Music in the Night (Logan 4)

"I just wanted to see the stars," I said. I started to stand and he stepped toward me, flicked his cigarette, and continued to move until he was between me and the building.

"Tell me how you got out," he demanded.

"I just found a door that wasn't locked and walked out," I said. He was close enough so that I could see his eyes narrow suspiciously.

"Just found a door, huh? Are you sure you didn't come out here to meet someone? Huh? Someone named Arnie by any chance?"

"What? Who?" I said, shaking my head.

"Arnie's had his eye on you."

"I'm not meeting anyone. I don't even know who Arnie is," I insisted and tried to go around him, but he stepped quickly into my path.

"I know how you young girls can get, locked up like this, away from your boyfriends," he continued, drawing closer. I retreated a few steps. "Arnie's a joke. I know how to treat my girls." The right corner of his mouth rose into an impish, lusty smile.

He reached out and put his hands on my waist.

"Let me show you," he said, pulling me toward him and bringing his lips toward my mouth. I turned away just in time and started to struggle as his hands moved over my ribs toward my breasts.

"Let me go!"

"Come on. There's nothing really wrong with you," he said, trying to get me to turn my mouth to his. "You're the prettiest girl here. I've been watching you ever since you arrived here, and I know you've been looking at me, too. Come on," he urged, cupping my breast with one hand while the other lifted my skirt.

I squirmed and struggled.

"If you don't cooperate, I'll turn you in," he threatened. "I'll get you and whoever helped you into big trouble. You'll end up in a straitjacket like Megan. Stop fighting," he insisted. "Stop it!"

I was afraid so I stopped squirming and his hand moved up my leg, over my panties, his fingers tracing the trim along the edge and then he lifted them away. I sobbed as he ran his fingers over me.

"You're sweet," he said, putting the tip of his tongue in my ear.

"Please," I pleaded.

"I'm not going to hurt you. You'll like this," he said, moving me back to the bench. I could sense he was undoing his trousers with his left hand as his right continued to move over my breast and then moved to undo the buttons of my blouse, Slipping in to struggle with my bra.

"You're beautiful, so beautiful," he muttered.

I started to cry and to pull away again.

"Laura, don't make me angry," he said, stopping my resistance.

Suddenly, both of his hands were under my skirt. He pulled my panties down as he nudged me onto the bench. I was afraid to scream. I thought I would faint and then . . . someone whispered my name. Although the voice wasn't loud, it was close.

"Laura!" Billy froze, still holding his hands on my thighs. "Laura, you better come back inside." "Who the hell's that? Lawrence?"

"Let me go," I said, pulling free and stepping away from him. I pulled up my panties quickly.

"LAURA!"

"Get out of my way," I told Billy. He thought a moment, looked toward the building, and then let me pass.

"You tell anyone about me and I'll tell about you," Billy cried as I ran toward the kitchen doorway. Lawrence was standing there with the door open. I ran toward him.

"What's wrong?" He looked at me aghast, jumping back as I pushed him out of the way and slammed the door.

"Let's get back to the rec room," I said. I didn't want him knowing about Billy and doing anything rash. It would only get him in trouble, I thought. It struck me that even in her madness, Megan might not have been so wrong about some of the men in this place.

Lawrence caught up with me outside the cafeteria and seized my hand, turning me back to him.