Chapter Two
Rachel and Ashley are sitting away from the other kids on a bench, both girls in their regular street clothes. Ashley is still fuming over her swimsuit being ruined "ugggh that stupid boy ruined my day".
Just then Henry, a boy from her school, comes over and nervously tries to talk to her, "Hey Ashley I saw what happened and I just wanted to say sorry and give you this".
His hands shake as he gives her a guitar pendant in a transparent box.
She smiles and says, "Aww that's so sweet of you Henry, thanks".
Henry rubs the back of his head and tells her, "Also umm do you want to hang out later, we could go for a ride in my brother's truck?" Ashley grins and replies "Umm I'll think about it".
Rachel wears a wry smile as she stares at the two.
Henry says, "Oh okay… goodbye then" and walks away fist pumping in celebration.
Rachel bursts out laughing with an exuberance unique to black women as she teases Ashley, "Ooh look who's got a crush".
Ashley tries to set the record straight, "Crush!? More like he's crushing me with constant attention".
Rachel sarcastically examines her nails saying "Uhhh huh too big for you".
Ashley stumbles over her words trying to respond "Hey it's not that… It's just…".
Rachel looks on grinning in anticipation, "Go on baby girl".
Ashley continues, "Well it's just that I'm kind of sick of boys".
Rachel smiles and leans in, asking, "What do you mean exactly?".
Ashley whispers, "I've just been wondering you know, what it's like to get with a girl".
Rachel looks at her silently with a raised eyebrow.
Ashley tries to explain, "I'm not a dyke or anything I was just wondering".
Rachel smiles and takes her by the hand saying, "I know just the thing, follow me".
Ashley follows Rachel through the park until they get to a chain link fence hidden behind some trees which separates the "Thrill Zone" from the "Spill Zone".
Ashley asks nervously, "Where are we going, should we even be here?" but Rachel reassures her saying, "It's cool, trust me".
Rachel squeezes through a gap between the fence and some trees, her friend follows closely behind.
The Thrill Zone is eerily quiet, full of dusty and rusty rides with rundown buildings surrounded by weeds.
They both walk for a while, barely speaking to each other until they get to an old merry go round near what used to be the old park entrance.
Ashley asks, "So why did you bring me here?" Rachel responds "You remember this place?".
Ashley asks, confused, "Yeah it's a busted ride, what's so special about it?".
Rachel continues, laughing, "Remember when I snuck cotton candy on the merry go round, then it slipped and got stuck in your hair?".
Ashley smiles embarrassed "Oh my God don't remind me, you then had to spend the rest of the day trying to remove it for me, is that why you brought me here, to embarrass me?".
"No I brought you here for this...", Rachel pulls Ashley in and kisses her. Ashley pushes her away screaming "Rach what the hell!?".
Ashley paces around confused about what just happened until Rachel grabs her hand and says, "Ashley calm down, isn't this what you wanted?"
Ashley relaxes and Rachel tries again,they fool around for a bit giggling amidst the awkwardness.
Ashley pulls away blushing like a peach, Rachel asks, "How was that?"
Rachel shrugs and says "It feels different, not bad, but I could get used to it".
The two girls go around the old rides reminiscing about the past and making out in between their talks.
Ashley gets a bit uncomfortable and tells her friend, "I need to pee". Rachel sighs and says "Okay, don't be too long", she gives Ashley a little smooch then let's her go on her way.
She gets to an old, rundown restroom and naturally goes to the women's side. She's disgusted by the stale air and muck covered taps but is so pressed that it doesn't matter. Fortunately the stalls were relatively clean, she squats, pees, cleans up and as she stands the chain Henry gave her falls out of her pocket.
Ashley picks it up and thinks to herself, "This isn't too bad".
She goes out to the mirrors, wipes the dust off one and puts on the chain necklace.
As she admires herself in different poses she hears someone enter the bathroom but doesn't pay much attention.
She giggles and says, "Hey Rachel this necklace looks pretty g…" as she's talking, a hand moves over her face and muffles her voice.
She raises her hands and looks in the mirror to see someone in a ski mask and dark jacket so she says nervously, "Hey stop playing games Rach".
The person says "Shut up" in a gravely voice distorted by his mask. He puts a knife to her throat and says, "Scream and you're dead"
Ashley freezes, paralysed with fear.
The masked person holds her tightly with one arm and roughly pulls down her pants with the other. She tries to plead, "Please stop" but he ignores her cries.
He pushes her head down to the sink causing her to bleed from her nose and violently rapes her. She feels agony with each thrust, her screams muffled by her own hands out of fear for her life.
She stares into the dirty mirror crying as he does this for a few minutes. After a brief moment of silence he pulls away and runs out of the door.
Ashley drops down to the floor, her hands still covering her face, muffling her cries. She lays there for some minutes, which felt like an eternity, until she hears the door open again. Her heart races in panic until she sees that it's Rachel who's been looking for her.
Upon seeing her she drops her hands and cries as loud as she can.
Rachel rushes to her asking, "Ashley!? What happened to you, come on say something!".
She sees her clothes covered in blood and her bruised face then cries when she realises what just happened.
She holds back tears saying, "Oh my God, Ashley I'm so sorry". Rachel tries to lift and hug her as she sobs uncontrollably "Ashley I'm sorry but we have to leave". Ashley stays planted to where she is, afraid of leaving the bathroom as Rachel tries to guide her out. Rachel raises her voice trying to get her to move, "Now Ashley!".
Both girls stagger out of the bathroom and quickly move towards the opening they came from. Ashley stumbles along the way, her body still weak and trembling. Rachel tries to lift her up and encourage her, "Come on we're almost there".
They get to the fence and crawl underneath it to get back to the Spill Zone. As soon as they are clear Rachel starts screaming for help as loud as possible, "Help somebody, Help!".
Rachel runs to the nearest person she can find, an older man, and begs him to help, "Please sir my friend she's hurt". This attracts a crowd which tries to move in and get a closer look.
They follow Rachel to where Ashley is to find her sitting against a wall still shaking in silence. Upon seeing people gathering around her Ashley hides her face and begins to cry out of shame. Someone gets a blanket to cover her and park staff move in trying to disperse the crowd.
Rachel and Ashley are guided to the nearby utility room where Mr Fernández the head groundskeeper interrogates them and Christina, a lifeguard, gives Ashley first-aid.
Christina asks Ashley, "What happened to you?", Ashley stands without saying a word until Rachel breaks the silence "I found her like this, in the bathroom at the other side of the park"
Mr Fernández asks, "That place is off limits, what were you doing there?".
Christina tries to pull up Ashley's shirt to give her first aid but she screams at her, "Don't touch me!".
Christina pulls back and signals to Mr Fernández to leave the room while Rachel tries to console her, "Ashley, let her help okay".
Ashley takes off her bloody clothes to reveal her bruised and bleeding body. Christina shudders but remains calm as she tries to clean her injuries and apply gauze to stop the bleeding.
She finishes applying first aid and reassures them "Well that's all I can do for now, you're going to be alright".
She signals to Rachel "Are you hurt?" Rachel shakes her head silently, Christina asks "What's your name?" Rachel responds "I'm Rachel Thomas and this is Ashley, Ashley McGowan".
Christina leaves the room to talk to Mr Fernández who is addressing the crowd;
"OK everyone nothing to see here we ask that you remain calm and wait for the park manager to address you properly".
Christina motions to Mr Fernández they have a conversation right next to the door. She tells him "I tried my best to stop the bleeding. She should be fine for now but we really should call the police" she hesitates to talk but continues "I… I think she was raped".
Mr Fernández puts a hand over his mouth and gasps under his breath, "Jesus Christ".
Christina continues, "Her name is Ashley McGowan, her friend is Rachel Thomas, we should contact their families and the police".
Mr Fernández nods and says "Aye I'll let the manager know as well".
He goes to a ticket booth and uses the landline to call the park manager and explain what happened "Hello sir this is Mr Fernández, we have a problem".
The manager shouts back "What is it?".
Mr Fernández explains "A young girl was raped on the property, we already called the police".
Mr Davies becomes livid when he hears this "You what!? This is the worst time for negative attention, we almost closed the deal for the park sale. I'll call the Sheriff and tell them to wait until the park is closed, you figure out how to deal with that mess".
There's a moment of silence until Mr Davies shouts, "Understand Fernández?". Mr Fernández responds, "Aye I understand" before angrily hanging up the phone.