"No," Erica said. "You can't mean that."

"I mean it," Tim said. "We've come over to fuck you. We're going to give you a thrill."

"No!" Erica screamed.

She went for the door with all her strength. She flailed her arms and cut at the boys with her fingernails. Bill caught her about the waist, but she scratched and drew blood from his arm. He grunted and let her go. She clawed at Carl's eyes and felt him jump away. For a moment she was free of them.

She jerked open the door and forgot about the chain. Fumbling, she tried to jerk the chain off the hook, but then someone grabbed her arm. She turned slightly and kicked out with her foot. She connected with a solid blow. She saw Danny's hands go to his crotch and his face turn a bright red. He keeled over and started moaning in pain.

She got the chain off the door and was almost outside.

"Bitch!" Tim screamed.

He grabbed her hair and she tried to bite him. He slammed a hard fist into the small of her back. She got her teeth into his hand. He screamed as she drew blood. She wouldn't release his hand and he began to hit her with his free hand. Twice he connected to the side of her head. She tasted her own blood. Then someone else was grabbing at her.

"Hold her arms, Goddamn it!"

"I can't! She keeps scratching me!"

"Bitch!"

Again a hand connected against the side of her head. This time it dazed her. She released her hold on Tim's hand a little. Tim jerked his hand out of her mouth and began to strike her with both hands. Again and again he hit the side of her head. She found herself sliding down to the floor.

"Goddamn bitch!" Tim muttered. "Carl, shut the door."

"What if somebody heard all that?"

"Hell, I knew someone must have heard it. We've got to get her out of here if we're going to get any. Get Danny to bring the car around."