Page 4 of A New Days Don

I push the man, trying to keep myself steady, shouting and crying for him to stop whatever he is about to do. My eyes meet the dark hazel ones. Gone is the handsome man from inside; in his place is pure evil. I fight harder, and the man shoves me against the wall. My head slams off it, making stars spark to life in my vision.

Blood pumps through my veins harder and harsher than I have ever felt it. My ears begin to ring, and I beg. I beg whatever God or higher being might be out there, because nobody else could possibly save me—not even myself.

“Hello, dear, it’s nice to see those blue eyes open,” a female says softly. Everything around me is a whir of noise and chatter. Then her blue eyes come into view. I can’t move my neck to look at her, but I can see the sympathy and pain in her eyes.

“Wha–” I try to say, but my head spins, and lightning bolts of pain radiate down my throat with the attempt.

What’s going on? Tears burn at the backs of my eyes. The room I’m in is a blur of white and baby blue. I think there is a machine next to me, but I can barely make out the screen or what's on it.

Where am I?

Why does my throat hurt? Was I in an accident?

The steady beeping sound spikes, and the woman places her hand on my shoulder, “You’re safe, we’ve got you.”

That’s when it hits me like a freight train. I was with Karmin and her new friend Rain. I was at a club. Someone wanted to flirt with me. I– I became a statistic.

Nausea roils in my stomach, churning as I try to scratch at my neck; everything feels dirty. I need to get clean. I need my mom.

My gaze zeros in on a male when he pops his head through the door. The three staff in the room rush to hear whatever it is he has to say, but I can’t breathe. The sight of him alone makes my vision pinpoint. And I see him.

Hazel eyes. Mocha coloured hair. Tall. Lean. Sharp jawline.

Panic. He’s here. What is he doing here?

I try to sit up, but the nurse near me holds me in place. Trapped, I’m trapped. Whimpers, moans, ice-cold fear.

“Calm down, dear. I’m going to–”

“Him!” I finally scream through the mask fixed to my face. The man’s eyes go wide. Caught.

Except that the staff don’t call for backup. James mutters something to one of the nurses and hands her a clipboard. He slips out of the room, and I fight the wires and hands touching me.

Don’t touch me.

Stop touching me.

I bang my head against the back of the bed, the lump in my throat catching as my vision blurs into white sparkling light.

I fight. Words are being shared. Then…

A needle pokes.

Darkness.

Chapter 1

Mila

My heels click against the freshly polished floors of the district attorney's office. This is the fourth time in the last six months that I have presented a new case to him. He will be representing the state against a four-time child molester.

Our evidence is thorough and well-documented. I made sure of that. The witnesses themselves are only children, so they won’t be appearing anywhere near the courtroom, but the kids and their parents gave statements that I signed off on.

I approach the slightly ajar dark oak office door and peer in. Kaden Rutherford sits at his desk with glasses halfway down his nose while reading through one of his files. Knocking lightly, he startles as he looks up at me. Big bushy blonde brows and strained grey eyes. He is only thirty-four, but the stress of this job isn’t kind on the soul. He looks as if he could pass for the seniors' discount at Denny’s.

A smile pulls on his lips, and he gestures for the seat in front of him, “C’mon in, Miss Lewis.”

He has always been respectful. Certainly, more respectful than any other man in this field, but still, I don’t move from the door. I don’t dare step foot inside the room when I could be cornered at any time. Despite the gun and taser I wear holstered to my hip and the self-defence training I partake in five times a week, I can’t stop the panic when I am alone in a room with a man and can’t get out.