Red Skull Initiative - Chapter 1

Seven years I had been living in this town. In seven years I had built a life for myself - friends, a job, a home. All it took was one night for it to be destroyed.

After leaving my old job, I moved to Sheffield. It was big enough to get lost in but small enough to find your way again. I lived on the outskirts of the city centre in a reasonably sized one bed flat, perfect for just me. I moved with just the basics, but over time I'd filled it with everything that made it a home; dvds, books and photos.

Around my flat were scattered many drunken photos with the people I counted as my friends. I hadn't been in contact with my family since I was 18, when told them I was leaving for a career with the military, and so there were no reminders of them around my flat. Instead, wherever there were gaps on shelves, photos of friends filled them. I was lucky enough to get a job in a quiet office as a secretary and got on well with the handful of other people who worked there. We often went out on a Friday night, and all got pretty close. As my flat was the closest to the city centre, I would find myself stepping over the drunken bodies that scattered my floor when I got up for my early morning run.

As much as my military past hung over me like a bad smell, it had drummed strict routine into me. At 6am every morning, rain or shine, I pulled on my trainers to pound two miles of tarmac around my home. The weekend runs were the best, they cleared my mind of the alcohol fog and focused my mind for the rest of the day. Seeing numerous women do the walk of shame made me feel better about myself and always put my day off to a good start.

This day, a Saturday, started the same way. When 6am came around, I pulled myself from my bed. Apparently I'd had more to drink than I thought - my head pounded and my feet refused to move in a straight line. I stumbled towards my bathroom and caught my reflection in the mirror. Last night's make-up had smudged down my face and my hair was a mess. It was always a sign of a messy night when my hair resembled more of a bird's nest than actual hair. Sighing, I pulled my long, dark hair back into a bun and scrubbed the make-up from my face. After changing into my running gear, I tiptoed through my living room, carefully stepping over the quietly snoring bodies of Louise and Mary. Gareth was splayed across my sofa with, for some unknown reason, his shirt tied around his head. All three of them worked in my office and were bad influences on me. Judging by the aching behind my eyes, last night they were incredibly bad!

I knew none of them would wake up while I was out, but I still wrote them a note explaining where I went, anyway. The thought crossed my mind to stick it to Gareth's forehead, but I resisted the urge and stuck it to my TV screen instead. Picking up my keys, wallet and MP3 Player from the side, I stumbled down the stairs and into the warm rays of the early morning sun. Putting my headphones in my ears, I pounded the pavement to my Thirty Seconds to Mars, letting the fresh air clear my lungs and head. As I turned back onto the road where my flat was, I stopped in the local café. I stopped there from time to time, usually when I was feeling particularly rough and today was one of those days.

“Jeez Abi! Don't you ever have a lie in?” Laughed Nathan. He ran the café and had got used to seeing my face appear at his door soon after opening time. He was just putting out the A-Board when I stopped outside.

“You know me Nath, I always stick to my routine!” I smiled. I liked Nathan, he was a lovely guy and was always willing to help me out, plus it helped to know a café owner – free cakes. Jogging on the spot, we had a quick conversation before he went inside and got me four coffees. I reached to get my wallet but he held out his hand.

“Don't worry about it Ab, you've paid for so many you deserve some freebies!” He grinned. I don't know how he did it but he was always smiling. I took the tray from him and smiled back, thanking him. I walked back to my flat and quietly started tidying around the drunken bums. I soon settled in the kitchen, flicking through the paper and enjoying my coffee. At about nine o'clock I started to hear some movement. Gareth was slowly stirring from the sofa, “What the..? Why do I have..? Oww...” I heard him muttering.

He stumbled into the kitchen rubbing his forehead. Leaning on the work surface he let out a massive groan, sounding more like a Wookie rather than a human. “I don't think my head has ever hurt so much in my life.” I placed the coffee on the side in front of him, letting the smell slowly waft towards him. He suddenly sat up and looked at me.

“You!” he exclaimed, leaning forward and kissing my cheek, “You are the best person that ever lived!” With that exclamation, the other two sleeping dead awoke with a zombie like moans.

“Do you really have to be that loud? Some of us have the mother of all hangovers!” said Mary sitting bolt up right but not opening her eyes. She slowly lowered herself back onto the floor muttering curse words under her breath. It took until midday to have Louise and Mary in a fairly human state. We were all sitting round my kitchen table when the discussion turned to what we were going to do that night.

“We have to go out tonight, it's my birthday!” Said Louise.

“Yeah come on, we can't let her down.” Supported Mary. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get out of this. Gareth nudged my elbow and winked at me. I rolled my eyes at the trio.

“Fine! But if I suffer for it, I'm blaming you!” I laughed. How I would regret uttering those simple words.

That night I put on a fresh layer of make-up and pulled on my short purple dress I kept for special occasions. They'd decided to go for all out glamour for Louise's birthday and so I had no way of getting out of wearing a dress. I smoothed it down as I looked at myself in the mirror. After years in the military, I felt more comfortable in jeans and t-shirt rather than a dress but I could put up with it for one night.

As I was putting on my heels, my doorbell rang. I staggered down the stairs and opened the door to a suited and booted Gareth – complete with top hat. I burst out laughing.

“There is not a chance in hell I am going out with you in a damn top hat!” I laughed. I grabbed it from his head and threw it into the road. Pulling him inside, I slammed the door to make sure he wouldn't go running after it. I pushed him towards the stairs as he gave a disgruntled groan. Moments later, Mary and Louise were rapping on the door.

“Did we just see you throw Gareth's hat in the road?” Mary asked

“Who cares!” shouted Louise, “It's my birthday! I have wine! I will get drunk!” She pushed past Mary and I into my flat.

Several hours later we stumbled from a bar, which one I have no idea. We'd been drinking solidly since the trio had returned to my flat, but lucky for me they were so drunk they didn't notice when I stopped taking shots. Mary and Louise were draped around two guys who'd been buying them drinks, while Gareth was lip-locked with a small blonde woman. I knew this was the cue to leave.

“Guys, I'm off. Don't do anything I wouldn't!” I called after them. I got a brief wave from Mary and Louise and started wandering off in the direction of my home.

“Hang on!” Gareth called after me. He'd detached himself from the blonde and was chasing after me. “I'll walk you home.” He grinned.

“No, don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Go enjoy your blonde.” I smiled at him and kissed his cheek. I watched him as he walked back to the blonde before heading back towards my home. I filled my lungs with the warm summer night air, letting it clear my mind. In a few hours time I would be getting back up to go for my run. As much as I knew my body with love to have a lie in, I couldn't stop the routine now.

I was less than 100 yards from my home, just by Nathan's café, when I felt a hand fall on my right shoulder and find its way to the back of my neck. “Hello sweetheart.” I felt his clammy breath on the back of my ear. Shivers slipped down my spine as his other hand closed round my waist, pushing me forward into the wall. I wishfully hoped he was just going to take my bag. It may have contained my phone and wallet but they were replaceable. Instead, his hand closed around my throat while the other found its way to my thigh, pulling up the hem of my dress.

I closed my eyes, controlling my breathing as his fingers climbed higher. “I'm going to enjoy this.” He breathed. My limbs moved into action without my thoughts becoming clear. I grabbed his right arm and used my weight to swing my attacker round. As I did his hand tightened around my throat making it more difficult to breath. Kicking off my shoes I dropped a couple of inches, using the momentum to throw him over my shoulders. Scrambling quickly to his feet, I kicked out connecting only with his sweaty palms. Pulling me off balance, I fell face first into the pavement. I felt my nose crack and warm blood spill down my lips. I still felt his hand on my leg. Turning over, my heel connected with his face sending it flying backwards. “Fucking bitch!” he spat. He reached higher grabbing my dress pulling me closer to him, tearing the material against my back.

With his hand still wrapped in the fabric of my dress, he pulled me from the ground. He threw me back against the window of the café making it smash. A pained cry escaped my lips as I landed on my back in a sea of glass shards. I felt the warm sticky feeling of blood seeping down my leg. His hand scrunched into the front of my dress, pulling my chest from the ground

Seeing his free hand twitch, I knew what was going to happen next. His fist clipped my jaw, but my reactions were fast enough to catch his arm. Using the heel of my hand, I pushed against his elbow until there was a sickening crunch. His arm hung loose as I linked my ankles behind his back, shifting our positions so he was below me. With my adrenaline pumping, my fist struck his jaw sending his head smashing into the ground. He reached up with his non-broken arm, his fingers closing around my throat. I continued pummelling at his face until I started seeing black spots in my eyes from the lack of air. I reached out, grabbing his hair in my fist. As my eyes fell deeper into the black, I lifted his head, smashing it back down over and over until I felt his grip go loose. Oxygen flooded back through my lungs, letting me regain my sight.

I looked down at my attacker. I could still feel his greasy hands on my thigh, his slimy breath on my neck. He was no more than 30, light stubble across his chin, nothing important. His features were now distorted, blood splattered every inch of his face, purple swelling rimmed his eyes, his jaw knocked out of place. I scrambled backwards onto my feet seeing blood pooling around him like a bloody halo.

I stumbled from the scene, clambering through my front door. My heart rate was erratic, but my breathing perfectly calm. I kicked off my shoes and rushed up the stairs. I pulled at the rags that was my dress, letting the fabric fall to the ground. I fell into my bathroom and made myself look at my reflection. Unwillingly, tears fell from my eyes, splashing into the sink. I was bleeding and bruised. Dark circles were forming beneath my eyes where my nose had been broken, blood still dripping onto my lips. With shaking hands I touched where his fist had hit my jaw, I winced in pain. I turned to view my back. It was speckled with blood and stones from where I had been dragged along the coarse asphalt. The laceration in my leg was still seeping warm blood. I fell to my knees still shaking. I knew I had no choice.