Part One

As parties go, Jean's birthday bash was one of the best that Julian had attended in years. The right combination of people, a terrific nightclub, a superior band, with an equally superior sound system, and an open bar made it a party people would be talking about for years.

Julian hadn't taken advantage of the bar, though, much to the chagrin of her best friend and birthday girl, Jean.

"Come on," Jean whined, as she waved to get the attention of one of the buff shirtless male waiters. "Daddy bought a lot of champagne. You should have a glass."

When the waiter approached with his silver tray balanced on his upturned palm, Julian reached past the champagne flute and took a crystal glass of water instead.

"Ooo, you!" Jean punched her friend's arm and then made a mock movement of her hand, exaggerating the damage the punch had inflicted to her fist. Jean had always thought that Julian was one of her prettiest friends, but it was her fit and trim body that really impressed her.

She knew Jules worked out several times a week, and had even gone to the gym with her on occasion. It wasn't a 'normal' gym, though. Oh sure, they had all of the standard equipment that you would find at a Golds, or an LA Fitness, but the focal point of the gym was the regulation boxing ring in the center of the workout area.

"You know I have to work tomorrow morning, sweetie," the black haired woman said as she sipped her water and then put her arm around her friend's shoulder and pulled her in close. "I can't be hung over," she added. "Besides, I have to leave soon."

"How're you getting home? Do you have a ride?"

"Oh, I'll just call a cab," Jules replied as she released her grip on her friend.

"You be sure you do," a look of concern came over Jean's face as she placed her champagne glass down on the table. "This is a great club, but it's in sort of a rough neighborhood. And just last month a woman got raped by that gang over on the west side." Jean shook her head. "It's not safe out there at night."

Jules nodded towards the dance floor. "I know, I'll get home safe, now let's go dance!"

The two wove their way through the gyrating crowd of partiers and joined 'the girls' on the dance floor. The bass from the huge speakers thumped loudly, vibrating everything and everyone, but not as much as Jules' heart thumped inside her chest. She glanced at the clock over the DJ's booth and decided she would stay another half an hour.

An hour later, the band took its break and Jules used it as her excuse to make her exit. She gave Jean a kiss on the cheek and a playful spank on her ass, and headed out of the club.

It was surprisingly hot outside for being after midnight. Not that Jules minded the heat; in fact, like most things in life, she liked it hot. Unlike most women she knew, she liked to sweat. Well, normally not in her little black dress, but at the gym she found it somewhat erotic. She liked to watch as the guys worked out, intent on their reps, the sweat dripping off of their muscled bodies. The sight always propelled her to work that much harder at her own repetitions.  

Tony's was not a gym that the fruit loops went to to socialize and pick up dates. No, 'her gym' was a real gym that catered to those serious about conditioning, boxing, and the martial arts.

Julian looked up the street in both directions and saw that the streets were fairly deserted. No cabs about, that was for sure. They would start cruising the area in another hour when the clubs in the area began to close, but right now she was out of luck unless she actually called for one.

Looking to the north, along the row of warehouses that lined the street in the direction of her apartment, she considered her options. She could go back inside and make that call, or she could just hoof it. It really wasn't that far, maybe a mile, and it seemed so calm...and quiet. And the heat felt so good. The heat made her hot.

That thought made her smile. The heat made her hot! Not temperature hot...hot as in aroused. And the thought of walking through the deserted streets in the heat made her plenty aroused.

That did it! Against Jean's advice, she set out down the sidewalk, her black high heels echoing a click clack as she walked. She considered removing her heels, to feel the hot sidewalk under her bare feet, but then she also enjoyed the sound of the heels reverberating off the building walls around her.

There was very little traffic, and as Julian continued to venture into the deserted warehouse district, the isolation pressed in on her from all sides. She felt the heat radiating off the brick facades, and the pavement beneath her feet, and the space between her legs. She ducked her head to loop the strap of her little black clutch around her neck so that it hung under her left arm. With her hands free now, she let them roam down her firm body, feeling her stomach and waist through the thin fabric of her skimpy dress.

Looking around to see if she was truly alone, she inched her dress up and put her hands behind her to feel the hot flesh of her tight bum. Her flesh was moist, and when her right hand came around to her front to feel the fabric of her g-string panties, she felt moistness there as well.

A sound to her left made her withdraw her hands and quickly pull her dress down. There was something there, but she couldn't see anything or anyone. Probably an alley cat. It got her heart racing, though, and her imagination, too.

What if it wasn't a cat? What if it was a person? Yes, a man. A big man. A man who would come up behind her and grab her, overpower her, have his way with her. Was that her fantasy? Yes, she supposed it was. Was that why she chose to walk alone down a dark street in the dead of night? Well...yes, she supposed it was.

A slight sound behind her made her head whip around. There was a figure there, walking about a block back, in the same direction that she was. Fuck! Another one strode silently on the opposite side of the street. Jules increased her pace, wishing now she had removed her heels. If she had to run she would just leave them behind.

In the darkness, she picked out three more shapes in front of her, moving in her direction. A few seconds later, two more immerged from between the buildings to join them.

Who were these people? Should she cross the street to avoid walking past them? That would give a clear signal that she was avoiding them. Would it seem odd? Who cares!

She stepped off the sidewalk and began to cross the street. Her heart raced faster as the shapes approaching her did the same. This did not look good at all. A faint reflection ahead on her left attracted her attention and she noticed movement in a shadowed doorway. There was somebody there.

Julian altered her course to remain in the street. Three or four shapes stepped out of the doorway on an intercept course. By now the two behind her had closed the distance, and the ones ahead were only fifteen yards away.

She was being surrounded.