Bexley was let out a few days later, which she couldn't be happier about. Soda had brought her some clothes from the house so she'd have something to change into. During the last few days, she wouldn't say what had happened to her and Reese in that basement from hell.
She knew that she'd have to tell them sometime soon so the perpretrator could be brought to justice. As she was getting ready to go see Reese, she could hear a conversation between the cop that rescued her, Darry, and Soda. Ponyboy was at school at this time.
She puts her ear against the door to listen. They were talking about her and Reese definitely.
"Oh, it's good to see you again, Officer Norton," Darry said, shaking his hand. "It's good to see you boys too. Thought I'd come to check on how Bexley and Reese were doing. I just had to see them," Officer Norton beamed. "Oh, Bexley's doing much better. But Reese had to have surgery though. We're gonna stop by her room before we take Bexley home. Bexley had lost weight from being starved. Everytime she was brought a meal, there wasn't a single bite left. And we noticed that she became protective of whatever she eats. One time, wh-when Steve tried taking a bite after asking her, she held a knife out to him saying, 'Touch a bite of this, and I'll cut you so deep, not even stitches can fix it,' We don't know why she's doing that," Darry answered.
Bexley paled when she heard that. Those words she said to Steve, were the exact words Roy used when she tried to reach for a bite of food whenever he ate in front of her. She walked away from the door and pressed her back against the door, sliding down until she was sitting on the floor. She pulled her legs up to her chest and she wrapped her arms around them and buried her face in them, tears falling out of her eyes.
From outside of the door, Officer Norton was in disbelief what had happened. He didn't think it would get that bad. "I see. I've seen many disturbing things while being a cop for many, many years. But, I can't even begin to explain just how heartbroken I was to see Bexley and Reese in those states," Norton said, giving a nod. "Can you tell us what had happened to them?" Soda asked, "When you found them, I mean,"
"Well, my partner and I went to that house and called out for anybody. We heard Bexley scream from the basement. We found her tied up to a stake to the houses' foundation by a chain to her waist and barbed wire around her wrists. They were imbedded into her wrists to where I couldn't see them. When I removed them, she couldn't feel them. She wasn't wearing any pants or underwear. All she wore was a t-shirt. She looked so pale that I wasn't even sure if she was alive or not. She was very thin too. That image of her like that will never leave me as long as I live. It made me think of my own daughter, who is her age. And as for Reese, that poor girl was unconscious when we found her. She looked like a battered animal. She was covered in bruises, her leg was broken in five different places. She wasn't wearing any pants either. Indicating that sexual assault on both girls was evident. I'm so happy that we were able to find them. We will bring this bastard to justice," Norton explained, having to swallow multiple times to keep himself from throwing up.
Soda went pale, his entire body was suddenly coated sweat. He couldn't see straight. "Soda? Are you alright?" Darry asked, holding his younger brother up by the arms. "I need to sit down..." he groaned, feeling like he was going to pass out. "Get him over to a chair and I'll get him some water," Norton said. Darry helped Soda to the nearest chair and helped him sit up. Darry was shaken up himself after hearing all of that. But he couldn't freak out; he needed to stay strong for his brother.
"Soda? Sodapop? Can you hear me? Nod your head if you can," Darry commanded, kneeling in front of his younger brother. Soda gently nodded so he wouldn't agitate his pounding head. "Take deep breaths for me, little buddy. Listen to my voice. Focus on my voice," Darry whispered in a calm voice, rubbing his shoulder assuringly.
Soda took a deep breath to settle the rising nausea, which helped a little. Officer Norton returned with a glass of water and some pills to calm his stomach down. He took both and took a deep breath.
"How're you feeling, son?" Officer Norton asked, a strong hand on the sandy-haired boy's shoulder. "A little better... Sorry, I freaked you guys out," Soda said, rubbing his flushed face with his right hand. "Don't be sorry, little buddy. You couldn't help it. We've gotta put this bastard behind bars now," Darry said, rubbing his younger brother's back gently.
It took about ten minutes before Soda was well enough to stand again. "I think Bexley needs to see you two. I'll be in touch your household when we catch the person who did this," Officer Norton said, extending his hand to shake their hands. "Thank you, Norton. We appreciate this so much," Darry said, shaking the cops' hand firmly. They were told to keep Bexley home until the kidnapper was caught. Somebody would have to stay with her at all times.
Her schoolwork would have to be brought home so she could get it done there. But that would be the last thing she'd want to do. Darry walked up to Bexley's room and gently opened it. The sound of the door caused the broken girl to scurry to the furthest corner of the room.
Darry saw his kid sister huddled in that corner, curling into the fetal posistion. She barely looked up at the door, her entire body shaking. "Bex? It's me, hon. It's okay now," he softly said, slowly approaching her. She looked up at him, tears making her eyes glassy.
"C'mere, hon," the man softly said, reaching his muscular arms out towards her. She crawled over to him and hugged him. He embraced her tightly, protecting her from whatever she was scared of. "Shh... it's alright. Nothing's gonna hurt you," he whispered after feeling her tremble against him. "D-Darry?" she whimpered through each breath.
"I'm right here. Take a deep breath," he said, his own voice cracking. He had to control his anger for Bexley. Last thing she needed was for him to lose his head. How he wanted to strangle the life out of her kidnapper until he was dead.
The sound in his voice triggered her to hug him tighter. "I need to see, Reese..." she said, her sobs turning to hiccups. "We can do that now, hon," Darry said, kissing her hairline. He helped her stand up and escorted her out of the room where Soda was.
Soda saw them walk out and tears rose in his eyes again. He got up and walked over to them, immediately hugging her. Bexley hugged her older brother back, knowing what he was distraught about.
"I'm so sorry, baby girl..." he whispered in her ear, starting to sob. She whimpered and let her tears silently fall onto his blue flannel. "We're going to see Reese, little buddy. Bexley wanted to see her before we go home," Darry said, rubbing her back.
Oh. Right. I forgot. Let's go," Soda said with a nod. And with that, they made it to Reese's room. Bexley had to fight from throwing up when she saw Reese. It was a ghastly sight. She was bruised up from head to toe. She was so thin that she was practically a skeleton. Not even the hospital gown couldn't hide it. Where there was a broken bone, a tight bandage was wrapped around it.
Bexley didn't realize that she looked that bad. Why wasn't she told about this? "Bexley? Are you alright?" Soda asked. "I need to step out," she said, pushing passed her brothers. They followed her into the hallway. She paced back and forth, hands on her ears. This was new because she normally rocked back and forth when she was having a panic attack.
"Bexley? Are you okay?" Darry asked. "W-Why wasn't I told about Reeses' condition? You guys told me that she didn't get badly injured! Why would you guys and that doctor keep that from me?! It's bad enough that I was stuck in that basement not knowing how she is! I didn't know if she was dead or not! Don't you know how scared I was to be there! Hell, he raped me again while I was there! I was beaten, starved, taunted. I had to listen to things that I'd give anything to unhear. They'll never leave my head. After all I've been through, don't you think it'd be best to tell me how bad off she is?" Bexley ranted, feeling tears rise in her eyes.
They were speechless. They had no idea what they went through while they were in that basement. "Oh, god... We didn't know..." Soda said, reaching out to hug her. "Don't touch me. Just... leave me alone," she said bitterly, turning away from them.
Nothing could hide the hurt in Soda's eyes as he slowly reeled his hand back. "Give her some time, little buddy," Darry said, putting a strong hand on his younger brother's shoulder. Soda sighed and wiped his eyes.
"Bexley. We'll be at the truck. You can come when you're ready, okay?" Darry said. Bexley looked over her shoulder to see her brothers. Her eyes became softer when she saw the looks on their faces.
"Okay..." she said softly. She turned around and hugged them both. "I'm sorry for yelling at you guys... I couldn't help it... I love you guy so much..." She said, her voice cracking. They hug her back tightly. "We love you too... You and Ponyboy both," Darry said, stroking her dark blonde hair gently.
The break the hug and Bexley goes back in Reese's room. Reese was asleep and wouldn't be awake for another day or so. She sat down in the hospital chair, not taking her eyes off of her friend.
She took Reese's limp hand, feeling that they were freezing. Reeses' skin was as pale as sheet. "I'm so sorry..." Bexley said, sobbing quietly. She stayed in there for a good 20 minutes before a doctor came in and told her that visiting hours were over.
Bexley didn't want to leave, but she didn't have a choice. Bexley walked out of the room and started walking down the corridor. As she walked down the corridor, she saw Two-Bit walking down from the opposite direction.
He wore an orange Mickey Mouse shirt, his black leather jacket, blue jeans, and his brown boots. Bexley hadn't seen him since last week, so she was happy to see him. "Two-Bit?" she said to him, making him stop in his tracks. He looks at her and went over to her. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you," she said, hugging her older friend.
Two-Bit hugged her back around the waist and pulled her close to him. "Are you okay?" he asked, rubbing her back. "A little bit..." she answered him honestly, feeling tears run down her face. "Thank god you and Reese are okay... How's Reese?" he asked, pulling away from her.
"She won't wake up just yet. She's not doing so good right now. After being in that basement for longer than me, I know her mental health is going to be damaged, just like mine. Two-Bit... I had to listen to her getting... raped... I'd give anything to unhear it... He then came back and raped me again..." Bexley said, wiping her tears away with the heel of her hand.
"Oh god... God no... I'm gonna kill that bastard..." Two-Bit snarled, feeling his blood boiling. Bexley was nervous that her friend would punch someone after learning what happened to his kid sister. "Two-Bit?" She timidly said.
The rusty haired greaser took a deep breath to calm down. "I-I'm sorry, Little Sister. It's just… I'm a terrible brother," he sobbed, walking over to a bench that was in the hospital corridor.
He sits down and covered his stormy eyes with both hands. Bexley sits down next to him, rubbing his back in a comforting way. "You're a good brother, Two. Reese loves you and so does your mom. Reese looks up to you for guidance. I look up to Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry the same way," she said assuring.
"They do, but… I didn't even try to find her. Asking you or the gang to let me know if they saw her hasn't helped. Reese is going to hate me…" he sobbed, covering his face as the tears came down. He felt the guilt of not looking for Reese rise in his chest.
Bexley pulls him in a hug. Two-Bit hugged the fourteen-year-old around her waist. "She ain't going to hate you. All she needs right now is her mama and her big brother there for her," Bexley said to her friend/brother figure.
"Thanks, Bexley…" he said, pulling away from the hug. "No problem, Two-Bit. By the way, visiting hours are over. That's why I walked out," she said. Two-Bit nodded and messed her hair up.
Bexley chuckled and pushed his hand away. The two greasers parted ways.
Bexley walked out of the hospital, feeling a sense of unease the minute she walked outside. Something inside of her was telling her to go back inside the hospital, the very hospital where Johnny had died in. She stopped in her tracks, hugging herself tightly.
From the parking lot, Soda and Darry could see how hesitant she was. "Soda, help her come over here," Darry said, nodding in the direction of the hospital. "Okay," Soda said, getting out of the truck.
After shutting the truck door, he walked over to Bexley. "Bexley? What's wrong, baby girl?" He asked, kneeling down in front of her.
Bexley looked at her big brother, a scared look in her eyes. Soda gently held her arms so he wouldn't scare her even more than she already was. He rubbed her arms with his thumbs.
Bexley froze up when he did this. She knew it was just Soda and he wouldn't do anything to hurt her or Ponyboy. But after what she's been through, she couldn't help it.
Soda saw her skin become pale. "I didn't mean to scare you…" he said, moving his hands away from her shoulders. "N-No… it's not your fault. I can't help it," she said, her voice shaking.
"What's got you scared, kiddo?" He asked her. "I-I…" she stuttered, looking around in fear and hugging her body as if she was protecting her body.
Soda saw she was getting even more scared than she was already. "I can't…" she whimpered, shaking violently. Soda was tearing up from how broken she sounded.
"Easy, it's okay, baby girl," he said, bringing her into a gentle hug. Bexley fell to her knees, falling into his loving arms. Soda stroked her hair in a comforting way.
"It's okay… I gotcha… Listen, we're gonna pick Ponyboy up from school then we're going home. We're gonna help you through this, okay?" He spoke softly. "O-Okay…"she said, feeling her body relax a bit.
Soda stood up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked her to Darry's truck and let her get inside the truck. She sat between her two big brothers, where she felt safe.
Darry looked down at her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Are you ready to go home, hon?" Darry asked, pulling her close to him.
Bexley pulled her legs up to her chest, hands clasped on her knees. She nodded at him and leaned closer to her eldest brother. The two brothers look at each other, exchanging looks of despair. They really needed to help her. _
They stop in front of the school, waiting for Ponyboy to come out of the school. Bexley felt her body trembling when they stopped in front of it. "What's wrong?" Soda asked, seeing her shake.
"I…I wanna go home. I don't wanna be here…" she whimpered, clinging to Darry tightly. They could see just how frightened Bexley really was.
"Darry, we should take her home the you can pick Ponyboy up from school," Soda suggested. "Okay, he's got track practice today anyway," Darry agreed, pulling out of the school parking lot.
Bexley knew Roy was in that school and prayed that he wouldn't go after her twin/older brother.
Darry pulled up in front of their house. Bexley looked around Soda and looked at the house, remembering that's where she was abducted from; her own house. The one place where she and Ponyboy were born and grew up in, the one place that's supposed to make her feel safe.
"We're home, baby girl. I'm gonna stay here with you while Darry goes to get Ponyboy, okay?" Soda assured her in the voice he uses when either Ponyboy or her have a nightmare.
Bexley rubbed her arm nervously but nodded to make her brother happy. She heard Darry mutter something, but he sounded far away despite him being next to her.
"Bexley? I'm talkin' to you," he said, shaking her shoulder. Bexley jumped at the psychical contact. "Easy, Bexley. I'm not going to hurt you. I said, you take it easy while you and Soda are here. Someone has to be here with you for a little while until we catch the guy who did this to you and Reese, okay?" Darry explained.
That would be a long time because they don't know who the culprit was. "O-Okay…" she feebly said. Darry smiled at her and kissed her head. Soda got out of the truck before helping Bexley out of the truck.
Darry waited until they walked in the house before driving away. Bexley didn't say anything and went to her room, shutting the door behind her. However, she failed to lock the door.
Soda felt a bit hurt that she ignored him, but he thought she needed some space for now, which he could respect that. He walked over to their bedroom and knocked on the door. "Bexley, I'm gonna start on dinner, okay?" He said.
"Okay, Soda," she said, climbing into bed after changing into a Donald Duck shirt and black shorts. She can't even look at her body without feeling sick. The bruises… the fucking bruises, and the scars were so deep that her wrists looked disfigured. She tried to sleep off the fear.