To the people who read this story I love you ok and to the two people who reviewed the first chapter I love you even more and this is for you ok. I know I said it was a one-shot but I kinda wanted to continue it anyway so here you go. The part written in italics is a flashback. Let me know what you think? (:
Cate was first to awake the next morning. She stirred slowly opening her eyes as she let them adjust to the light. It was only when she went to move she felt the numbness in her right arm. Looking down to see Lux curled up into her side still fast asleep she couldn't help but smile. So reaching over with her other arm she brushed the hair from her face before she froze as her eyes drifted.
Lux's shirt had risen during the night, exposing various different blotches of colour on her stomach. Different bruises, covering her abdomen in various shapes and sizes. She couldn't suppress the gasp that automatically escaped her lips: Anger flooding through her body at the thought of anyone laying a hand on her daughter. Instinctively she reached out, touching her stomach lightly causing Lux to flinch as she awoke, shooting up into a sitting position on the bed facing Cate completely terrified.
''Hey hey, it's me. I'm Sorry'' Cate stumbled trying to get her words out as Lux pulled the shirt down to cover her exposed skin.
''its fine'' Was the only response she got.
''Lux... You need to tell me what happened yesterday'' Cate said slowly, scanning her face waiting for any sort of reaction or response from her daughter.
''No'' She mumbled.
''Why not?'' Cate whispered trying to refrain from letting her anger get the best of her. Lux just shook her head blocking everything Cate was saying out.
''I can't'' She said more to herself then Cate.
Trey was walking towards his truck as Lux appeared from around the corner. ''The hell are you doing here?'' He questioned.
''I came here to talk to you''
''Where's your friend?''
''At home, cleaning her shovel'' Lux spoke not even trying to hide her slight smirk as she spoke.
''Yeah, well we'll see how tough she is when she's in jail'' Trey spoke turning back towards his truck about to open the door.
''About that, Tasha's hearing is on Monday and I don't think you'll want to testify, because I don't think you want what happened in the past, to come out'' Trey's mood instantly dropped as he stared straight back at her. ''So, you don't testify, I'll make sure that it doesn't''
Just as Lux turned away to walk off she was yanked back by Trey, he slammed her into the side of his truck as her head snapped up hitting the door, she couldn't help but let the cry escape from her lips. She couldn't help but instantly start to struggle pushing at him to get free.
''LET GO OF ME'' She cried only to be silenced when she felt a pain jolt through her face, instantly bringing her hand up to her lip tasting blood. Her eyes looked back up to meet his; they were completely black, empty. ''Let. Me. go.'' She repeated trying to get free again; she lashed out punching him to break the contact as she tried to run, only for him to grab her straight back as they both fell to the floor, him instantly straddling her as he repeatedly hit her over and over as she tried to cover her face and body protectively ''STOP PLEASE'' She cried out.
''This will teach you and your little friend not to mess with me again'' He growled at her about to strike again when someone grabbed him from behind pulling him off forcefully and away from her.
''What do you think you're doing!?'' A deep voice sounded. Lux wasn't sure who the figure was, her vision blurred from the tears in her eyes but she could still hear the muffled conversation from the two figures as she saw someone approaching her.
''Hey kid, are you alright?'' A women's voice questioned bending down next to her, reaching out to touch her as Lux flinched.
''DON'T TOUCH ME'' She cried out rolling onto her side curling into a ball. ''Don't touch me please stop'' She whispered to herself as she started to rock herself back and forth in a ball.
''I'm not going to hurt you'' She whispered looking sadly at her. ''Who should I call? Do you have your parent's number?'' She questioned unsure of the situation. Although Lux was in complete shock, her body shutting down she still managed to reach shakily out holding her phone to the other women.
''Cate, Baze'' Was all she whispered before she completely shut down, ignoring her surroundings and everyone near her. It wasn't until she heard the familiar voices around 10 minutes later that she drew herself back to reality.
''Lux!'' She heard Cate shouting followed by her quickly approaching footsteps. She instantly knelt next to her daughter, not caring about the wet floor as she looked up at the stranger. ''What happened!?''
''I don't know, we were just walking and saw what was happening so ran over to help'' She stammered under Cate's fierce gaze. Moments later there was the sound of another car screeching to a stop as Baze's voice was heard.
''WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HER!?'' He shouted charging over to Trey who was still being held back by the other man instantly swinging at him. He went to punch again but stopped when Cate spoke up.
''Baze, stop! Lux needs you'' Cate cried out looking up at him pleadingly, he glanced back at Trey now holding his nose before coming over and kneeling down next to the pair.
Cate stood there confused as Lux stared off distantly as tears trickled down her cheeks. She knew that Lux was obviously remembering something, something she should know, she should have been there. Cate mentally slapped herself before reaching over and pulling Lux into her arms once again like before letting her cry into her shoulder. The trial was just around the corner but with no one speaking about what happened no one knew how it was going to go.
''Cate? You home?'' Baze's voice sounded through the house as she heard the front door closing. Quickly followed by his footsteps as he walked up the stairs to the attic, taking in the sight in front of him, Lux crying into Cate's shoulder he stood there frozen, un sure on what to do.
'Is she alright' He mouthed to her not wanting to break the moment as Cate just shook her head, looking at her daughter in her arms sadly.
She didn't know if she would ever be ok, not just because of this but because of everything else that had happened in her life. There was so much that no one knew about her past, all there was to tell them her history was the file, but with hardly any information about past foster families in that they were left with nothing to go on. Nothing to tell them who had hurt her daughter and in what way and to tell the truth, that scared the living hell out of both of them. She had said before, she was more messed up inside then they realized... The truth of that statement was tearing the pair apart, not knowing which was clearly tearing her to pieces, caused their hearts to break even more.
''B...Baze?'' Lux's voice sounded as barely a whisper.
''Yeah Kiddo'' He smiled as she looked up. ''I'm here'' He spoke walking over and sitting on the bed next to her and Cate. ''I'm here, I'm not going anywhere I promise'' He said leaning over and kissing her forehead as the three sat there together waiting for anyone to speak before they were left in silence again.
