******PART SEVEN******
The clouds had gathered darkly in the last hour that she had been gone. Gladys could feel the pin drops of moisture begin to fall as she made her way down the cobblestone street, heels clicking hard on the stone. She had returned to the hospital with a renewed spring in her step. The momentary escape from the intensity of the situation, gave her a chance to gather her thoughts on what their next move would be if, in fact, they could not succeed in rousing Kate from her catatonia. Thoughts turned towards the image she had left in the room of the blonde leaning against the bed eyes closed. She couldn't help wonder what Betty had gotten up to in the hour since she'd last seen her. The woman had been a ball of nerves on the edge of implosion for days, unsurprisingly. Gladys rounded the side street corner with a brisk walk and clamored up the concrete steps to a large, overbearing building. Over the course of the past few days, she had to admit that her mind would selfishly wander to thoughts of James and what she would be like if he were laying there, eyes blank to the world. God, I hope she hasn't broken anything, Gladys thought, knowing Betty's penchant to smash things when her frustration became unbearable. She strolled through the wooden double doors of the main entrance and was just about to say hello to the admitting nurse on duty when she overheard the man currently speaking with her.
"I'm looking for my daughter Marion Rowley."
Panic shot through Gladys like a thunder bolt. She did her best not to draw attention to herself as she quickly walked past Vernon Rowley and hid around the corner hugging the wall to remain within earshot of the conversation. Remembering Kate's story of him having eyes on her at all times, Gladys peered around the corner and scanned the area. Her eyes fixed on a teenage boy with dusty blonde hair, holding the hand of a small boy whose fiery auburn hair and blue eyes bared such a resemblance to Kate that Gladys could only concluded that they must be her brothers.
"I'm sorry sir we have no young ladies here by that name." The nurse replied. "Sir, are you in need of any care?"
The question made Gladys turn her gaze to the preacher. On the side of his head was a crude bandage with a distinctive brown patch where blood had seeped through the cotton and dried. Her curiosity piqued, she raised her eyebrow at the injury. Had Kate done this?
"Bless you for your concern, but I am fine." Gladys found the charismatic tone of his voice infectious and repulsive. "She is a performer, she may have checked in under her stage name, Kate Andrews." His false sense of concern made Gladys sick to her stomach.
"No. Sorry sir."
"Please miss, I know you are just doing your job, but my daughter is precious to me and she honestly may not know who she is or be terribly injured. You see her mother passed away in a fire a few days ago and she managed to get out, but as I said, she had to have been terribly injured and I need to make sure she's okay."
Her mother is dead? Was this the truth? Or part of a plot to get to Kate? Looking at the boys again, she could only assume that it was true. Beginning to put the pieces together in her head, the extent of Kate's trauma began to make sense. Oh Kate, you poor thing.
"Well there was a girl brought in with some second degree burns the other day, but her sisters have already come for her." Gladys heart sank with horror as she gripped the wall.
"Her sisters?" Gladys heard the inflection in his voice change. She needed to get back to Kate and Betty and fast. Not wasting any more time, she quickly walked down the corridor and once around the corner, took off in a blind run towards Kate's room.
X
"What?!" Betty exclaimed.
"Her father. He's here!" The brunette's repeated as she continued to hurry about the room.
Kate immediately recoiled like a scared puppy in Betty's arms. "No! No! No! He can't be! I won't go with him. NEVER AGAIN!" The trembling in her shoulders shook the sheets as she curled into the blonde.
Betty cupped the redhead's face in her hands. "He's not coming anywhere near you! I swear!"
"Betty, get her up. We need to get out of here and quickly. We have a couple of minutes at best before he busts in here."
"Shit! Come on Kate!" Betty pulled the girl to her feet. The redhead winced in pain; her feet unsteady beneath her. Betty supported her weight under her arms while Kate tried to find her balance.
"Put this on her," Gladys threw Betty her coat, "we can head out the back entrance." Doing as she was told, Betty wrapped Kate up in the green wool coat. It would be barely enough to combat the chill in the air, as the only thing Kate had on was her thin cotton hospital gown.
Quickly peeking out into the corridor, Gladys gave the all clear, but could hear voices in the distance making their way towards them. "We've got to go now!"
Practically dragging Kate to the door, "We're going as fast as we can! A little help here, princess?" Betty shot back to Gladys.
Gladys looked back, saw the struggling duo, and quickly rushed over. Supporting Kate between them, they hurriedly made their way to the stairs at the end of the hall. Kate tensed as she heard the familiar foot falls of her father coming down the adjoining hallway. With seconds to spare, the three friends disappeared behind the stairwell door without detection. Carefully navigating the staircase, they stumbled down at a quick clip and rushed out to the street, hit by the torrents of water falling from the sky. Splashing into a large puddle near the curb, Gladys flagged down a cab in front of them and they collectively sighed with temporary relief as soon as the door slammed shut. Kate couldn't help but turn in Betty's embrace and look thru the rear view window of the cab as the hospital became a fading speck in the distance. She failed to notice a small boy with bright red hair, peak out of the doorframe where the stairs let out. She missed his silent cry, as he ran forward into the rain, his brother close behind him.
Turning back around awkwardly into Betty's shoulder, Kate shivered in weakness. The blonde frowned in concern next to her, and tucked a lock of wet red hair behind her ear, against her face. Betty held the cold, delicate hands in hers, warming them with her own. The silence hung between them as the rain echoed tin-like against the roof of the car.
Gladys finger combed her hair, and shook out her dress. It had gotten soaked in the brief minute at the street corner, and the chill crept in from the air in the car. She stopped and looked over at them for a moment, her eyes trailing over Kate's form and Betty's intense gaze moved from the object of her desire to her friend. The brunette set her face and posture firmly, knowing what her next words would provoke. "We're going back to Toronto today."
"Are you crazy?" Betty's face contorted in disbelief, her gaze narrowed into a glare. "Kate is barely conscious and in severe pain. She can't go bouncing around on a train!"
"Betty…" Kate pulled her hand out from her love's grip and lightly stroked the concerned blonde's cheek. "She's right. We need to get back to Toronto. We're safer there. I'll be fine. Really."
"But… " Betty furrowed her brow but looking into the determined blue eyes, her protest was silenced. "Alright." She shook her head and looked out the side window. Moving her thoughts to the comforts and protections Toronto could offer them. James' flat, Leon, the other blue shift girls, hell even Lorna could be counted on in a pinch. Her heartbeat slowed and her concerns eased. She felt Kate's hands wrap around her waist and her head tilted back towards the injured woman, providing a place that Kate could rest against. In a small moment, everything faded against this new found physical comfort, this sensation of rightness. A small smile slid up the right side of Betty's face.
Soon after, the car came to a stop in front of their rarely used accommodations, the rain beating down in rushing waves with the wind. The driver opened the car door, and the intensity of weather howled and blew hard against their coats as they rushed out, holding on to one another. Once back inside the room, Kate painfully slipped into one of Gladys' dresses. Betty looked up train schedules in the paper while Gladys helped Kate put on some powder and lipstick as well as fix her hair to hide the cluster of blisters and bruises on her face. Luck was on their side. The next train for Toronto was leaving in thirty-five minutes which gave them plenty of time to get to the station, purchase their fares and hopefully leave horror of Trenton behind them for good.
Kate sat down on the bed for a moment. Her breathing labored. She still didn't know what the extent of her injuries were but from the pain in her side, she assumed she had broken a rib or two falling from the window. Betty knelt before her placing her hands upon her knees.
"You okay?" She asked, her golden brown eyes searching for signs of distress.
"I'm okay. I just needed to catch my breath. It just that… everything hurts Betty. I'm sorry." Kate took her lover's hands as she drew large breaths.
"Are you kidding me? You don't need to apologize for that!" The blonde exclaimed entwining their fingers.
"What happened?" Kate asked holding up Betty's bandaged hand a perplexed look on her face.
"Oh that… well… I uh…"
"Ladies, I hate to interrupt…" Gladys pointed to her wrist, "We need to go."
"I guess I'll tell you later. Come on sweetie." Betty guided Kate to her feet.
They made it to the station with fifteen minutes to spare. Gladys headed to the ticket counter while Betty led Kate to some nearby benches to rest. Kate shuttered as she rested her head on her lover's shoulder.
"Are you cold?"
"A little."
Betty opened her coat and put her left arm around the girl's shoulders. Kate responded by slipping her right hand around Betty's lower back to rest her hand on her waist.
"Better?" The blonde asked.
"Yes."
Every action they made was innocent to the unsuspecting eye, but having Kate so close, their bodies pressed together, the singer's fingertips stroking her side under the coat made the whole thing intensely erotic to Betty. They were minutes away from safety. Minutes away from heading back to Toronto were they could finally get a chance to work out what this thing between them was. Betty had lost it in the hospital room, her emotions had carried her away but despite Kate's confession; despite those kisses… an intense doubt lingered within her. She knew that until it was quelled, they would never be anything real. But that would all come with the future than was only moments away from them. Right now, this was enough. Betty pulled her closer, smiled with utter contentment and shut her eyes taking in all the sensations.
"The only thing they had left was a private cabin, it maybe a little tight for the three of us, but at least you'll be able to lie down and rest." Gladys said as she walked up to them, pulling Betty back from her tranquility.
"Oh Gladys," Kate began, "that must have been terribly expensive."
"Don't worry about it."
"I will pay you back, I promise." The redhead continued.
"Hush, now." Gladys snuggled up next to Kate. "We are taking you back where you belong. That is more important." Gladys and Betty shared a glance. They had succeeded in the impossible.
"Well, we can't stick around here all day. Let's go." Betty said rising from the bench. Again, the two girls supported their weakened friend between them as they made their way to the platform. Steam hissed from the pistons of the train as passengers hurried to get on board through the rain. Making their way in the crowds, Gladys moved forward ahead of Kate and Betty to make room for them thru all the passengers near the front of the train platform and hand off their tickets to the conductor. As Kate paused with Betty, she felt the hair rise on the back of her neck and down her spine. She felt the terror before she heard it. A chill ran down her back and she turned from Betty's arms.
"Marion!" The voice boomed from behind them at the other end of the platform.
Not looking back, Betty grabbed her and moved her forward thru the crowds. "Come on! We can make it!" Betty urged.
"Marion STOP!" The voice was getting closer and closer. The girls tried to quicken their pace, but Kate's sluggish steps hindered their escape and Kate's body locked as she felt her father's hand grab onto the back of her coat.
"You are not going anywhere!" Vernon exclaimed.
"Get your hands off her!" Betty yelled pushing him off Kate.
"You have corrupted my child you deviant." Vernon spat in response.
Betty had waited three months for this. She's curled her fingers into a fist and swung. Her fist collided with Vernon's jaw with such force that he lost his balance and fell back onto a few unsuspecting passengers.
"You will not touch her again you bastard!" Betty exclaimed standing victorious over the preacher. Betty didn't see the figure barreling through the crowds. Her arms were yanked and roughly pulled behind her as Joshua kicked her feet out from under her and she cracked her face on the platform decking. Pain flashed up her head as the jarring movements against the wood ground splinters into her cheek. Blood flowed from her mouth and nose as she struggled against the boy. His breath was loud in her ear, as he grunted in effort and pushed her firmly down. "Joshua, NO!" Betty heard Kate exclaim frantically. The plea fell on deaf ears as he continued to hold her down. But Betty still had control of her legs and she kicked up and out with her boot, catching the young man off guard. He gasped in surprise and loosened his grip, allowing Betty to rock back and throw her head back, slamming it against his ear. He released her then, as she flipped around and stood up looking back towards Vernon who had scrambled to his feet, massaging his jaw.
Betty backed up towards Kate, face streaming blood.
"Betty!" Kate wrapped her hand around her savior's clenched fist. "Kate!" Gladys called out from behind them as she ran back to her friends, the rain spattering their heads as they stood there with a bystanding crowd.
Vernon smiled and lifted a hand to his son as he helped him up. "You are a hell cat indeed. But no matter how much you fight, I know my daughter will never love you."
"You don't know a damned thing!" Betty broke her hand free from Kate readying herself to rip the man apart, her face full of murderous intent.
"Betty stop!" Kate quickly moved to place herself between Betty and her father. "You're wrong Father! I love her. You knew it. Mother knew it but unlike you, she only wanted me to be happy. She could accept me for who I am. And you…" her voice cracked, "you condemned us to death because of it."
"What?" Gladys asked stunned by the events unfolding before her.
Kate turned towards Betty, wiping her coat sleeve jacket against the blood rivulets on her face. She gently pulled Betty's hands into her own. "I told my mother that I love you. She was happy for me. But then he came home and everything went to hell."
"Daughter, you cannot love her." Vernon pleaded.
"But I do." Azure eyes looked deep in golden brown ones. "I love her with everything I am."
"Kate." Betty whispered. Joshua's face filled with hatred as he readied himself to lunge at his sister.
"What's going on here?" A strange voice asked. Startled, the blonde shifted her attention to policeman that stood before them. "Shit!"
Gladys immediately sprang into action. "Officer, you need to take this man and his son into custody immediately for assault, arson and possible murder." Joshua leapt at Gladys, a cry at his throat. This time Betty was ready and blocked his ramming assault, as they fell together off the railed platform and down to the track. The air whooshed out her lungs as her back slammed into the dirt, inches away from the train's wheels. Joshua fell to her side and she blocked his punch with her arms, pulling herself up as she kneed him in the face. Police whistles could be heard in her ringing ears as a uniformed man jumped down into the track and over to them. Another officer stood above them and grabbed Joshua pulling him forward and up to the platform. As Betty turned and was about to thank the officer, he spun her around back to her knees and cuffed her hands behind her back. In shock, Betty cried out as metal bit into her wrists.
Kate plead for her release, as Gladys held onto her from behind. But the officer was unconvinced. "Really? From what I saw it looks like she's just as guilty of assault as they are." The officer looked in Betty's direction. Taking a better look at the rest of the parties involved, he concentrated on Kate noticing the obvious job to hide the wounds on her face. "Miss, are you alright?" Gladys protectively gripped onto Kate's good arm.
"This is all his fault." Betty glared at Vernon as she was lifted from the tracks and down the platform.
"Silence you temptress. Now everyone will know what you truly are. So help me God. Officer I will happily comply and answer any questions you ask of me." The Preacher's tone was condescending and confident.
"You are all coming with me so that we can get this sorted." The officer said as he gesturing his uniformed men with their prisoner towards the platform exit. Gladys turned to Kate as they watched Betty and Joshua being hauled off in handcuffs. Grimly, they followed.
