Set after Lux confronts Trey about withdrawing his statement. What would happen if things didn't go exactly to plan?
It was silent. It wasn't to do with the fact the house was empty; in fact it was the opposite. Reflection. That's what they told themselves they were doing. Stood around the kitchen debating mentally what they were going to do, but neither of the three speaking a word. Scared, too scared to say something because speaking up, made it real.
The turns of events left them all anxious, wary. They were struggling to keep themselves going but they had to, they had to do it for Lux. It was times like this that she needed them more than anything else in the world. Someone to listen if she decided to speak. Or just a friend to hold her. After recent events Lux had completely shut down, she wouldn't say a word about the emotional roller coaster she was currently headed on, not one sound.
The trial just around the corner, but without Lux speaking at all no one knew how it would go. You see, she tried to sort things herself. She approached him alone, to get him to withdraw his statement it was safe to say that didn't go well and if it hadn't been for some random bystander then god knows what would have happened. It would be a lot worse than a simple split lip.
That led to now where Cate, Baze and Ryan all stood around waiting. Not one of them wanting to break the silence that seemed so comforting but as usual things have to come to an end.
Baze stood there as he cleared his throat. ''I should erm'' he started unsure as he scratched the back of his head. ''I should get back to the bar... I left Jamie on his own'' He stayed stood still for a moment before turning and heading towards the door slowly, only turning back as he reached the door looking up at the stairs to the attic before exiting, closing the door gently behind him.
The sound of his jeep soon followed before the silence returned, everything was back to before. Cate couldn't help but blame herself. She felt responsible. She couldn't help think that if she was there for her before that none of this would have happened in the first place.
''It's not your fault'' Ryan put forward sensing her emotions. ''You couldn't have done anything'' He said reaching forward pulling Cate into him as he wrapped his arms around her soothingly, as she automatically buried his face into his shoulder.
He pulled back too soon for her liking, stepping back as he held her at arm's length. Cate couldn't help the feeling of distress as Ryan like Baze, left the house. Sliding down to the floor and leaning back against the cabinet Cate just sat there. Unsure of herself. Of what she was meant to do.
Her thoughts were starting to take over as she became lost in her own mind, left reflecting on everything that has happened over the past few months but then she came to a blank, she still had no true idea of what had happened in those 16 years... She was getting the feeling that she was never going to know, no matter how hard she pushed. Her train of thought was interrupted when a strange noise rang through the house, breaking the silence. Cate stayed sat there until she was certain she heard it again knowing it could only be Lux she shakily stood to her feet heading over to the set of stairs that were already down.
Climbing up them steadily as the noise continued Cate's heart felt like it was breaking when she reached the top. Lux was thrashing back and forth violently, small whimpers escaping her as she tangled herself up more in the sheets. Muttering words as she desperately tried to set herself free.
''N...no stop'' She was asleep but still, it was impossible for Cate not to hear the pleading in her voice as she reached for the bong lamp turning it on to shed some light into the room. Tears were falling down her cheeks from behind her shut eyelids. ''S...stop please''
Hesitantly Cate approached the edge of the bed, looking down her whole world shattering seeing the obvious amount of emotional pain that was causing this. She shook her head trying to shake the thought as another whimper and uttering of words reclaimed her back to the issue at hand.
''P..please! No! No!''
''Lux, wake up honey you're having a bad dream'' Cates words were shaky, quiet as she reached out to hold Luxs shoulder to stop her from moving.
''Lux come on'' Her voice rose as she shook her lightly. Still getting no response but more soft whimpers Cate reached over holding both Lux's shoulders as she tried to stop her from thrashing back. ''Lux!''
All of a sudden Lux's eyes snapped open, the fear evident behind them. ''DON'T TOUCH ME'' She screamed hitting out at Cate still disorientated from the dream as she recoiled back from Cate's touch, curling into a tight ball, wrapping her arms around herself as the silent river of tears continued down her cheek.
''Lux, it's me. You're fine'' She whispered trying to stop her own voice from cracking as Lux looked up through the hair covering her face, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at her. ''You're safe now'' She continued.
''C..cate?'' Lux's voice trembled.
''Yeah'' Cate could only smile lightly instinctively. ''It's me, you're fine. I promise'' She spoke as she lowered herself down so that she was next to Lux on the bed, reaching out to wipe the hair from her face Lux flinched, a look of hurt quickly shooting across Cate's face before Lux shifted closer, leaning into Cate's side as she let the sobs overcome her.
Inexperience led Cate wary of what to do, apart from wrap her arms around her fragile figure as she cried into her shoulder. Running her hand up and down her back whispering comforting words into her ear trying to calm her down.
It took a while but the sobs eventually quietened but Lux's grip stayed firm, her hand in a fist gripping Cate's t-shirt for dear life. ''What did they do to you Lux'' Cate whispered to no one in particular as she felt Lux shake her head.
''I d..Don't want t...to speak about i..it'' She started. ''P..please don't make m...me'' She continued to stumble over her words as the tears quickly returned.
''Shhh it's ok Lux, you don't have too'' Running her fingers through her long blonde hair she continued to sooth her daughter, only picturing what was causing this much pain caused a flood of different emotions to flood through her body. Anger, hated, sadness guilt... She shifted slightly as Lux tensed.
''Don't leave me'' Came her small panicked voice breaking the silence again.
''I won't, I'm here. Whenever you need me'' Her reply was soft as she shifted so Lux was lying, her head resting on her chest as the breathing started to even out.
Cate watched as he chest rise and fell evenly after time, her eyes shut as she fell back to sleep.
''I'm Sorry Lux'' Was all Cate could manage before tears of her own spilled from her eyes. It was going to be a long night.