Accused by a Female Passenger

I shook Aileen off. “You’re insane. Get your head checked.”

I thought it was just a farce. Once I pulled the dashcam footage, everything would be cleared up. However, I underestimated just how vicious this woman was.

…

Back at my rental room, I was about to export the video when my phone suddenly started vibrating nonstop. Notifications came flooding in. There were hundreds of text messages, and even my social media account was popping up with endless friend requests.

My hands trembled as I played the video that was constantly being sent to me.

Onscreen, Aileen was sobbing hysterically. Her voice was hoarse with emotion as she accused me of rape.

My shout of claiming to be a woman was cut out completely, leaving only the footage of me red‑faced and flustered. I looked like I was trying to explain myself.

The caption was horrifying:

[Ride-Hailing Horror! Perverted Driver Rapes Drunk Female Passenger, Then Walks Out of Police Station Using Connections!]

[Victim’s Boyfriend Breaks Down on the Spot. Police Suspected of Cover-Up!]

The comment section was filled with hundreds of thousands of messages, all cursing me.

[Why does a monster like this deserve due process? Just torture him to death!]

[I know where he lives! Anyone coming with me? I’ve got a knife. Today, we deliver justice!]

[Castration’s too easy on him. Tie him up and let a pack of dogs have him. Let him have a taste of it himself!]

My phone number and home address were pinned at the top. Even photos of my parents had been edited into funeral portraits.

Before I could even catch my breath, my landlord called. “Casey, you piece of trash! Get the hell out of my apartment right now! Someone just poured glue into my door lock and dumped feces outside! How am I supposed to rent out this place now?”

I tried to explain, “It’s all lies. Please listen…”

“Hell no! I’ve never seen a pervert like you! Forget the penalty. Pack your shit and get out now!”

Then, the ride‑hailing platform notification came in: [Due to suspected involvement in a serious crime and the severe negative social impact caused, your account has been permanently banned. We'll fully cooperate with police investigations.]

My job was gone. My home was gone. The whole world was pushing me toward death.

I collapsed in the darkness, gripping the dashcam memory card in my hand. As my hand trembled uncontrollably, I plugged it into my computer. The screen flickered, then a gray dialog box popped up: [Severe physical damage. Data cannot be read.]

In that instant, my blood turned to ice.

I suddenly remembered Aileen outside the police station, lunging at me like a rabid dog. In the chaos, my bag fell to the ground, and she stomped on it hard.

Just then, violent banging erupted from outside my door.

Nelson’s beast‑like roar was heard next. “Casey! You cowardly piece of shit! Get out here and die!”

Aileen’s sobbing voice followed. She sounded pitiful and fragile. “Guys, it’s here! That animal who ruined me is hiding in there! Please help me… I really don’t want to live anymore…”

Through the peephole, I saw the hallway packed with people. Nelson stood at the front, thick‑necked and scowling with a baseball bat in his hand.

…

I called the police immediately, but before they could arrive, the security door was forced open. Nelson charged in without giving me a second to speak and swung the bat straight at me.

I screamed and collapsed to the floor. Cold sweat instantly soaked my back.

“Fucking bastard! How dare you lay a hand on my woman?!” He was completely unhinged. Every blow was filled with pure malice. “I’ll skin you alive if it’s the last thing I do!”