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Shelby: A Short Story

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Pushed up against the wall, Shelby shuddered in a disgusting mix of fear and anger. The older man looked into her averted eyes with lust as he pinned her to the wall harder. His thigh was digging into hers and he was relishing the power he held over her. She struggled again, causing her to receive a slap to the face. Cheek stinging, she snarled at the man, "So this was your plan all along. Get me in trouble, get me alone, abuse me." She spat each word with remarkable confidence. She had once read that an argument is scariest when you deliver it through a calm and even voice. So she bit her lip, fighting to keep her voice from quivering and to keep him from seeing her fear. "You wish you were pretty enough for me to want you." …show more content…
Do you actually think you can get away with hurting me here? You're less intelligent than I thought. Congratulations." She taunted. A slap. Both cheeks stinging now, she forced herself to hold her head back up and finally meet his eyes. In her head, she heard all her own self-doubts. You've never been pretty. You don't wear nice enough clothes. You're afraid of showing off your own body. Everyone thinks you are ugly. "You fucking wish you could have someone as young and beautiful as me." The man finally snapped. He backed up a step and punched her. Hard. Blood splattered from her forehead and Shelby stumbled to the side, grimacing. "Want another, pretty girl?" The man punched again. Stars circled and she felt the world spin as she fell to the ground. The man approached, enjoying the hunt. But his confidence was his flaw. As he took one step too close, Shelby kicked out, sweeping his legs from under him. With a heavy thud, the man fell onto his shoulder and Shelby stumbled to her feet, crawling away as she did so. A hand reached out and wrapped around her ankle. She fell again and as she rolled over, she saw the man's legs,already standing. He kicked her in the ribs and the edge of her vision went …show more content…
Leave her alone." Fearing punishment, the man fled down the hall. The footsteps of the younger man grew louder as he approached. "Are you okay?" Unable to answer through the pain, unable to even think, Shelby fought to stay awake. Finally, her hero appeared in her vision. His concerned brown eyes looked down at her. Seeing her eyes flutter and hearing her struggled breaths, he scooped her up in his arms and began carrying her down the hall. "I promise I'm going to help you." He said to her, comforting her. As his strong arms carried her, Shelby took in his face. His eyes, concerned since she had seen them, comforted her like the dusk before nightfall. They held a warmth like a fire, but also a compassion. There were flecks of green around the pupil and his eyelashes were long and dark. His black hair fell over his forehead in the front, tickling his eyebrows. She could picture him pushing it out of his face without a second thought. Finally her efforts became too difficult and she succumbed to the darkness that had been lurking beneath the

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