“It’s Just a Prank” He Said

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On April Fool's Day, I was dragged into an alley and raped.

Shattered, I stumbled home to call the police.

But my boyfriend just pulled out a cap and a mask.

Look, he said. Was the guy who did it wearing something like this?

I froze.

......

His buddies roared with laughter beside him.

Dude, is your girl actually stupid or what?

His little protege, Amber, laughed the hardest.

"Nathan, seriously, did Sylvie really think someone would want to rape her?" she giggled.

"Has she even looked at herself in a mirror?"

My boyfriend Nathan came over and slung an arm around me.

"Alright, alright. Amber's had a rough day. It was just a joke."

"Come on, sit down and peel these shrimp for her. I'm worried she'll prick her finger."

NathanNathaniel, but everyone called him Nathanfrowned when I didn't move.

"What's your problem? Giving me attitude?"

"You have zero sense of humor. I was in a good mood, and now you're ruining it."

He grabbed my waist, his breath hot and mocking against my ear,

"Be a good girl. Listen. You've actually got a decent body. You should wear sexier clothes, give me something to show off"

Another guy chimed in, laughing.

"Yeah, take some notes from Amber on how to dress."

Yet another voice added, "Oh, come on. Amber's just naturally gorgeous. She'd look good in a potato sack."

"Someone like Sylvie? Even a backless dress would look frumpy on her."

Amber was wheezing with laughter.

"Guys, stop! Sylvie has her good points too, you know."

She drew the words out slowly, deliberately.

"Like she makes a perfect background character!"

Everyone howled with laughter.

"Yeah, yeah! Sylvie, just stand there, be quiet, don't move. Be the scenery."

"Actually, she's pretty useful. At least today, Amber was really upset about her final exam, and now she's laughing her head off. That's all thanks to Sylvie, right?"

Nathan hugged Amber, smiling at me.

"You hear that? You've made a huge contribution to Amber's happiness."

"Now, peel the shrimp. Be good."

He grabbed my hand and shoved it towards the plate.

"Hurry up! Amber's hungry."

Amber blinked her big eyes at me. "Oh no, is Sylvie mad? She can't be, can she?"

"Or are you still thinking about what happened earlier?" She doubled over laughing.

"You didn't actually think someone was interested in you, did you?"

"Get over yourself! These days, even a stray dog has standards."

The room exploded in laughter again.

It was so loud. The sound was like a thousand needles, stabbing into my heart over and over.

Every part of my body ached.

Just hours ago, someone yanked me by the hair into that alley.

My back slammed against the rough brick, my legs scraped raw.

Then, my clothes were ripped away.

My legs were forced apart. It was my first time

And yet here they were, laughing.

They treated my agony as a joke, my humiliation as entertainment.

The boyfriend I trusted was the mastermind behind it all.

I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let a sound escape, but the tears fell uncontrollably.

"Whoa, are you actually crying now?" Nathan let out a derisive snort.

"It was a joke. Lighten up. You're so damn boring."

My throat felt blocked, incapable of forming a single word.

My whole body trembled with rage.

Amber leaned in, her smile widening.

"Oh, Nathan, don't be mean. Look at her, crying like she's in some soap opera."

She picked up her phone and pointed it at me.

"Hey, Sylvie, don't waste that expression. Let me get a picture for my feed, give everyone a laugh."

She took the photo and showed it around. The group cackled.

"She looks even uglier when she cries."

"Seriously, what's she even crying about? Is she, like, reminiscing? I mean, it was probably the first time anyone ever treated her like a woman"

"She probably thought someone finally wanted her, got all excited, and then found out it was just our boy Nathan messing with her!"

Nathan sneered and pushed the phone aside. "Stop filming her. It's a waste of storage."

He turned back to me, his tone sharper.

"Sylvie, cut the drama. You're killing the vibe for everyone."

He snatched a beer bottle from the table and upended it over my head.

The icy liquid drenched my hair and face. The shock left me reeling, frozen in place.

He laughed, tapping the bottle against my head.

"Wake up. Stop playing the victim. Who'd have the time or interest to rape you? It's disgusting."

His buddies egged him on.

"Nathan, man, your girl's a total drag. Time for an upgrade."

Another added, "For real. Look at Amber. She's fun and got style. Sylvie's just stiff as a board."

Someone else picked up a plate of leftover food and dumped it on me.

"Get out of here. You're an eyesore. Go away."

I was soaked in beer and gravy, my hair plastered to my face.

Amber covered her mouth, giggling.

"Sylvie, you know, you look hilarious right now. Like a giant, slimy slug."

She picked up a filthy rag and walked over.

"Here, let me help you clean up."

As she said it, she wiped the rag across my face.

It was stained with grease and reeked of sour mildew.

Finally snapping out of my daze, I pushed her away in anger.

"Don't touch me!"

Amber let out a sharp cry and tumbled to the floor.

"Sylvie" she whimpered, putting on a show. "Why would you do that? That really hurt"

Nathan immediately lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking me back.

"Sylvie, what the hell is wrong with you? Amber was trying to be nice!"

I cried out in pain, kicking and flailing blindly.

Kicked by me, he only pulled harder. "Shut up! Scream again and I'll rip your mouth off!"

Amber climbed to her feet, fake tears in her eyes.

"Nathan, my butt really hurts I think it's bruised."

Nathan let go of me and went to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Don't worry, babe. I'll kiss it and make it better, okay?"

Everyone howled with laughter again.

I staggered to my feet, fresh pain shooting through me from being dragged.

The difference in physical strength between us left me powerless to fight back.

I had to get out of there.

But just then, another guy spoke up.

"Nathan, this chick's getting out of hand. Needs to be taught a lesson."

Nathan glanced back at me, chuckled, and strode over.

His hand shot out, cracking against my cheek.

My face erupted in fiery pain.

The force of the blow made me stumbled back several steps, almost falling.

Nathan grabbed my arm, his other hand rising for another blow.

Instinctively, I threw up my arm to block it, my eyes blazing with hatred.

I lifted my foot, aiming a kick straight between his legs. I had to run.

I had to get out of that alley. If he would just let go, I could make it. But I failed.

I was in too much pain, trembling all over. He saw my move coming.

He batted my blocking arm aside and backhanded me hard across the face.

"Sylvie, you think you're tough shit?"

"Who the hell do you think you are? Trying to get smart with me?"

"I said it was a joke! Were you raised by pigs or dogs? Don't you understand human language? Or did your mother die before she could teach you any?"

My head spun.

Every bone in my body ached.

I could hardly believe Nathan could be this cruel.

He knew I was an orphan. He knew my parents died in a gas leak when I was in grade school.

And now, in front of all these people, he was throwing that in my face.

If my parents were still here they'd never let anyone treat me like this

"Nathan, stop wasting your breath. Just teach her a lesson!" someone shouted.

Nathan nodded. He seized my wrist, ignoring my struggles, and dragged me to the corner of the room.

"Sylvie, today I'm going to make you understand what happens when you embarrass me in front of everyone."

He lifted his foot and kicked me brutally in the stomach.

I screamed, curling into a ball on the floor.

"Hey, look at her squatting there. Doesn't she look like a toad?" someone pointed.

"Hahaha! You're right!" another roared. "Ugly and disgusting."

Nathan kicked me, over and over, cursing with each blow.

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Huh? Daring to act up in front of me?"

The pain was so intense that I nearly blacked out.

All I could hear were his curses and the crowd's mocking laughter.

"Don't kill her, Nathan. Leave her with just enough breath to remember this!" someone joked.

"Yeah, don't wear yourself out. Just make her kneel and apologize to Amber."

Nathan finally stopped. He looked down at me with a cold sneer.

"You hear that? Get on your knees. Apologize to Amber."

I could barely breathe, my entire body trembling. My legs felt like jelly.

Nathan kicked my leg cruelly again. "I said kneel! Are you deaf?"

I clenched my teeth, my mind blank.

But I knew, if I didn't obey, he might really beat me to death.

Bracing myself on the floor, I slowly lowered myself to my knees.

"I'm I'm sorry, Amber."

"I shouldn't have pushed you"

"I was wrong please forgive me"

Amber burst out laughing.

"Oh, Sylvie, that apology sounded so half-hearted! Was that a whisper? Do you still think you're the victim here?"

"Ah, whatever. I'm generous. I forgive you."

"Not only do I forgive you, I have a gift for you."

Amber walked over, grinning.

In my widening eyes, I saw what she pulled from her pocket.

"Nathan, her hair is all gross and sticky. Let me give her a little trim, yeah?"

"Haha, brilliant idea!" Nathan clapped his hands, laughing.

"Chop it all off. Save her the trouble of messing with that mop."

Amber grabbed a chunk of my hair. Snip.

"Let me go" I struggled, trying to push her away, but she was stronger than she looked, pinning me down.

I watched helplessly as the long hair I treasured fell to the floor in clumps.

"Hold still, Sylvie! I'm helping you! Look at this mess. It's like a bird's nest. Short hair will be so much cleaner!"

Seeing me move,Nathan walked over and kicked me in the back.

"Stay still!" He kicked me again.

"Amber's doing you a favor, you ungrateful bitch!"

Amber giggled, the scissors never stopping.

"You know what they say. Ugly people just love to make a fuss. Shorter hair might make your ugliness less obvious."

"You know, it actually made me sick that you had the same bangs as me!"

I knelt on the ground and my hair was cut into a ragged, uneven mess. My face streaked with tears and grime.

Finally, Amber seemed satisfied. She tossed the scissors aside and clapped her hands. "There! Perfect!"

Nathan walked over, glanced down at me. "Alright, enough of this pathetic show. Get lost."

Amber tugged his arm.

"Nathan, let's go. Don't waste any more time on her. I'm starving. Let's get some real food."

"You got it, babe. Let's roll!" Nathan put his arm around her and turned to the others.

"Guys, dinner's on me! Let's celebrate Amber's improved mood!"

Amber added, "And celebrate Nathan getting into that grad program abroad!"

The whole group walked away laughing, leaving me alone on the floor.

I sat there numbly, too drained even to cry.

The physical pain from earlier seemed to have faded, drowned out by a deeper, colder ache inside.

I looked down at myselfclothes torn, hair gone, dignity utterly stripped away.

The person I trusted had had treated me as a plaything for his amusement.

The relationship I cherished was just a sick joke to him.

Gritting my teeth, I slowly pushed myself up from the floor with my hands.

I couldn't let them walk away laughing.

I couldn't let my pain become their amusing anecdote.

They had to pay.

Nathan was a guy from my university.

I'd always been painfully shy.

More than one person had told me I was boring.

No guy had ever shown interest in me.

Nathan, aside from his "jokes" and sharp tongue, had been nice to me.

He'd pay for meals, help with chores, shield me on the inside when crossing the street.

But around his friends, he became a different person.

He would always order me around, hitting and cursing at me.

Especially after Amber came back from her exchange semester. His cruelty escalated.

He'd pull these stunts, these "jokes," all to make Amber laugh.

And afterwards, when they were gone, he'd be sweet again.

He'd hold me, comfort me, as if the monster from earlier was someone else.

I could never bring myself to break up with him.

And so, the cycle repeated, over and over, until this time.

I picked up the electric hair clippers and, facing the mirror, carefully shaved off the ruined, uneven patches of hair.

I was done being patient. Nathan came home. He saw my shaved head, blinked twice, then let out a loud, braying laugh.

"Whoa, Sylvie! Did you join a convent?" He reached out to touch my scalp. "This look! It's kinda cute. Very punk."

I slapped his hand away and stared at him coldly.

He pouted, then wrapped his arms around my waist, planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Come on, don't be mad. What happened todayI didn't mean it."

"You just can't take a joke." He shrugged.

"Look at Amber. She knows how to have fun. You have zero sense of humor."

I just stared, unmoving.

He pinched my cheek.

"Little Sylvie, why do you hold such a grudge? I came back to apologize, didn't I?"

"Women should be more easy-going. This perpetual victim act is such a turn-off."

He looked at my bald head again and couldn't suppress another chuckle.

"You know, this look is kinda hot. Wanna try something new?"

A mean glint sparked in his eyes.

"You can be the nun, and I'll be the pilgrim seeking alms?"

He threw his head back laughing, then reached to push my head down. "Come on, say 'Amen' or something!"

I shoved his hand away violently, taking a step back.

His smile vanished instantly.

"Sylvie. Are you seriously this ungrateful?"

"I'm apologizing to save your face. Did you not hear? I'm going abroad soon. A boyfriend like me, and you're not trying to keep me happy? You dare to"

Just then, the bedroom door swung open.

The police officers who had been waiting inside stepped out.

Nathan's smile froze on his face.

He whirled to look at me. "You called the cops on me?"

He immediately turned a sickly-sweet smile on the officers.

"Officers, this is my girlfriend! We were just horsing around It's a misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! It was all consensual!"

One of the officers looked at him.

"You think your 'horsing around' is funny?"

"You think your girlfriend 'consented' to being humiliated, beaten, doused in beer, and having her hair cut off by you and your friends?"

"To being dragged into an alley and assaulted?"

Nathan broke out in a cold sweat.

He glared at me, teeth gritted. "Sylvie. You're really doing this?"

The officer stepped forward, efficiently snapping handcuffs on his wrists.

"Nathaniel Carter, you are under arrest for assault and battery, and for the humiliation and degradation of a woman. You're coming with us."

Nathan's face went sheet-white.

"I I'm being framed! She is my girlfriend! It was a joke! Sylvie, tell them! Explain it!"

I said calmly to the officers, "You can take him away now."

Nathan's eyes bulged. "You bitch"

Before he could finish, an officer slammed him face-first against the wall.

"One more word," the officer said coldly, "and we add resisting arrest."

Nathan shuddered and fell silent.

"Take him away." The officer gestured.

Nathan completely panicked. He twisted his neck, pleading frantically. "Sylvie! Please! You can't do this to me!"

"We've been together so long! I've been good to you! You can't ruin me like this!"

"Let me go this one time! I'll never hurt you again, I swear! Please!"

I ignored him, watching as the officers led him out the door.

I thought, maybe, that was the end of it.

But it wasn't that simple.

At the police's request, I went to the hospital for a full examination and a medical report.

The news I received left me reeling.

The DNA collected from me it didn't match Nathan's.

"What what does that mean?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

The doctor explained gently, "It means the DNA profile we obtained does not match Nathaniel Carter's."

" In other words, the person who assaulted you that night wasn't him."

My fingers clenched the report.

My mind was chaos.

If it wasn't Nathan then who?

The day I went to the police, Nathan never denied it.

But if it wasn't him why would he take the blame?

Nathan was in lockup. He was desperate as his graduate program started in October.

He pleaded with the police, begging to see me.

His parents found me too, kneeling before me and begging for my forgiveness.

"Sylvie, please!" His mother was in tears.

"Nathan knows he was wrong! Just forgive him this once!"

I looked at the woman on her knees.

All I felt was a cold, bitter irony.

Where were they when their son was torturing me? Where were they when he was kicking me, humiliating me?

Now that he was in trouble, they can't wait to come begging?.

His father's face was grim, pride clearly stung, but he spoke in a low voice.

"Sylvie, our Nathan he just made a mistake. He's young, he was foolish."

His mother nodded frantically. "He's about to go abroad! His future is so bright! This can't ruin him!"

I let out a short, harsh laugh. "So? What does his bright future have to do with me?"

His mother grabbed my hand. "We can compensate you! However much money you want! Just drop the charges!"

I pulled my hand away. "You think I want your money?"

His father seemed to realize that tactic wasn't working.

He switched gears.

"Sylvie, we're practically family. Nathan he does care for you. If he didn't, why would he stay with you all these years?"

"Think about it. A young man's time is precious. He just played a little prank. Are you really going to destroy him over a joke?"

Just a little prank.

They really were a family.

"'Cares for me'?" I repeated softly.

"He cares for me, so he humiliates me in front of his friends? He 'cares' so he has me assaulted in an alley?"

His father was speechless, looking down, embarrassed.

I stared at them for a few seconds, and something inside me finally went ice-cold.

These people, from start to finish, hadn't asked me once if I was okay.

They only cared about Nathan's future, not what I had endured.

They didn't deserve my pity.

It was then that his father seemed to lose patience. He waved his hand dismissively.

"Enough. You just want money, don't you?"

"Look at you. Who even knows who really raped you?"

"Tell you what. If you're actually pregnant with my grandson, I'll accept it. I'll make Nathan marry you."

"Otherwise, we'll see about that."

I snorted.

It only took a few sentences for his true colors to show.

But his words gave me an idea.

Maybe I could bluff Nathan. Maybe I could get a clue about what really happened that night.