Melanie was so scared, angry and worried at the same time. Her heart couldn't have been beating less than a million times per minute. Her own sweat stung her eyes as she searched the wild, but she did not care.

"Melanie." She heard his distressed call again and she stopped to listen. Fingers folded into a lethal fist, she was ready to fight any power to rescue her 'gentle-man in distress.'

She was supposed to meet Jake on the hill. It was there thing now, go into the wild and have themselves all to themselves alone. It was meant to be an adventure-less day, boring even; they were meant to sit and talk and maybe drink some beer from a cooler and watch funny dancing cats' videos online, but when she arrived at the agreed spot, she found him not. Only Jake's SUV stood with doors ajar, and worse, she could hear him from somewhere she couldn't locate as his screams and cries bounced off the hills and into her ears. He sounded tortured, perhaps a bear had him under its paw and that was hopefully not the best case scenario.

"Jake! Jake!" She shouted his name relentlessly, but when he replied, all he cried out was; "HELP!"

Melanie ran in all directions, fearful of the worst, afraid of something worse than a bear, something she could not quite handle. She prayed she was wrong as she ran into bushes and squeezed through them, gaining small cuts and bruises and green slaps on her face.

Jake's cries grew louder and louder in the direction she took, until finally she found him tied down to a big tree with huge grey duct tapes. Anxious and happy at the same time, she rushed to him and began to untie him, or at least, she tried to as she pulled on the strong elastic.

"What the hell happened to you, huh?" She questioned him whilst envisioning a scenario where he got robbed and the miscreants tied him up before escaping with his valuables. But Jake began to laugh, his tone sinister and mocking like something that must have been thought to him by only the devil himself. She felt chills go down her spine and instantly she became afraid, but she did not know what for. She searched his face to realize some stupid joke, but nothing from that sinister grin gave her hope. His lips pulled wider, arching unnaturally high toward his cheek bones and that was when he saw his eyes, his psychopathic eyes and realized her mistake: This was not Jake, this was someone else with his face, and she was in big trouble.

The person with Jake's face began to cackle, his voice loud and resounding so that it seemed to echo within her skull. First her fingers froze and untangled from the duct tape, then slowly, seized by terror, she straightened from where she squatted before him and began to draw away from him, backwards over the grass that crumpled under her heels. But as she drew away, his cackle grew louder in her head, sounding more and more crazed as it began to pound her skull, and her heartbeat rose in rhythm, pounding her chest.

What is going on? She feared, before her feet froze.

She had heard a twig break under someone's weight and it was not hers. Someone was standing behind her, someone that was not standing there before. She spun quickly, and behind her was standing, not someone, but some people. Three men had stood, two among them, behind a grinning cat mask. The cat had red whiskers, and that may have been the reason why the look of it instilled another stage of fear in her. One of them, the one not wearing a mask was Jake, and on his face was a sad smile, the same sort of smile that had melted her heart now promised her horror.

"I'm so sorry, Mel'." He said to her and shook his head. "I didn't mean for it to end this way."

Melanie did not know what he meant and may have attempted to understand if she had the chance, but she didn't. The two men had pulled out fine daggers from somewhere and the silver reflected light rays into her eyes. A feeling of de ja vu came upon her and with it came an adrenaline rush with the instinct to turn around and run, but when she spun . . . the guy that had been tied down now stood before her with his own dagger now raised high above her, and so between them, she was stuck.

"What is going on?" She was going to ask, but before allowing her to finish, the man brought down his arm with full swing and the dagger entered her chest. Startled by it, she stopped and allowed her gaze to fall on the weapon which had dug into her chest and spilled her blood like a tap. That was when she sprang up from her bed, panting and holding her chest.

She was having a nightmare and it had involved Jake on the offensive side. That was the norm of her night ever since they were 'officially' dating. She took her phone and checked for time and it was too early to rise. So she took steady breaths and went back to bed.

-

Creak!

Melanie heard the unmistakable creak her room floor made whenever stepped on. It woke her up from sleep early that morning and she opened her eyes to find her door slightly ajar. She sighed. She must have locked that door before going to bed the past night, but well, she was unsure.

She sighed tiredly and struggled to keep her eyelids open as she got on her feet, slouched slightly. Yes, it was morning but that didn't mean she had to be up and about her day, therefore she would shut that door, return under her duvet and shut her eyes. It was one of those days –the worst one of those days – that she did not look forward to because of the extra awkwardness that came with it.

Mom and Junior would shriek, "Happy birthday!" and make some more noise that would make her head hurt. It was her birthday, but each time it was, her family was usually far more enthusiastic about it to an extent that made her wonder whose birthday it really was.

She imagined the annoying hugs and Junior's big grin and the tendency that Jake, 'her boyfriend', would be so extra, and to that thought did she slam the door shut with a loud bang.

A shadow.

A blurry shadow appeared on the closed door and it was not hers. It was bigger than hers and it moved when she didn't and Melanie was alarmed. Last time someone was in her room at this hour it was a dream, this one didn't feel like it.

Her eyes flew open and alert and she balled her fingers to form a fist. A deep breath was followed by a quick left jab on the jaw of the unidentified intruder. It landed squarely and effectively as the person staggered back.

"Oh My God!" Jake's voice came muffled and pained with groans.

"Jake." Melanie could now recognize his fine boyish silhouette. And she had to admit that she was not entirely shocked to realize it was him. "I'm so sorry." She said, moving to him, holding him.

Jake cursed, holding his mouth and even though muffled, he was loud.

"Shush!" Melanie commanded, "If my mum finds you here this early, she will think you slept over and she will freak out and you will not like your existence when she freaks out."

"What did you hit me for?" Jake asked angrily, still massaging his jaw.

"What are you doing in my room?" Melanie whispered as she switched on her lamp.

"I came to . . . rescue you." He said and grimaced. "Now I feel stupid."

"Why? How did you get in?"

"Fire escape."

Melanie squinted. "Why would you do that?"

"I couldn't use the front door." Jake sounded exasperated. "and you said once, that I'm always welcome to use the fire escape."

"I was drunk."

Jake looked bewildered for a second. "No, you weren't."

"That's not the point."

Jake's jaw dropped and the dimly lit expression on his face showed full confusion. "What's the point exactly?"

"I . . . I don't know." Melanie held her head, digging her fingers into her hair. "argh!" she groaned, like her head was going to explode.

"Why are you so mad?'

"I'm not." She paced around her room shortly and finally plopped on the bed, sitting at the edge.

"This is not how I pictured it when I finally plied that window open." Jake mumbled, seemingly soliloquizing. "Was gonna shut the door quietly, wake you up with a soft kiss, take your breath away and then stop with a dramatic pause and say 'good morning, beautiful, happy birthday.'" He ran his fingers through his fine hair and exhaled tiredly.

A slight smile creeped onto Melanie's lips and she peeped at Jake from the sides of her eyes. She was difficult to handle, she knew and she pitied him. "Sorry." She said, lost at what else to say.

Jake looked at her and their gaze connected, making her feel shy. "Happy Birthday."

She smiled child-likely with a nod. "Thank you."

Jake breathed, moved to and got on his knees before her, placing his hands on her thighs which were parted to let him get closer, feeling them through the thin cotton of her pajamas. It caused some warm sensations to envelop her body, spreading from the tips of his fingers.

He looked up to her from where he knelt, and the lamp's light fell on his face. The boy was beautiful and neat in a light grey and navy blue T-shirt. He looked into her eyes and it permeated her. They were sparkling, his eyes and shiny like crystal balls, enchanting. He looked sad and petty, but it was feigned and melodramatic, causing her to feel warm inside and liked and wanted.

He licked his lower lip while quickly glancing at hers and then he softly squeezed her thighs. Her heartbeat quickened and as he drew nearer, it quickened more. Faster and faster, her heart thumped and finally their lips met.

A soft moan came from her and it had come from the bellies of deep pleasure and lust. Reflexively, she cupped his head in her hands, urging his lips closer, deepening the kiss. His mouth tasted like a flavor of berries, blue berries maybe, and it made her chuckle. He had really planned ahead for this kiss and it flattered her.

"What?" Jake asked, pausing to let her laugh.

"Nothing." She shook her head.

He didn't ask further questions. He straightened up, now standing on his feet, but then he leaned in for the kiss and from his height, it gave an overwhelming effect, pushing her to lean backwards and having to need the support of her hand pressed on the bed to stay up, but then he leaned in further, pushing her, squeezing her, kissing her, now more ravishingly and literally taking away her breath in consistent sensual motions. She fell backwards, held herself up for a while with her elbow pushed into her pillow, but finally she succumbed and her back flattened against the bed.

Jake moved, like a predator, he slowly mounted over her. Climbing onto the bed, his knees set on her sides, he kissed her more and Melanie began to feel more nervous than pleasured. It was time to stop, she was going to push him away slowly, but she moved his body slightly and he took it as his cue to switch focus. His lips abandoned her trembling ones, and moved to the left side of her face.

"Jake." She called softly, but he did not answer.

He continued, kissing the side of her face and then moving on to the other areas. She was going to call his attention again, but then his lower lip brushed against her earlobe and shot a thunderbolt through her body. She squirmed in pleasure ticklish sensations and the strength to push him away left her elbow and she clutched his shirt instead, digging her nails into his skin.

She wanted to protest, but then this time, he attacked her ear lobe purposefully, nibbling and sucking it tenderly, and instead of the protest, subdued moans came from her and it both excited and scared her at the same time. He sucked still, passionately and diligently and the squirming of her body under his seemed to ignite him as well. His left palm began to snake through her body and under her shirt, exposing her cold skin to the tender warmth of his fingertips, with which he squeezed her waist and moans were expelled by them in unison. His hand moved under her shirt, up, inching toward her breast. She was not ready for that, was she? Unsure, she swiftly grabbed his wrist, pushing his hand away and from underneath her shirt. He let her do that, but only for a second. His hand returned, determined to reach the tenderness of her breast and pulsed nipple, but again, she held him back, but this time there was more resistance from him and an arm wrestling of some sort began.

First, Melanie thought it was funny, but then when he slid his left knee back and allowed his entire weight to dominate her, another feeling enveloped her. His body invaded hers now and forced itself and with that move old memories and trauma came over her. That feeling of crawling spiders all over skin, nibbling off her flesh; it returned and suddenly, she could not stay any second longer under him.

"Jake, stop!" She said, softly at first but he did not listen and resiliently, he pushed his hand further. "Stop!" She yelled this time and pushed him off her with all her might.

Jake fell off her and onto her bed beside her, looking dazed. She sprung up and panted like someone who had just woken from a bad nightmare.

"What?" Jake asked. "What did I do wrong?"

For a moment, Melanie did not answer, she breathed first and recollected herself before she finally shook her head.

"what's wrong?" Jake asked worriedly, and then drew close to her, but she flinched and moved away from him like he was a sharp cutting object poking her eyes.

She breathed and did not want to make him feel awkward. "You said you came to rescue me." She finally said.

"Yes?"

"What did you mean?"

"Oh, right!" Jake face-palmed and jerked his head to clear his mind. "I thought you didn't want to wake up on your birthday under the mercy of your mom and Junior."

"Oh!" She smiled. He was thoughtful and sweet. "That's very nice of you actually." She chuckled softly and feeling flattered, she blushed.

"So," Jake struggled off the bed and stretched as he got on his feet. "Shall we?" He nodded at the window that led to the fire escape.

"Definitely." Melanie replied with a smile and slid onto her flip-flops.

-

"Where are you taking me?" She asked Jake as the sound of other vehicles began to fade away, indicating that they had veered off the mainland to where she did not know, to where she could not see.

She had her head in a black bag, because apparently, Jake had a surprise for her and it happened be somewhere far from her apartment and she was not meant to see the way. It was quite convenient a way to get kidnapped and Melanie had all reasons to worry, her nightmares at least, had instilled an alert sense of caution and fear in her, but Melanie was not the type of girl to pass up the opportunity for an adventure or any action at all. She had taken that bag, said "okay." and had put it over her head herself with an intrigued grin.

"almost there." Jake answered her and once again, she replied; "Okay."

"We are here." The car wheeled to a stop.

"okay. Can I pull off the bag now?"

"Not yet."

"Okay."

"Careful" Jake said, holding her arm and leading her.

"you're not going to butcher me and sell my organs, are you?"

Jake chuckled. "You should write a horror novel. You have crazy imagination."

"You didn't answer my question," She was saying and suddenly Jake let go off her arm, and suddenly she was alone. "Jake?" She called and silence answered her. "what the hell?" She mumbled and quickly pulled the bag off her head.

Ashley?

Ashley was before her in an unfamiliar environment. It didn't make sense but more than that, it was annoying. Ashley was unarguably the last person she wanted to see in the morning of her birthday and if she was part of Jake's surprise then maybe he should take his own suggestion and write a horror novel, because his imagination must be beyond crazy, his imagination must be rated psychopathic.

"Happy Birthday!" Ashley shrieked cheerily, bobbing up and down like a doll and Melanie observed her with a daunted frown.

She did not like her, she just didn't. She spun to see herself in what seemed to be the backyard of a lonely fancy glass bungalow. Two steps behind her was a shallow pool, small in width, almost a Jacuzzi, in a round area of land, surrounded by a relatively high fence, holding privately, an open ground on which a snooker table, a smoothie bar and poolside benches rested under large shading umbrellas. Before her was the backside of a transparent house, glass all through, except for the roof and edges and frames, and before that was still Ashley who dented the view with a bucket by her side, a bucket she now picked up and seemed to intend to use.

"What's going on?" She queried, eyeing the bucket in Ashley's hands and the mischievous grin on her face. "Where is Jake?"

Before she could see it coming, Ashley emptied the contents of the bucket on her. Slimy viscous liquid mixture covered her. It seemed to be a sort of mixture of odorless red and perhaps, yellow paint and it washed through her, slightly getting into her mouth. Melanie was startled by it and after she spat out, she stood bewildered and mesmerized for a moment, staring at Ashley.

"Yay!" Ashley giggled. "This is actually more fun than I thought." She shouted out to someone Melanie did not see.

"What the hell?" She eventually yelled, visibly exasperated with clenched fist. She wanted to pounce on Ashley and pound her till she broke all of her skinny bones.

"Uh oh!" Ashley seemed to have noticed her intentions for her from the mad look in her eyes and she seemed to be instantly engulfed with fear. "Jake." She called, fearing for her life.

Melanie drew closer, ready to maim her but Ashley stepped back cautiously and then Jake appeared, having in his hands too, another bucket. She was relieved to see him, but only momentarily as he too hauled the content of the bucket on her, splashing her face with a different mixture of liquids and . . . flour. She could taste flour this time and could smell . . . yoghurt? She gagged, what the hell were these guys doing with her?

Jake was laughing, Ashley was laughing; it was her birthday but she was not laughing. Perhaps, she was meant to cry, that was what she was meant to do, and did, anyway on her actual birthday.

She tried to wipe the mixture from her eyes to see, and scream at these guys so that this madness stopped instantly, but they laughed and laughed and somehow, through their tone, she imagined that they were not done with her. They really weren't.

"In a beautiful civilization not so far away," Paul's voice came and it startled her. She stopped and listened blindly, to the direction of his voice from the right. "well, it is kind of far shaa..."

"Paul?" She queried and finally opened her eyes and could see him through the slits of her eyelids and in his hands was a hose.

Oh fuck no!

Paul continued, with a wide smirk and an evil grin. "...it is tradition that whenever a young man or woman is about to embark on the next higher level of his or her life..." he paused and lifted up the hose aiming at Melanie.

Melanie saw it, and the size of it and the idea of what would come out of it genuinely scared her. "No! Don't" she warned him.

Paul continued in a speech-making manner, speaking with an extent of charisma that she would have admired if not held at hose-point. "...At the earliest wake of the sun, he or she is to be washed down thoroughly by his or her closest friends, with any and all mixture of liquids from around home, except . . . clean water." he paused, winked at Jake and placed a hand on the hose's lever.

"Please." Melanie pleaded, holding up her hands as if they could shield her. She paced backward. "I beg you. Please Don't"

Paul continued, now with an authoritative tone and a straight face. "By the power bestowed on me, I pronounce you . . . Plus One!"

"Oh crap!"

"Happy birthday, Melanie." He said finally with an evil grin, and pulled the lever.