Author's note: So, as you guessed it by yesterday's flashback this chapter focuses on Harry and Uma !
Enjoy !
Chapter 23 - PTSD
Harry was driving as fast as he could, slaloming between cars. He had left Auradon Prep at dawn but already the sun was high in the sky and his destination was still nowhere in sight.
Around noon, he entered a dense forest, with trees so high and wide he couldn't see their tops. A heavy feeling invaded his chest. Celia's words were still echoing in his head. "She needs you". Something was wrong. Uma was in danger. He knew it. And every second mattered. Both of his hands on the handle of the bike - holding his hook between his teeth - Harry sped up. Soon, the road turned into a small muddy way. He almost lost his balance multiple times but managed to reach the end of the road.
He jumped off the motorcycle, and took his helmet off. In front of him, stood a little country house, with dusty windows and a broken roof. But according to his phone, it was the right place. So, his hook in hand - he kicked the front door with all of his strength - who broke right away. The inside was dusty and dark - wood boards had been nailed to the inside of the windows. The place was ridiculously small - even to Harry's standards - and he wondered if someone really lived there. There was broken glass and books spread all over the floor. Even the table was flipped upside down, in the middle of the living room.
The pirate looked around the room for a while, before noticing the closed door, in the back. He frowned. And with another kick, the locked door was open. Immediately, his heart dropped to his stomach. There she was. Curled up on the floor. Gagged and handcuffed to a radiator. Uma. For a second, Harry did not believe his eyes. Was this a sick joke somehow ? Was it a nightmare?
Suddenly, Harry felt like he had been electrocuted. He got back his senses and rushed towards the girl to liberate her.
"Fuck" he cursed behind his teeth "Fuck, fuck, fuck !"
With shaky hands, he took out the piece of fabric tied on Uma's face, and unknotted the rope tying her wrists.
"Uma, what happened ? Who did this to you ?"
But the girl was not even looking at him. Her eyes were vaguely staring in front of her. Her lips were firmly closed. Her face had on a neutral expression, as if she didn't feel anything anymore. She had bruises all over her body and was breathing heavily. But no matter what Harry said, she remained silent. She had shot down.
Usually, when she was like that, Harry would get mad. Whenever she was like this, he would feel so frustrated, so useless that it turned into anger. It was his job - his duty - to protect his captain. But somehow, no matter how hard he tried, he always failed. There was always someone stronger than him, a place he couldn't be in time, a wound he couldn't cure. So he would get mad. Mad at himself, mad at the universe, crazy mad at life for being so unfair. He would throw punches at the air, at walls, break anything he could find - just to prove himself that he could have an impact on the world. But today was different. This time was the straw that broke the camel. Harry had seen Uma hurt before. Too many times. And he was tired of it. He was tired of everything. Tired of this pain in his chest.
And so, instead of exploding with rage, Harry broke down in tears. His head against Uma chest, he started crying like he hadn't cried in years. Like a boy who would have lost his parents in a crowd. Scared and lonely. All his walls were down, he didn't have the strength to keep his facade up anymore. He wanted to shut down too. He wanted to give up on everything, curl up the floor next to her and stay there until the end of time.
But then, he felt hands ruffling through his hair.
"Please don't cry."
Harry lifted his head up. Uma was looking at him with pain - and love - in her eyes.
"You're the strong one, remember?"
"Yes" he remembered.
One day, a long time ago, he had told her that if she ever felt weak, he would be strong for her. That if she ever needed to cry, he would be the one keeping his head up for the both of them. And Harry always kept the promises he made to Uma. So, with tears still rolling down his face, he stood up and lifted her off the floor. Her body was skinnier that usual, she had bruises all over her and scars where she didn't used to. But Harry didn't slow down. Already, they were out of the little house.
"We need to get the hell out of here, before whoever did this to you comes back. Do you think you'll be able to hold on, on the bike?"
But Uma interrupted him, grabbing his shirt furiously, a look of panic on her face.
"Harry! We need to call Ben. Now."
The pirate frowned. Really ? He just saved her ass, and the person she was thinking of was Ben. But Harry didn't get the time to get jealous; as Uma added:
"They're all in danger. The person who did this to me… Audrey... she's plans on finishing what she started tonight."
Harry's eyes widened. Uma had been sequestered - for weeks - by Audrey ? He couldn't believe it. But the look on the girl's face didn't leave space for any doubts. So, Harry handed her his phone.