Chapter 11

The darkened room with the blinds drawn looked vaguely familiar and she knew she had seen it before somewhere. But what was she doing in it? This wasn't her apartment. Then she remembered. Of course, we came to Tijuana yesterday. It's my hotel room. Ann started to move in the bed, and then felt the excruciating pain.

"Ohhh," she groaned aloud. "What's happened to me?"

Her head felt strangely thick and it was difficult to think. Avery muscle in her body seemed to be tied in tiny knots. She lay still for a moment--then she recalled the horrible dream she had last night.

That obscene sickening show--all those men--Julia's voice encouraging them on...

The impact suddenly hit her.

"My God, it happened!"

In spite of the pain, she sat up quickly. Questions began to run through her head faster than her muddled mind would check them--how did I get home? Who dressed me?--it's my nightgown I'm wearing! Why did it happen? Why, why?

She stumbled from the bed and lurched heavily to the bathroom mirror, looking into it quickly.

"My God," she moaned, "it did happen, it wasn't a nightmare!" Heavy lines marred her fresh, young skin. Her eyes were sunk deeply into her head as though she had aged years since yesterday.

She looked down. Her body was a mass of bruises that centered around her breasts and inner thighs. Her breasts were almost raw and even the soft nylon gown rubbing against the tips sent sharp waves of excruciating pain through them. She suddenly vomited, sobbing hysterically.

"Oh, it didn't happen, it didn't, it just couldn't," she babbled incoherently over and over to herself, still hanging over the basin. "I'll ask Julia, she'll tell me it didn't happen, she'll tell me it didn't happen."

"Julia, Julia!" she screamed hysterically, half staggering, half crawling to the living room.

There was no answer. She could see the door to Julia's room was open and the bed immaculately made. The maid had already cleaned it.

Ann looked at the clock, it was five o'clock in the afternoon, she had slept the entire day!

She collapsed on the couch, sobbing hysterically. After a few minutes, she saw the envelope on the coffee table. It was addressed to her and she picked it up and hesitantly opened it. There was just a short note inside but it said a million words:

Ann, darling I'm letting you sleep. I'll be back about six. Incidentally, you were the hit of the party last night. I didn't realize you had such hidden talents, dear.

Love, Julia

Then it was true, it hadn't just been a bad dream and it had been Julia who had led her into it and encouraged Carlos and Ramon and God only knows how many others to do those terrible, depraved things to her. What possessed Julia to do such a thing? What did she have against her? Ann had trusted her--accepted her as a friend and protector. True, she hadn't accepted many of the invitations Julia had offered but that couldn't possibly have offended her that much...