Scared Silent

Chapter 7

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About two weeks had passed since the rape occurred. Reba hadn't really talked to anyone. She didn't go to work after the incident either. Mr. Benson would call her to see if she was okay since it was unlike her to miss work. She just told him that she was sick or she had family problems to deal with. She stayed locked in her room. Every now and then she would have unexpected episodes. She would envision the rape and cry for hours on in. She'd rip up or destroy anything in her path. Then there were days where she seemed at peace with the incident. She would read her bible and ask God to calm the wave that had become her life.

Chris on the other hand was becoming very annoyed. He hadn't seen Reba since the rape. He knew she was avoiding him. His mind played tricks on him. He would imagine himself having forceful sex with her again. He liked the way he overpowered her. Day by day he would check the punch-in clock to see if Reba was there. He needed her, he wanted her. When he went home after a day without seeing her again, he would punch the wall. He would sit in the dark, clutching his fist. Then finally his madness got the best of him. He called her cell phone. She didn't answer. He called at least ten times a day. Leaving threatening messages.

Reba wouldn't answer. Her heart would skip a beat every time her cell phone rang. She knew it was him. She had hoped that he would get fed up and leave her alone. He had already done enough, what more could he possibly do?

"Hi this is Reba, I'm sorry I can't take your call right now. If you please leave your name and number I'll be sure to get back with you. Bye."

"Hey baby, I've missed you. You haven't been to work. I can't help wondering if your dead, alive, or hurt. Please answer the phone. I need to hear your voice." as he left the message his voice became angrier and angrier.

"God damnit Reba, why aren't you answering. Don't you see what this is doing to me? How can you be so fucking selfish? You think you can avoid me? Alright fine, I'll show you." with that he hung up the phone. Reba held herself tight while tears began to drip. She was afraid to sleep at night. She was fighting a battle that no one could help her with.

Chris was fuming after the call. He sweat bullets while pacing the floor back and forth. He was losing it. He had to do something to let her know that she wasn't going anywhere and that he wasn't finished with her yet. He then thought to himself. The ball was still in his court and he had the upper hand in this situation. He would use this to his advantage. Two days had passed since Reba heard from him again. It relaxed her a little bit to know that maybe he had subsided his threatening calls. Reba had come out her room for a little while to do some laundry. Kyra had come home from being away with her band. Jake was home too.

"Hey mom, glad to see you out of your room." Kyra said sounding a little surprised.

"Yeah well I needed to do some laundry and get a little fresh air."

"So what's going on why have you been so distant lately?" Jake looked at his mom as Kyra asked this question. He too wanted to know what was going on, as the whole family did. Reba thought quickly of what she could say.

"Oh well I haven't been feeling very well and I really wanted some time to myself. I've been so busy at work that I needed to rest and take some time out for me." she said in a reassuring tone, giving them a smile in the process. She ate and talked with her kids. She laughed with them and had a great time. She had almost forgotten the secret battle that she was facing. The night had come pretty quickly considering all the fun she had in a long time.

Cheyenne and Van were going to have an evening to themselves, so they dropped Elizabeth off at Reba's. The kids were having a good time, as too was Reba. Elizabeth was avoiding her though. Reba noticed and asked her what was going on.

"Hey Lizzie, what's going on? Why haven't you given me my bear hug?" Reba asked giving her the puppy eyes. Elizabeth looked down and answered.

"I thought you were mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad honey, you haven't done anything wrong?" Reba asked curiously.

"Well when I try to give you hug, you push me away. So I thought grammy was mad at me?" Reba had just remembered how the day after the rape Elizabeth ran up to her to give her a hug but she had turned it down. Reba smiled at her and took her into a loving embrace.

"Oh honey I'm sorry. Grandma was just having a bad day and took it out on you. But I promise it won't happen again. I love you and I want you to know that I am never mad at you." she gave the child a sweet kiss on the cheek and sent her off to play. She couldn't believe that the most horrible moment of her life, affected the most innocent person in her life. It was getting late and Reba had the kids go to bed. She took a soothing shower and prepared for bed herself. The bruises on her body were almost non-existent and for the first time in a while she felt safe going to sleep. She had curled in bed and sighed at the relaxation. Finally dozing off into a peaceful sleep, or so she thought.

It was about midnight. The air was calm with a heavy soothing rain giving one a sense of freedom and ultimate oneness with nature. Reba slept soundly until she felt a hand cover her mouth. At first she thought it was a dream but it felt too real. So when she opened her eyes and saw the figure responsible for the hand looking down at her she jumped up. But pressure was applied to the hand causing her head to go back down onto the pillow. Her eyes were shot wide open. Her breathing became heavy. She wondered how he managed to get in, especially since she didn't hear him and she was a light sleeper.

"Hey Reba, miss me." the voice said as a sly smile spread across his face. Reba had finally caught her breath when she spoke up.

"Chris, how did you get in here?" she asked with her voice becoming strained.

"Oh Reba, give me some credit. I can't tell you all of my little secrets. Besides aren't you happy to see me?" She didn't say a word. The alcohol coming off his breath made her nauseous.

"Why have you been avoiding me? Didn't you like the love we made?" he asked chuckling to himself.

"I can hardly call that love making Chris. You raped and hurt me." Reba said in a cold voice. Chris could see the hurt in her eyes. But he quickly disregarded that when he realized that she wasn't as happy to see him as he was her. He sat on the side of the bed. Reba moved away a little but not to much since his arm was above her head.

"Reba, you and I both know you like what I did to you. I took a risk doing what I did and you just shoved it off like it was nothing. I love you and you push me away." His voice became more frustrated as he talked on. Reba was about to say something but he cut her off.

"You don't come to work, you ignore my phone calls, and worst of all you lied to my father about why you weren't coming to work. You hurt me Reba. But I know how you can make it up to me." He rubbed her lips with his finger. Reba knew what he had in mind and prayed that it was just a thought. He leaned down and pecked her lips. Her eyes began to water. He then moved to her neck and kissed it. Reba worked up enough courage and protested.

"Chris please don't. My kids and granddaughter is in the house. Please stop" she said as a heavy sigh left her mouth. He simply looked up at her.

"Shut-up." he then returned to the kissing. Reba gasped. She thought surely he would stop on account of the kids. She tried lifting up abruptly but he grabbed both of her shoulders and slammed her back down onto the bed. A slight whimper escaped when he did this.

"Now you listen to me. We can either do this the hard way or the easy way. Don't think that because your damn kids are home that I won't get what's rightfully mine. Now we can do this and not start a fuss but if you want to test me, I will wake your kids and make them watch, you understand me?" he said as if he were talking to a child. Reba only wanted her family to be safe, she didn't want them to witness this monstrosity. So she nodded in agreement.

"Good, now I can pick up where I left off." he continued kissing her neck. Reba looked at the door and hoped that by some small chance one of the kids would come rushing in. When Chris looked up he noticed her looking at the door and knew what she was thinking, so he got up, went to the door and locked it. Placing a chair under the knob for extra security. Reba could have screamed when she saw this. All hope left her body. She knew there was no chance of help coming. He walked and laid back on the bed. He laid on his side, off of Reba so he could look at her body. She didn't look at him. He went back to her neck, nibbling and biting every so often.

His left hand slowly crept up her pajama tank top. He cupped her breast. Slightly squeezing it. Tears fell out of her eyes. She cried silently. He lifted her shirt so that her breasts were exposed. He took hold of one and sucked it. Her sobs became a little louder. He kissed all the way down to the brim line of her pajama pants. He untied them. Reba closed her eyes, praying to God to give her strength. He lifted up a little so his lips met her ear. He rubbed his hand across her stomach and slowly moved his hands down her pants. He squeezed her thigh and then took his hand away. He nibbled at her ear as he talked.

"Open your legs." he said. Reba shook her head as to say no. He asked her one more time and she didn't do it. He lifted up and opened them himself. He went back down to his original position and slide his hand under her panties. He massaged her core, slowly dipping a finger in side. Tears streamed down her face. She ever so quietly mumbled to herself "God give me strength."

"Like this baby. Huh, you like that." Chris removed his hand and pulled down both her pajamas and underwear. He then pulled his shirt off, his pants and boxers followed. He climbed on top of her and entered. Reba's cry became louder. He thrust in slowly but gained momentum as time progressed. He would whisper her name as she cried out "God give me strength."

As the moments passed with him on top of her, Reba heard a faint knock at the door. Her breathing skipped a couple beats. Chris stopped also but just for a second. Reba heard a faint cry and her heart sunk. It was Elizabeth. She must've had a nightmare and wanted to sleep in Reba's room for the night. Reba tried to get up but Chris pushed her back down.

"Chris please, that's my granddaughter. She needs me."

"She'll cry herself to sleep." He simply said. Reba begged him once more but it was no use. He wouldn't stop. Reba's crying became harder as she heard Elizabeth cry for her. She wanted to scream for it to be over. "Why me?" she asked. Elizabeth had went back to her room when she realized that grandma wasn't coming. Chris finally finished. He rolled over and laid in her bed as if he lived there. He went to sleep for a while then woke up. Reba was wide awake crying. He put his clothes on and was about to walk out the door when he said,

"I better see you at work tomorrow." With that he walked out the bedroom door. He left through the front door, just as casually as possible. Reba quickly jumped up and put her pajamas back on. She went into Elizabeth's room to check on her. The sweet child fell asleep on the floor next to the bed. She probably tried to stay up until morning. Reba picked her up and moved her on the bed. She looked down at her and sighed.

"I'm so sorry for not getting you honey. I really am." she cried a little but hurried and left because she didn't want to wake her up. She went into her bathroom and proceeded to take a shower. As she stripped away her clothes, once again she saw the woman that she never knew. The woman that she thought had finally started to leave. No, she was back and would never leave.