CIRCO

by Tara Ellis

Timsley sat at the back of the club. He had his eyes on her when she walked in. The woman that had the nerve to deny him. He promised himself he was going to suppress the appetite tonight. But when he saw Selena Santana again he felt the hunger take over. His penis had taken over his thought process and it was in control. He was waiting for the perfect timing, like a coiled snake ready for the strike.

  He figured Selena and that pussy juggler arrived at different times so they must had different rides. As she walked back to the bar he watched her buttocks; that ripe apple bottom dancing in tight jeans as she sat back down with Andre.

  “You know,” said Vanessa. “I think I’m going to head on out.”

  “It’s all right, I don’t care,” said Andre

  “Thanks.” She then tried to walk away but Andre stopped her.

  “No wait. I meant I don’t care that you are pretending.”

  “What?”

  “I’m not stupid. I figured something was off about you. And I’m saying it’s all right, I don’t care.”

  She was stunned. She felt trapped in one of those awkward social moments when you literally don’t know what to say or do.

  “You’re cool to be around. Whether this is the real you or not.”

  Vanessa or Selena or whoever the girl wanted to be sat back down. She was so confused that he came at her like that. She figured he meant well, but she wondered about her own façade.

  “Whoever you truly are or were, Joyce seems to really like you. But I think you are a bit of a cliché though. Running off and joining the circus?”

  Vanessa smiled, it was a nervous one but it felt right to do then.

  “I’ll keep your secret. I hope you told your boyfriend already. He has a temper.”

  Vanessa picked up her drink and took a sip from the straw. Andre saw her make a sour face, he figured she normally didn’t drink.

  “Since we’re talking secrets,” she said. “What is up with you and Freddy?”

  “He never told you?”

  “I never asked him. I’m asking you.”

  “You want the long version or the short?”

  “Whichever you think is best.”

  “Freddy,” he started to say; he then picked up, looking into his empty glass. “I don’t know what you see in the guy, but to me he is one of those socially awkward kids everyone teased in high school. But just the adult version. It’s like…” He paused. “Oh god, how can I explain this… without making me the bad guy?” He said to himself, but loud enough for Vanessa to hear.

  “Maybe you are.”

  “You know what, I am.” He then looked at her. She could see the change of emotion in his face. “I used to be a bully. I was relentless to Freddy. Until one day he showed me that I wasn’t so tuff.”

  He gave a slight look to her; is that enough for you? And she responded by giving a nod with her head. He didn’t want to go any further with the conversation.

  “Don’t feel bad Andre.” Vanessa touched his arm. “I didn’t like who I was a few weeks ago. I grew up being one of those socially awkward kids. I feared what people thought of me. So now… I am trying to be someone else. Probably just to see what it’s like to fit in. Or seeing if I do fit in somewhere.”

  “You don’t seem like the girl anybody picks on.”

  “You only know Selena Santana.”

  It was later into the night, a quarter past twelve. Vanessa had one and a half glasses of Long Island Ice teas and was completely under the influence of the drink. Andre had never seen somebody drink so little and get that drunk. She was sloppy. He had the poor girl leaning onto him for support. Her arms were wrapped around Andre while she hummed Disney classics. He checked his watch.

  “I’m going to call for a ride. It’s time for us to go,” said Andre. He walked outside the doors and waited for a Rolls Royce to pull up.

  Vanessa was left a drunken mess at the bar. She was childlike the way she would fidget around on the barstool. The bartender tried to ignore her, he was the seen it all done it all type. After he saw Vanessa rest her head down, taking a nap, he lost interest. He didn’t even notice the redheaded stocky fellow that carried her away.

  The Rolls Royce pulled up onto the curb, he told the driver that he was going to get his friend. Andre walked back in with his head looking left and right, she was nowhere in sight. He asked the bartender, he told him that he didn’t see her leave. He tried the women’s bathroom. Andre of course wasn’t going to waltz in there, he asked a lady if she could spot her, he gave her the description tall, brown skin woman, long black hair in a ponytail. When he had no luck there, his stomach twisted into a knot.

  He carried her out through the side entrance of the bar. No one stopped or questioned why he had a lifeless girl in his arms. But a few patrons inexplicable gave a cheer as he carried her through the door.

  They went into the parking lot, only occupied by cars. Not a single witness was there. He threw her into the back seat of Shelby. Artemis’s car, which he let him borrow for the stay in Atlanta.

  He never had done anything like this. Having sex with a woman passed out completely. He picked up drunken ladies before, but they were coherent enough to agree to sex. But this time he knew it was rape. And he figured this little cunt deserved any punishment he could dish out. The power he had over the wisp of woman in front of him made him feel like god.

  He unzipped her pants which triggered a slight moan from the girl. He traced his fingers on her Adonis line. The lights from the parking lot put a glimmer in his eyes. He smiled, he knew this was going to be a night he would never forget. His mind kept playing tricks with him trying to justify his actions. Phrases kept repeating in his head. She likes it. Get it deep down in her. She wants it. Show her what she missed out the first time. She practically is begging for it.

  He worked her shirt from over her head. Vanessa slowly started to come back from slumber. She was adjusting to the scene she was in. Still at first totally confused. She couldn’t feel her shirt off her back. She wasn’t aware that her pants were unzipped. But the reason she screamed was because of his face. He slammed his palm against her mouth, muzzling her noise. He looked around seeing if anybody could have heard. Still he didn’t see anyone in sight. He felt the teeth crunch on his hand. He jerked his hand away, and then sent it slapping right back.

  “You selfish little bitch,” he started. “You’re the reason why you’re here!”

  He held her down by her hair and pushed her jaw down. He silenced her scream by shoving his tongue in her mouth. He came back up for air then unzipped his pants.

  She saw her opportunity. She sent her feet into Timsley’s chest, using every last force in her existence to push him away. His back shattering the window. Vanessa gave him another swipe with her foot to his face. His nose gushed blood on impact. Timsley then grabbed her by the legs and shouted “I’m going to fucking kill you!”

  The door to Timsley’s back swung upon and the pervert was yanked out. Vanessa saw her attacker on the ground while Andre stood above him with clenched fists.

  At that moment within the victim logic had seized and rage consumed her entire being. Her only thought process was of vengeance. The trauma of the situation had switched her mind into attack mode.

  Andre looked into the back seat seeing the young girl with a blazing hatred. The way her eyes burned in the lights of the parking lot seemed like cherries had replaced them.

  She hopped out the car and jumped onto her attacker. She sent her fists crashing down on his already gushing broken nose. She screamed like an animal as she swung her limbs inflicting damage. For Andre the line of victimizer and victim were blurred, he grabbed her trying to pull her away. She then sent her foot directly into Timsley’s Adam’s apple. Then Andre found the strength to pull her off of him.

  All that was left in the parking lot
was a man, shattered, literally having his pride beaten out of him. He stayed on his back on the cold asphalt watching his breath escape from him in tiny puffs. His own defeat was sinking into him. A predator destroyed by his own prey. He knew what he had done was irreversible; from this point on he knew his life was never going to be the same. Timsley asked himself if he was ready to leave this world as a red puddle blossomed around his head.

  Aftermath