Star Pupil
Chapter 14
Katelyn had not realized how hard it would be to keep going. She knew she was suffering from blood loss, dehydration and was quickly becoming malnourished. She was trying to show strength, but Brad could tell she was cracking. Trey had disappeared, which was not good, because of the two of them; he had snuck Katelyn some water. She had lost track of how many days she had been held captive and she wondered about her family. She wondered if they were even missing her. With being in the Academy, she had become kind of an afterthought. They might not have even realized she was gone. That nearly broke her.
The one and only thing that got Katelyn through being beat and raped was all the memories of her family, but it also tended to depress her because she wondered if she would ever feel another of her dad's hugs, taste her mom's butterscotch cookies, talk for hours on end with Hannah or play in the pool with Aaron and Abby. She was beginning to think cracking up would be her only solution, but then Brad walked back in.
"So; the sheriff just called. Somehow he got my number. He wants to set up a meeting. Said your mom is willing to trade places with you. But, I don't want her. Told him as much and I am beginning to get tired of you. Told him as far as I was concerned, he could take you." Brad said. Katelyn immediately recognized it as a mind game, as muddled as she was.
"You're lying." Katelyn said.
"No. The sheriff, a deputy and I would guess your father are all coming. And I am going to let your father in here first, so he can see you. I figure that's going to break him and you both." Brad told her as he climbed up on the bed.
"When?" Katelyn asked weakly.
"I would say within an hour. Gives me just enough time to enjoy you one more time." Brad said. He got on top of her and began raping her again. This time though, Katelyn bit down hard on his shoulder. "You bitch!" Brad yelled before slapping her across the face so hard that she lost consciousness.
Katelyn wasn't sure how long she was out for, but when she woke up; Brad was no longer in the room. There were fresh bruises on her thighs and Katelyn knew he had raped her yet again. She could hear other voices in the adjoining room and she started to scream, but then realized she was gagged. There was not even a blanket or sheet over her. Suddenly, she heard the door open but was too weak to raise her head.
"Get an ambulance here now!" Mike yelled. Someone must have handed him a blanket because he carefully threw it over.
"There's one on standby with a female paramedic." A strange voice said. Mike had come into her view along with a young deputy.
"We need to get her to the hospital as quick as possible. Katie; I know you've been through hell, but I have to touch you to uncuff you and untie you? Is that okay?" Mike asked and Katelyn nodded. He took the gag out of her mouth first.
"My…shoulder. Its dislocated." Katelyn rasped out.
"I'd say both of them are the way she's been hanging." The deputy said.
"So…thirsty." Katelyn said. She felt her dad uncuffing her and very gently moving her arms to a more comfortable position.
"Here. Drink this. Very slow. I'm Deputy Maxwell by the way." The young deputy said as he gave her a small drink of water from a bottle.
"Okay, Katie; I am going to untie your ankles. To help the paramedic out, can I carry you out?" Mike asked.
"Yeah." Katie answered. The last thing she wanted was for her dad to carry her naked body out, but she had little choice. It was better him then a stranger.
"I'll be careful. I promise." Mike said. He had untied her ankles and somehow bundled another blanket around her so she would be completely covered as he lifted her up. His arms around her and his body heat felt unbelievably good. Katelyn knew it was not normal, but she snuggled as close as she could to her father's body. "I've got you, baby. Just hang on. Just hold on." Mike whispered. Katelyn could feel herself fading fast.
"I…love you Daddy…tell Mama…and the kids…" Katelyn struggled before everything went black, and then turned light.
"C'mon, Katie! Let's play ball." Lucas exclaimed as he tossed a baseball glove at her.
"Did I die?" Katelyn asked and Lucas shrugged at her.
"No. But you need to understand something. Mama and Daddy were absolutely desperate to find you and will do anything to keep you alive. Daddy will be fine with you not going to Academy but you gotta tell him. Stop pretending to be someone you don't want to be. You did your duty. You got Mama and Daddy back together and they are doing really good. You need to take a break and let them take care of you." Lucas told her.
"I don't let people take care of me!" Katelyn objected.
"You'll have no choice but to." Lucas argued before everything become bright again.
Up to that point, Katelyn had been able to not feel the pain as badly, but now it was so real. She could see the bright lights of the ambulance and could hear voices. The female paramedic, her dad's, Tom's. They were talking about how to start an IV and Katelyn moaned.
"Hey. You're back." Tom said. She had never been so happy to hear his voice.
"I can't get the IV in at all. I may have to use the bone drill." The paramedic said.
"Absolutely not! Let me try." Mike said. Katelyn could feel him tapping her uninjured hand.
"Left hand, just under my middle knuckle. Worked when I had my tonsils taken out." Katelyn instructed weakly. She had always been a hard stick and no water in days hadn't helped. She felt a sharp sting of pain and then felt something ice cold enter her veins.
"Got it." Mike said.
"Alright. I'm giving her some morphine and then a bag of fluids." The paramedic said.
"Can we get underway now?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, but I can only have one rider back here with me." The paramedic said.
"I will go pick Christine up, Mike." Tom told her Dad.
"Is Kara and Danny going to stay with the kids? This was too easy and I don't want them alone." Mike asked.
"Yeah. Its all covered. Just concentrate on her." Tom answered before jumping out of the ambulance and shutting the door. It began moving and every bump made Katelyn groan in agony.
"I just wanna go home." Katelyn sobbed. Her dad smoothed her hair back and gave her a soft smile.
"Soon. You are going to be in the hospital for a bit." Mike promised.
"I'm so hungry." Katelyn admitted.
"Alright. Soon as possible, we'll get you something. Maybe some jello or broth." Mike told her.
"Mom's butterscotch cookies…a strawberry milkshake…a deep-dish pizza…" Katelyn joked. Mike laughed in response.
"Once you feel like it, we will get you all those things and more." Mike promised.
"I wanna…stay home. I don't wanna go back to Academy…nursing school." Katelyn told him.
"Okay. That is no problem. I knew you weren't happy there." Mike said.
"You aren't disappointed?" Katelyn asked.
"Not at all. Nursing is a very noble profession and I couldn't be prouder of you. But you are going to take some time to rest and recover." Mike told her. He bent down and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"I think she's starting to get sleepy. Probably from the morphine." The paramedic told him.
"Just go to sleep, sweetie. By the time you wake up, we'll be at the hospital and your mom will be there. Just rest." Mike said. Katelyn nodded and let herself drift off, hoping when she woke up; things would be better.