by Pua Ramona
“Aye! I’m gonna tell you now, you fuckers jump him, and we’re all fighting” Luka's voice carries over the crowd that's amassing.
Jackson tries getting up but I don’t give him a fucking chance. I yank a fistful of his shirt and I start swinging. He windmills his arms and hits me a few times, but I don’t feel anything.
“You raped her, you piece of shit” I spit at him, loud enough for the people standing close by to hear.
Silence falls over the group that had gathered around us. They all look at each other in confusion.
“That’s what she told you Hunter? Or did she tell you that I made her suck my dick too?” Jackson laughs through the blood pouring from his mouth. He starts throwing body shots, but it doesn’t stop me from handing him his ass. He jabs and hits me in the face and I taste blood. The metallic tang only fuels my rage further as I imagine the blood running down Sina’s arms as she cut herself infront of me. I imagine the blood and bruises that he left all over her body.
“She’s mine Hunter.” He whispers under his breath at me placing his foul mouth against my ear as we tussle.
I fucking snap. I throw jabs, swing my arms wide and land punches all over his body. I don't keep count, all I know is that I’m not going to stop until he’s dead or someone peels me away and I pity the fucker that tries to stop me from ending this sick fucker.
I catch him in the chin, throwing another right hook and I hear his jaw crack. But I don’t stop. “You fucking raped her, then you left her at the lake to die! Didn’t you??”
Another left hook to his side and I feel his ribs collapse under the force of my fist. “You raped her again! Once wasn't enough for you no? You dirty piece of shit!”
I throw a couple more punches and he falls to the floor in a ball. I don’t give a fuck that he’s bleeding, I don’t give a fuck that his eyes are swollen shut, I don’t give a fuck if he isn’t fucking breathing. I get on top of him and I just keep hitting.
“This is how she fucking felt when she couldn’t get away from you.” I see a beer bottle laying on the floor next to him. I snatch it up and smash it against the table. I feel someone grab my shoulder but I shove them away. I pull his sleeve up and I hold on to his arm and I fucking carve through his skin, making sure he feels everything Sina felt. I want him to know what he fucking did to her. I want him to know that he isn’t ever going to breathe the same fucking air that she breathes again. He starts yelling for help, but I don’t fucking stop. I cut him a few more times on both arms and say “That’s what you fucking did to her, you motherfucker!” I drop the broken beer bottle and throw one more punch and I hear his jaw pop again.
“He’s going to kill him.” Someone says but I don’t give a fuck. I hope I fucking do, he deserves to die.I pull my fist back so I can punch him again, and feel hands on both of my shoulders.
“Uso! You’re good. You did good” Luka says. Another pair of hands rest on my right arm. I look over and see Megan with her jaw set firm, and tears in her eyes.
She reaches for my bloody hand and she grasps it tight.
“You’re okay Eli. Let’s go home” she cries.
I can’t slow my heart rate and I’m having a hard time breathing. The whole place is quiet and no one says anything. Everyone keeps swinging their gaze from me to Jackson. Luka and Daniel help me up from the ground and hold onto me. I am fucking drained, not only physically, but mentally too.
“Sole! Yo, you guys are you choosing him over your own blood?” shouts one of the guys who I assume is probably related to them.
“Sis, come over here and help hold him up real quick.” Daniel says and switches his spot out with Megan.
“Say that again'' he says as he moves closer to the crowd.
The guy looks like he was ready to fight, but he’s no match for Daniel. I guess he feels the need to prove himself because he steps up to Daniel and says, “You just picked a white boy over your own family. That’s fucked up and you know it.”
Daniel doesn’t say a word as he throws a solid punch to the guy’s mouth and watches him drop to the ground in a heap.
“Fuck yeah we’re choosing him over that piece of shit. That guy that’s supposed to be aiga raped our fucking sister. He beat her then raped her and now she’s fucking laying in that hospital with wires hooked into her. She’s in a fucking coma ‘cause her own fucking blood left her to fucking die. Now you fucking tell me, who the fuck would you have chosen if it was your sister?” Daniel snaps. “Exactly! Now if you want to help that rapist out, I don’t give a fuck, but know that whoever helps him is dead to us.”
He looks over at Jackson and says, “We should’ve let him finish you off, but that would’ve been too easy. Death would be too sweet for you. I’ll feel better when they throw your sorry ass in prison. The guys in there will know what to do with a piece of shit like you.” I’ve never heard so much hate in Daniel’s voice before. He walks over and slides my arm from Megan's shoulders back to his.
“Get out of here and I'll clean up,” Marino says.
“How are you feeling?” Reese asks.
“I’m fine guys'' I say. My whole body is shot and I’m ready to go back to the hospital to Sina. Reese holds the door while Megan, Luka, and Daniel walk ahead of me.
“Hunter!” I turn at the sound of my name and find the guy that Daniel punched pointing right at me. Before I can move out of the way it’s too late. I hear the gun go off and I hit the floor hard. People are screaming, pushing and shoving trying to get out of the way. A second gunshot rings out and all I see is Sina’s face.
“Shit! Megan, he's fucking bleeding.” My eyes are getting heavy. “Come on Eli! Stay with me” Luka says.
“Medics are on their way,” Reese says.
“He’s losing a lot of blood Luka” Megan cries. She’s on the floor next to me trying to stop the bleeding. “He needs to go to hospital now!” she shouts. “The bullet hit him in the abdomen, if we don’t get him to the hospital now, we’re going to fucking lose him!”
“Fuck!” Luka grunts.
I grab his hand and say “It’s okay man.”
“Nah uce! Fuck that you didn’t beat that motherfucker’s ass just for you to die on me now” he cries. I can taste blood in my mouth and my vision starts to swim.
“Luka, I need your belt right now” Megan says. He takes off his belt and hands it to her as fast as he can.
“Okay sweetie, we’re going to move you a little so I can get the belt around you” Megan says calmly. Luka and Reese help to move me. She threads the belt around me and she starts tightening it.
“Fuck” I wince.
“I’m sorry, I have to stop you from bleeding Eli” she cries softly.
“Stay with us E, keep your eyes open” Luka pleads.
“Eli, come on man don’t do this” Reese says in a panic. My eyes are getting heavers and I can feel my body shutting down. Everything feels like it’s happening in slow motion.
“Medics are here” Michael’s voice carries from close by. “I’ve got a soft spot for you man, hang in there” he says as I start choking on my blood.
“We need to take him now,” says one of the medics. They slide me onto a stretcher and I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.
“No, No, No keep your eyes open Mr. Hunter. You’re doing good”, the medic tells me as I’m loaded into the ambulance.
“Megan, you ride with him and we’ll be right behind you guys” Luka says.
“Hang in there Eli” I hear Reese’s voice crack. I want to tell him that I’m okay, but they all know that I’m not. I’m losing a lot of blood and I can feel it. I hear the doors close and the siren starts going off.
I feel Megan holding my hand. “Do you remember when I told you that you weren’t good enough for my sister?” she asks. I don’t because the little shit never said that to my face. “Oh, it was probably in my head then” she tries laughing to hide her cries. I try squeezing her hand to let her know I can hear her.
I slowly move
the oxygen mask off my face and force my eyes open.
“Megan,” I say as her tears start to fall. I squeeze her hand and say again, “Megan. Please tell her that I’ve always loved her and that I’ll always love her no matter what happens.”
“Shh, the doctor’s going to fix you up then we’ll take you to Sina. How does that sound?” she cries and I start coughing.
“He needs to put this mask on,” the medic tells her, but there’s no use, I’m tired now.
“Eli, you’ve always been the perfect guy for Sina” Megan cries. “Thank you for saving her.” She kisses my hand, then leans in and kisses my cheek. “You did good Hunter; you did fucking good.”
I could feel my own tears falling on the side of my face. Sina is going to be okay, she’s safe now. I hear beeping and the sound starts to fade into one long sound.
“We’re losing him,” the medic calls to his partner.
“No! Eli. You don’t get to leave now.” I hear Megan yelling. “You don’t get to save my sister just to break her heart again. Do you hear me? Stay with us.” She squeezes my hand. There’s a lot of yelling going on and it sounds like we’re in a tunnel . “We’re here, just hold on just a little” she sobs.
“Sina” I whisper. I’m tired. I squeeze Megan’s hand one last time and I slowly take my last breath, because I know Sina is going to be fine and I can be at peace.
Chapter Sixty-Four
Sina
It’s bright, too bright. I try opening my eyes, but the light hurts my eyes. “Open your pretty eyes sweetie.” I blink a few times and slowly force them open.
“Mama?” I whisper. My throat is so dry I can barely get the word out.
“There she is. Did you have a nice nap?” she asks.
“Where are we?” I whisper.
“At the hospital,” she says as I tried to move, but my whole body is sore.
I look at Mama and frown “Again?”
Mama lets out a little relieved laugh and shakes her head as she says “I’m going to get the doctor, I’ll be right back sweetie.”
“I can hear you laughing Mama.” I whisper at her back as she walks out of the room.
She looks over her shoulder and says, “For someone that just woke up from a coma, you are pretty cranky.” And she walks out of the room.
“Hey!” I didn’t know that anyone else is in here so the voice startles me and the monitors next to my bed start to beep frantically.
“Becca?” I rasp.
She waves from her seat. “How long have you been sitting there?” I ask her.
“Just for a few days” she says.
“How long have I been here?” I quiz her trying to work out why I’m here again.
“You’ve been in the hospital for four days. You don’t remember what happened?” She says with sadness in her eyes.
It takes me a couple of minutes, but I remember. I hold my hand out to her and say “Thank you.” She moves closer to the side of my bed and takes my hand in hers.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner Sina” she cries.
“Becca, look at me. It wasn’t your fault okay? I’m just glad you found me when you did.” And she starts crying harder.
“Must be the hormones?” I ask, feeling my voice growing stronger and she snorts.
“Shut your damn mouth asshole.” She laughs through her tears.
It hurts to laugh so I say, “Are you doing okay with the pregnancy and everything else?”
She smiles,“I miss him,” she says and I know she’s talking about Micah. I squeeze her hand.
“I know you do, but you’re going to have your own Mini-Micah” I remind her.
Becca wipes her face and says, “I’m excited.” And so she should be. She moves closer.
“You’re not going to smother me with my pillow right?” I joke.
She laughs. “Oh my fucking god Sina, you haven’t changed.” I give her my best eye rolling, but it literally hurts my eyeballs. “You might want to stop, your eyes are already swollen Sina'' Becca says as she rubs her thumb across my knuckles. “Shit, I didn’t mean that Sina, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have joked about that.”
She’s still the same. Gullible. I start giggling. “Sike! You crybaby.”
“That was not funny you dick.” She pinches my hand.
“I look that bad huh?” I ask.
She nods her head yes, “But you’re alive and that's what counts.”
I smile. “That I am.”
“I missed you,” Becca whispers.
“I missed you too Becks.” She thought I forgot.
“I missed you more Moony.” And I know we were going to be okay.
“Where’s everyone else?” I ask.
Before she can answer Mama and the doctor walk in.
“Well, hello there little lady.” I smile. “I’m going to check you to make sure that everything’s good. Any pain?” he asks.
“Just a face headache and a sore body but I’m okay.” I tell him. It takes the doctor about twenty minutes to check on me. I didn’t realize how badly beat up I was. Broken ribs, beat up face, bruised up body and all.
“We’re going to keep you here for one more day. I’m going to run a few more tests to make sure you don’t break out with a fever and to make sure that you don’t have any infections anywhere. If things look good by tomorrow, I’ll let you go home. Sound good?” he asks me.
“Sounds like a plan.” He asks a couple more questions then leaves.
“Knock, knock.”
I smile. “Annie!”
“When I said to come back and visit me, I didn’t mean it literally. How are you feeling Doll-face?” she asks.
“Everything still hurts, but not as bad.” I tell her.
“Are you okay mentally?” she asks.
I laugh, “ Yes Annie. I promise.”
“Okay girl. I’m going to head back to my station before they fire me. I’ll be back later to see you.” She kisses me on the cheek before she leaves the room and says, “Glad to have you back love.”
I take a deep breath and say, “I need a shower, bad.”
“Can you move? Or would you rather have me give you a sponge bath?” Mama asks.
I give her a weird look and say, “Um. No Mama. That’s too weird. My ribs hurt, but I’ll be okay. I just need to take a shower.”
“I’ll help her,” Becca says.
Mama nods her head and says “Okay, I have to go check on something, then I will be back,'' She’s acting weird.
“Okay?” They’re keeping something from me, I can tell.
“I’ll grab you some fresh clothes from your bags then we can get you showered” Becca says.
“Honey, do you want me to bring something back?” Mama asks and I shake my head no. “Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit,” she says as she grabs her purse and her phone and flies out of the door. What the hell?
“Why is she acting weird all of a sudden?” I ask Becca.
She doesn’t look at me, but she says “I didn’t notice it.”
Yeah, they’re definitely keeping something from me.
“Is Emma okay?” I ask.
“Yes! She’s with Michael. He said he’ll bring her by later. Did you want to let him know that you were awake?’ she says.
“No, I want to surprise Emma. How is she?”
“Everyone’s been keeping her busy, but she’s doing good,” she tells me.
Okay, so Emma’s okay. Then what is she not telling me? “Where’s everyone else?” I ask.
“Um. They’ll be here later.” She stutters. So she’s lying about something. She helps me out of the bed and I almost lose my footing. “Are you sure you can walk?” She checks with me and I shake my head yes.
I need to wash that bastard off me. Becca helps take my rough smelling hospital gown off ,then helps me onto the shower chair. She adjusts the temperature for me and closes the curtain. Oh my god! The hot water feels so good on my skin.
“Hey Becca, can yo
u help me wash my hair please?” I call to her.
“Damn, your hair’s dirty as hell” she says pulling her fingers through it. I roll my eyes. “Sina, are you really okay? I mean, he hurt you pretty bad,” she asks. I know she’s worried and I don’t blame her.
“I’m really okay. I just want to wash the left over him off of me” I say. Wait! “You know who it was huh?” I ask her. She doesn’t say anything. “Becca.” She stops washing my hair and looks at me.
“Look, I was told to not discuss this with you, but when your mom gets back, you can talk to her.” Just the thought of everyone knowing makes me feel tired. I rinse the rest of the soap off my body and together we get the last of the shampoo washed out, before Becca shuts the shower off and helps me put my clothes on. It takes a while but we get there eventually.
Becca braids my hair for me and helps me back to my bed. I stop in front of the mirror because I need to see the damage. I close my eyes and I slowly open them. Shit. I run my fingers over my face. “This is pretty bad,” I say aloud. She doesn’t have to say anything; I know it looks awful. I take a deep breath and turn my back on the mirror and get into bed.
“How do you feel?” Becca asks.
“Human,” I tell her.
“Do you want to watch something?” She says picking up the tv remote.
“No. Do you mind if I take a little nap?” She studies me so I say “Becca, I’m fine. Just tired.”
She covers me up and says, “You better not better not go back into a coma if I let you nap.” I roll my eyes because she was serious but it fucking hurts and I end up grimacing at her instead.
“Short nap.” She says and turns the light off.
I must’ve slept longer than I expected. The lights are dim but the tv is still on and the room is empty. Becca must’ve gone home. Something doesn’t feel right. They must have taken my IV out while I slept, so I slowly got out of the bed not needing anyone's help. I see that Becca’s purse is still here.I walk around my bed so I can check to see if she’s out in the halls. I have this sick feeling that something is wrong in the pit of my stomach. My body isn’t healed, but I don’t care.I get to the door and I stop. The walk from the bed to the door drains me. My side is killing me, and my breathing is uneven. Inhale. Exhale. I’m getting light headed. Maybe I should go back to the bed. Dammit. I take a deep breath then slowly start walking back. I suck.