Eliza sat on the bed, her hand handcuffed behind her back.
He had entered her room while she was lying on her bed. Caught by utter shock and surprise, she was momentarily immobilized by his sudden appearance.
"Be quiet," his command was menacing.
Eliza had been staying in the two-room apartment for the past month. It was in the upper market of the Californian border town and considered safe with security guards at the gate entrance.
On that fateful night, her fiancΓ©, Alan, was out of town and she did not expect any friends coming around.
The stranger was a big swarthy man. He latched the door and walked towards her. She felt helpless as he took her hand and pulled her off the bed.
"Please," she stammered, "if you want money, I'll give you what I have. Anything, but don't hurt me," she said.
"I don't want your money, lady, I've been watching you for a long time," he said. "I want you."
She realized from the tone of his voice that he was a Mexican.
He took out a switch knife and flicked it open. He rubbed the flat side of the blade against her face.
"You do as I say and nobody is going to get hurt, do you understand," he said.
He felt her trembling as she nodded numbly.
The man stroked her long hair and proceeded to unbutton her housecoat. He pushed the soft satin material off her shoulders and it slipped onto the floor. Eliza stood naked, wearing only her soft v-shaped panties.
The intruder took in the soft curves of her naked flesh; his eyes looked longingly at her firm full breasts. The cool of the air-conditioned room made her tremble. Involuntarily, her nipples stiffened and stood out.
"Take off your panties," he said.
She stood transfixed, unable to move.
"Do it," he said harshly.
With a sob, and tears running down her cheeks, she slipped the last protective thread from her body.