Kelsey kept profusely apologizing over and over again as Aubry spoke. Amazing as she was, Aubry just kept telling her it that wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t her fault, I knew that. I just hated what had happened to her.
Why didn’t someone save her? Someone should have noticed. Why didn’t anyone notice? Why didn’t I notice? I mean, she had been in my school all the way through high school, and I hadn’t even known her name. I wish I could have saved her!
Suddenly, she broke down into streams of tears and heartbreaking sobs. Brandon got up, extricating himself from Bri and sat with her on her bed. He put his arm around her shoulder and let her bury her face into his shoulder.
“It’ll be okay, Aub. It’s over. It’s over. You’re not there,” he whispered to her over and over again.
Her grip on my hand tightened, and I squeezed back to let her know that I was there with her. I was there with her, and I was never going anywhere ever again. I was never letting her go.
She continued as she told us about how it was the day before her fifteenth birthday. I remembered her telling me about how she had tried to hang herself that night. From the amount of tears and the way her voice shook, I figured that what I heard wasn’t the full story. She took a breath and choked back a loud sob.
She made a big deal about how she didn’t lock the door to her bedroom that night. She said that she made a careless mistake when didn’t lock the door. I had a bad feeling.
At that point, Kelsey began bawling incredibly hard. She obviously knew what she was going to say before Aubry said it. The rest of us just looked sick with worry.
“It was close to midnight. I can remember the bright red letters mocking me as I was held down. Eleven twenty-four, they read. I looked around at everything in the room to distract myself, but the numbers from the clock were etched into my vision and mocked me. I tried to fight! I did fight! B-But I couldn’t! No matter how hard I fought, no matter how much I screamed or kicked, he didn’t stop.” She sobbed and buried her face further into Brandon who was trying to soothe her even though his tears were being soaked up by her hair.
I scooted my chair closer to her and rubbed calming circles into her shoulder and neck with the hand that she wasn’t holding. I think we all knew what was going to be said, we just didn’t want to believe it.
“I woke up that night at eleven twenty-four with Sunny on top of me. By the time I realized what was going on and woke up all the way, it was too late. I kicked, I screamed, I punched, I pushed. I tried everything, but he didn’t stop! H-He raped me that night.”
My mind went wild. My hand tightened around her hand, and I drew a deep breath in. Screw beating him up, I was going to kill the bastard! He was going to die a very slow and painful death.
Everything in the room seemed to stop. Everyone seemed to be crying at that point. Her sister was bawling uncontrollably into her husband’s chest. Tommy had a few tears leaking out of his eyes as his fists were tightly balled. Mom and Bri were crying rapidly while holding each other’s hands. Brandon was swaying Aubry slightly while she caught her breath from her confession. Everyone wished that they could change what happened to her, but we couldn’t. No one can change the past.
I stared at the girl that I loved so much. My chest ached for her and everything that she went through. She didn’t deserve it, any of it. I simply kissed the back of her hand gently just to let her know that I was there with her. I loved her still. I always would.
Her eyes snapped to mine as soon as my lips touched her skin. I gently wiped off some of her tears that ran down her face. I couldn’t change what happened, but I could help her through it and try to understand her.
However, I was still going to find that Sunny guy and kill him. He deserved it.
She then went on to tell us about how she tried to kill herself that same night. He broke her so badly that she thought suicide would have been better. I hated him. She instinctively touched the scar from the rope.
I touched it gently with her and ran my thumb over it. I was just trying to will the pain of that memory away. I didn’t want her to hurt.
“That night, when my suicide attempt was unsuccessful, I decided that I was meant to keep living. I thought that I was supposed to be here for some reason. However, Sunny reminded me before he left that night that he’d be back. I already knew that it meant he’d bring friends with him.”
My stomach churned at that evil thought, and I let out a small grunt.
“I wouldn’t have been able to live through that. I would have rather died than continue to be raped and tortured every night until I was able to leave.”
Kelsey cried harder at that statement. That reaction let me know that was what happened to her before she left. Every bit of annoyance, anger, or bitterness towards her vanished right then.
“That morning, I went to Demetri. Demetri is a drug lord. He has the biggest drug operation in the state. He has many men that work for him, I knew that he could protect me, and he always had a soft spot for me. Well, really, more of a soft spot for my mother, but also for me because of her. So, I went to him, and told what happened the night before. I played with his heartstrings and asked him for protection. I-I needed protection.”
I squeezed her hand and nodded at her, kissing her hand again.
“That was why I took his deal when he offered it. He offered me the protection I needed as long as I sold the drugs that he supplied me with. I needed that protection, Aid.” She sobbed as she looked over at me.
“Yes, Aub, you did. I agree,” I reassured her gently.
“No, you don’t understand! His drugs were the ones that I eventually sold to your dad! The ones that killed him. I should have—”
“Done exactly what you did,” I said firmly and wiped her tears away. “You . . . You are so damn brave, Aubry.”
She scoffed at my words and tried to move away.
“No, Aub.” I kissed her forehead softly, making her falter. “You did what you had to do. I’d much rather you sell drugs than to not have you here with me. My dad chose to leave, Aub. You didn’t do anything but try to live. You did the best you could with the things you were given. He chose death, and you chose life.” I stroked her cheek.
“Please don’t listen to what I said before. I was hurt and angry. Listen to me now . . . I love you. I am so glad that you made it out, that you kept on living. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Aubry, please stop blaming yourself. I know what I said before, but I was so wrong. You are not the reason he is dead. He is the reason he is dead. If you weren’t there, someone else would have been . . . I love you, and I am so sorry that you went through all of that. I wish I could have helped you.” I stroked her hair softly and let her cry into my chest.
I was such an idiot before. I couldn’t believe that she even forgave me for everything that I did and said while we were apart. I love her. I was going to spend every day making it up to her . . . after I kill Sunny.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Happy
Aiden
It had been a few days since we had found out about Aubry’s past, and I was fuming—fuming at Sunny, at her dad, and at every single other person who had ever even attempted to touch her without consent. However, most of all, I was pissed at myself. She wouldn’t have even been in the hospital having to try to learn how to move again if I would have just listened to her. I should have just listened to her!
“Aubry . . .” I heard Kelsey’s hoarse voice speak from behind me.
Aubry looked past my shoulder and immediately caught sight of her sister. Kelsey was crying again, making Aubry’s eyes soften. Kelsey had been doing pretty much nothing, but crying for the past few days.
Aubry loved her sister, it was plain to see. No matter if she left her or not, she’d always love her. Aubry was so forgiving to everyone, it was an absolutely beautiful trait to have.
“Little Bee, I-I’m so sorry. I-I-I don’t, I don’t even know what to say other than I’m s-sorry. I just, I’m just . . . this is
all my fault. I-I’m so sorry!” she said as she broke down in sobs again. It had been a regular occurrence since she found out about everything.
Aubry shot a panicked look from her sister, to Mark, to me. She was nervous for her sister. I stepped around the bed to the other side and guided Kelsey closer to Aubry. I sat Kelsey on the edge of the bed.
Brandon, Bri, and Tommy all sat awkwardly on the couch while trying not to intrude on any sisterly bonding.
“Thank you.” Aubry mouthed to me with a small smile.
“Kels, listen to me. It is not your fault,” Aubry said gently and made Kelsey look at her. “What he did had nothing to do with you. Even if you hadn’t left, he probably would have done it anyways. He was a sick psycho. Listen to me, Kels. You wouldn’t have been able to stop it. Like you said yourself, you wouldn’t have been able to take me with you, it was too dangerous. I don’t blame you. I’m glad you left! I’m glad you got out!” Aubry said eloquently as she hugged her sister to the best of her abilities with a barely working body.
The speech mirrored the other ones she had been giving Kelsey for days. She still just felt so horrible, though . . . We all did. We all hated what Aubry had to endure throughout her childhood. Kelsey blamed herself for it, though while the rest of us blamed Sunny and her parents.
I understood it to an extent. I mean, she did leave Aubry with those people. Speaking as someone with younger sisters, I would have felt like shit too, but Kelsey was just as messed up as Aubry was. She couldn’t be held accountable for the things that happened to Aubry. She wasn’t one of the psychotic people who screwed with her. The people who touched the both of them were sick! They needed to pay. I had already resolved to myself that after Aubry got out of the hospital, I would track Sunny down and make him pay.
“Kels, why don’t you and Mark go down to the cafeteria to have some lunch? Get out of the room for a while. When you get back, I want to hear nothing about how you’re sorry or anything anymore. Remember what the doctor said, it’s the stress that is causing the pain. It’s not good for the little one! So, that is enough, understand? None of this has been your fault, and I love you. So, when you come back from eating, I want you to tell me about your life and catch me up on everything,” Aubry said softly.
“Okay,” Kelsey whispered and let Mark lead her out of the room.
“And you,” Aubry said as she tried to point at me. “You take a nap on the couch. You’ve barely slept for the past few nights since you’ve been sleeping in the chair. You need some rest. I’d send you home, but you’re a stubborn idiot!” she said with a serious face.
“What? No, I’m fine I—” I began, but she narrowed her eyes at me.
“It’s not up for debate. Take a nap. Or I swear, Aiden, I will call your mom in here and tell her to make you go home.”
I scoffed at her and crossed my arms in contempt.
“B, Bri, and Tom will be here with me. Aiden, baby, take a nap. I’ll be here when you wake up. It’s okay, I’m okay. I’m not disappearing or anything,” she said softly and beckoned me over to her. She kissed my cheek softly and gave me a serious look. “Sleep, Aiden.”
I huffed but made my way to the couch that everyone had just vacated. I guess a nap could be nice.
“Hah! She doesn’t even have to be able to walk to kick your ass!” Brandon and Tom chuckled as I laid down to snooze.
“You two shut up, or I’ll tell Dana that you said that you’re bored and volunteered to watch all three little girls for the whole summer. We all know that Cece and your two sisters can get into some serious mischief and messes. So, do you want to continue making fun?”
“No ma’am, we’re sorry!” Tommy immediately answered making everyone in the room laugh.
***
Aubry
Aiden was finally trying to rest on the couch. He was so super protective, regretful, and angry for a few days after I had told him the whole truth about my life. He had even been insisting on sleeping in an uncomfortable chair right next to my bed so he could hold my hand. It was cute, but he needed some rest. He needed to take care of himself.
I tried to get him to go home, but that was a pointless effort. I mean, I barely got him to sleep on the couch five feet away from me! He said he’d finally leave when I left. I loved him and his clinginess was almost endearing, but he really needed to take care of himself.
Everyone was kind of starting to drive me crazy with their sorrow after they found out—especially my sister, I didn’t blame her, so she didn’t need to blame herself. I had it easy compared to her, I couldn’t have endured everything for years like she had. That was why I had to seek out Demetri and make that deal. I would have rather died than to live like she had. She was just trying to survive.
I talked quietly with the boys and Bri for a bit as Aiden took his nap and Kelsey was eating. Bri promised that she’d bring Cece by to see me. That made me happy because I missed her. It had only been a couple of days since I had seen her last, but Cece made me feel normal. She made me feel less broken like I was actually going to get better one day.
That was something else entirely. I was progressing, but it was a very slow process. The movement in my body was gradually getting better, but it was taking a long time. The doctors had said that it was normal after the brain injury and trauma, but it was annoying. I just wanted to walk! Heck, I’d even settle for being able to sit up on my own! I knew that there was a long road ahead with a lot of physical and mental therapy. I just hoped that I would eventually get there.
My memories were quite fuzzy too. I could remember everything, but some stuff were rather hard to conjure up in my head. I was having particular issues with recent things from before the attack, even some memories from after. The doctors said that they suspected I’d have problems with my short-term memory forever, along with my breathing. I’d be permanently messed up because of those two psychos!
I was so angry at those men who hurt me. I was so messed up, and I felt helpless. I did not like that feeling at all. Not to mention, the pain.
My pain was sometimes so excruciating that I couldn’t even breathe properly until I fell asleep. They said that the injuries in my ribs would take months and months to heal from all the previous trauma to them. Doctor Reed even said that he didn’t expect them to ever heal completely properly. He said that they’d be forever weak after they did finally heal. There was another thing to be angry about.
I wished that I could get my hands on them. I wished that I could pay back every single person that harmed me in the first place. I wanted to show everyone that I was strong. I wanted to let everyone know that I was not a little girl anymore. I was a force!
After a few more minutes, Kelsey and Mark reentered my room. Kelsey looked visibly happier. She was glowing as she smiled at me.
“Better?” I asked with a slight smile.
“Much . . . me and the baby are much happier now that I’ve calmed. Food has magical powers,” she said as she patted her almost flat stomach endearingly.
“Ah, Kelsey. I thought that was you.” We all heard from the door.
My heart instantly leapt into my throat. I looked at the door with wide eyes. I felt anger surge through me. He looked extremely ill as he spoke, like he could drop dead at any moment.
“I just saw your face for a second, but it was like looking into a mirror. How could I not recognize you?” He paused as he walked all the way into the room. He shut the door silently and looked around. His eyes landed on mine, and he smirked at my predicament.
“My daughter, the good daughter,” he said and crossed to stand in front of her.
Kelsey was frozen as she stared at him wide eyed. She looked like she wanted to scream, throw up, and run all at the same time.
“Did I hear that right? You’re pregnant . . . Congratulations. I can’t wait to be a grandpa,” he said as if we were a normal family.
His hand went to her stomach, but right before he made contact with her, Mark caught his wrist. “You
will not touch her ever again. You will have nothing to do with our child!” Mark said in a menacing voice.
My father scoffed but withdrew his hand cautiously. He never did like an actual fight. He just liked to smack around people who he knew posed no threat.
“Is that anyway to talk to your child’s grandfather, son?” he said as if he was a stand-up guy or something.
“After everything you put these two girls through? Hell yes. You deserve a whole hell of a lot more than mere words,” he stated through gritted teeth as he moved Kelsey directly behind him.
My dad had the nerve to look enraged by Mark’s words.
“Cut the shit, father. What do you want?” I asked in a hard voice.
His eye flitted to me, and he sneered in my direction. “I was here for my daughter, the one that I actually claim,” he spoke with a smirk on his face as if he thought his words would hurt me.
I scoffed at him and bit out a humorless laugh. “Oh no, daddy dearest, your words hurt me so very much. What ever will I do?” My voice dripped with sarcasm as I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“Look if you stopped by just to talk to Kelsey then shoo; no one wants you here and Kelsey will not talk to you. Goodbye!” I said bitterly and then added, “Besides don’t you have a butt-buddy to go tend to or something?”
“You little—” he began walking towards me.
He took a total of two steps before Aiden was up from the couch and was standing in front of him, blocking his path to me.
Well, I guess he was not napping.
“That’s far enough,” Aiden stated with a hard push to my father’s shoulders.
My father stumbled backwards several steps. “Oh, and what are you? Her guard dog?” He laughed out loud. “Honestly, girl, you’ve downgraded big time since Demetri.” My father laughed in Aiden’s face.
Aiden took a couple steps forward as he narrowed his eyes at him.
“Aiden . . .” I warned aloud.
I definitely didn’t want a fist fight to break out in the middle of the hospital room. “Look Frank, I think you should probably get home to your wife, Sunny. Just leave us alone.”
Fighting For Life Page 73