Chapter #3: Another Disaster.

Several days had passed since Jesse had been arrested. He still couldn’t believe what had just happened. Why would some girl accuse him of rape? Could it be some deranged girl who was pissed off after getting turned down? No, it couldn’t be. She was far too young and no one was crazy enough to do such a terrible thing. Perhaps someone else had a grudge against him?

Unless someone really did rape this girl. Someone who resembled himself. No, it was impossible! Jesse was quite unique, so what were the odds of someone else looking just like him. Unless it was someone trying to frame him for the crime?

Sitting by himself in the office, Jesse was pondering about the cause of the arrest. Real rape? A mistake? A set up? The possibilities were endless. All he definitely knew was he had nothing to do with it.

A sudden pat on his shoulder nearly caused Jesse to jump right out of his chair and barely able to stifle a small yelp, he turned only to see it was Ryan. “S’just you? God, you scared me. ” He exhaled deeply as he tried to make his heartbeat slow down again.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to” Ryan softly replied as he sat down by his best friend. “You look troubled. If you need to talk then I’m here, remember?”

“Naah, it’s nothing really. Just wondering what really happened to that girl”

“Yeah, me too. I know you didn’t do it. I know you too well,” Ryan smiled before giving Jesse’s arm a light squeeze. “I know what you’re capable of and what you’re not.”

“Thanks” Jesse smiled, giving his friend a quick hug. He knew he could count on Ryan. Despite their hard times and arguments, they had always stuck together in the end. He was grateful for having such a loyal friend.

“Isn’t it just sweet?” a familiar voice echoed through the room, seemingly angry.

Jesse let go of Ryan and turned only to be met with dark cold eyes. What was he doing here?

“I heard about the things you did last week!” Chris Wilson didn’t hesitate, not caring whether Ryan was there either. “You disgust me, Jess!” he spat at his co-worker as he stepped further into the room.

“Hey, he’s innocent!” Ryan was aggravated as he stood up to protect his friend.

“Hmph, you’re an idiot!” he chuckled, shaking his head in obvious disgust. “He’s lying and I can’t believe you trust what he says. He’s a damn rapist!”

“Just get the hell outta here; stop talking bullshit until you can back it up!” Ryan hissed. He wouldn’t let anyone talk bad about Jesse. Especially after what Jesse had just been through.

“I can” Chris smirked as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of dim pictures. He held them up quickly for display before throwing them on the floor and leaving; slamming the door shut behind him.

Jesse was in a momentary state of shock, only staring down at the pictures. He could barely see what were on them, but he did see what it was.

Reaching down, Ryan picked up a couple of the photos and looking at them. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He felt the hate rise in him. Not towards Jesse, but towards Chris. These pictures could only be fakes! Jesse could never do such things. Or could he?

He looked down on his friend, noticing that he was in obvious pain, not physical but mental pain. This was tearing him in two. “Jesse?” he questioned before handing the photos to him.

Without hesitation Jesse took the photos. He had already seen what was on them, but he had to see again. He had to know whether his eyes were deceiving him. He flipped them over, so he was no longer staring at the blank white side.

In his hands, he saw proof enough for a conviction. He saw several photos of himself. A young girl on her hands and knees and himself positioned behind her. Jesse felt his heartbeat quickening extremely and his hands began to quiver violently. He was frightened.

Ryan was watching his best friend being torn completely apart at that very moment. He saw stray tears start to fall from his ever so sparkling eyes. A shiver went through his body and he decided to stay by his friend and support him.

“Chris, you bastard!” he yelled as he stormed after him in an attempt to hopefully beat the truth out of him. However, much to his surprise, Chris was expecting it. Ryan had always had a short temper so it was obvious to Chris he was going to follow him.

Seconds later, brass knuckles connected with Ryan’s forehead, breaking the skin, blood instantly gushing from above his eyebrow. The punch was so powerful it managed to knock him straight to the floor, a loud thud audible when he fell onto the hard concrete.

Inside the office, Jesse could hear the commotion, the pictures falling to the ground as he rose to go see what was going on. Once he came out in the hallway, he was shocked at the sight before him. Chris was literally beating down Ryan, his face covered in blood as he was lying motionless on the floor.

Unfortunately for Jesse, Chris was faster to react than himself and before he even realized it, Chris pounced on him, the merciless metal wrapped around his knuckles smashed into his stomach. The pain was intense, causing Jesse to buck hard, a whimper being pulled from him as he fell to his knees, clutching his stomach.

Coughing and nearly gagging, Jesse struggled to get back on his feet, but it was futile. Less than another second passed before a sharp blow to the side of his temple sent him mercilessly to the ground. He felt as if the world spun around him, his thoughts and emotions swirling inside him in an everlasting chaos. He was breathing harshly, not really getting any oxygen after the first punch. That along with the sudden dizziness caused him to completely collapse, everything turning black.