Chapter Thirty-Eight: Regret
"Regina?" Emma said on the phone "Regina? Are you there?"
There was a moment of silence on the other line. Emma could hear movements and small sounds but Regina didn't say anything. Emma started to get a little worried. She should have texted Regina o even call her earlier. In the heat of things that were happening, the thought didn't even cross her mind and now Emma felt like an idiot for not telling Regina sooner. She had worried her. And really was not what Emma wanted.
"Regina?" – Emma tried again "Are you still there?"
"Where are you? I got my car keys I'll be right there." Regina said fast on the other line.
"Regina, I'm fine!" Emma said fast "Nothing happened to me."
"Then…Why are you at the hospital?" Regina asked.
"It's Belle! Killian he…."
"He what?" Regina asked angrily.
"He tried to do to her what he did to me."
"What?"
"It all happened so fast. I saw him giving his flask to Belle and then I saw her losing her senses. I….I almost didn't get there on time."
"Emma…"
"You were right," Emma said and pause "I should have gone to the police. If I had maybe…maybe he wouldn't have done this to Belle."
"Emma, this is not on you."
"I know, I know."
"Can you tell me where you are? I want to be with you."
"I know! But it's better if you don't."
"Emma, please. I don't want you to be alone."
"I'm not. I will never be alone as long as I have you."
"Are you absolutely sure you don't want me to come?"
"Yeah, I am. I actually have to give my statement to the police. I'm the one who found Bele and brought her to the hospital"
"What about Killian?" Regina asked.
"I kicked him in the balls. Three times"
"That's my girl," Regina said with a small laugh.
"I have to go now. The police are here"
"Okay. Keep me post it, will you?"
"Babe, it's late. You should go to sleep"
"I don't think I'll be able to sleep until you're home"
"I'll be there as soon as I can," Emma said feeling her heart swallow with love "I love you"
"I love you too."
Emma turned off the phone and looked to the two detectives in front of her. They asked her what had happened and Emma told everything with as many details as she could remember. When she was finished one of the doctors came to the detectives and gave them the results of Belle's blood test and the gynecological exam they did on her. Even though Killian didn't rape her, per se, he had pre-come on her leg and considering Belle's unconscious state it was enough to prove the sexual abuse. The detectives thanked the doctor and Emma for the statement and left the hallway. The doctor then asked Emma for Belle's parent's phone number but she didn't have any but promised she would try to find out. Emma asked if she could go see her but the doctors said only family members were allowed for now. Emma sat down on the waiting chair and grabbed her phone. She sent a quick text to Regina telling her about the statement and what the doctor had said. Regina texted her back with the legal procedure from now on and Emma smiled. That was such a Professor Mills answer. Emma tried to think about the people Belle was closer too in the class. Someone who could maybe have her parent's phone number. There was only a person that came to mind and Emma was about to call her when suddenly her voice said behind her:
- How is she?
- Mulan! – Emma said surprised – I was just about to call you!
- How's Belle? – She asked again.
- She's going to be okay. What happened to Killian?
- I called the police. He tried to escape but a bunch of trapped him in the house. He cursed you to the tenth generation. I'd be careful if I were you.
- Fuck him! – Emma said angrily.
- Yeah, fuck him – Mulan said – That night in the yacht, you weren't drunk, were you?
- No, I wasn't. I had just arrived and had half a beer. And his rum.
- He didn't rape you, did he? – Mulan asked with a small voice.
- No. Thanks to you.
- Me?
- Yeah! If you haven't shown up when you did I…I don't think I would manage to escape him a second time.
- I am so sorry, Emma!
- It's okay! I'm okay.
- And Belle?
- He didn't rape her either. But he did abuse her more than he did me.
- Fuck! How could I be so blind?
- He is charismatic. I actually fooled myself to believe it was just a drunk thing.
- You didn't go to the police that night?
- No, I didn't! And I regret that! If I had, maybe we wouldn't be here right now.
- This isn't your fault. – Mulan said squeezing Emma's hand.
- I know! – Emma said squeezing it back.
- God, to how many girls he did that? – Mulan asked.
- I don't know!
- This is so fucked up! No wonder you never went to our parties before. And the strange thing is that if you haven't gone to the one in the boat, God knows what could have happened to Belle.
- True. But to be fair, I was never invited!
- You keep saying that – Mulan said – But you were. To all of them. The parties were for the whole class. You just never show up!
- Mulan, I'm telling you. Nobody invited me!
- Killian! – Mulan said eyes wide.
- Killian? – Emma asked.
- He was the one responsible for inviting everyone. He had the numbers of everybody in the class. He was the one who sent the locations. Hell, he even made a WhatsApp group for it.
- I…I didn't know that – Emma said surprised.
- I thought you two were friends, I mean, you were always talking.
- We weren't always talking – Emma said defensively.
- He always said that you were boring and probably wouldn't show up. I am so sorry, Emma.
- It's okay. Don't worry about it. By the way, the doctors need Belle's parents' number. Do you have it?
- Yeah, I do. I'll go get them – Mulan said standing up.
- I think I'm gonna get going – Emma said standing up as well – I've already talked to the police and they won't let me in the room.
- Okay – Mulan said – I think I'm gonna stick around for a while.
- Of course. You have my number. Call me if you need anything!
- Thanks, Emma! You too.
Mulan hugged Emma and then disappeared inside the hospital. Emma turned around and walked out of the door to her bug. Once inside Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. She felt guilty. So guilty. She knew it wasn't her fault, of course, it wasn't. But if she had done the right thing, if she hadn't been so scared, maybe Belle wouldn't be at the hospital. She could have prevented that. Emma opened her eyes and turned the car on. She needed to get home. She needed to get to Regina. The drive back was easy, the streets were empty at that hour. It was one-thirty in the morning and Emma felt absolutely beat.
She arrived at the mansion, parking the bug outside. Emma quickly made her way out of the car to the manor. Once inside, Emma took off her boots and jacket before walking upstairs to Regina's bedroom where she found her in bed reading a book. Regina put the book down the moment she saw Emma and opened her arms welcoming her. Emma jogged to the bed nest herself on Regina's arm.
- You were supposed to be sleeping – Emma said in the crook of Regina's neck.
- How could I possibly be asleep, Emma? - Regina said running her fingers on Emma's hair – Are you okay?
- Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired.
- I bet!
- Killian is in custody.
- I figured. Sadly he will probably pay bail and be out in the morning.
- Yeah, I know. – Emma said and paused – I'm sorry!
- For what?
- For being a coward. I can't help but think this is my fault too.
- Stopped! – Regina said holding Emma's face between her hands – This is NOT your fault. This will never be your fault.
- Thank you – Emma said with a single tear falling down her eye.
- You are tired – Regina said kissing her lips – Let's get some sleep.
Emma nodded and pulled away from Regina. She walked to the closet first to retrieve her sleeping shirt and then she went to the bathroom. She took a quick shower to the rid of the night energy. After that, she brushed her teeth and removed her contacts. Emma left the bathroom and walked to the bed, laying down next to Regina. Regina moved closer to her to nest Emma inside her arms. It didn't take long before exhaustion took over and soon Emma fell asleep.
