Chapter 13
I was terrified.
No. No. No. No. No.
I have been alive for seventeen years and nine months, no one has ever seen my scars except the people that put them there. This has to be a nightmare.
I felt all the blood drain from my face as I pulled my sweater back down to my waist. She's gonna hate me. She's gonna tell somebody and my parents are going to kill me.
Kim looked as scared as I felt inside. Horror lit up every part of her features. She was staring at my stomach now, frozen. Please, let it go. Please.
I wiped my face of all emotion and scooted back on her bed so we weren't so close. Kim's eyes suddenly shot up to my emotionless ones. Her eyes narrowed and she stood up quickly. I jumped and tensed, afraid. She ran over to the door and my heart fell to my stomach.
But, she didn't open it.
She locked it.
She spun around her back against the door. Her long braid fell onto her shoulder and her bangs fell in front of her eyes. She pushed her bangs behind her ear and she looked at me with determination.
"I knew something was up," she said, her voice stern and searching. Though it wasn't the reaction I was expecting, it sure wasn't what I was hoping for. I pushed myself to the end of the bed, ready for her to tell me to leave. I hid slightly behind my hair, waiting for the disgust.
"Did you now?" I said emotionlessly, looking away from her. I couldn't hold back the pain as I heard my own voice.
I sounded like my father.
"Marly?" Kim said quietly. I looked up at her, my vision blurry from unshed tears.
And then Kim was basically on top of me, holding my figure tightly in a hug. My body tensed, hating the fact that someone was touching me. But a different feeling developed inside me, comfort. I wasn't used to it, that was for sure, and I was terrified. I had only felt the emotion from Paul, though this wasn't nearly as strong as that.
I wrapped my arms around her cautiously. Hugging? That's not a thing I did. Ever. It was stupid, but I was scared that I'd do it wrong.
Kim pulled back and I noticed my tears had fallen as she stared at me. I looked away from her, wiping the tears off my cheeks.
"Who did it? Or worse, does it?" Kim asked, her voice hoarse.
I looked back up at her silently. I wanted to tell her. I really did. But I just couldn't. Kim waited patiently, but I couldn't give her an answer. I looked away in shame. Once a liar, always a liar.
"Was it your parents?"
I flinched, I couldn't help it. How could she possibly know that? She gasped and I knew I couldn't pull it back. I didn't want to. I didn't want to lie anymore.
"How could someone do something so terrible? I'm so sorry, Marly," Kim said, voice shaking. I looked at her, seeing tears falling silently. I reached out, placing my hand on top of hers hesitantly. She smiled sadly at me.
"I'm sorry. I'm okay. Really I am," I said, voice stronger than I thought it would be. Kim scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"You'll be better once you are taken away from them."
"Kim, no!" I protested, my fingers latching around her hand as she tried to stand. "You can't tell!"
"W-What? You're kidding, right?"
"No. In no way am I kidding. I will be eighteen in three months. Only three months left! They have been giving me money to keep quiet and I need as much as I can get."
"That's sick!" Kim exclaimed in disgust. I stared at her desperately.
"If you tell they will put me in a foster home. It could be worse than my situation right now! Please Kim. I have friends for the first time in as long as I can remember. I can't be pulled from them now. Not you. Not Paul. I need you guys-"
"Mar! Take a breath!" Kim interrupted as I poured my heart out to her. I'm glad she stopped me, I didn't want to scare her away from me by being too needy.
"You can't tell anyone. Not even Jared or Paul. Please Kim," I pleaded, tears rushing down my face. Kim looked at me, conflicted. She winced and opened her mouth, but closed it, unsure of what to say. I held her hand tighter, needing her to understand.
"Fine. I won't tell. I swear it," she sighed and I launched myself, hugging her tightly. She let out a surprised, yet weak, laugh. "On one condition."
I pulled back and narrowed my eyes at her.
"The minute you turn eighteen, we call the cops."
"Kim-"
"No, Marlene. What if they do this to someone else? Hurt another child? Do you want that?"
"No."
"Then let's shake on it."
Kim held out her hand and flinched slightly, making her frown. She gave me an apologetic look and moved her hand closer to me slowly. I reached out slowly and grabbed her hand. She shook it once, grinning.
"We have a deal."