Title: Damaged
Chapter 4
Rachel silently gulped down the cup of water that the detective had poured her, intending to stall. She kept her gaze on the white blanket that covered her from the waist down while continuing to drink. The feeling of the water hitting the back of her throat stung badly but she tried hard to hide it.
Unfortunately her brutal coughs gave her away.
"Are you okay Rachel?" the detective politely asked, studying the teenagers face. Rachel nodded, even though she wasn't.
"So, are you ready for some questions?" she began.
The brunette refused to look at her. She felt very intimidated and uncomfortable. She unconsciously shifted to a better position then reluctantly nodded.
"That's great. Before we start my name is Amber and I work as a detective at a local precinct" she explained. She extended her hand for Rachel to shake but only to get rejected.
She awkwardly took it back then continued to her questioning.
"So Rachel, it says on your flyer that you've been missing for 2 weeks. Correct?"
Amber held out the flyer that contained a beautiful picture of Rachel. The 16 year old took it and a small smile spread across her face.
"They put out flyers?" She asked as if she didn't believe it.
"Yes, they were looking for you non-stop. Would you expect different?"
Rachel immediately stopped smiling and placed the paper down.
"I didn't think they would care. Except for my dad's of course" she firmly replied.
"Why would you say that? To me it seemed like you were really loved. Your Glee club broad casted messages on the news everyday, your teachers and school peers spent hours putting up these flyers. Everyone wanted you home Rachel. Safe" the red-head assured.
For the first time Rachel looked at her.
"Really? They mourned for me?" She asked with such hope in her eyes. They were glossy and it looked like she was going to cry again. Amber nodded her head with a sympathetic smile.
"Yes they did Rachel. Everyone is so glad that you're back, but since you're stuck in this lousy hospital you don't get to see it" she added.
"See what?" Rachel quickly asked.
"The crowd, the news... You're the talk of the town kid" Amber informed her.
Rachel couldn't believe it. People worried about, people searched for her... People actually cared. She felt wanted and loved. She smiled then sat back in her bed.
"Wow" was all she could say.
"What happened Rachel?" Amber asked getting right down to business. Rachel knew what she was referring to. She swallowed which hurt. All of the sudden her cuts began to throb and her throat felt tight, as if she was being choked.
"I-I was walking," she began, no longer looking at Amber.
"To where and from?"
"To outside from the choir room. Me and Quinn had just finished arguing. I got so upset at her so I stormed off. I started to cry... Next thing I know I was 5 blocks away from the school"
Amber wrote this piece of information down in her notepad.
"What time was it?"
"It was an after school practice, around 6 pm" Rachel remembered.
"What happened when you were walking?"
"A black SUV drove by me. At first I didn't think anything of it but when I saw a gun I began to panic,"
Rachel clenched the edge of her sheets.
"Did you run?" Amber questioned.
"Yeah but he grabbed me before I could make it down the street. He put the gun to my head and said if I screamed he'd shoot me" Rachel finished. She took a deep breath, feeling a bit light-headed.
"Where did he take you?"
Flashbacks of his hands trailing up her skirt rummaged through Rachel's mind. She tried hard to focus on when he first abducted her but it was hard.
"Rachel, where did he take you?"
The 16 year old stood unresponsive.
"To his car" she breathed. Amber knew what was coming so she tried hard to keep Rachel calm.
"What did he do?"
Rachel put her hands to her throat. She still felt the way he squeezed and nearly choked her to death when she was close to escaping…
"He threw me in the back seat, shut the door then drove off"
Amber jotted these pieces of information down then asked another question.
"What happened next?"
"He took me to his house where he kept me in his basement. He chained me to a radiator" Rachel answered. His hot breath and dirty fingers were all she could think of. The way he slid them into her underwear and deprived her of her dignity.
Her innocence.
"Okay listen Rachel, I don't want to upset you but what I'm about to ask you is quite deep. If you don't feel like answering just let me know and I'll leave like I promised" Amber informed her. The brunette sighed then nodded. Satisfied, Amber went straight to the question.
"During the time you were held captive; did he perform any sexual acts?"
Rachel wanted to scream. She wanted to run, but mostly she wanted to hide in a hole and never come out.
"Y-Yes" was all she could say before she burst into tears.
"Rachel I-"
"Can you please leave?" Rachel managed to say. She was crying hysterically now. Amber was upset that she couldn't get more out of her but didn't protest; she was determined to speak to her again. Before leaving she dared to ask one more question.
"Do you know who did this to you?"
Those words were left to echo throughout Rachel's hospital room. Truth was she actually did know…
Her whole Glee club knew as well. They were just unaware.
"Get out!" The teenager ordered. Under Rachel's commands she got up and walked out, greeted by a group of students and a teacher.
"Are you the doctor?" Brittany was the first to ask.
"No, I'm not I'm actually a detective working on Rachel's case. You must be her Glee club" Amber guessed.
"We are, is she, ya' know..." Finn couldn't finish his sentence so Amber did it for him.
"Bad? Her injuries are but she's alert. I think it's better if you see for yourself" Amber suggested while walking away. Mr. Schuester thanked her then put his attentions towards the scared group.
"Okay, you can all go in together. Remember to be gentle. We don't know what she's been through and any little thing can set her off" he informed them. They all nodded, Quinn first to speak.
"Can I see her alone? I have something I want to say to her in private" the blonde asked. He nodded.
"Of course. I'm gonna go in first and see how she's holding up" he quickly announced before walking ahead to Rachel's room. When he entered he immediately wished he hadn't. The brunette he once saw as talented, full of life and graceful was literally in pieces. She had lost the beautiful glow in her face, thanks to the stitches and ugly bandages. Her eyes had bags under them and she no longer seemed like Rachel.
This hurt him.
"Rach?" He questioned.
"Mr. Schue? Oh my god!" she exclaimed as he walked to her and embraced her in a tight hug. He couldn't believe he was holding her, that she was here and she was safe.
"How are you? I missed you, we all did" he said as she smiled a real and warm smile. This made him feel much better.
"I'm alive" she half-joked. He laughed which lightened up the mood.
"I'm beyond glad you are. New directions failed miserably without you"
"Really? I missed singing and dancing with you all" she mentioned as Will took a seat next to her.
"Not as much as we missed you. So, how bad is it?" He questioned, examining her face. Rachel sighed and sat back.
"Deep cuts, bruises from head to toe, both my ankles are fractured and lack of vitamins from not eating. It could be worse" she assured. She left out one specific injury; one she didn't want to share with anyone.
"Thank god you're okay Rachel; we worried day and night for you. I'm eager to see you back at school and back at glee club" he shared, putting a single hand on hers. She flinched at his soft touch but didn't pull away.
"I am too. Thanks so much for not giving up on me"
Her eyes got glossy again and she grew frustrated. She had cried so much this morning and she hated it.
"I would never Rachel Berry and you know that. The rest of the club wants to see you so we'll talk later okay?"
He stood up and leaned in to kiss Rachel's forehead. She flinched at his touch once again and it bothered him. Just as he was walking away she stopped him.
"You know, when I was in that basement cold and alone... Singing was the only thing that helped me" she confessed, looking at her hands.
Mr. Schuester had a look of sympathy on his face. Before he could say something Rachel continued.
"Even when he put his hands on me... When he beat me, I just thought about a song that would help pass the time" she finished.
Rachel didn't know why she was telling him this. He simply assured her that she was safe now. Then he walked out and alerted the rest of the club.
"Are you all ready?" he asked. The group shyly looked down then nodded. Finn was the first to approach Rachel's door while the rest followed.
"I'm scared" Brittany admitted as Santana squeezed her pinkie.
"It's Rachel Britt, there's nothing to be scared of" she promised. As they all walked in Rachel couldn't help but have this wide smile on her face. She could feel her heart beat fast against her chest.
"Hey" she immediately greeted. Everyone smiled, tears coming to their eyes.
"Is it really you?" Brittany asked too scared to come any closer. Rachel let out a small laugh then nodded.
"Yeah, it is. Come here" she invited, her voice cracking a bit. Brittany approached her with a wide smile then hugged her.
"I'm so happy you're alive" Brittany admitted.
"We all are" Puck assured as he joined in the hug. Kurt gave Mercedes a look before busting into tears.
"Did the boogeyman do this to you?" Brittany asked, referring to Rachel's injuries.
"Yeah, unfortunately he did Britt" Rachel shared. Santana walked closer then looked down at her shoes. She didn't want to cry but god this was too emotional.
"I-I missed you too Rachel" she muttered but the brunette didn't fail to hear her. She extended her arms and Santana shyly embraced her.
"You look like you can use a few of my face creams and hair products" Kurt shared which made the group laugh.
"You're right; thank god I have you for that huh?"
"I spent days wondering if you'd make it back alive. It's hard to believe I'm not dreaming" Finn finally had the courage to say. Rachel blushed then locked eyes with him.
"Well I'm back and I'm not going anywhere" she vowed while trying to control her tears. Artie wheeled his way to Rachel then gently grabbed her hand, afraid to break it.
"I think this calls for a group hug" Sam suggested. Instead of mocking him for being 'gay', because that's what Puck would have done in any other situation he just remained silent. He stepped back so the rest of the club could attack Rachel. They were careful not to hurt her because they knew she was fragile. She really didn't mind though, she honestly felt warm and safe.
'If only she knew how much this shit affected me' Puck mentally told himself, feeling like a complete wuss for ever exposing his feelings in the first place. He liked Rachel. He was practically in love with the girl. He would never admit it to anyone though; he already wanted to kick his own ass for admitting it to himself. He sighed then walked out, spotting Mr. Schuester assisting a very hysterical Quinn. She was crying and her face was a bright shade of red. Instead of stopping he continued to walk, exiting the hospital.
He needed sometime to think.
Rachel's first day at the hospital was over and she was now lying in bed alone. The doctors had consistently checked on her which drove her crazy but she didn't show it. Her dad's had insisted on staying but she protested, now regretting it.
She couldn't sleep and every time she closed her eyes she'd see his evil face smiling at her.
'Just go to sleep Rachel, you need it. He can't hurt you anymore' she tried convincing herself but it didn't work. She could still hear his laugh, she could still feel his lips forcing onto hers.
'Stop it! Just relax, you're safe…'
Just then her door slowly opened and she screamed.
A/N: Again, I apologize for updating so late. Please review, I already have Chapter 5 done… ;)