Mark took her to his apartment, which was very black and white and organized. Ava was dismayed. She’d hoped their “romantic date” would have been at a restaurant and not at his apartment.

“I made us lasagna,” he said, as Ava put her bag down on his black, leather couch.

“You know I don’t eat meat,” she said, suddenly scared she was going to have to eat a being that had once had a face. There was no way that was happening.

Mark smiled.

“It’s spinach lasagna.”

“Oh good.” Ava pulled snarls out of her hair with her fingers. She hated Mark’s stupid jeep. Why was she even here?

Mark lit a white candle on his glass kitchen table and dimmed the lights.

“Care for some wine?” he asked.

Discomfort filled Ava. She didn’t drink, but also felt really uncomfortable, so she nodded.

“Mind if I go outside and smoke quick?” she asked, suddenly wanting to escape Mark and his sly grin as he filled up a stemless wine glass for her—blood red, like what her parents had been drinking.

“Of course,” he said. “I’ll set the table for us.”

Ava grabbed her lighter, cigarettes and phone and went outside, where it was dark and cool, with the earthy scent of dried leaves and fall, a pleasant aroma she liked. She sat down on the step and sighed. She didn’t know why she was even with Mark. They’d kissed and made out twice, and both times he was a slobbery, awful kisser, and his erection pressed up against her leg last time had made her freak out so much she’d pretended she was sick so he’d take her home. She hadn’t wanted to touch it, but that’s where his hand had led her the first time. Ava took out a cigarette and lit it, end glowing a bright orange, like the autumn leaves outside. She inhaled deeply and exhaled and watched the smoke trail up into the night sky. She couldn’t see the stars. Too many city lights. Ava texted Elizabeth.

Help me. He took me to his apartment and is giving me wine.

Oh no. LOL. Do you need me to come and rescue you?

Please! Just kidding. This is seriously awful though.

You’ll be okay. Just make sure you use a condom.

Ava shuddered.

Not funny.

Seriously, hon, be careful. And if you really do need me to come rescue you I’ll be right over. Just say Elizabeth is having a serious emergency. Or say your mom is in the hospital. Use some excuse.

Okay.

Ava finished the rest of her cigarette and put it out on the step. She sighed as she stood up, not looking forward to going back in and seeing that sly look on Mark’s chubby face. She texted Elizabeth.

Alright. Going back in.

Good luck!

Thanks.

Back inside Ava was met with the smell of roses mixed with lasagna and garlic bread. Mark had turned on some jazz music that played softly in the background. Ava put her cigarettes, lighter and phone away. A huge lasagna sat on the table with a bowl of garlic bread next to it. The table was set, and the blood red liquid in the wine glasses glittered in the glow from the candle. Mark handed her a full wine glass, and Ava took a sip. It was sweet and actually good. Must be sangria or something. It warmed her stomach. She took a gulp. Mark led her to the table.

“Care for a seat, madam?” he asked, pulling out the chair for her, and Ava sat down.

Mark sat across from her.

Ava realized the only thing she’d eaten all day was a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.

“This is… nice,” she said. “Thanks for having me over. It’s very sweet of you.”

Mark grinned. He had crooked teeth. The dancing candle flame twinkled in his eyes.

“You’re welcome. Figured I would show you my place,” he said.

“I like it.” Ava drank more wine and was appalled to find she’d drank the whole glass. She felt lightheaded and dizzy.

“Care for more wine?”

“Um… sure,” Ava said, happy he hadn’t cut into the lasagna yet. Stress always made her lose her appetite, and Ava was stressed out. She yanked out a knot in her hair. She stared at the dancing candle flame as Mark got her more wine. The candle scent was rose petals and hemp. Ava read that on the side of the glass jar it was in. She realized she was getting hot and couldn’t remember if she’d put deodorant on. She hoped she’d had.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Mark returned with her wine.

Ava hadn’t watched him pour it.

She took a sip—sweet like before.

“Is this sangria?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Mark, cutting into the lasagna, and the scent of it was nauseating to Ava. “Do you like it?”

“Sure,” said Ava, drinking some. “It’s good."

Mark slapped a large piece of lasagna on her plate. He put some on his own plate. It looked disgusting. Ava giggled.

“Something funny?” asked Mark, smiling again. Ava wished he would stop smiling. She wanted to kick that smile off his fat face. She drank the rest of her wine. She picked at what she assumed was a piece of mozzarella cheese on her plate. It wasn’t appetizing at all.

“Sorry,” she said, appalled she had just giggled, but suddenly this whole unfortunate situation seemed ridiculous and hilarious. She coughed so she wouldn’t laugh again. She thought maybe she should eat some bread since the room had started spinning. This was the first time she’d ever had a sip of alcohol in her entire life, and besides feeling giggly and lightheaded she liked the feeling. Suddenly she didn’t give a shit that she was here. Though why, exactly, she was here she didn’t know. She wanted to be hanging out with Elizabeth.

“That’s okay. Let me get you some more wine,” said Mark.

Ava bit into a piece of bread. It was buttery and garlicky and she crunched down on it.

She should text Elizabeth to come get her and leave.

Mark set the wine down on the table, and Ava drank some of it. Her vision was starting to become blurry, and she squinted at Mark.

“Wow,” she said, giggling again. “Now I know why my parents like to drink so much.”

“Are you okay?” asked Mark, that sly smile coming back.

“I don’t feel good,” Ava lied. “I think I need you to take me home.” She set the bread down on her plate and drank the rest of her third glass of wine.

“Oh no. Are you gonna spew? Let me show you my bedroom. Maybe you just need to lay down.” Mark got up.

“No!” Ava said. She absolutely did not want to see Mark’s bedroom. That was the last place she wanted to see, but when she stood up the dizziness hit her hard core and she fell to her knees, giggling like a fucking buffoon again. What was wrong with her?

“Up you go,” said Mark, grabbing her under her armpits and lifting her to her feet. She leaned against him because she had no choice. “This is not the way you act during a romantic dinner.”

Ava was surprised he didn’t smell.

“Come on,” he said, “lets lay down.”

He pulled her along with him as they walked down a narrow hallway, to the dreaded bedroom that Ava did not want to see, but whenever she tried to walk she crumbled to her knees and began giggling again. Why was she giggling so much? And why wasn’t Mark taking her home?

“I want to go home,” she managed to say, as he half dragged her into a dark room. He didn’t turn on the lights.

“Not the way you are right now,” said Mark, laying her down on his neatly made bed. The streetlights illuminated his barren, clean room, through a slit in the blinds. The room spun around Ava. What had been in that wine? She couldn’t move as Mark went on top of her, his weight nearly crushing her. She felt his erection through his cargo shorts, and panic filled her, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

“No!” she said.

“When a girl says no she means yes,” said Mark, rubbing against her harder. He mashed his lips against hers and began kissing her, and his mouth tasted like garlic. He put his hand under her shirt and grabbed one of her boobs, squeezing hard, and it hurt. Ava struggled against him. She turned her head to the side, to get away from his mouth, and he kissed the side of her face.

“I want to go home,” she gasped.

“Not in this condition. What would your parents think of me?”

Ava felt like she was in a nightmare, like the nightmare she’d had of the demon clawing its way out of her body, except she wasn’t floating above the bed. She was here, in this moment. Mark chuckled, and Ava wanted to punch him in the face, but she couldn’t move as his hand went up her skirt, and then everything went black. When things cleared she was confused at first, but then appalled to realize she was fully naked and Mark was on top of her, rubbing something on her face, and she gasped when she realized it was his dick.

“No,” she said.

“Yes,” he said, moving his way down her body.

Where were her clothes? When had they come off?

He kneed her legs apart and it hurt so bad when he entered her she yelped in pain.

“Stop!”

“When a girl says stop, she means go,” Mark said, thrusting himself in deeper and making Ava groan. “Oh, you’re so tight.”

She moaned in pain as he had sex with her, and he covered her mouth with his hands.

“Shh,” he whispered in her ear. “What will the neighbors think?” He put a pillow over her face and Ava couldn’t breathe. Make sure you wear a condom. That was what Elizabeth had said. She needed her phone. She needed Elizabeth to come and rescue her!

Blackness again, and Mark’s wet dick was pressed against her face, rubbing it all over. He groaned as he came, his cum getting all over her eyes and cheeks. Apparently finished he moved to the side and laid down heavily beside her. His dick was purple and narrow and glistened in the light from the streetlights. Ava gasped in air and frantically wiped the cum off her face. It was sticky and reminded her of cream of pee. It was disgusting and she felt herself gagging. She wanted her clothes. She wanted to leave.

He heaved as he turned on his side and smiled at her, his crooked teeth ghostly yellow.

“That was good,” he said.

Ava didn’t say anything.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Ava wanted that more than anything. She felt shaky and violated and she hurt down there, and sudden fury filled her. How dare he do this to her!

“Now that’s how you act during a romantic dinner,” he said, helping her off the bed.

“Where are my clothes?” she asked.

“Let’s get your face cleaned off first. I want to see you naked in the light.”

Ava did not want him to see her naked in the light, but her legs trembled as she stood, and Mark had to catch her from falling.

“Easy,” he said.

The bathroom was all bright light and tiles. Ava sat on the toilet as Mark cleaned off her face with some toilet paper.

“Oh, you’re so hot,” he said.

Ava tried not to look at his shrinking dick and shrunken hairy ball sack as he turned away from her, but she couldn’t stop herself, and bile filled her throat. She thought she was going to puke.

She took karate all through middle school and part of high school.

“How dare you!” she managed to snarl, and she stood, stumbling a little, and kicked him in the crotch.

He moaned in pain and crumbled to the floor, clutching his injured genitalia.

“You fucking cunt,” he hissed.

Panicked, Ava raced around him and went to the bedroom. Luckily she found all her clothes in one neat stack, next to her toppled over boots. She felt something wet down there, and when she pulled her hand away realized it was blood. She was sore, the room still spun, and she still felt sick. She got dressed and put on her boots.

“Come back here you slut!” Mark called after her as she ran down his narrow hallway. She grabbed her bag off the couch and noticed, vaguely, that the rose and hemp scented candle was much lower, and she wondered what time it was.