Author's Note: I have two for you guys tonight! Please review!
Brandon:
The 911 operator says the police are on their way. She says to keep the phone connected so I set it on the desk as I help Mariana push the furniture in front of the door. Jude is still unconscious. I grab a blanket from the bed and throw it over him.
"Does he know? About Liam and Callie?" I ask Mariana.
She just shakes her head. "I don't know. But he must have had some reason to faint. What did she tell you? About Liam?" She asks me.
I don't know exactly what to say. I know that Mariana knows Callie was raped. I'm not sure what she's asking.
"He was nice to her," I say finally. "He made her feel special. And he took advantage of that."
Mariana raises an eyebrow at me, and I freeze in my tracks. Is she saying what I think she's trying to say?
Am I like Liam?
Is that why Callie ran away?
"You're not him," Mariana says, startling me, "you never raped her."
I can't even look at her.
"No, I never raped her. But I hurt her. Badly."
To my surprise, Mariana comes over and hugs me.
"It's going to be okay."
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Jude:
I'm lying on the floor. Why am I lying on the floor?
Brandon and Mariana are talking.
About Callie.
"I hurt her," Brandon is saying.
What does he mean? How did he hurt Callie? The only person who I know for sure hurt Callie was Liam.
Liam!
"Where is he? What's happening?" I sit up so fast I get dizzy.
Brandon and Mariana break apart and come over to me, trying to make me lie down again.
No way. I have to get up.
"We have to help her!" I cry out, trying to push them away from me.
"Who?" Mariana looks confused.
"Callie! He's going to hurt Callie!" Why don't they understand?
Brandon's trying to hold me down but I'm kicking him, over and over again until he lets me go. I get up and run to the door, to find her, to warn her, but the beds are blocking it and I can't get out.
I try to push them out of the way but they're too heavy. I look at Brandon and Mariana, who are just standing there watching me.
"Help me move them!" I say desperately.
They stand still, and I just break down and sob.
Mariana comes and puts her arms around me and guides me away from the door.
"We're going to be safe here." She tells me. I rest my head on her shoulder, my tears staining her shirt.
What about the others? Where are they going to stay safe?
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Jesus:
Lena and I look at each other and turn to run up the stairs. We're at the top when we hear a noise coming from Callie's room. There's a thud, and Lena whispers:
"Jesus. Run."
I shake my head, gesturing to the door where Mariana, Jude, and Brandon have barricaded themselves in. I can't leave them unprotected. I can't leave Lena unprotected. This is my family.
Lena looks at me, her eyes begging me to go. I squeeze her shoulder and hold out my hand for the knife.
Lena shakes her head.
"No way. I am not going to let you live with murder on your conscience." To my surprise, she sort of smiles to herself, as if she's remembering an inside joke. "And if anyone is going to die tonight, it's not going to be me," she says wryly.
I nod, but I'm not really sure what she means.
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Callie:
There's no more light. The world is dark again, and I'm lost in a haze of pain. I want to die. Why won't they let me die?
There's something on my face. I try to move my hand so that I can reach up and rip it off, but the most I can do is twitch a finger.
Someone's hand picks up my finger and curls it in their own. Their touch is gentle.
"Callie? Callie, can you hear me?"
I try to open my eyes, but it is so hard. I can see a slit of light, and it's too bright, but it's not the same light I saw before. It's not the light I wanted. This light is sharp and cold.
The voice is warm though. It's a woman. I think I know that voice.
Wait. She asked me a question. I have to answer her. I try to make a sound, to tell her I can hear her.
But I can't.
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Liam:
It's almost funny how easy it was to get into Callie's room. I don't know why I didn't do this before. It would have been so easy. Even easier than taking her at the bus station. And all that took was my hand on her mouth and a quick blow to the head. This would have been like stealing candy from a baby.
I land on the carpet and look around. I know immediately which bed is Callie's. I wish I could stop and lie down on those sheets, smell her pillowcase. Her hair didn't smell the same today as it did two years ago. That natural sweet smell was hidden by all the blood.
No matter. I'll take a pillowcase to go.
I pull the switchblade out of my pocket. It still has tiny denim threads wedged into the handle from cutting off Callie's clothes.
I bite my lip, remembering the sound of the blade, the pieces of fabric falling off so easily, revealing her soft skin. I remember the feel of her thighs, her moans as I washed her. If only she was here right now. In her bed.
I shake my head to clear it. It's not time for that now. My watch tells me it's been nearly four minutes since Jude saw me. No doubt the cops will be on their way.
I look around the room to see if there is anything else I can use.
My eyes find their way to Callie's pillow again, and I smile. The cop has a gun, but I'm sure she has it with her. The only other weapon they could have is a knife. I pick up Callie's pillow and stuff the pillowcase in my pocket. I grab a hard toss pillow in my left hand and steady my switchblade in my right.
Show time.
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