Broken Hill Havoc (Broken Hill High Series 5)

“I never would have given it to you.”

“Yes,” he laughs. “You would have.”

“You’re fucking delusional.”

“And you’re a fucking whore,” he yells, losing his calm demeanor once again. “Do you have any idea what that fucking bastard did to me? He took everything away. I paid for what I did to you over and over again. And now, just when I think I’ve gotten rid of the fucker, he shows back up.”

“He didn’t do anything to you that you didn’t deserve.”

“Bullshit,” he yells. “Over the past year, I’ve been beaten by him and his friends seven fucking times. The last one, I lost the ability to play ball. Do you have any idea what that’s like?” My mind starts to swirl through the fog. Seven times? No, that’s not right.

I don’t have time to think about it further as Josh continues. “Do you know after my transfer, he told the school about my sealed record? Had me thrown off that football team too? I lost my scholarship because of him. Then just when I thought I was going to get past it and got myself into college out of state where no one knew who the fuck I was, he fucked that up for me tool.”

This is news to me, but I’m not about to tell him that. “You think you deserved a fresh start?” I scoff as my whole body grows lethargic. My head starts to spin as whatever drug he gave me takes effect. I don’t know how much longer I can hold this drug off. Hell, half the stuff he’s saying isn’t even making sense anymore.

“I’m stuck here in Broken Fucking Hill with a bunch of assholes who think they know what the fuck went down. I can’t get away from this shit, so now, if he’s forcing me to stay here, then things are going to change. The shoe is on the other foot and every damn thing he’s done to me is going to get thrown back in his face.”

My eyes begin to close and Josh steps forward. “I guess it’s show time.”

He reaches for me and I try to fight off his hands, but I don’t have much control. My body aches and everywhere he touches just makes it worse. “Stop,” I tell him.

He stands me up and I have to lean my body weight against him as my knees threaten to fall out from under me. Josh studies my body for a second before reaching for my clothes. He tears my shirt across my stomach, leaving it exposed before popping the buttons around my chest, making sure to tear the button straight off the fabric. “Much better,” he declares.

“Whaaa?” I demand as I start to lose control of my speech.

“I told you,” he grins. “We’re going to party with my friends. Can’t you hear it? Everybody is waiting to meet you.”

My stomach sinks as he grabs me and tosses me over his shoulder as though my dead weight is nothing for him to manage. He rests his hand on my ass and makes a point of squeezing it. “No,” I yell out, unable to get much more than that.

Josh turns and walks to the door before heading down the hallway to a set of stairs. The house is dark and I find that I can’t focus on anything. Doorways seem to duplicate and my head continues to spin.

I want Nate. I want to go home.

Where is he?

Josh walks down the stairs and the flashing lights make me want to throw up. I squeeze my eyes closed, wishing this was just a bad dream.

My eyes pop back open when Josh comes to a stop outside a room. He grabs me and pulls me back over his shoulder, letting me fall to my feet.

I instantly crumble down to the ground, unable to hold my weight. Josh’s booming laugh is heard over the sound of the music. “Pathetic,” he tells me, and for once, I agree. I feel completely pathetic. I should be able to defend myself, yet here I am, putty in his hands to do whatever he pleases. I can’t even call for help.

Josh reaches down and hauls me to my feet. All I want to do is cry, yet I can’t even do that.

I have absolutely no control over my body, all I can do is watch as he opens the door and ushers me inside a room full of boys. Maybe fifteen of them at least.

The room is filled with smoke and I don’t have what it takes to work out what the smoke is from. Cigarettes maybe? Though, something tells me it’s much harder than that.

There are beer bottles everywhere and the second I’m pushed through the door, their eyes fall on me like vultures.

Josh grins like he’s bringing them a well deserved gift. “She’s all ready to go, boys,” he tells the room, making them all lick their lips and rub their hands together in anticipation. “Show my friend here a good time.”