Christian (The Mitchell/Healy Family #3)(28)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“Why?” She cried out. “Why did he do it? How could he hold me and get off on hurtin’ me? How could he think that I’d be okay about it? He took everything from me, Ethan. He took everything,” she repeated.

I held all of her weight as she broke down even more pleading with me over things I had no way of answering. The sheer emotions that weakened my ability to respond were heart wrenching. I pulled her close to my chest, allowing her to let it out. She needed to know I wasn’t going anywhere.

Suddenly she backed away, spinning around so that I couldn’t see her face. “I just want it to go away. I can’t stop thinkin’ about him bein’ inside of me. I can feel the pain every time I close my eyes. He violated me so many times. He took me like I was rag doll. He said I wanted it.” While she sobbed, covering her face with her hands, I walked up behind her, pulling her arms down to thread our fingers together. When she didn’t pull away I kissed the top of her head. “Why would I want to be violated? I told him to stop. I begged him to stop hurtin’ me. Why didn’t he? Why didn’t he stop hurtin’ me?”

Though I didn’t exactly know what to say, I knew she was safe now. “You’re goin’ to be okay, because I won’t let this destroy you. We’ll figure it out together, no matter how long it takes.”

The most reassuring thing happened after I’d made that claim. Chris turned around and wrapped her arms around me, placing her head on my chest. “I can’t do this without you. I thought I could, but you know it’s not true. I feel so lost.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you now, and I’m goin’ to make sure you find yourself again if it’s the last damn thing I ever do.”

Chapter 18

Christian

I don’t even remember the drive to that old abandoned house, and for me to unconsciously want to revisit that place made me cringe. Had Ethan not been there I don’t know what would have happened. Due to my recent ordeal, I was unable to make rational decisions. I couldn’t care less about returning to my classes, or keeping up with my studies, even though I’d requested my work from my professors.

All I wanted to do was lay around and dwell in my own misery, waiting for the day I woke up and the pain ceased to exist. Imagining that day was the only hope that I had left, and as the minutes passed I was starting to become increasingly concerned that it may never happen.

Ethan didn’t have to drag me out of that house. I walked in front of him, hoping to never visit it again. He was adamant about me staying at his place, but I declined. I knew I’d be crying all night long, and he’d feel obligated to stay up with me even though he knew he had class in the morning. Just because my life was going to shit, didn’t mean his had to as well.

When Ethan dropped me off at my house I felt scared about walking inside and seeing Becca. Somehow I was going to have to pretend that we’d never talked about my experience with Seth. It irked me that she couldn’t give me the benefit of the doubt and believe that I’d been assaulted by one of her so-called friends.

Even with the world closing in around me, I still longed to be accepted. I wanted normalcy, however I was able to get it.

I hadn’t expected the house to be filled with people, and I certainly didn’t expect a bunch of dirty looks as soon as I stepped foot through the threshold.

“Chris. We’ve been waitin’ for you to get back,” Becca said.

I hugged my sweater around the front of me feeling like everyone in the room was watching me. “What’s up?” I pretended to be calm, even though I was trembling.

“After speaking to everyone in the house we think it would be best if you moved out. It’s just not workin’ havin’ you here. We need a roommate that we can trust.”

“You can trust me,” I said in almost a whisper.

“Did you really tell Becca that Seth raped you?” The question came from across the room, and I was shocked to see that it was Mila.

I headed in the direction of my room, only getting halfway there before she was up in my face. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue you fuckin’ skank?”

I shoved her out of the way, getting inside of my room before she could catch me. Once my door was shut the yelling and banging began. “Open the door you little slut. Why can’t you talk to me face to face? Come out and look me in the eye and tell me that my boyfriend raped you. We both know it’s not true. You’re nothin’ but a trick he messed around with. When you found out he was spoken for you thought you could fuck with his life, didn’t you? You thought you could turn everyone against him?”

I sank down to the floor, covering my ears, but it still didn’t keep me from hearing her bashing me.

I hadn’t even noticed that all of my belongings had been tossed around the room. My clothes were ripped out of my dresser, and even my laptop was shattered in the far corner.

The more they yelled the more the room started spinning. I got nauseous, swearing that at any second I was going to fall unconscious. As quickly as I was able, I pulled out my cell phone and called Ethan. He’d just be arriving back to his place, but I knew he’d turn around to come get me.

With the loud slamming still going on in the background he picked up the call. “Hey, you okay?”

I was crying, but able to get out a few words. “I need you to come back and get me.”

“What’s that noise?”

“They went through my things. They broke my computer with all of my school work. They’re forcin’ me to move out, Ethan. They said they want me gone.”

“What the fuck? I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“What did I ever do to deserve this?” I literally began to bawl. They were laughing from the other side of the door, becoming enthused that they’d gotten to me in such a way.

“We’ll grab your stuff and you don’t ever have to go back there. Hang tight. I’m already in my car.”

All of a sudden I felt beating against the door my back was against. “Open up, whore. Someone’s here to give you a good time.”

I closed my eyes and prayed that they’d stop.

“Kick it in. I’ll record it and put it on YouTube,” I heard a female voice saying.

I quickly backed away from the door, watching as it opened without being kicked. “These doors are easy to jimmy open,” someone giggled.

Appearing in the doorway was the devil himself. Seth stood there, a big smile on his face as if he knew he was God’s greatest gift to the world.