Such a sunny day in California, I'm ready to unpack an head out to see what's it like being here. I'm excited and can't wait to meet new people see new things. To my biggest surprise I've met quite a few people around my age who I can hang with in a nearby cafe. We talked exchanged names and chilled for a bit.

We had planned to meet up later on that night for drinks, I'm really excited seeing that it's my first time in California. Che one of the girls I met at the cafe called me out to meet up at a park a few blocks away earlier from the time that we've planned to meet that night. We converse about our spirituality, we both had the same common goal and she also invited me to church on Sunday. Che and I stayed for a bit longer where she showed me around the town did a dress shopping for later on that night, then I took a cab and went back to the hostile.

The gang is here, and we're ready to go. At this time it was 7:30 when Jalon who was the driver insisted that we take a little detour to one of their favorite spot. I had really anticipated their vibe, because they were really cool and seem like alot of fun, an I'm all for a little excitement or adventure haha.

We got to a place where there's this big black door where one of the guys knocked and whoever else was behind there opened it up. And I remember the smell of smoke an beer and thinking to myself what is this place? Why are we even here? I walked in deeper feeling the touch of one of the girls holding me for a couple seconds then she let me go.

I remembered the lights were getting really dim and the disco ball were flashing so quickly with one particular color, the color of red to be exact. I looked around an my friends that was there with me disappeared. I kept calling for Che and Izze and Jalon an they don't seem to hear me. At this point I felt a strong hand pulled me into a corner of the room and I remembered seeing a couple doors down the corridor very faintly. When I had turned around it was this guy with black hair a mask covering half of his face and then he just smiled or had smirk that's more like it on his face.

He started touching my face an touching me very provocatively. I tried to get away from him but it seem like the hardest thing to do. He started literally ripping me clothes off an all I kept doing was begging him to stop, as I screamed for my friends who had seemed like they left me behind my voice as loud as it can be isnt enough with music wasnt even heard by them. I couldnt see anything while this guy was having his way with me I can feel his skin under my nails and the warmt of his blood running down his back.

Everything that had happened I felt afraid and confused. Why did this happened to me? Where are my friends or at least I thought they were. Was this a set up? As I tried to make my way out of this place I struggled to find my clothes that had been tore off of me, i found the door and the guy let me out.

There were an alley closeby which I have ran into to hide myself because I was literally naked after what had happened. I have gathered courage at the time to get the nearest police station where I made a report that I was raped. I gave the officer a statement an after that I had an officer dropped me back at the hostile where I was staying. I cried alot that night I was all alone. I couldn't sleep I couldn't eat for the next couple days that Ive been there.

I've never seen my friends again after that night and things got worst by the day. I started getting random calls and threats that I'm being monitored on everything I do and if I tell anyone about what had happened I wouldnt be able to leave California.

Later that week the detective who were investigating that case found out that my friends were a bunch of people who had been doing these criminal acts a couple years ago and was never caught which the case has never been closed an due to the fact that I'm the only one that had survive this, and can tell the story about what had happened, the case can be dealt with now.

A month prior to what had happened to me cops had gotten a lead an they were all taken into custody and was charged with sex trafficking and they each faces with 20 years to life in prison after conviction.

I believe that God was with me and I lived through that, I came to California with an interest to explored not to be exploted. I've yet been seeking counseling to help cope with with my anxiety attacks I've been getting because of the fact.

And for those who trust the vibe from others, please don't be naive.
by Ayesha A