Zarek checked all of his pockets, and the only regain was Eva's lacy black thong and the torn 500 dollar bills which he stole from his dad's bedroom right before he did that act with Charlize. Zarek cursed himself for his lack of resources. Even though he was pretty broke before, at least he had a roof atop of his head.

During the few weeks of Zarek's relationship with Charlize and the three years that followed, Zarek feared the moment Theodore found out. His dad was already breathing down his neck and controlling his reckless lifestyle enough, so such a disgrace being revealed would only cause Theodore's grip to tighten and even more punishment. Never did Zarek contemplate the possibility that the result would be Theodore yanking his grip away and offering Zarek the lost freedom.

Theo didn't hit his son or curse at him. He turned away from Zarek as if his mere sight was disgusting and shed a few silent tears, barking the words; "Get out of my property and never come back."

Zarek was thrown into the streets, totally homeless, but all what raged in his mind was the sight of his dad's prickly tears. Zarek knew his dad was sensitive deep inside, but he was also powerful, dominant, and in control. Zarek witnessed his dad cry only once before - at the death of Ophelia, his first love and wife - so Theodore must've really loved Charlize after all, either that or he was extremely disappointed in his only son's treason. However, from the way he didn't even glance at Charlize when he tossed her away and how Theo's voice broke when he said "I can't believe this, my own son?", Zarek knew that he was the only reason for his dad's sharp, electric green eyes to water.

Zarek slid his dark hood over his blond hair, roaming the dull streets of Dessertville that he would've otherwise loved its darkness and quietness, but right now, it felt like it added to the heavy weights of his impulsive actions. The liberty was all what Zarek wanted, but never like this. Zarek broke his dad's heart; the only man that cared for him. Theodore cared about him the same way Zarek cared about Violet, which explained the endless rules and punishments, and by setting him off, Zarek knew that his actions killed all of his dad's love and care toward him. Zarek could understand now, but too bad it took him losing everything to realize what he had - first was his mom, then his dad, and even Evangeline.

Zarek sighed at the thought of Eva, sinking his hand in his pocket and fingering the lacy material of her underwear. Fuck me because I love her, Zarek grunted, finally admitting it to himself. He loved that redheaded beauty with all he had. Before, he allowed himself to fantasize over her for reasons no deeper than lust and physical attraction - who could blame him when the girl was a hot bomb? - and now, he realized that his physical attraction came from somewhere much more meaningful and sentimental - his heart rather than his dick.

What's the point though? Zarek was too blind in his ego game to care about her drifting away from him. He lost her for good, along with every ounce of himself.

Zarek turned around the corner, making his way toward his favorite alley. Zarek didn't know what to do with himself - the torn 500 dollar bills might grant him a few nights in some cheap motel, but then what? Zarek had nowhere to go, nowhere to belong, and that disturbed a few unsettled feelings in his sunken stomach. Zarek had one way to handle those feelings; smoking whatever left of his white teeth, polluted veins, and strangled lungs.

Zarek reached his favorite spot in the entire city and stepped inside, allowing the darkness to engulf him into a judgment-free world for any source of comfort or relief. Zarek was about to fetch himself a much needed cigarette when his sixth sense kicked in - something even worse was going to happen, he could feel it. Zarek's heart throbbed in his ears, adrenaline thumping in his dead veins as he roamed his calculating gaze around in caution.

That was when he caught sight of three familiar guys looking at him in the mouth of his alley, blocking it.

Zarek recognized the three guys as the wannabe blacks who hit on him weeks ago in the school's parking lot right before The Spring Ball. Zarek could detect a hint of smugness and danger radiating off of them, but that was nothing against Zarek's devastated self. If they tried anything with him, then Zarek would love to let out his frustration and guilt by bruising their bones.

"Surprise, he's in his favorite alley," The tanned one with braids, who Zarek remembered was watching gay porn a while back, retorted sarcastically, "What a hard catch."

"Hey, be grateful he made it easy for us," Jerking Off guy chimed, sending a disgusting wink at Zarek.

"He's in an alley and all alone, homies, let's not waste this chance and get this over with quickly." Bandana Guy said, his golden tooth a hideous sight.

As the three guys approached Zarek to attack him for who knew why, Zarek didn't even protest. He was determined on letting his frustration on them before, but that wouldn't be of great help. Zarek messed up big time, and since Theodore didn't do anything to punish him, Zarek felt twice as bad. He didn't fight back because he deserved it. He needed the punishment to redeem his deeds, and maybe those random guys would release him out of his guilt.

Well, that was until Tanned Guy shoved him face flat against the rusty wall, tapped his hands together behind his back, and trailed Zarek's back all the way down to his bum.

Zarek's electric green eyes glared wide open, panic seeping into his pupils. "What the fuck are you doing?" Zarek hissed through gritted teeth, trembling against Tanned Guy who kept him glued against the wall. "Just hit me and get it over with."

"Hit you?" Jerking Off guy chuckled, his filthy fingers running across Zarek's defined cheek and jaw. "We were going to do just that, until a better idea came up."

"We learned that you'd rather die than to be touched by a man," Bandana Guy said, "So that's exactly what we're going to do."

"It's more fun to us than bruising you," Jerking Off guy whispered in Zarek's ear and bit his earlobe, "Trust me, hottie."

All the rage Zarek once felt was replaced by pure fear, the blood freezing in his veins and paralyzing him. Is this how Eva felt in that cafeteria? If so, then Eva was braver than Zarek thought for going through that, she also deserved a fucking apology letter for putting her through so much fear and uncertainty. Zarek had no idea what those perverts might do to him other than rape. Zarek did deserve a punishment but never that. He never raped anyone or allowed it before, so this happening to him was such an unfair move from bitchy Karma.

Zarek still motionless from shock, Jerking Off guy searched his pockets, purposely lingering his hands in forbidden areas. He found the torn bills, Zarek's only money, and gave it to Bandana Guy who must be their leader. Jerking Off guy searched Zarek's other pocket, his hand coming out with Eva's black thong.

"What do we have here?" Jerking Off guy mused, showing off the clothing piece to his remaining two friends. "It's a thong, how convenient!"

Before Zarek could get his shit back together and do something to get himself out of the sticky situation he was in, Bandana Guy snatched the lacy underwear and tied it over Zarek's mouth as gag to shut him up. Zarek though it was unnecessary since he would never scream, he wasn't a pussy. Whatever would happen in this alley tonight would be forgotten the next morning because admitting it was worse than it happening.

There was nothing worse than this that could happen, and maybe this was what Zarek deserved for all of his reckless and selfish actions.

Tanned Guy slipped his hand between Zarek's legs and squeezed his balls over his jeans, making Zarek's lips press together but not once protesting. Just when Zarek accepted his fate, that was when Hunter appeared with a black gun in his hand that made Zarek's mind hazy with wonder, I really don't know Hunter and what he's capable of. A gun? That was so out of league, especially in peaceful little Dessertville.

Hunter pointed his weapon at the three troublemakers, his experienced hand didn't shake which proved that this wasn't the first time aiming it. "Game over," Hunter hissed, grey eyes making the hairs on Zarek's neck stand up despite not addressing him. "Open him loose and step away, or else things won't end up pretty."

"Hey, relax, put that down," Tanned Guy wheezed out like a total pussy, stepping away from Zarek and raising his filthy hands in the air to join the hands of his two friends.

"Yeah," Bandana Guy hollered, quickly untying the tape on Zarek's hands and getting the thong that was dripping with Zarek's saliva out of his mouth. He took a step away, his hands up in the air as well. "We did what you want, no one needs to get hurt."

Zarek unglued his face from the wall, wiping away the few tears he didn't realize he shed. In a burst of complete anger and hatred, Zarek lunged at Hunter and stole his gun. With trembling jaw and shaky hands, he aimed it at the three troublemakers, and immediately, their calm faces dropped knowing that Zarek wouldn't hold back from picking the trigger unlike Hunter.

"Who sent you?" Zarek hissed, his voice ten times deadlier in the eerie atmosphere as he kept shifting the head of the gun between the heads of the filthy rapists.

"Sanderson!" Jerking Off guy rushed, "We didn't want to do this but he said he'll pay us."

"Sanderson?" Zarek repeated, the name failing to ring a bell. "Who the fuck is that?"

"You should ask your friend here," Tanned Guy smirked despite the situation not being in his favor.

Zarek twisted his head around to look at Hunter. "What is he talking about?"

Hunter's grey eyes were cool and composed. "I don't think now's the time-"

Zarek whipped the gun at Hunter's forehead. "Tell me everything right now, Hunter, or I swear on my mother's grave-"

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you." Hunter's grey eyes showed a second of fear before they composed themselves again. "He's my friend, he wanted to send a few guys to jump you at night. I joked around and said that a few tough-looking guys won't do shit to scare, and I mentioned what you said to me, that you'd rather die than to be touched by a man. You have to believe me," Hunter sounded sincere, eyeing the tip of his own gun. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen to you, or else why did I come here with a freaking gun and risk everything? This is all just a joke went wrong."

"A joke?" Zarek barked, "The same one you told me when you suggested I cut Eva's hair?"

"We already talked about that," Hunter said, "Why don't you put that gun down? Or better yet, point it against the right people."

Zarek aimed the deadly weapon back on the troublemakers, making them hold their breaths and Hunter releasing one. "Who the fuck is this guy, and why is he after me?"

"I don't know why Sanderson has some beef with you," Hunter said, his cool nerves having returned to him since the gun was no longer on his head. "It must be serious though, since Sanderson is usually a nice enough guy."

Zarek decided that he didn't care about thid Sanderson guy at the moment. He glared at the horror filled faces of the three troublemakers, his gaze lingering on the Tanned Guy who had a tongue longer than his dick with all that sass. Zarek had a chance to kill them all with Hunter's gun, but something chirped in Zarek's stomach that told him not to.

Zarek was already in a pretty messed up place emotionally and financially, he lost all the people he cared about, he didn't have a place he could call home, and going to jail for killing three souls would definitely be the cherry on top.

In a swift move, Zarek threw the black gun at Hunter and launched at the three guys. They were too slow to see him coming, so Zarek knocked them all off with ease. Once they were on the ground due to Zarek's painful jabs, Zarek continued to step on them and kick their crotches one by one, giving extra force to Tanned Guy who fisted his fucking balls before. Once they were all twisting in pain, Zarek spat on all of their faces and hissed colorful words like motherfucker and bastard and if I hear you did this to anyone else, I'll chop off all of your dicks and feed them to you.

Once Zarek was done emptying his anger, he turned around at Hunter and pointed a threatening finger. "Nothing happened here," Zarek hissed, his electric green eyes supporting a psychotic glint, "If you tell anyone about this, I'll hunt you down and kill you."

"Dude, I just saved your ass." A hint of a smirk danced in Hunter's lips, containing his stupid pun for his life.

Zarek wanted nothing more than punching him till he spits a couple teeth out, but Zarek was too drained for that. He was almost raped - the weights of that was still too heavy for Zarek to grasp - and he just held a gun for the first time, and the scariest part was that he actually wanted to push the trigger.

Dropping out of the scene and running away, Zarek allowed himself to be weak. Once he was far away from the alley, Zarek collapsed on the side of the road with his arms shielding his face. What the fuck just happened? Recalling every little detail, Zarek was getting sick in his stomach. How could he ever keep living with himself knowing that he almost lost his manhood and every bit of his self respect because he was paralyzed like a total pussy, ready to take his fate if Hunter didn't come? How would he ever look back at Hunter when he knew what almost happened to him. Zarek could understand how Trudy felt the night of Hunter's party when Justin almost raped her, and it was horrible. Fuck, he wished he still had that gun on him, maybe then he'd be able to blow his brains out and be in peace at last.

Zarek's eyes were dry, refusing to tear up despite his banging feelings inside, his body was tense, and his mind was consumed with the toxic thoughts that he didn't notice the yellow Lamborghini that parked next to him. Trudy's head peaked out of the window, something too close to pity swirling in her snaky eyes.

Fucking great, this night was officially the worst night of his life.

He'd take the thong before he left, the troublemaker would stuff the little tape back in his pocket or maybe a zip tie

even though nothing of that sort happened to Zarek, i still don't agree to how he handled things. what is it with the society and victims speaking up about rape? it's not like they chose this for themselves. please, offer some understanding, we're all so sick of this judgement.

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this scene was probably harder than Trudy's scene in Hunter's party for some reason. hope i managed to write it the right way. don't hesitate to comment down your thoughts, i'd love to hear from you.

• • •

i just realized that all three of my main characters had near-rape experiences. no one, I repeat no one gets raped in my book.