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“No,” Coal yells, and my eyes flare open in time to see him knock the knife away. Leon’s nails rip into my throat as Coal pushes me away. I fall and land hard on the ground.
“Coal, no.” I try to yell when I look over and see him punching Leon, but nothing comes out. Then the sirens break through everything.
“Let him go, Coal, now,” the sheriff yells.
“He beat me up for no reason. Do your job and arrest them both.” Leon’s speech is slurred, his face bloody. My vision blurs but I force myself to keep watching.
“Call an ambulance,” the sheriff says to someone.
“Pixie, are you okay?” Coal falls at my feet.
I try to answer him but the words are trapped in my throat. Then there is nothing.
A beeping sound, voices I don’t recognize in the distance, and a smell I know all cross my senses as I open my eyes to a dim hospital room. I slip from the bed glad I’m not hooked up to an IV drip, and make my way across the room. I stand at the door and listen for a moment trying to see if Coal is out there.
“I’m sorry, Lee, but Leon has pressed charges.” I hear the sheriff’s voice. “The judge will see him tomorrow and decide on how to proceed.”
I need to see Coal but I’m afraid he’s going to blame me for the trouble he’s in. I look around the room trying to find a way to escape without Sheriff Kullen and Mr. Rumble knowing. The only other door in the room leads to the bathroom. I look inside and am happy to find it’s a Jack and Jill style with an attached room on the other side. After carefully checking to make sure the other room is empty, I return to my room and slip the pillows under the blanket, making it look like I’m in the bed sleeping. I look down at my clothes, they are dirty but still mine. I find my shoes near the bed and slip them on. I’m quiet as I sneak into the next room. Peeking out the door, I see the nurses at the desk but no one else. It looks the sheriff and Mr. Rumble have dispersed. I exit the room and move down the hall, careful not to draw attention to myself. When I make it to the hospital entrance, I keep walking until I reach the curb and hail a taxi. I give the driver my address. It’s the only place I can think of to hide where no one would look for me, and I’m hoping some of my clothes survived Leon’s anger.
After spending the night in the shed, where I used my jacket and paint canvases to keep myself warm, I’m now standing in line at the bank waiting for my turn. Leon thankfully didn’t come home, and the sheriff didn’t find me. I’m in the only pair of jeans that didn’t get cut up. These plus the pair I had from Coal’s house are all the jeans I have to my name. I found out the judge granted Coal bail. I can’t afford the full bail, but I can pay his bond, which is five thousand dollars. I’ve already paid for the first semester of art school, and what’s left in my bank account was to help with finding an apartment and my travel. It’s everything I have, but Coal doesn’t need to suffer for my problems.
Taking a deep breath, I walk into the sheriff’s station and right up to the counter after taking care of Coal’s bond. He wouldn’t be in here if it weren’t for me. If he had never met me, he’d be safe in his big house away from me and my fucked-up past.
“I want to see Sheriff Kullen,” I say to the woman behind the counter.
“Pixie?” I turn to see Coal being led by sheriff’s deputies into the lobby.
“I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.” I rush to him, but a deputy steps in front of me and stops me.
“I’m sorry, miss, you can’t come any closer.”
“Are you okay?” Coal asks, looking around the deputy. “God, I thought he was going to kill you. I couldn’t lose you, Kiera. I love you.”
“I…” He loves me?
“Staff Sergeant Bridger, you need to come with us.” I turn to see men in military uniforms with guns on their hips and a pair of shackles in their hands.
“No. You can’t take him. I paid the bond. He should be able to leave.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, he must come with us.”
“No.” I step between them and Coal. “He didn’t do it. He was protecting me. Please,” I beg.
“Kiera, they need to take him. With the holidays and court not being in session for a few days, the judge decided the military could have jurisdiction. He has to go with them.” Sheriff Kullen pulls me out of between everyone.
“He was saving me. Please, don’t take him. He’s the only person that’s ever loved me.” I plea with everything in me.
“Be strong, pixie. You can do this. I love you.”
“No, Coal, I need you.” I crumple as I watch them cuff him.
“I love you,” he says again.
“Don’t go, I have no one else. Nothing left.” I pull away from the sheriff. “I love you too.” One of the guards pushes me back.
“Get your hands off her. She’s carrying my baby,” Coal yells at them and fights against the cuffs.
Sheriff Kullen grabs me again and holds me back tighter. “I got her, Coal,” he says, and I watch and scream until I lose my voice as they take him away from me. I cry so hard I black out.
