In Ecstasy by Kate McCaffrey

in a part of town I wasn’t familiar with. As the brightly lit station fell behind us, the dark, shifting shapes of the neighbourhood started to fill me with unease. It was an inner-city suburb with dirty shopfronts covered in graffiti, cracked pavements and derelict houses. At this time of night there were few people out. I tightened my grip on Glenn’s hand.
    â€˜Through here,’ he said, leading me down a narrow alley lit only by the crescent of the moon. I stepped over smashed bottles and rubbish, clear-headed now. The E had worn off, taking with it the last feelings of peacefulness. Now a sense of claustrophobia rose up in my chest. Finally we came out near the banks of the Swan, and in the darkness I heard the soft lapping of water. I breathed deeply, relieved to be out in the open again, and smelled the overwhelming pong of algae.
    â€˜E-w-w,’ I said, grabbing my nose.
    Glenn laughed and dragged me on. ‘I pay higher rent for the luxury of smelling the river.’
    His place was in a stack of apartments, most with their lights off. We walked up the steps and suddenly I wondered what the hell I was doing. I clutched my bag tighter, fighting off a sense of panic. I didn’t know Glenn, I didn’t know him at all. But he was opening the door and as I stood on the threshold I reminded myself he was Lewis Scott’s friend. It’d be okay.
    Inside, party lights flashed and to my surprise there were a couple of guys sitting on the sofa.
    â€˜Hey,’ one of them said, looking up with an apathetic expression.
    â€˜Hey,’ I said, smiling to hide my sudden rush of nerves.
    â€˜Want a drink?’ Glenn asked, unscrewing the cap of a bourbon bottle.
    â€˜Nah.’ I shifted nervously on the doorstep. ‘I really should get going, you know.’
    â€˜I’ll get my keys. Here, you must be thirsty,’ Glenn handed me a bourbon and coke. ‘I’ll just be a sec.’
    I held the glass in my hands, suddenly realising I was thirsty. I told myself to relax. I wasn’t sure what the vibe was, but there was no need to panic. So I sat on the edge of the sofa and tried to make conversation, but the guys weren’t very forthcoming. They seemed pretty out of it. I sipped the bourbon as I waited for Glenn to get his keys.
    A strange feeling had begun to creep through my body. My head felt fuzzy. I didn’t want to drink any more. I craned my head around to look for Glenn. He seemed to have been gone a very long time.
    My eyes snapped open as the back of my head hit the wall. Glenn was holding me against it, his breath hot in my face, his tongue shoved wetly into my mouth. I recoiled. I couldn’t keep my eyes open even though each time he hoisted me up my head thudded against the wall.
    I tried to speak, but words wouldn’t come out.
    â€˜C’mon, Soph,’ Glenn was biting my neck and his hands were under my top. He grabbed my breasts painfully and I screamed. I tried to push him off but I was too weak. My arms flopped uselessly. My head was swimming. My vision was cloudy. Everything was grey. I needed control. I didn’t know what was happening.
    Next time I opened my eyes I was on the floor, looking at the foot of a bed. I sat up slowly. My neck ached painfully. A plastic wrapper was stuck to my cheek. It rustled, but I couldn’t move it. I grabbed the bed and pulled myself up. It was a tangle of filthy sheets. I was alone. There was the taste of blood in my mouth. My heart was racing. I stood up and had to grab the wall for support. My head swam and my breath was coming in shallow gasps. I was filled with overwhelming terror. I had no idea what had happened. I felt my body. I was fully dressed. My shoes were still on.
    I staggered to the door and peered into the other room. Glenn and one of the other guys were sitting on the couch, facing away from me. They couldn’t see me. Fear made my body shake violently. I clamped my teeth together