“Woof, woof!” The words were said tauntingly and had a sarcastic ring to it that was not lost in the sound of the rain.

It was raining mildly. Not enough to soak you even with an umbrella, but if you sat on a bench with no cover you would be rather wet in about four or five minutes. The young woman sitting there did not look up. She clenched the bottom hem of her hooded sweatshirt with her hands.

The three men who smelled of cigarettes and alcohol smirked and chuckled. One stepped forward and spoke. “Do you wear that because you’re a bitch? I bet you do! Woof, woof, little bitch. Woof, woof!” The other two were still laughing as she clenched her teeth. She was infuriated and shaking. Her shakes caused the tags to clink and jingle on her dog collar.

The dog collar she wore everywhere brought on these taunts more times then she cared for. Normally she simply walked away and ignored it. However, there was no escape this time. She was trapped on this wet bench in the dark and rain. The man moved closer. He was so close that she could feel his breath on her.

“Woof, woof! Woof, woof!” It echoed in her ears and she snapped. In a fluid motion she was on her feet and her fist was slammed into his gut. The man took a sharp breath, stumbled back and collapsed to his knees. He coughed and sputtered as she stared at him with hatred and anger in her eyes. It was quickly replaced by fear as the other two men began to beat her. She realized her mistake to late.

As the rain slowed, she was bleeding in a mangled heap of sharp pain. Her body was soaked and muddy. Her precious dog collar had been ripped from her neck and lay frayed and dirty. The tags were bent, the crystal like ornament shattered, the tiny bell flattened to the point where it would no longer ring. Her mind would only hold out for a little longer in consciousness. The last thing she heard through the sound of the dark and slowing pitter of the rain was the man’s voice, sarcastic and hateful. “That’ll teach you little bitch. Woof, woof!”