Chapter 16: The Incident

[Chapter 16: The Incident]

In late March, Panama City Beach was basking in warm sunshine, over 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ryan lounged on the beach in his board shorts, sunglasses on, while the gentle breeze felt refreshing against his skin. All around him were the colorful swimsuits of students enjoying their spring break, and for a moment, he thought it might be the most relaxing time since he had arrived.

However, that was just Ryan's wishful thinking.

When he and Abigail, along with about a dozen classmates, first arrived at the so-called "spring break hotspot," the sight of thousands of students crowded onto the beach overwhelmed him. The small stretch of sand was packed with rowdy laughter and chatter, creating a chaotic scene that felt more like a marketplace than a vacation destination.

There were swimsuits and bikinis, but not everyone's figures were up to par with the gorgeous lifeguards from the popular '90s TV show. Fortunately, the weather was indeed perfect; the sun was shining brightly, and the ocean glimmered, making it ideal for sunbathing.

"Who said this was a spring break paradise?" Ryan asked.

"I guess we can thank MTV. Ever since the '80s spring break live broadcasts, this place became synonymous with the season," one of his friends responded.

"With it being the only free public beach around, I suppose it's no surprise that it's so crowded this year," another added.

"What do we do now? Head back to the hotel? Or wait for the nightlife? Is Harpoon Harry's having any events tonight?" Ryan inquired.

"Not tonight, but there's the annual Beach Bash music festival happening tomorrow, right at the bar. I heard there are big names lined up to perform," responded another classmate.

"So what do we do tonight?" Abigail chimed in, her voice tinged with frustration.

The Winter Music Conference was set to kick off in a few days, and Ryan planned to enjoy two days in Florida with his classmates. Listening to their conversation, he glanced over at Abigail, who was wearing flip-flops and was wrapped in a large beach towel that covered her completely.

He noticed the other single girls in their group were dressed similarly. Clearly, everyone had prepped for their first spring break after turning eighteen, and it would be disappointing to just return without having any fun. But the beach was so packed, there wasn't even room to lie down and soak up the sun.

Ryan's eyes wandered to the horizon where several yachts floated by. He saw people leap off the tops of the boats, flipping into the water.

"Maybe we could rent a yacht?" Ryan suggested suddenly.

If they rented one for just tonight, even with holiday pricing, it should still be manageable. He thought everyone would go for it, but to his surprise, his classmates hesitated, mumbling about it being "above budget."

Hendersonville was just an ordinary public high school, and since they were all local students, their budget for spring break certainly wasn't substantial.

"Alright," Ryan nodded. "In that case..."

He pulled out a thick wallet from his board shorts, ready to splurge for everyone.

Instantly, his classmates erupted in cheering. Some of the guys practically begged Ryan to be their "sugar daddy," their excitement overwhelming. A few others started searching for local boat rental shops, volunteering to help Ryan out.

...

At that stage in high school, their views on money were still somewhat innocent. Ryan could stretch one dollar into what felt like ten, and once on the boat, the cheerleaders began asking Ryan to apply sunscreen on them, to which he happily obliged.

A little while later, Ryan found himself at the back of the boat next to Abigail, who was standing at the edge, peering through a makeshift telescope aimed toward the shore.

Typically, those telescopes were intended for ocean views, but Abigail was using it to scan the beach. When she noticed Ryan getting closer, she was startled.

"We need to call the police right now!" Abigail exclaimed, panic flickering in her eyes. She then dashed toward the cabin, leaving Ryan baffled.

Ryan took a turn with the telescope and was shocked by what he saw.

Not far from the shore, a group of college students was gathered on the beach, both boys and girls were laughing and chatting. They seemed carefree like any spring break youths. However, just a step away, three boys were kneeling around a girl who appeared completely unresponsive while they manipulated her position without resistance.

It was clear they weren't giving her sunscreen; they were engaged in something much more sinister.

"Just right there on the beach, send someone over immediately..." Abigail returned to the deck as she was on the phone. If he hadn't witnessed it himself, Ryan wouldn't have believed such an event could unfold in broad daylight, surrounded by dozens of people who overlooked the occurrence, mistaking the girl for just sleeping.

Abigail was shouting, trying to draw attention, but from their distance, no one noticed.

[A/N: The situation described on the beach references real events that occurred during the 2015 spring break.]

...

The police arrived within ten minutes, but with the beach being so crowded and lacking distinguishing features, when the officers eventually reached the scene, the girl had been left alone on the sand...

Ryan observed how Abigail transformed from shock to fear, as she had always imagined spring break would combine sunshine, sweet love, and laughter, but reality had taught her a harsh lesson. She struggled to find the energy to enjoy the rest of her afternoon, keeping her towel tightly wrapped around herself.

As for Ryan, he moved past his shock. Having peered through the telescope at other parts of the beach, he horrifyingly discovered similar scenes were not isolated. He recognized one of the perpetrators -- a guy with dreadlocks.

...

That night, Ryan learned from others that these popular spring break destinations often saw spikes in crime, including misconduct and illegal possession of firearms. Local radio reported on the "Spring Break Ordinance" passed by the city council, pledging to enhance law enforcement during the busy season.

At that moment, Abigail finally snapped out of her daze and seemed reluctant to leave Ryan's side. After they returned to shore, she insisted that Ryan walk her back.

Despite his reservations, due to Abigail's help over the past weeks, Ryan agreed. Before leaving, he shared a knowing look with a couple of guys in their group, as if they had made their own plans.

"Same place as always," one skinny guy whispered to Ryan.

...

Back at the hotel, Abigail closed the door behind them.

"I'm starving. Let's go to Captain Anderson's for some seafood! Maybe have a drink too?" she suggested eagerly.

Unfortunately for Abigail, Ryan had other plans.

"Ashley and the others are next door. You can join them. I'm too tired today," Ryan replied.

Abigail frowned, "Then just go! If you leave, don't bother coming back."

And with that, the door slammed shut.

"Asshole!" Abigail screamed, then in a fit of frustration, she grabbed her towel and began tearing it apart as if it were Ryan. The black-and-white bikini she had worn that day hadn't even had a chance to be shown off.

...

Minutes later, Ryan joined his friends, while the girls had all retreated to their apartments.

"Now for the real fun -- Wet T-Shirt Contest!" a tall, lanky guy put his arms around Ryan's neck and yelled. His name was Paul, a star cornerback for the school's football team. His athletic build matched his role perfectly, with a narrow waist, long legs, and the face that resembled a "Doberman."

...

As Ryan and his friends walked down the sidewalk, a black Mercedes SUV passed them by at an intersection.

Inside, a young man wearing a baseball cap was looking out the window.

"Zimmerman, besides tomorrow's Beach Bash festival, we're headed to Daytona for the next show, then to Miami for Ultra," said the assistant.

"Did the mouse helmets get checked?" the young man asked.

The assistant nodded. "Do you want me to call a couple of local girls to join you tonight?"

"Forget it," the young man replied, as he wanted to get some gaming time in.

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.