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I don’t know how long I’ve been out here for. I’m now crawling and dragging my leg behind me. My body gives up before my mind does and I go face first into the ground. I lie still and realise I’m numb. I can’t feel any pain, just heat rising up my body. I’ll just lie here and rest for a moment, then I’ll carry on.
I’m woken to the sound of footsteps crunching in the undergrowth. I think about shouting for help; maybe it’s someone who can help me? No, I decide. No one is coming. No one will find me here. I see a torch in the distance- it’s coming closer. I need to move. I try to get up but all I can do is crawl. But I do it- I crawl as fast as I can. The footsteps get louder and faster. I push my body as hard as I can but it’s not enough. He is getting closer. He is going to be so mad. Am I going to die?
Chapter 19
Bella
He grabs me by my hair and pulls me to a standing position. My head next to his, he says. “You little bitch. I knew I couldn’t trust you. You’ll pay for this Bella.” He smashes my head into a tree and I’m out.
My eyes dart open with the stinging pain. I see John beside me. I try and move but I am tied to the bed. My wrists and ankles are fastened to each post of the bed posts. I am wearing only under wear. John is cleaning the wounds on my legs and feet. My body doesn’t look like my own. My legs are covered in blood and bruises. I look at my broken leg and ankle. My shin bone is visibly piercing through my skin. I throw up at the sight.
John shouts, “For God’s sake Bella, don’t you think I’ve got enough to clean up. Look at the F**king state of you! Look what you have done to yourself! This is all your fault Bella!” He pushes off the bed and lunges towards me. He’s got a gun in his hand. I do not know this man in front of me. John has never even held a gun. Where on earth would he get one from? He holds it up to my head. I scream and close my eyes. In this moment, I want him to kill me. I want to die. I have no fight left.
BANG! I hear the sound of a gun. Thank God. He’s done it. He’s killed me. The nightmare is over. I wait for the pain to disappear but it doesn’t. I still feel everything. Surely not, surely in death there is no pain? And everything is black? I expected white fluffy clouds and golden gates. I realise my eyes are still closed. I slowly open them, apprehensive at what I might see. I see familiar eyes, the eyes of Damien. But they’re different to how I’ve ever seen them before. They’re full of pain and concern.
“Damien, you’re here?”
“Of course I am, my Bella.” And then it comes. The pain subsides and the bright lights take me away.
Damien
I work my way through the woods as fast as I can. I reach the house and see the car. It’s definitely the one we’ve been looking for. The back light is half hanging out. The b*****d had her in the boot. I quietly creep up to the house. I want to sneak up on him. I’ll have the best chance of saving Bella if I catch him off guard. But I then hear her scream and my logic is gone.
I storm through the house following the sound of the scream. I see him bending over her. I grab him. Put my gun to his temple and pull the easiest trigger I’ve done in my life. I throw him behind me and kneel at the side of the bed. My heart breaks at the sight of her.
Her beautiful body is unrecognisable. She’s tied to the bed in her underwear. I regret now giving him such an easy death, I want to torture him like he’s done to my Bella. I stare at her hoping she’s still alive. I’m too scared to touch her. Her eyes flutter and relief overcomes me. “Damien, you’re here?” she says. My heart breaks, she didn’t think I would come? I took too long. How could I have let this happen to her. Bella’s eyes roll back, and her body goes limp.
I radio through, “Jake! I need the helicopter and paramedics here ASAP!”
“They’re on the way Damien.”
“I’ve found her Jake. I’ve found her!”
I hear the helicopter and sirens. “It won’t be long now my Bella. We will have you fixed up and home in no time.” I need to untie her, but first, I need to sort the situation. I place my gun in John’s hand and press his finger around the trigger. I then leave it on the floor beside him. I take a couple of photos on my phone for evidence and then I untie Bella.
I find a clean blanket in the wardrobe and wrap her in it. I take her into the living room where there are no bits of brain covering the walls. The paramedics come in followed by Josh and the police. The paramedics want to take Bella from me but I won’t let her go. They treat her in my arms and then I carry her to the helicopter. Her pulse is faint but she has one. Thank goodness. She is strong and determined my Bella and I know she will get through this.
I finally give in and let go of Bella. She needs emergency surgery and I can’t hold her for that.
I sit in the family waiting room with her parents and Chloe. There are people coming in and out of the room. People talking but I can’t speak. It’s taking all of my energy just to breathe. I stare at floor with my head in my hands. My legs bouncing up and down. I just can’t take it. Her life is in someone else’s hands and I can’t do anything about it. Sitting here is driving me mad. I need to get out. I feel guilty and helpless.
I stand and push past everyone in the doorway and the hall. I need some air. I’m followed out by Josh “How you doing buddy?” He puts his arm around my shoulder. I shrug it off. I can’t do comfort right now. I need to break something. There’s a glass bus shelter at the side of me and I put my fist through it. The pain brings me back to some reality.
Josh takes off his jacket and wraps it around my fist. “Look mate, I can’t begin to imagine how you must be feeling right now. I saw it with my own eyes. We’ve seen some shit over the years but this is up there with the worst. But none of this was your fault. If it wasn’t for you mate, she would still be there, or worse. You found her Damien and she’s going to be ok.” Josh knows me well. He knows what goes on in my head.
“Guys, the doctors here, he’s got an update on Bella, they’re waiting for you.” We follow Chloe back to the family room.
“Bella is now in recovery. She had a bleed on her brain which we have successfully stopped and a fracture to her skull. Her leg and ankle had many fractures which have now been pinned back into position. She’s been through a lot mentally and physically. We have given her a lot of pain killers, which will make her sleep and to give her body chance to recover. I am extremely hopeful that she will make a full recovery.”
The doctor turns to me, “Mr. King, a great effort on your behalf, and it seems you got there just time. She is a very lucky lady.”
“I’m the lucky one I can assure you doctor. And thank you for everything you have done.” I shake his hand with as much gratitude as I can. There’s a sigh of relief as they doctor leaves the room. Everyone seems to relax a little, expect for me. I can’t shake the guilt.
“Damien, thank you for saving our daughter. I will forever be in your dept.” a tearful Henry says as he taps my back. I do not feel worthy of thanks.
It’s been 24 hours since Bella was admitted and I haven’t left her side. All her family have been here and they’ve finally left to go home leaving me alone with Bella.
I sit at her side staring at her beautiful face. She has a large purple bruise from the top of her forehead over her right eye and down to her cheek bone. She has a cut through her eye brow which has been stitched back together. The rest of her face has little cuts and bruises defecting her perfect skin. I feel a range of emotions. The sense of not being in control is having the most effect on me. All I can do is sit here and hold her hand, waiting for her to wake up. She looks so peaceful now. The nightmare will start again once she awakes.
