to her feet. He dragged her inside an ally and threw her against a wall. Her head connected with the bricks and she nauseous and dizzy. She really should have never quit Krav Maga.
Other than the man’s laugh, she only heard a muffled voice coming from the phone. The man noticed it and crushed in under his foot.
“No one’s coming to help you now, bitch.”
He lent down and jacked at her shirt. She still tried to put up a fight, but it was no use as he simply kicked her every time she even tried to lash out at him.
Where’s Carmilla?
One more hit to her head made her black out.