I'm cold. I go to turn over when I feel something hard lodge in my back. I open my eyes and let them adjust to the light, or lack of. I reach for my phone on my nightstand but end up grabbing something soft and wet. It's moss...where am I? I lean my body up and survey my surroundings; I'm lying on the ground in the park. There is a rock in my back. How the hell did I end up out here? My hands fall over my legs, the fabric of my dress isn't there. My dress is hiked up around my waists and my thong is missing. Suddenly I am hit with a ton of bricks.
My breathing hitches up and I feel my body tremble. I reach around for my phone frantically; I can't be awake right now this has to be a bad dream. As I search I begin to try and piece things back together but there is a throbbing in my ears. The last thing I really remember was dancing with Chad…after he gave me the funny tasting drink. My mouth goes dry and I heave. I told him I didn't do those things so soon…he took things into his own hands. My mind spins as I grab my phone. I click it frantically but its dead, it's not going to turn on. I feel the tears slip out and for once I let them.
I let myself calm down before standing up and pulling my dress down, up ahead I see a clearing. That asshole took my shoes. I slowly walk toward what I can only assume is the path. I feel the lump form in my throat. Where am I supposed to go? I can't go home, or to Phoebe's. It's too late for that. I don't have any other friends either. There is only one person in the world who will not say anything to anyone if I show up there this late, and no one would suspect it either.
I stretch out on the couch and roll over, tired of the same old shows on TV. I hear a faint knocking noise along with some scuffling around the lower part of the house.
"Arnold, come down stairs please." my mom doesn't sound too happy. Why is she yelling for me anyhow, its nearly midnight on a Friday night. I huff and drag myself up, lord knows what I'm in for down there.
I scramble down the stairs as fast as I can, curiosity winning me over. I see my mom immediately and behind her slightly to the left is an angel who looks like she's been dragged through hell. My mouth falls open and I struggle to find words. She looks at me, tears held up in her beautiful eyes, pain fresh across her face, but mostly just dirt and some blood on her body. She looks terrified and small, so different from the fighter I've always known. I stare for a few moments more before I hear my mom clear her throat.
"Arnold bring her up to your room and help her get cleaned up, I'm going to see what I can find for those cuts." I just kind of nod and turn, assuming she'll follow. I'm about five steps up when I realize she's still standing at the door, paralyzed, I walk back down and take her hand, she shudders violently but lets me lead her up to my room. The moment we get through the door she begins hyperventilating. At this point I don't know how she got like this but I have a feeling it has to do with that asshole. I rub her back until she calms down slightly; I haven't said a word to her yet.
"Helga, what happened to you?" Her face turns beat red and she looks down suddenly, immeadiatly I know for sure my fears are correct.
He keeps staring at me like I'm some kind of animal, coming here was a mistake, I don't know why i decided to come here of all places. He's still talking but my ears wont listen, its like I'm hearing his words but their not making it all the way in, not until he says something about a hospital.
"I am not going to a hospital Arnold," My body heats up from my toes and my eyes well up again, "that's why I came here, so I could just get cleaned up without my dad freaking out."
"Helga I'm sorry but I'm not giving you a choice, I know what that scumbag did and if you don't go to the hospital and let the law sort it out I will take care of him myself and end up in jail." She flinches, I know my voice is stern but she needs to understand this isn't a game. What happened tonight is unforgivable and with all she's been through I wont let it happen.
"Arnold you don't get it, its not the first time this has happened to me. I know how to handle it. A guy like Chad won't get in trouble for this it'll just ruin my reputation more than I'm sure he already has. I just want to take a long hot shower and get some sleep."
She looks at me with big round eyes and I know I'm going to give in. I sigh and get her a couple of towels and lead her to my private bathroom. I walk to the tub as she takes a seat on the edge and I turn on the water for a bath, she needs the rest and a shower will be too much. I check it with my wrist and turn the heat to a comfortable temperature. She's watching my intently so I flash a smile and feel my heart tighten up at how disheveled she looks.
"Give the tub time to fill before you get in, I'll be out here with clothes when you're ready ok?" She nods and thanks me. I walk over to my bed to grab my phone to call my mom. I have six messages from a number I don't have saved. My heart begins to thump hard in my chest as I open the first. My mouth drops and I dry heave. On the screen of my phone in Helga, small and asleep, half naked in the back of a truck. The other five are all similar to that but more disgusting. I feel the anger bubble up in me and I know I cant just let this go. Maybe this has happened to her before but before I wasn't there to protect her. I need to get her to the hospital, I don't want to tell her about this but it might be my only way to get her to listen to me. I run over to the door and burst in.
I jump when I hear the door slam open and my body tightens up. Arnold is looking at me with crazy in his eyes and I feel genuine fright in my bones.
"I can't let you do this Helga you need to go to the hospital." I sigh and shake my head at him but before I can argue he has his phone under my nose. I look at the screen and feel vomit come up my throat. It's me, and he's sent them to everyone he knows. I sit back slightly trying to process what's going on. I feel Arnold take my arm and help me stand, he pulls the plug on the tub and turns off the water. I am given a pair of sweat pants and a large shirt and I feel myself automatically put them on. He's still in the room but he's not looking at me, he is playing with his phone muttering something about saving the photos for the police. He takes my arm and leads me downstairs telling his mom were going to the hospital, she takes his keys away and tells him she's driving. He goes to argue with her but the look in her eye makes him stop short. She touches my arm and promises me she's going to see that everything is alright. I am led to a large SUV and Arnold opens the passenger door for me. I feel like I am watching my body from above as they talk about what entrance to use. I hear his mom say my names a few times.
"Helga, sweetheart, I am going to bring you to the nurses' entrance. I work at the hospital and already told my supervisor what happened. We are going to keep you away from other people so that no one else knows what happened. After an examination they are going to have to police come and talk to you. They are also having you dad meet us there."
I nod my head not understanding a word of what she just said. Arnold holds my shoulder and rubs it softly but I barely feel it.
She's in shock. She isn't really here, I mean her body is but her mind is somewhere else. Normally she would have argued every step of the way but those photos snapped that in her.
It's sickening how someone can take an angel and break her wings. She may act tough but deep down she's just had a lot of terrible stuff happen to her and grew a shell. She just needs true affection. Someone who won't expect anything from her someone who will hold her every night someone who she can depend on...at this moment I'd give anything to be that someone. I don't get why she came to me though, she made it clear she wanted nothing to do with me.
We pull up to the hospital and a short pudgy woman runs up to the car. Her and my mom exchanges a few words before the woman goes to take Helga.
"Arnold, please come with me.." She breaks her silence and looks to me, I nod once and get out of the back taking her one arm while the woman, whose name is Randi, takes the other.