The arms of an Angel

Chapter 14:

Tears on my pillow…In the words of a broken heart it's just emotions taking me over.

~Destiny's Child, Emotions

The sun pierced through the clouds and poured into Helga's bathroom. There was no way she could show up at Phoebe and Gerald's party with her face looking the way it did. A dark purple bruise had formed on her face as well as on her cheek and forehead and no amount of makeup was going to cover it. Chad walked in, " You're not dressed darling."

" I'm not going,"

" Why?"

" Look at me. They'll know."

" And if they ask you keep your mouth shut. You're my wife and I'll be damned if someone is going to tell me how to treat you. You belong to me and I'll treat you however I damn well please. Now Get dressed. We have to leave in 20 minutes."
He turned and left the room. After a quick shower Helga stood in the mirror with the towel wrapped around her. Her stomach was dotted all over with dark marks but it seemed her back contained the most damage. She would've stood there starring at herself all day if Chad was screaming, " Helga get your slow ass down here now!"

She stumbled down the steps in a large sweatshirt and long jeans. She had a baseball hat on and it concealed her face from normal view. " It's about time. I thought you had died up there."

They left and arrived at the park. Helga went off to sit by herself while her family dispersed among the throng of people. Phoebe managed to crawl out and walked toward her. " Hey friend. You haven't called me in a while."

" I know. I've been busy with the twins and all."

" Yeah. Oh guess what The cheese festival is coming to town. You should come. We're gonna get a big group of all our friends together and go."

" I'll see if I'm free."

What she really meant was she'll see if Chad would allow her to. Phoebe smiled oblivious to the truth. She rubbed her stomach anxiously and continued, " I have some more great news as well. I'm pregnant."

" Really wow Phebs good for you. How far are you?"

" about 6 months. I've been wearing some of Gerald's shirts to kind of hide the bulge I have. But it's not working. At least not anymore I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone. You're the only person I've told upfront. Everyone else had to guess."

" I feel special."

" You should."

" Boy or girl?"

" A little boy."

" Awww what names have you picked out?"

" Gerald wanted Gerald Jr. but I don't want my son to be a junior. I was thinking Devon."

" Devon is a cute name."

" I like it too."

" I'm gonna plan you a baby shower."

" Thanks Helga." Phoebe pulled her into a hug and pressed her bruises tightly, " Ow! Phebs you have to let me go! please let go!" she screamed.

Startled Phoebe released her and stared at her suspiciously. " Are you all right?"

Helga's eyes had brimmed with tears, " Yeah I'm fine."

Phoebe could sense an awkward tension between them. " Um I gonna find Gerald." She said getting up and leaving.

" He's done it again….Arnold was right about that sick bastard." she thought as she slipped her arm through her husband's.

" Hey Phebs."

" Gerald we need to talk."

" Are you all right? Is the baby okay?"

" Yes the baby is fine. It's about Helga."

" What about her?"
" Chad has done it again."

" Done what?"

" He's hit her again. I think she worse off then before. I hugged her and she was practically screaming for me to let her go and when I did she was crying. And when I sat down with her I noticed she had bruises on her face."

" What are you going to do?"

" I'm not going to get involved because I can't exactly prove that's what's going on but I want to keep an eye on Helga."

Gerald agree slowly. Chad came up to them smiling wide. Phoebe could see straight through him however. Now that she knew her friend was suffering again she could easily see what a monster he was. Chad could sense Phoebe's piercing stare. It angered him.

" I can't believe that bitch!" He thought his gaze shifting from Phoebe and Gerald to Helga. Their eyes met and Chad's expression quickly changed from pleasant to an angry hate filled one. He walked over to her and sat down. She straighten up and bent her head. He snaked a arm around her waist and squeezed her skin gently. " What did you tell her?" he whispered dangerously in her ear.

" I didn't tell her anything."

" Don't lie to me. I detest liars."

" I'm not lying. I swear I didn't tell her anything." She could feel his nails digging into her skin.

" You're lying," he whispered, venom dripping from each word, " You know you will be punished for this don't you?"

" But Chad I didn't…."

He squeezed her skin tightly before she could finish, " You will be punished for this do you understand me?"

She nodded slowly as tears gathered in her eyes. She couldn't cry. He hated it so when she cried. He stood, " Stay here," He ordered, " I don't want you to move from this spot am I clear?"

" Yes sir."

" Good." he walk off leaving her to cry alone.

A few minutes later she noticed a shadow walk by. She cringed thinking it was Chad. The shadow was gentle. His hand rested gently but firmly on her shoulder. She knew immediately it was Arnold, Her Angel. The one she wanted to hold desperately. She loved him dearly but knew if she left Chad again she would not live to tell Arnold what was in her heart. She kept her hat low to cover her face then she heard Arnold speak, " Are you all right?"

" Yeah I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

" No reason. It just that you've been sitting over here by yourself."

" Oh I had a cold for a couple of days. I didn't want to get anyone else sick." she pretended to cough, hoping it would make her ridiculous lie seem somewhat truthful.

He smiled his warm gentle smile that she loved and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "He had to have seen a bruise…" she thought watching him as he got up and disappeared into the mesh of people. She sighed dreamily as she turned her head and saw Chad standing in a small group facing her. He had saw the whole scene and his anger was reaching it's boiling point. " Oh god no! he saw us together! Arnold you have sealed my fate. There's no way he's gonna let me go anywhere now." she thought to herself as she stood.

That was strike three. He marched over to her and grabbed her wrist. He slowly twisted it until she wanted to scream in pain and whispered, " You go get in the car and I'll get the twins."

She obeyed him, she had no choice.

~Can we go back to the days our love was strong?

She quietly left the party hoping no one would notice how scared she was. As they drove home Helga glanced at her husband. He had a tight grip on the steering wheel. His knuckles were white and his face was blood red. She put her eyes to the floor when for a split second their eyes met. After a short silence he said,

" I leave you alone for 5 minutes and you're already all over some guy who just so happened to be the guy I told you to stay away from."

~Can you tell me how a perfect love goes wrong?

" But Chad I…."

" SHUTUP! Can't you hear me talking?!? I told you to stay away from him and you deliberately disobeyed me."

" I…"

" DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO SHUT UP!" his hand reached out and made quick contact with her cheek.

She leaned against the window as he continued, " You brought this on yourself Helga," he spat.

~Can somebody tell me how to get things back the way use to be?

A hot tear slipped down her cheek. There was nothing she could now except pray…pray that whatever happened she would wake up to see her children and maybe her Angel again.

~Oh God give me the reason I'm down on bended knee….

******

Author's note: this is a Boys II Men song Bended knee. Don't own that song just thought the lyrics fit this situation…..