Page 84
Another scream, muffled this time, but there is no doubt in my mind that whoever is in there doesn’t want to be. I try the handle, and it’s locked. Stepping back, I lift my leg and kick the door with all my strength. The lock breaks and it swings open with a bang.
Nothing could’ve prepared me for what I walk in on. Anger burns through the lingering flu symptoms when I see my father holding a young girl face down on the mattress. She looks like a frail little mouse next to him, making shrill noises that sound more like an animal in distress than a person.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I bellow, hands balling into fists.
“None of your fucking business,” Father bites back.
“Like fuck it isn’t,” I yell, marching to the bed, seeing only red.
In one swift motion, I grab my father and haul him off of the girl. I only catch a glimpse of her face, but she is young. It makes me want to vomit that I share anything with this man, let alone DNA.
Pushing him back until he slams against the wall, I hit him with all the fury I’ve been holding inside for years. There is no pattern or logic to the strikes, just as long as each one lands and causes him pain. Head, throat, kidneys, it doesn’t matter.
Like a tiny rabbit, the girl races past us and out the door. Father tries to protect his vulnerable areas, but my fists don’t stop until he sinks to the floor, blood pouring from his mouth and out cold.
Only then do I race out after the girl.
The front door is open, but I don’t see her at first glance. I can’t hear anything either. Then suddenly she darts across the lawn, and I launch myself off the steps and go after her.
She runs straight at the gate as if it’ll open and slams into the solid metal. The girl bounces off and falls back on her ass. She doesn’t seem to notice my approach.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay.”
The poor thing looks back and screeches at me as she scrambles away.
It’s dark, and I can’t really see her well. She covers her face with her long hair, like she’s trying to hide.
“Please don’t kill me,” she says, slurring her words. “I won’t tell, just let me go.”
I don’t try to get closer and just slowly squat down.
“I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. But you do need to go to a hospital.”
She shakes her head.
“I can’t just open the gate and let you run down the road. There is no one around for miles, and there are animals, and…look, I know you don’t have any reason to believe me, but I just want to help you. Let me take you to a hospital,” I say, trying to keep my voice soft despite my entire body trembling from rage and adrenaline.
“I can’t,” she says, the sound no louder than a mouse’s squeak.
“Why?”
“I can’t pay,” she says.
Fuck. This poor girl has been raped and beaten and is too scared to get treatment because she can’t pay.
“I’ll pay, and then I’ll take you home.”
She shakes her head again.
“Then I’m going to sit beside you until you change your mind.”
Light-colored eyes peek at me through strands of her damp hair.
“I don’t have a home.”
I’m not sure how she got here, or how my father got a hold of her, but it has to be something seedy. Black market, maybe. He’s sunk to lows I can’t even fathom.
“We’ll figure that out.” I hold out my hand. “I’m Alden, and I swear on my life that I won’t hurt you. I just need you to trust me so we can get you away from here. You never have to come back.”
