The truth is revealed.
A/NJust a quick warning that this chapter contains characters talking about abuse so if you are in any way offended by this then I apologise in advance. Otherwise enjoy this chapter.
After Brains checked Caitlin over to ensure that her concussion hadn't caused any damage to her brain, he and Scott left the infirmary to tell the others that she was awake and able to talk. Alan was left alone with her. She was clearly nervous about what was happening but Alan's smile was giving her a small sense of security.
"I'm Alan by the way." the young boy said softly.
"Well you already know my name. How long have I been out?" she asked him.
"Well, when we found you, you were already out. But you've been here for 3 days."
"Huh. That long then. But where is here?"
"All you need to know is that you washed up on an island in the south pacific. If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?"
"That's kind of a long story. Sure you're up for it?" she asked with a small smile of her own. Alan simply nodded in response.
"Ok Then. Well, I was born in England where I spent the first 5 years of my life in a care home. It was OK there, roof over my head and all that. But anyway, just after my 5th birthday I was taken to Australia to live with some guy and his wife. They couldn't have kids so they adopted me." Caitlin paused to check that Alan was still listening. "They were lovely. She would bake with me every Sunday and taught me to swim and he taught me how to ride a bike and took me to the zoo. But when I was about 11 she died in a car accident. I still don't remember what happened exactly although I think that a drunk driver hit her car. I was devastated. She was pretty much the only mother figure I've had in my life. But after the funeral everything went wrong."
Alan took notice of the fear that crept slowly into her voice.
"You see, I was in the car with her. We were on our way back from swimming and we were laughing and talking. She turned to look at me when the other car hit us. He blamed me for the accident. A few weeks after the funeral, I'd come home from school and I could smell the alcohol from the front door. When I went inside, he was out cold on the sofa. I made myself a sandwich and went straight to my room. It was a good few hours later when he came in, I could tell he was still drunk. He came up to me and just," she took a deep breath before continuing, "hit me across the face."
Tears started to form in her eyes. She looked away as they began to roll down her cheeks. "He started to yell at me. He would do this nearly every night. When I was 13 he started to kick me as well. He was clever about it, only hitting and kicking where my clothes were."
Caitlin was fully crying now. Alan suddenly felt how she must have felt for the past few years, completely helpless.
After regaining her composure, she continued to tell her story. "This has been happening for the past 5 years or so. I'd had enough. One of my friends told me that theirs dad owned several boats by the coast and one was being scrapped. They said I could use it if I wanted. That's when I made up my mind. My plan was to run away and go to New Zealand, start a new life there. No one would miss me, I could leave unnoticed. So I did. It took a couple of days to walk to the bay where the boat was. I was out at sea for about a day when the storm rolled in. The last thing I remember is a large rock face getting closer and closer until my head suddenly hurts a everything goes black. Next thing I know I'm waking up here. I can't go back. Promise me you won't make me go back there!" she demanded through tears. Alan, although scared, gave her his word. He handed her a box of tissues and she dryed her eyes.
Once she'd calmed down, she yawned. "You best go to sleep now. You need the rest." Alan told her softly. Caitlin only nodded before her eyes closed. Alan stayed with her until he was convinced that she was asleep. As he left the infirmary, he remembered his promise. There was no way she was going back to that man, not while he was around.
As he went back upstairs, Alan wondered whether or not we should tell his brothers. His best bet would be to tell Kayo. She'd know what to do about it. Now all he had to do was find the head of security.
A/N
If you stuck around for this chapter then thank you. It was incredibly difficult to write and I don't want to offend any of you.
The next chapter shouldn't be as late and probably not as long. Also please check out the midquil Big Brothers Worry For A Reason I wrote the other day.
See you soon
