Hey, hey, my Lovelies!
I hope my non-reviewers have been enjoying the story so far! Would love to hear from you! My regular reviewers, thank you! You guys keep me motivated and always two chapters ahead! Love ya!
Okay, so I'm going with a change here! This will be written in third person as always, but there will be no indication of whose POV it'll be.
Warning: MORE ANGST! There is brief/mild description RAPE in this chapter! If this is a trigger for anybody, please stop reading when indicated and continue when you are given the all clear!
Beta: None at the moment.
Disclaimer: I don't own it. I only play.
Without further ado ... Enjoy!
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Chapter Thirty-Five
Horror
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14:00/02:00 pm
August 1st
2026
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She was out with her best friends, Lucy and Denver. They'd decided to go to the movies to catch the latest blockbuster that had come out just last weekend. Lucy's father had driven them into the theatre, buying them their snacks and tickets before going off to do something to pass the time.
"Hey, you better sit next to me!" Lucy demanded of the girl, who laughed and rolled her eyes.
"No way!" Denver protested, his nose scrunching up. "She's sitting next to me, right, Poptart?"
The girl rolled her eyes once again at that stupid nickname. A few months ago, she'd had an obsession with strawberry pop tarts, taking one to school with her every morning. Her friends never let her live it down and had started calling her Poptart. It stuck. Now she'd never escape it.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" she huffed, crossing her arms as she glared at Denver.
"Gah, you love it," he teased, pulling her down into a headlock.
"Hey, get off!"
"Leave her alone, Den. Let's just go watch the movie. They're letting people in," Lucy informed them.
They picked up their snacks, drinks and coats before heading into the theatre. They laughed and joked between themselves, pushing and shoving playfully as they found their seats.
The three friends watched the movie with glee and giggled all in the right places. Their drinks were drained and snacks were fought over. Several people had told them to quieten down, but no one really truly minded. Denver, at one point, left to get more snacks, helpless against the puppy-dog eyes trained on him from either side of his seat.
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16:30/04:30 pm
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When the movie ended about two and a half hours later, Lucy called her father to see where he was. He wasn't that far away at some restaurant one of his friends owned. He said to meet him there for dinner. As they exited the movie theatre, the girl turned to her friends.
"I'm just gonna head a block over to that crafts store we saw last time. I need those supplies for Art next Thursday. Would you tell your Dad I won't be more than fifteen minutes?" the girl asked Lucy, who nodded. She did look cautious though.
"Did you want me to come with you? Or Denver?" Lucy asked.
The girl shook her head immediately. "I can't take care of myself. Go, meet up with your Dad and I won't be long, promise. I have my phone if I'm any longer and I'll text, okay?"
Lucy caved and nodded. "Okay. Come on, Den," she ordered, pulling on the tall boys' arm.
Denver couldn't shake the feeling churning in the pit of his stomach. As he watched his first ever friend, from that very first day at Kindergarten, walk the opposite direction to him and Lucy, he couldn't help feeling something bad was going to happen. An insistent pull from Lucy had him brushing it off and hurrying along to meet up with her Dad for dinner.
The girl smiled to herself as she thought about her friends. They'd always been there for her through thick and thin. They were as thick as thieves and had been since the very beginning. She didn't know what she'd do without them and really didn't want to have to find out. She couldn't help blushing as her thoughts lingered on Denver though.
He was changing by the day. Only fourteen years of age but was well into his puberty. She blushed harder just thinking about that stuff. It was much more ostentatious for guys, since their voice broke around that time. She could remember when it had happened to her best friend, how she'd really, really liked the sound of his new voice. Or how he shot up like a bean sprout seemingly overnight.
He'd just started to fill out as well from all the hours he spent playing sports, both at school and his free time. She loved watching him play. She liked how he got so sweaty and red, how powerful he ran and tossed the ball to his teammates. He was very competitive and put 200% into everything he did, especially sports.
She most certain that Denver was her first crush, maybe even her first love. He never paid her any mind though, thinking of her only as a best friend or worse, a little sister.
A light drizzle began as she made her way towards her destination. She lifted one of her bags above her head as it quicken, tiny water droplets penetrating her thin jacket within seconds and causing her hair to frizz annoyingly.
She didn't rush. There was no point since she was already so drenched. She did sigh in relief however when she arrived at her destination, pushing the door open swiftly as a chime sounded overhead.
The crafts store wasn't overly big, but big enough that it took her a good ten minutes to find what she wanted. Even then, she was unsure as to what to purchase. Yes, she was good at art, but was always lost figuring how what was best for her to work with.
She'd tried pastels, but she hated them. She was okay with pencil and water paints but her talent seemed to dwell in acrylic paints and canvasses. Still, she took a step out of her comfort zone, glancing over the charcoal sets they had for sale.
"Hi there, can I help you?" the shop clerk asked the girl. The clerk had noticed how indecisive she was and wondered if he could be of assistance.
The girl smiled shyly. "Hi. Um ... Yeah actually. I'm doing an art project at school next thursday. I've chosen to use charcoal but ..."
"You're not sure if it's the right choice?"
"That and I don't really know any good techniques for it at all," she admitted shyly.
The clerk smiled. Wow, he's pretty gorgeous ... she thought to herself as she returned it.
"No worries. If you have time, I could show you a trick or two," he offered with a kind smile.
"I can stay. I'll just need to call my friend, okay?"
"Sure thing. Cora here will take over in the front. Just come on back once you've finished with your phone call," the clerk offered with a smile before heading off to retrieve what he'd need.
The girl whipped out her phone and made all her necessary calls. Lucy told her that they would be in the arcade right next door to the establishment they were set to eat at before, and to just come in there once she was finished. The girl knew that Lucy's dad wouldn't have minded that plan as he was just a big a kid as she and her friends.
So then the girl spent the next hour in the back of the crafts store, listening and watching attentively as the clerk, whose name she found out was Quinn, showed her everything she would need to know to use charcoal on a basic level.
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18:00/06:00 pm
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When an hour and a half rolled around, she reluctantly tore herself away as she knew Lucy and the others would be getting bored by now.
"Thanks so much for showing me all that! You've been a massive help!" the girl gushed as she paid for her purchases, all recommended by the guy she was pretty sure she now had a crush on.
Quinn grinned. "No worries. You're a great student and learned pretty fast. Good luck with your project and don't hesitate to come back if you need anymore help, okay?"
The girl nodded, waved and then exited the store with a smile on her face. Glancing down at her watch, she knew that it would take another fifteen minutes to get back to the others. She'd already been long enough, she thought, as it was pretty dark already. The overhead lights flickered on and off as she peered around.
Her eyes caught on what appeared to be a shortcut. At least, it lead in the direction of the arcade and restaurant. Shrugging, she forgot all her street-smarts and made for the alleyway. A few steps into it, she realised it was much longer than she anticipated and darker, but all she could think about was how the others would be annoyed with her as it was.
She shrugged once more and took off at a jog down the alleyway, her bags swishing this way and that in her haste.
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All of a sudden, they were yanked back, causing her to veer off balance with a yelp.
Before she could correct herself, she was grabbed from behind as a large, odorous hand covered her mouth. She screamed in surprise and began to struggle, but the person behind her was much too big and strong to fend off.
The stench of alcohol, sweat and wet clothes smell bombarded her senses, her faces scrunching up in disgust as she fought.
"Where d'ya think ya goin', girly?" a distinctive male voice breathed in her ear, his thick nose brushing up and down her thin neck.
She whimpered and clawed at the man's hand over her mouth, her screams never dying.
"No don' be like tha', Sugar. I only wanna little fun wit' ya," he slurred. "Be a girl little girly no- AH! Ya bitch!"
With all her might, she heaved her leg backwards between his, hitting him in the groin as she simultaneously bit into his chubby hand, grimacing at the sickening, pungent taste of his skin. He fell like a log, releasing the girl from his grip so that she could make a run for it. She didn't even bother picking up her bags. She just ran. She cried and wailed in pure fear, not daring to peer back over her shoulder as she heard the vile man clamber back to his feet.
"Get back here ya little bitch!"
"Help me! Somebody help!" the girl screamed in panic, her eyes widening as she released just how much farther she needed to run for the end of the alley.
She was only short. She was more torso than legs, so they were very short. Her strides were useless against those of the man's, whose legs were twice the length of hers. She could hear his heavy industrial boots clomping against the wet pavement as she chased after her.
Everything was a blur. She couldn't focus on anything other than her own panic, her own looming fate. She took a chance she could not afford to look back over her shoulder, screaming in shock when she saw he was much closer than she released. As she picked up her pace, she failed to see the small bag of trash thrown in her path.
She tripped, bracing herself in her hands, which were cut up and muddied. Something sharp burrowed deep into her knee and she had twisted her ankle, at least. Despite all this, she carried on, squirming and scrambling across the sodden pavement.
It was just no use, especially now.
She cried out as she was once again grabbed from behind roughly and thrown back down face first. Someone landed on top of her, straddling her slim body whilst they took no care with their weight. The wind was knocked out of her and she couldn't get it back.
"Ya shouldn'ta done tha', girly. Now I'll have ta get nasty too," the man sneered, grasping a fistful of her hair and yanking. She screamed.
She struggled. She fought. She lashed out. She did everything within her power. She just wasn't strong enough. She had no choice but to endure everything the man had planned for her. Crying. Sobbing. Wailing. She kicked. She punched. Scratched. Clawed. Spat.
She couldn't bear to open her eyes. She didn't want to see his face as he had his way with her. She wanted him gone. She just wanted to be left alone. She wanted it to end.
She wanted her friends.
She wanted her Daddy.
More than anyone though, she wanted her Mommy.
Finally ... finally ... the man was done. He stumbled off her, buttoning his pants before spitting on her where she lay. He smirked before chuckling, swaying away in search of my alcohol and drugs.
The girl just lay there, naked as the day she was born, staring up into the rain. There was no stars in the sky. No shining moon. Just dreary, chaotic grey clouds. She was strangely numb. Not even the pain of the aftermath registered in her mind as she managed to slowly curl up onto her side into a fetal position, wrapping her arms around her knees as she wept. Her tears mixed with the rain.
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19:00/07:00 pm
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Quinn Beaford sighed heavily as he hung up his work apron. It had been a long day, brightened only when the charming young girl came in earlier in search of supplies for her school project. His co-worker and fellow classmate, Cora, had been breathing down his neck all day, flirting shamelessly and just being a general pain in his ass.
He couldn't deny that the girl from earlier had been pretty. Beautiful really, even in her obvious youth. She was probably too young for him, as he was nineteen and she had barely appeared sixteen. Still, he couldn't help the way his skin hummed with some kind of electricity whenever they accidentally touched. She seemed oblivious, but he was very aware of her proximity earlier when they were drawing.
He wondered whether he'd ever see her again, but then again, probably not. It was a pretty big city. He'd never seen her before today. He'd have remembered such a pretty face so she wasn't from his school. Oh well.
He waved idly at Cora as he passed her, picking up his messenger bag on the way. She tried to get him to go out for coffee, but he made up some lie. He couldn't handle any more of her today. He'd have to do it all over again tomorrow. He couldn't wait.
He breathed deeply as he stepped out onto the street, scowling up at the crying cky briefly before hunkering down into his jacket to make the mad dash to his car. On his way, he came across an alley. As he passed, the alley entrance at his back, he heard something that made him pause. Frowning, he backed up a couple of paces to peer into the darkness.
He waited what must have been five minutes and heard nothing, so he shrugged and went on his way once more. Then his sensitive hearing picked up the noise again. Sighing, he retraced his steps and couldn't help calling out.
"Hello?" he called down the long alleyway, frowning softly to himself.
The next time he heard it was very clear to him. Whimpering. He didn't know what was making the noise, but there was definitely something down that alleyway. He stepped closer.
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
The whimpering continued. It most certainly wasn't some kind of animal. It sounded way too human. Anxiety and fear churned in the base of his stomach as he crept further into the alley. "Hello? Is anyone down here?"
No answer. More whimpering.
"I work at the store just near here. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to see if you're okay. Do you need help?" the man called. "Hello?"
A cry. A distinguished cry. A girl.
That churning feeling tripled as the man's pace quickened. He had a real bad feeling about this. His eyes scanned the entirety of the alleyway, behind dumpsters and trash bags. He found nothing, but the whimpers were growing louder. He was getting closer.
Then he saw her. He knew that face ... that beautiful, youthful face ...
He gasped, heart jumping into his throat as involuntary tears swelled in his eyes. He fell to his knees, hands hovering just above the young girl, not quite touching. He didn't know what effect it would have on her; he wouldn't take the chance. He could deduce what happened for himself. There was blood. A lot of it. She was covered in bruises and cuts across her face, arms and legs. She was filthy.
He cringed when he realised the majority the blood was coating her thighs ...
"Oh God ... " he breathed in pain, taking a deep breath to battle the bile churning in his stomach. "Honey ... Honey, can you hear me? It's me. It's Quinn. Sweetheart, can you hear me?"
Whimper.
Cough.
Cry.
"It's okay, Honey. We're gonna get you some help. I'm going to help you. I'm going to pick you up, okay? I need to get you to my car, to the hospital. Don't freak out," he agonised as he reached for the girl.
She did freak out as he wrapped his arms around her, but what choice did he have? He didn't think she'd have much longer if he left her there to call an ambulance. He had no choice but to drive her himself. If he got a ticket, so be it. He didn't give a shit.
But he wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happening to this young girl on his watch, especially as he'd not been a hundred feet away whenever that fucking monster inflicted this debauchery upon her.
There was no one about as he reached his car. He opened the back seat and laid her down. She calmed down when he stopped touching her. She passed out. He ran around the car and climbed in, flooring it out the parking lot towards the hospital. It barely took him half the time it usually would have done.
He parked, barely remembering to shut his own door as he yanked hers open and scooped up her unconscious and trembling frame. She was so tiny in his arms ...
God, please let her be okay!
The ER was extremely busy, but everything seemed to move in slow motion as he stormed in. Several nurses looked over, their faces horror struck as they rushed over.
"Please. Please, help me. I found her in an alley near where I work. She was conscious but she freaked out when I picked her up to get her in my car. She passed out on the way here. Please. Please help her," Quinn pleaded, his tears finally falling as the girl was taken from him. His hand lifted as if to reach out for her.
Why did it hurt to have her taken away from him?
Doctors and nurses swarmed around her, the curtain around her bed drawn shut swiftly as Quinn was led away by another nurse. She sat him down someplace quiet and handed him a cup of water. He was trembling badly, soaked to the bone and cold as ice, but he didn't care.
All he could focus on was that small, twinge of triumph at getting her here safely. Whether it was in time or not was another matter entirely. He really hoped that they could save her. It was swiftly replaced with blind fear for slip of a girl, fear for her physical well being yes, but also what this ordeal has done to her emotionally and mentally.
The nurse sat beside him, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders as she asked, "What's your name?"
"Quinn Beaford," he stuttered, his voice hoarse.
"Quinn, I'm Nurse Denise. Can you tell me what happened this evening? You said you found her. Did you know her prior to that?"
"N-no ... No, I only met her today. She ... She came into the store I work at, the crafts store right near the alley I found her in. That was ... around four-thirty. I dunno. I ..."
"We'll nail down the times later, Quinn. What else can you tell me?"
"I ... I showed her some techniques to use for charcoal. She ... she has a project at school next week ... She was grateful and bought everything I used to show her and ... she left. I didn't see her again until after my shift ..."
"How did you find her?"
"I heard whimpering coming from down the alleyway. At first, I thought it was an animal. You know, maybe an injured dog or something but ... then she cried out and I knew it wasn't an animal. I couldn't believe it was the same girl that left two hours prior. I had to get her here. I don't think she would have made it if I'd waited for an ambulance."
Nurse Denise rubbed the young man's back. "You made the right call, Quinn. You just might have saved that young girl's life with your quick thinking. We'll do everything we can. Would you like me to call anyone? Do you know the girl's name?"
"Uh, no, no I don't need you to call anyone," he replied before giving the nurse the girl's name.
Denise nodded and reluctantly left the young man's side. She had calls to make, one being the police after she has spoken to the doctor attending the girl. She sighed deeply when she thought about what must have happened.
The poor girl.
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19:30/07:30 pm
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Lucy and Denver were frantic. It had been three hours since their best friend had left them to go to the crafts store. Lucy had gotten her call about staying there for a little bit to be shown how to do something or other, but hadn't had a call since.
Understandably, they were worried.
Lucy's father was even more frantic. She had lost his best friend's little girl on his watch. He'd never forgive himself if anything had happened to her. Not to mention the girl's father would pulverise him as well. It was past seven in the evening. They should have been back on the road to their home over an hour ago so he had no choice but to call the girl's father.
"Royce, what? Where the hell are you? You should have been back already!" the man asked irritatedly. "You better not be calling me whilst you're driving, fucker. That's my little girl in your backseat."
"Dude, shut up. We've got a situation here. You need to come to the city."
"What? What are you talking about? My little girl, Royce, is she okay?"
"She's been ... misplaced."
"Misplaced?! What the fuck do you mean, 'misplaced'?!" the man asked, his voice raising an octave in his mounting panic. "Royce, you little shit, where the fuck is my little girl?!"
"We don't know. She split off from Lucy and Denver to go to some crafts store after the movie around four-thirty. She has some project next week and wanted to get some stuff for it. That ... That was nearly three hours ago."
"Three hours?! And you're just calling me now?!" the man bellowed. "Fuck sake! I'm on my way! Tell me where you are right now and I'll meet you there. Don't fucking move!"
Royce told his best friend where they were, standing outside the very store the girl had come to visit. It was closed. Had been for the last half an hour. Denver and Lucy were still in the car, holding each other close and shivering from the cold and their own fear.
Lucy hated herself. She should have gone with her friend, to make sure she was safe. Denver was angry. At himself. He wouldn't have normally allowed the girl to go off by herself before, so why now? Now they were nauseas with anxiety, hoping their best friend was alright.
He was going out of his fucking mind, barely able to concentrate on the road in front of him as his mind ran wild with crazy scenarios his little girl could have possibly gotten herself into. He cringed visibly away from the more horrific ones, hoping beyond reason that she'd simply gotten lost.
His fingers itched, eyes glancing down at his phone lying on the passenger seat. He wanted to call her, but he was driv ing. Besides, he had a sneaky feeling that he wouldn't get through. She was useless with her phone. Never cared for it really, and never charged it when it needed to be. It was probably flat by now.
He had to lay some laws down in regards to that after this shit-fuck of a disaster.
He was barely able to relax as he passed the city limits where his baby was lost. He'd been coming here for years so traversing the streets to get to the others was easy. A few blocks away, his phone began vibrating beside him. Without thought, he pulled over and scrambled to pick it up, cursing up a storm as it fell to the floor in his rush.
Panting, he answered it. "Baby?! Baby, are you okay?! Tell me what you are and I'll come get you!"
"Sir, sir, I need you to calm down. This is the general hospital. Your daughter was rushed in about an hour ago with several injuries. We're going to have to ask you to come down here."
The man's heart fell into the black abyss that was his stomach. He was sure his face was ashen and his vision swam. His baby was hurt ... She was in the hospital! Holy shit!
"I'm on my way," he choked before hanging up. He peeled over several lanes, causing an uproar in his wake but he didn't give a toss. He needed to get to his baby girl.
Oh, God, please be alright! his mind screamed over and over.
Throwing all caution to the wind, he called up Royce, despite the pure anger and hatred he felt towards the man for losing his daughter, to tersely inform him of the change in plans.
Royce ran back to his car, his face twisted in fear as he raced towards the hospital. Lucy and Denver were asking questions in the back, but Royce ignored them, completely overtaken with fear. It became all too clear to the two teenagers as they raced into the hospital parking lot, almost taking down a poor guy on crutches in the meantime.
Meanwhile, the girl's father arrived at the hospital, barely remembering to shut off his car and close the door before he was sprinting towards the ER main entrance. Several people's heads whipped around at his noisy entrance but he paid them no mind as he stormed up to the reception desk, scaring the young nurse behind it with his ferocity.
"Where is she?! Where's my daughter?!" he snarled, slamming his hands down on the desktop.
"S-Sir, can you please calm down. There are children here-"
"Well my fucking child is in there, so tell me what the fuck she is!" he cut her off.
"Her name?" the nurse whimpered, typing on her computer.
He gave her the name.
"Yes, yes, she's been taken upstairs for x-rays and a CT scan. I believed her room number is 254."
He was off like a bullet before the nurse could even finish her sentence, almost bulldozing other patients over in his haste to get to his little girl. His mind was working in overdrive. He could feel a headache coming on and he was pretty sure he'd be sick soon. Just knowing that something wasn't right, and he wasn't with her, was enough to make him chronically nauseas.
He came to another nurses station and immediately gave them his daughter's name. Before he could be redirected, someone approached him.
As soon as Quinn saw the man, he knew. It was her father. His stomach churned at their resemblance. He knew he'd have to explain everything. The man deserved as much and it coming from him, not the police. They had already been in to speak with the girl, but she was away for tests and stuff. They left.
Shakily, he got to his feet. His eyes were so swollen from crying that he could barely see where he was going, but he managed. The man ignored him at first, but when he cleared his throat, the man's head whipped towards him, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"What?" he snapped.
"I ... I, um ..." Damn, his voice was so hoarse. Must be all that sobbing he did earlier.
"Well? Out with it, boy! I don't have time for your shit!"
"I ..." Quinn cleared his throat. "My name is Quinn Beaford. I was the one who found your daughter- SHIT!"
His back was smashed up against the wall in the blink of an eye, the girl's father spitting and snarling accusations in his face. The man's thick forearm was pressed against Quinn's throat, cutting off his air supply and his ability to defend himself.
Several people came to his aid, including Nurse Denise. She sunk to the floor with him as he was set free, a couple of security guards tearing the man away from them as he continued to accuse the boy.
"You sonofabitch! I'll fucking kill you for hurting her! You're done!"
"Sir, calm down now or you'll be removed from the premises!" Denise said sternly as she stood tall.
"Me?! He's the one who should go! In fact, I want him arrested!"
"On what grounds?"
"For hurting my little girl!"
"Sir, if you calmed down and allowed the poor boy to speak, you will find out that he is your daughter's rescuer, not attacker."
The words made the man pause, eyeing the nurse with suspicion as he glanced between her and the teenager.
"Do you know that for sure?"
"Yes. I believe him. He's explained what happened to me and the police. They have long since left, but Quinn has never left the vicinity of your girl since he rushed her here. He has been here, supporting her from afar as best he could, until you arrived. You should be thanking him, not accusing him in your panic and fear."
At the nurse's scathing words, the man's entire frame sagged from where he was being restrained between the guards. They were soon supporting his weight and leading him to a chair. Nurse Denise nodded the pair away, knowing the man wouldn't be anymore trouble now that he had somewhat calmed.
He buried his face in his hands, tears falling silently. His voice was hoarse as he pleaded, "Please, where is my girl? Is she okay? Please tell me what happened?!"
The man's eyes locked onto Quinn. The boy was still on the floor against the wall, holding his throat as his eyes burned.
"Quinn, would you like me to remain here or shall I go get some drinks for the pair of you?" Denise asked.
"I'll be fine, thanks," the boy murmured, in which the nurse nodded in return and left the pair.
Silence reigned. Only the distant beeps of heart monitors, telephones, low murmurings of nursing staff and sick coughs of patients echoed around the hallowed hallways.
Now hew as calmer, the man felt guilt prickle the edges of his conscious. He shouldn't have lashed out against the boy without knowing the facts. Sighing, he patted the seat next to him. Quinn hesitated, eyeing the man and the chair before he too sighed, getting to his feet before taking a seat.
Quinn wouldn't dare break their silence. Speaking up didn't get him anyplace good last time. Thankfully, he didn't have to.
"I'm sorry."
Quinn glanced at the man and shrugged. "S'okay ... I get that you're pretty scared right now. I ... I don't know her at all and I'm terrified so ..."
"It's not okay. I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that. But you're right. It's no excuse, but I'm pretty scared shitless right now. My girl is so small. A guy such as yourself could easily take advantage of her in pretty much any way possible. I jumped to conclusions and I'm sorry."
Quinn felt as his face drained of colour after the man's little speech. He'd spent the entire time he'd been here drowning out the images and memory of finding her in that alley, but the guy's words made them all come rushing back. He felt sick.
"What happened?"
Quinn took a deep breath. "She came into the craft store I work at today. To get stuff for her-"
"Art project," the man interrupted. He sighed deeply. "I told her I'd take her next Wednesday for all that crap ... Sorry, go on."
"Right ... Well, I work there and I helped her out. We spent about an hour and a half going over how to use charcoal, since that's what she chose to use. She left the store in perfect condition, Sir, I promise."
The man nodded. "Yes, I believe you. You seem like a good guy ... The nurse said you were her rescuer. Did you see what scum did this to her?" he could help but asked in a growl.
Quinn sighed regretfully. "No, no I didn't. I found her down an alleyway near the store. I ... don't know how long she was laid there, but I'm guessing it wasn't long after she left the store that ... it ... happened," he stuttered.
He really didn't want to be the one to tell the man his little girl was ... Fuck ...
"She was shivering and there was so much blood ..." Quinn cringed as the man whimper, burying his face again. "Listen, maybe ... maybe you should wait for her doctor. I mean, he could explain so much bet-"
"No. I want you to tell me what happened."
"I ... Shit ... I don't know for certain what happened, I ... I just found her ... after."
The man took a deep steadying breath. "What do you think happened?" he asked.
Quinn hesitated. "Um ... Like I said ... I don't know ... I ... There was a lot of blood ... I ... God, please don't make me guess. I ..."
"Did she look ... Did it look like she ..." the man's throat closed up just thinking about it. He couldn't voice his concerns. He looked over at the boy intently, glancing meaningful to his pants.
Quinn stiffed, unable to meet the man's gaze. It was enough reaction for the man. He heaved to his feet with an agonised roar, throwing a few punches at the opposite wall before collapsing to his knees.
"No ... NO! Not my baby ..." he keened.
He buried his face in his hands and wailed as Quinn sat back in his chair, closing his eyes in regret. He knew he didn't know what was going to happen once she left the store, but he couldn't help but he feel he could have done something.
Nurse Denise returned in that time and met the boy's gaze as his eyes opened. He nodded in response to her silent question. Yeah, I told him ... kinda. The nurse sighed and placed the two cups of coffee beside the boy before kneeling beside the man, wrapping her arms around him.
"Let me go find the doctor for you. He can explain the situation further," she murmured to him, not expecting an answer as she got back to her feet and marched off once more.
Silence gripped them again, only the man's soft whimpers and sobs disrupting it's deafening flow.
Quinn had been in that state the entire time he'd been here, alone. Now, it was time to be this man's strength when no one else could be. With determination, he stood and moved to the man's side, gently coaxing him up and into a chair. Quinn sat beside him, a hand on his back as they once again sat in silence.
It didn't last long. Denise came back with the white-coated doctor, his face haggard and grim. Quinn frowned and patted the man's back, signalling him to look up. Both men shot to their feet as the doctor stopped in front of them.
"I'm Doctor Martin. I'm your daughter's attending for the rest of her stay here."
"Which will be how long, exactly? How is she? Is she hurt bad? Does she need surgery or to stay overnight?" the man rambled, stopping only when he felt Quinn's hand on his back again.
The doctor smiled patiently. "Your daughter doesn't need surgery. Most of her injuries were superficial. Cuts and bruises and such. They will heal in time. She has a broken wrist, which we've plastered up. Again, it will heal fully in time."
Both guys sighed. At least that was something.
"You still look worried doc ..." the man prompted.
Unfortunately, the doctor nodded. "Yes, a couple of things really ... Mr. Beaford, do you have any idea how long she was laid in the alley for? Could you take a guess?"
Quinn sighed. "She left around six. I found her at just after seven so ... No more than an hour, really, I suppose."
The doctor nodded as if the information confirmed something he was thinking. He turned back to the girls' father. "She has a mild case of pneumonia. In which case, she'll have to remain admitted for observation until it has cleared up."
"Okay ..." the man sighed, closing his eyes. "You said ... a couple of things. What else?"
Doctor Martin hesitated. His eyes shifted to the teenager standing behind them. Quinn already suspected, but it will be something entirely different to have it confirmed ...
"Perhaps you should both sit down?" the doctor suggested.
Anger flared inside the girl's father. "No. Just spit it the fuck out already!" he snarled, but was then gently guided to a chair by Quinn.
The young man was going to be sick. He knew it. For now, he would support the older man currently shaking in fear. Doctor Martin sat beside the pair as Denise lingered somewhere nearby, tears already falling from her eyes.
"Sir, it is regular procedure to perform a rape kit when patients such as your daughter come into the ER in such a critical condition. I'm so sorry ... but it came back positive."
The man broke down once more. Quinn joined him.
The doctor continued to talk, giving the two men time to regain their composure.
"We have given her the emergency contraceptive pill. Given her age, we believed this to be the right course of action to prevent ... an unwanted pregnancy. She was conscious for a short while for us to briefly explain to her what the pill was for, and she gave her consent. She fell back to sleep once she'd taken it.
He continued, "Once she has be discharged from here, I will be referring her to a very esteemed therapist. There is no way of knowing how this ordeal has affected her mentally and emotionally until she wakes up, but I've very rarely seen someone come out unscathed in that sense. She's going to need you to be strong for her, Sir. She'll need as much support as she can get.
Doctor Martin sighed. "For now, the police would like to talk to her once she's coherent, but I will be fending them off until your daughter tells me personally that she is ready to talk to them. She's been through enough trauma as it is."
The man finally spoke up. His voice was barely above a whisper as he mumbled, "WHat do I do now?"
"We have given her some medication that will put her out for the rest of the night. I know it will be hard, but I suggest going home, freshening up and eating something substantial. She will be awake in the morning and you can see her then."
"Can I just ... Please, I need to see her," the man pleaded with bloodshot eyes.
"Of course. Follow me."
Doctor Martin stood and waited for the man, who turned to Quinn. The boy was quiet, his head down, but the man could see the small wet patches on his thighs from his falling tears. The man gripped his arm and Quinn's head slowly lifted.
"Come on. You're with me," the man ordered, pulling QUinn to his feet with him.
Quinn followed silently and dutifully. He wasn't quite sure whether he wanted to see her. He knew no matter what state he saw her from here on out, he will never be able to forget her broken, crumpled form laying prone in that cold, flooded alleyway. The image was burned onto his very brain.
Suddenly, the man in front of him began to fall, a pained gasped tearing from his throat. Instinctively, Quinn reached out and held him up, just as his own eyes lifted to the prone form laying on the bed. She was so small, smaller than he remembered when she lay in his arms. His knees quaked, fresh tears falling.
"My God ..."
"Baby Girl ... Oh, Baby, I'm so sorry," the man wailed as he stumbled to her bed side, laying his face on her stomach as he held her hand tightly in his.
Quinn couldn't do this. He felt sick. Was going to be sick. He fled the room to the nearest bathroom, purging what little he'd had to eat in the last 24 hours down the toilet. Nurse Denise had followed him quickly and crouched behind him, rubbing his back soothingly as he sobbed.
All he knew of that sweet little girl was her name and her passionate love for everything artistic ... but it was enough for him to make a vow right then and there to get to know her, to be a pillar of support for her along with her father, to help her get past this obstacle and live the rest of her life happy.
He could do that if it was for such a kind, beautiful, brown-eyed girl.
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Wow ... Tears, anyone? Sorry about that ...
I'm fascinated as to who you think the girl is. If you've been paying attention to the last couple of chapters, you'll realise that I CANNOT be a certain girl. Please don't leave your guesses in your reviews. PM me instead with those so you don't spoil it for other readers :)
Thanks so much for reading! Please leave me some love and motivation while you're here! It's very much appreciative!
Love MrsWolfPack x