Fight Like A Girl

by Lindsey Owens

  “Oh… Hello, sir. Do you remember me, I am …” Grayson began, trying to make a good impression.

  “I don’t give a shit who you are, I just want this little bitch to get back home and clean the house like she should be doing.” Frank’s hand shot out and grabbed hold of Lilly’s arm yanking her toward him until she stumbled to the ground.

  “Grayson,” She squeaked, looking up at him for help. Fear stricken and terrified of what Frank would do to her if she got dragged away.

  “Excuse me.” Grayson hissed pushing Frank back away from Lilly.

  “Don’t push it, boy.” Frank seethed venom dripping from his every word. While his attention was on Grayson, Lilly scrambled away and ran behind Grayson’s legs quivering.

  “I don’t think she wants to go with you,” Grayson said flatly.

  “I don’t think she’s got a choice, not until she’s eighteen” Frank laughed eerily.

  “Are you who she’s so terrified of, are you the same reason why she’s coming to school with black eyes and bruises?” It was all clear to Grayson now. Frank was the reason why she so desperately wanted to train with him and why she obviously wasn’t quite as interested now. Frank sported a black eye.

  Frank laughed harder. “Get up Lilly and get your butt in the car before I…” He paused. “You don’t even want to know what I’m going to do.”

  Lilly yelped and quickly scurried toward Frank’s parked car. “Leave her alone… or I will have to call the police on you for underage...” Frank muttered leaving his sentence unfinished he turned on his heels he stomped back toward the car.

  Grayson watched dumbstruck as the man drove away with Lilly in the back seat. He couldn’t imagine what had just happened. Did she not realize that he could and would protect her from this man?

  Missing

  Chapter 18

  It had been a day since the incident with Frank and Grayson had yet to hear from Lilly. He was beginning to worry. Not carrying any longer that Frank didn’t want him around her, Grayson took it upon him to go over and see her.

  “Dad… I’m going to the neighbors behind us. Will’s old house to see his sister Lilly, make sure she’s alright.” Grayson called out to his father.

  “Is something the matter Gray?” Bryan O’Conner asked back. He pushed himself up and was walking into the kitchen where he had heard his son call, but Grayson had already left out the back door. He was making his way at a fast speed through the back yards.

  Deciding that she must have been sick or something, Bryan shrugged and returned back to his off work lounge chair in the den. He had been the chief of the state police for two years now and with so much work piling up on his desk at work during the warmer months lately he was tired. He had been seriously considering hiring an assistant.

  Grayson knocked hard on the back door he could hear footsteps across the kitchen flooring before the door was yanked open. “What do you want?” The groggily drunken voice of Frank boomed angrily.

  Grayson scowled. “I came for Lilly.”

  “That girl’s not interested in you, get lost.” Frank chuckled eerily.

  “I want to see her,” Grayson demanded pushing past Frank.

  “I said get lost.” Frank barked grabbing for Grayson.

  Grayson turned slightly angrily he scowled. He was determined to get to Lilly one way or another.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Grayson hissed.

  “I said get out of my house,” Frank said, his voice was stone cold and hard and he glared at the guy before him.

  “LILLY!” Grayson called as he continued to wander through the house. It didn’t look like he remembered it. It was dull looking compared to when Will was alive.

  “Where is she?” Grayson snapped as he turned to stare at Frank.

  “I told you she doesn’t want to see you.” Frank shrugged.

  Grayson rolled his eyes and continued through the house. Frank was hot on his heels until they came to the living room which he deposited himself on the couch and began sipping at a beer again.

  When Grayson came to Lilly’s room he was actually surprised to not find her in it. There was a bit of blood splattered on the floor, but there was no sign of Lilly anywhere.

  He shouted again. “LILLY! It’s me, Grayson, where are you?”

  He couldn’t hear her and he prayed he wasn’t too late. Stomping back into the living room Grayson was furious. “Where is she?” He snarled at Frank. He leaned down and grabbed Frank by the collar and shook him. Frank was out though. Passed out from all the drinks he had scattered around the living room and the scent of alcohol rolling around the room.

  Frank just grumbled but stayed passed out. Grayson snorted and slammed the man back into the couch. The house wasn’t that big. He would be able to find her if she was here. He had too.

  Grayson began at the first room he came to and flung the door open.

  Beaten and Bruised

  Chapter 19

  Lilly tried to think of what was happening… where was she? It was dark her and cold. Her body shivered from the cold concrete below her.

  She had thought she had heard a voice, but she couldn’t be sure. It didn’t matter anyway; her voice was gone. When Frank dragged her by her hair from the car after her day with Grayson, he had slammed her into the wall a few times, punched her, and even whipped her with his belt.

  Lilly could feel the blood coated scabs along her arms, back, thigh, and face. She couldn’t really move much, something bound her hand to somewhere but being so dark she couldn’t quite see what or where.

  It was probably the basement. She had never liked the place and flat out refused to go down there since Frank had shoved her down the stairs a few years ago. Her strength was pretty low and she shivered from the cold and lack of nutrition in her body. She was so hungry.

  When she had passed out from Frank beating her well she woke up here. She assumed she was tied to something since she couldn’t move much. She had tried to scream. Actually she had screamed for quite some time until her throat was sore and her voice was gone.

  Lilly listened quietly and then she heard it again. It was muffled, but there was a voice screaming above her. “Help!” She yelled as loud as she could, but it came out in a squeak and caused her to have a fit of coughs.

  Time passed slowly but after what seemed like hours had passed there was a light which began to trickle to her. Fluttering her eyes, trying to get them to adjust to the new change, Lilly looked up. It was the basement. At the top of the stairs stood a figure; tall, big, and scary looking, Lilly couldn’t make out who it was. It would probably be Frank to beat her for screaming.

  As she heard footsteps coming closer she squirmed back against the wall. “Lilly?” The person said as she moved.

  “Help,” she squeaked, her voice just barely above a whisper.

  “Oh my god,” He gasped as the figured scrambled toward her.

  Lilly knew this wouldn’t be Frank, but the thought scared her anyway. As the man wrapped his arms around her and felt her body for damage, Lilly tried to squirm away.

  “Take it easy.” He said. “It’s me, Grayson.” He had a flashlight in his hand, which Lilly had no idea where he had found it. The light in the basement had been out for years. Nobody went down here.

  “Gray?” She asked hoarsely.

  “Yeah it’s me, I’ll take care of you.” He murmured as he struggled with the bindings on her wrists. “I’m calling my dad.”

  “No.” Lilly squeaked, her eyes were wide and tears filled them, but Grayson frowned and stared at her.

  “What?” He choked. “He’s a cop. He’ll take care of this…”

  “No Frank won’t allow anyone to interfere; he’ll kill your dad or you. Please Gray…” she cried. Grayson had finally untied the first wrist and Lilly was clinging to him for dear life. “Please don’t,” she begged.

  “Fine” he groaned but quickly pulled out his cell and snapped a few photos to show his father soon, bu
t it might take some convincing to get Lilly to go to the police.

  Saved

  Chapter 20

  Grayson had successfully untied everything from Lilly. “Can you walk?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.” She mulled it over. She assumed so. She had pain everywhere, but last she knew her legs worked.

  “Well let me carry you for now,” Grayson said reaching down and pulled Lilly up into his arms.

  He carefully carried her upstairs and as the light from the surrounding house fell upon her body he tried not to burst with anger. Lilly’s body was covered in blood, cuts, and bruises. He masked his emotions from her and walked down the hall to Lilly’s room. Setting her on the bed he said, “we’re packing anything of immediate importance, everything else we’ll come back for when Frank’s at work.”

  “What?” She whimpered. “He’s here.”

  “The bastard’s passed out in the living room,” Grayson groaned. “Where’s your bag?” He asked searching around. “Ah, here we go.”

  “Grayson we can’t do this, he’ll kill you,” Lilly stated in a hushed whisper. “You have to get out of here before he finds you…”

  Grayson turned toward her with a pointed stern look, “I’m not leaving you here with him.”

  Lilly had tears in her eyes, but she nodded. “Okay.”

  She stood but nearly crumpled to the floor. “Wow wow wow.” Grayson sighed as he caught her and lifted her back onto the bed. “Now… what were you going for? I’ll get it. It’s more than obvious you need some sitting time.” He said still trying to hide his pained expression from her.

  “Right bottom drawer,” She said pointing toward the dresser. Grayson nodded and walked to the dresser “pull it out.”

  Grayson did as she requested. “No… all the way out.” She said softly.

  Grayson quirked an eyebrow and pulled the drawer free setting it down on the floor before peering inside. “Hmm… nice idea.” He mumbled grabbing the shoe box and replacing the drawer.

  They spent as little time as they had too, but enough that Grayson was satisfied with what Lilly had asked him to pack. He lifted her up into his arms and swung the duffle over his shoulder. “Now let’s get out of here.” He whispered as he pressed his head to Lilly’s and kissed her temple.

  It proved easier than Lilly had imagined it to escape. Frank was still passed out and probably would be for hours. She relaxed into Grayson’s chest as he carried her from the back yard. When Grayson stopped at his back door and reached forward she began to shuffle in his grip. “Wow wait, where are we going?” She whimpered.

  “You’ll stay here with me for a while. We’ll work on everything else later.” Grayson said turning the knob.

  “But your parents” Lilly worried.

  “Don’t worry about it.” He chuckled softly and made his way through the house.

  Sure enough, Grayson had easily passed by his mother in her office and his father in the living room watching television and straight up the stairs to his room. When they reached his room, Grayson locked the door and set her down on the bed. “You hungry? He questioned, “Thirsty maybe?”

  Lilly nodded. “Please.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back. Just don’t move.” He begged. Grayson hurried out the door. He wanted more than anything to fix her up before he let her go into the bathroom and look at herself in the mirror. She would freak out and he couldn’t deal with that.

  Hiding

  Chapter 21

  Grayson had tried his best to return to his room without questions, but his father caught him before he could. “So how was she, Gray?” His father asked.

  “Oh uh… how’s the game dad?” Grayson said trying to change the subject.

  “Grayson,” He said sternly. “What am I missing here?”

  “Nothing I just…” Grayson paused. He looked past his father toward the exit then back into his father’s eye “I have a guest in my room… I was just getting some snacks before we watch a movie.” He lied quickly. It hurt lying to his father, but Grayson knew Lilly wasn’t ready to admit anything to the police.

  “Oh, well don’t keep them waiting. Behave.” Grayson’s father barked in a light laughter.

  “Yes, sir.” Grayson nodded and quickly rushed by him.

  When Grayson returned he found Lilly curled up on his bed with her eyes shut. “Lilly?” he asked softly as he set his tray of goodies on the dresser.

  Lilly stirred slightly and Grayson gently shut the bedroom door and continued toward her. “Lilly,” he said again, this time sitting down on the bed beside her and brushing tendrils of hair away from her face.

  “Hmm.” She mumbled.

  “I got some food. You want to eat before you nap?” he grinned.

  “Thank you.” She murmured as she stretched and sat up.

  “I’ll put in a movie,” Grayson said quickly. It wasn’t often when he spent time with a girl and wasn’t doing ‘things’ with her. He was nervous and not fully sure what to do, a movie sounded like a good option.

  “Ooo yum.” Lilly cooed.

  Grayson chuckled as he met her eyes. “My mom makes great cookies.”

  “Yeah she does.” She muttered through a mouthful.

  Grayson plucked in a movie which was a safe bet, comedy. It wasn’t romantic, it wasn’t action filled, it was just a movie they could watch and share mutual space.

  “Gray…” Lilly said softly as he sat down beside her and began chewing on a cookie.

  He turned his gaze on her but remained silent. “Thanks.”

  A genuine smile crossed his lips and he nodded. “You should have told me before,” he said gently “but you’re welcome.”

  Together they ate their food and watched the movie. Every once in a while, Lilly would giggle and Grayson couldn’t help but grin at the beautiful sight.

  After a while the two fell asleep side by side, in the comfort of each other’s company.

  Challenge

  Chapter 22

  Over the next few weeks, Grayson would sneak Lilly around the house. After school, he would drag her to the gym with him and they would train side by side.

  “You’re getting pretty good.” Duke shrugged. “The body tone suits you.” He perked his eyebrows and smirked at her.

  Lilly let out a breath, “You know I’m not interested in you.” She said rolling her eyes.

  “Why.” He snorted stepping around the bag Lilly had been punching.

  “Does it matter? I’m not.” She said, kicking the bag.

  “You can’t like Gray…” Duke said teasingly, he grabbed Lilly around the waist and pulled her into his sweaty bare chest.

  “Let go.” Lilly hissed.

  “Make me.” He chuckled.

  Ordinarily, Duke wouldn’t mess with the girls that Grayson dragged around, but Lilly was different. Over the last few weeks she was strongly training at the gym, Duke grew attracted to her; especially after she began to fill out a bit more.

  “Get off,” Lilly snapped.

  “Maybe that’s what I’m trying to do…” Duke purred, trying to agitate her more.

  The sight of an annoyed Lilly aroused him. Duke had watched many of times when Lilly and Grayson would tramp around the gym screaming at each other, and Lilly seemed so hot and bothered to him, something he wanted to see more off.

  Duke held Lilly from behind; he pressed himself closer and roughly moved one hand down her body while the other firmly held around her waist and arms. Lilly stiffened; the touch of another man, other than Grayson, disgusted her.

  Grayson had been the sweetest man, her savior, her protector, and maybe someday her lover; but not Duke. Lilly may have been small, but she was being trained by the best. Gritting her teeth, Lilly growled as she lifted her foot and stomped hard on Duke’s toes.

  Duke was startled. His grip faltered and Lilly slammed her arms into his, prying herself free. As quickly as she was free she whipped around and round kicked Duke directly in the side.

&nb
sp; Duke laughed as he caught Lilly’s foot and yanked her forward, but she was ready for this. Instead of fighting to steady herself, Lilly swung out her fist and clobbered Duke in the jaw.

  “Ahg.” Duke huffed as his head rolled back slightly. His grip loosened on Lilly’s foot, allowing her to catch herself and re-steady her footing.

  “I’m not afraid to fight!” Lilly yelled.

  “Lilly come on… it’s just me,” Duke tried to reason with her.

  “I told you NO!" She growled.

  “What does he have that I don’t?” Duke cried out, slowly he took a step forward, trying to sooth Lilly. Instead, it made her more alert and she clenched her fingers into tight little fists.

  “Fine.” Duke snorted. “You’re not worth it anyway.”

  “Bravo,” Grayson called as he walked up between the two. His presence eased Lilly’s posture and she relaxed slightly. “Thank you Duke,” Grayson said. Duke nodded and Grayson turned around to face a stunned Lilly.

  “You did well sweetheart.” Grayson purred.

  “Good job” someone shouted and various people around the gym were now watching her, clapping, apparently pleased with her performance.

  “What?” Lilly questioned.

  “You passed your test.” Grayson shrugged. “You did great. I knew you didn’t like Duke and I knew he could easily provoke you…” Grayson shrugged. “Now, why don’t we go out and celebrate.”

  Grayson had done this many times in Lilly’s few months she had spent training with him. Though she never really caught on until people around the gym were clapping… she was happy he tried his best to challenge her.

  “If I recall someone’s birthday is today.”

  “Grayson how did you…” She gasped.

  Grayson chuckled. “I got ways.” He laughed. “Now let’s go eat.”

  Scary Man

  Chapter 23

  “I’ll take the bacon burger and fries,” Lilly told the waitress.

  “Thank you,” Grayson said as the woman nodded and walked away.