It’s a bright new world part 5

“Gahhhh” I groan as I wake. My head is absolutely killing me, sharp shooting pains all through my body but mainly my ribs and my head. I pull the blanket off my face, and I’m hit with the smell of jasmine and even though I’m in a lot of pain my body tenses up and I lift my blanket up. ‘Slowly does it’ I think to myself. I don’t see anyone in my bed and I sigh with relief ‘thank god’ but I spoke too soon. I feel the blood leave my face and painfully move to the side of my bed, then grab a small trash can and my insides are no longer inside. I heave and tears fall as there is so much pain in my ribs “what the fuck happened last night?”

I get up walk over to my kitchen which isn’t far at all. I live in an open apartment, my bed is placed near the kitchen. Once I reach the mint colored meg refrigerator, I reach painfully to the top and pull down a box full of painkillers and other medications. It’s my makeshift first aid box. I pull out painkillers take them with some milk.

I go to the bathroom, turn the hot water on in the shower, take my shirt off and gasp as I see in the mirror the mixture of blue, purple and black spread across my rib cage. I finish getting undressed and turn some cold water on so I don’t burn myself. As the hot steaming water hits my back I close my eyes and try to remember anything but nothing, all I remember was needing a drink and trying to play pool with a few faceless guys. I slam my hand against the wall out of frustration “AHHH why can’t I remember?”

I struggle as I get dressed but I do it. Lucky it’s just my black ripped skinny jeans with a single, that has an animated girls face sucking a lollipop and my leather jacket. I slip my black combat boots on I’m just glad I’m lazy and have the laces so they are just loose enough to slip on and off with ease. As I start to walk out the door I feel the effects of the pills starting to work.

The walk to work was slow but I get there - I look at my watch to see if I’m late or early and I grimace 15 minutes late. “Shit”, I say as I walk through the door. “RAVEN” Mel yells out my name and I pout like a scolded child and I head straight for the kitchen knowing what’s to come next. As I walk past the counter she stops me by putting her hand out and me walking into it, causing me to hiss in pain and jump back as her hand hit my ribs.

“Jesus Ray, are you okay?”

I look at her, holding the tears back. Besides my aunt, she is the only one I have issues with hiding my emotions. I shake my head and walk to the kitchen. As soon as I hear the kitchen door shut, I carefully lift my shirt and turn. One tear slips my eye and Mel is right next to me in a flash.

“I don’t remember anything. I have no memory at all except going to a bar and I only had a few shots” Mel gives me a look of ’don’t lie to me.

“Mel I’m serious, you know I can handle my drinks. I went into the bar to drink away the fact that freaky things are happening to me, and I don’t understand what its all doing or if I’m going crazy. But I never ever lose my memory ever, no matter how drunk I get. I remember everything. But Mel, I don’t remember anything after getting up to play pool with these guys.”

I say as a soft flow of tears falls from my eyes.

“I’m scared” I whisper softly.

Mel gently hugs me, kisses my forehead and says “Everything will be okay I promise just stay in here.” She walks out of the kitchen. I turn and find the chair in the corner and sit. Mel comes back ten minutes later. “Here take these” she hands me two white pills. I shake my head.

“Mel I can’t, I took two painkillers before I got here” she gives me a stern look and says “Shut up and take them, it won’t affect the pills already taken and they won’t harm you or put you in harm's way. I need you to take them to activate the cream I’m going to rub on your ribs.”

She puts the pills in my hands and gets me a bottle of water.

“Take your jacket and top off please and before you say anything no one is here I closed up the shop.”

She switches the TV on and sits down on her knees in front of me. I do as I am told and she helps as I struggle a little “What is this cream?” I take the pills “it’s just something that’s been in my family since forever.” She smiles and presses down on my ribs and I hiss again.

“Jesus fuck Mel this better work because for once I don’t want to be touched by a gorgeous woman.” I groan and lean my head back looking at the roof. I hear Mel chuckle.

“Okay well, at least you still have your wit about you. You sh..” she hesitates a little making me frown and look at her “You should start to not feel the pain in like 5 minutes it should start to feel tingly now” I nod my head yes.

“It’s actually starting to go away now, how did you do that?” I ask as this isn’t normal.

“Okay there is some numbing gel in this cream but that’s not what’s going on that we need to talk. Come sit out here with me please, I’ll talk while you eat.” I frown and I start to get really nervous.

I get up, put my clothes back on and go to the sink to wash my face and that's when I hear the TV “Local small town man confessed to drugging and assaulting women. There were no charges against him but women have been coming forth since this morning saying it’s true. Guilt finally ate.....”

I look at the screen and see his face. Flashes from last night him being a dick and hitting on me after I said no. Him buying drinks and following me down the hallway and it’s all black again. I don’t remember what happened next. I start hyperventilating and fall back onto the bench making a loud sound marking Mel to run back in and over to me.

“Raven breath, look at me.” She cups my face “Breath baby, breath. Shit you’re bleeding” she grabs my hand and I run out. I run and run, and run, and I don’t stop until I reach the bar. I breathe a little and I walk in.

I look around it’s a mess “We’re closed and won’t open until it’s fixed. Please leave.” The bartender says he’s not the one from last night he’s older and has short hair, not like man buns.

“What happened here? Can you tell me what happened please it’s important?” He shakes his head.

“I have no idea just told to cl...”

"Bathroom, I need your bathroom.” my stomach is wanting to empty everything. His eyes widen.

“No you can’t, they are ruined. Are you okay ma’am you’re pale.”

I run out not even answering him. I look around and see an ally, I go down and don’t even make it past the dumpsters when I vomit. Once I stop heaving, I wipe my mouth and lean against the wall.

“Well well well look what we have here. I told you she would be back for more.” I look to the creepy voice. It sends shivers down my spine “You’re going to pay for what happens to our boy last night. You and your friend really fucked up.”

I start to panic, there are three of them. One scrawny guy smaller than me, one a little bigger and, well... one overgrown toddler man. I walk backward but my back is met with a wall. The smallest comes at me, punches me in the jaw busting my lip. I dodge the next few throws and I’m getting angry. Really angry. I throw a right hook, knocking him out. The medium dude kicks me in the stomach and I hear a crack and instant pain. I cry out in shock knowing my ribs were definitely broken this time. As I’m trying to get back up the big guy comes at me and fear fills my body, I jump up and I kick with hopes of knocking him on his ass like in the movies. But I kicked his leg and it broke so easy like a small stick you would use to roast marshmallows.

I stand in shock and disbelief that I did that. Next thing I know there is a fist in my face knocking me on my ass. “HEY WHAT'S GOING ON?” The three guys from last night help each other get away and the guy who called out is the bartender. I’m helping myself up and he gets closer “Stay away from me,” I say scared I’ll hurt him, but he doesn’t listen “It’s okay I’m here to help...” “GO AWAY” I yell and he falls on his ass and slides backwards. It wouldn’t hurt him bad just shock him, but it scares me and I get up and run. I find the corner and bump into someone big “I’m sorry” I say and keep running. I run back to Mel, and as I reach the front door I pass out.

As I start to wake, the smell of jasmine hits my nose again and my eyes pop open and I see Lily sitting next to me as well as Mel “You?” I frown and sit up. I look down and hold my stomach it doesn’t hurt, my ribs don’t hurt either. My hand goes to my lips “Ouch” I hiss that’s definitely busted “What the heck is going on?” I ask as I start to freak out.

“I could ask you the same thing. Where on earth did you go? And what the fuck happened to you. You had me worried sick. Jesus Raven, you could have died.” Mel says with tears running down her eyes.

“ I’m so sorry Mel.” I look at Lily “Were you at my house last night?” I ask part of me knows she was but I don’t remember. I take Mel’s hand and I make her sit next to me and lean into her. She wraps her arms around me tight.

“There’s a lot I need to tell you,” says Lily.