Hey people! I know I said I would put this up on Monday, but my computer
freaked out again and the internet screwed up AGAIN! I was so mad! Anyway,
sorry it is a day or two late...I swear it's not my fault. Anyway, here
goes.
Oh...
Tensleep: And you made my day again! Yes, you make my day. Thanks for the compliment! And thanks for the support...I think anyone who flames us should burn in hell too, but that's biased...ya know. Anyway...you got a ton of flames? That sucks! Those people suck...anyway, I have go, but enjoy! Just so you know, curveball is an understatement. So...have fun!
Kay people, here goes...another fun chapter for you. WARNING: if you didn't like the last chapter, don't read this one...
Chapter 14 (Skye's POV)
I had no concept of time or reality. I couldn't tell you if twenty minutes or two hours had passed; I didn't know. What I could tell was that I felt violated, berated, and dirty. I didn't want to open my eyes. It was easier to see only the darkness behind my eyelids. The feeling and sound was bad enough -- I didn't want to have to look at my trespassers.
My body stung with pain and ached from throbbing uncontrollably. The soft material around my mouth was soaked with blood and saliva, most of it not my own. I gagged on it from time to time, but no one cared and only sat back and let it happen. It really disgusted me how far people would go to get what they wanted, even if they didn't want the victim themselves.
My torso was unbelievably sore. My arms were digging into my back and the extra added weight wasn't helping matters any. I knew that physically my appearance hadn't changed much, but my bones ached. Every single one of those guys was larger than I was and they were really careless. There were times when I thought if the gag hadn't been there, I would've literally been sick from breathing in their putrid breath. Because they weren't in a normal state of mind I think it was much worse than it would've been, or at least I liked to think that was the case. Nothing else could possibly surpass that.
The worst part had to be the fact that none of them seemed to be in any hurry. They all took their time and enjoyed every second of it. They made sure of that. When I thought it was all over, it wasn't. They all made catcalls and blasted their music so loudly I was amazed that my eardrums didn't burst. No one came over or called the police complaining about it. The kid's parents didn't even come outside to ask them to keep it down.
Miles was even acting differently. He was definitely a different guy when it came to this. He was rough, forceful, and totally in control. I hated it so badly. It's disgusting how they could all find their own ways around my binds and helplessness. Even he seemed to know what he was doing and I couldn't help but wonder if I had been their first victim. I thought I would've heard about it at one time or another and if I had I would've never tried to get to know him in the first place. News travels around our school fast, so I didn't know what to think about that. I realized how easily word could get out about me and how before very long there could be some abhorable rumor going around that I ran a whorehouse or something.
I had started to wonder when I was going to be able to leave, if they even intended on letting me go. They already practically kidnapped me, who was to say they wouldn't just keep me there until people started to search for me? I was not going let this turn into a Ponyboy case and have cops searching for me in several states. I didn't think it would go that far, but I can't explain my state of mind when that was running through my thought process.
My emotions were going haywire inside my brain. I still wasn't giving them the pleasure of knowing what they were doing to me, but in my mind I was going insane. I didn't know what emotion was stronger; hate, anger, mortification, fright, sadness. They were all racing to be the top emotion and none of them were letting go.
Just when I thought I was about to scream through the moist gag, to let out a little of my pent of frustration and horror, the kid rolled off me and someone turned off the music. I didn't dare to move because for all I knew someone else was in line and that would do me very little good to try and get up. Besides that, I felt so weak and tired I didn't know if I'd have been able to stand up on my own right then. It didn't help that I couldn't move my arms. When no one did come over I began to relax and breathe normally again. My eyes remained closed, though, until I heard someone draw the curtain back and they grabbed me by the arm.
Clay yanked me into a sitting position and pulled me over to the edge of the bed, to reach behind me to untie my hands. That act alone sickened me. Why couldn't he have just turned me around? After he fought for a minute to get the ropes loose, he tore the material off of my head and I finally was able to breathe like I should've been.
He backed away and that's when I could see everything clearly again. Miles was sitting in the far corner from me; legs outstretched and arms folded. The other boys were arranged lazily around the room and they were still drinking. The air had cleared a little from their smoke, but the smell was still running strong. All of them stared at me with satisfaction. I only stared coldly at Miles. I had no respect, or even an inch of like, left for him in me. For none of them.
"Get dressed," Clay said as he turned away and went to the cooler to get himself a beer. I didn't comprehend what he had said for a brief moment but when I did I felt like lashing out. There shouldn't have been a reason in the first place for me to do what he said. I felt tears stinging at my eyes but I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't. I hated him so much.
I felt my mouth as I went around the foot of the bed to find where my clothes had been strewn. There was fresh blood leaking out of the cuts in the corner of my mouth and a good amount of it was pooled in my mouth. I wanted to spit it out but I wasn't going to do that in there. I was too scared of what they'd do about it. I found all my clothes, including my torn shirt, near the wall. I didn't want them except for that I needed them to get home. I'd never wear them again for the memories that I'd have from wearing them, which really sucked because that was my favorite shirt too. But now it was ruined; ripped down the front.
I dressed as quickly as I could, but I felt swollen and I kept spotting new bruises that sort of caught my interest. Not in a perverted way but I had never looked like that unless I was in a fight, and even then it wasn't anything like these. I finally got them all on including the shirt, which I held shut with my hand. When I looked down at myself, I saw how red and sore my hands were. I knew they hurt, but I hadn't had the chance to look at them and I was being to wish I never did. There was some serious rope burns circling my wrist and they killed.
I didn't know what I was supposed to do at that point so I stood there and looked around at them all. None of them looked like they'd attack me again, so I felt fine in that area, but I didn't know what else there was to expect. I was hoping my face was already red from heat because I didn't want them to notice the change of shades caused by my anger and embarrassment.
"Well?" Clay asked as he stood leaned back against the table to one side. I didn't know if I was supposed to say something or not so I didn't answer. "You can leave now."
I could hardly believe my ears. Was he for real? I wanted to listen to him, but I was afraid to move. I didn't know if he was teasing me or if he really meant it so I didn't move an inch. I didn't want to take the risk. What if he was trying to pull me into another trap?
"I said you can leave now." He was being impatient. "Get out!"
I didn't need to be told a third time.
I pushed past the curtain and walked as quickly as I could to the door. I half expected to be stopped on the way but no one tried, so I pulled the door open and left. I could hear them all laughing behind me, and my blood boiled even more.
Now I had only one more problem to face that I knew of and that was getting home. I was on the other side of town from where I lived and I had to walk several miles before I'd be anywhere near my house. As much as I didn't want to walk home, I didn't want anyone else to see me like this, so I practically ran in the direction we came in. I wouldn't let any Soc see me like that if I could prevent it.
(Reesa's POV)
I went over to find Dally and see what he was up to. I was having a great time and I hadn't seen anyone that would worry me, so I was pretty care free. It was just fun to be at a party with no worries.
"Hey, Dally." He turned around.
"What you want?" He was soused by that time, but it wasn't to bad. Dally didn't really get drunk, he just got a little weird. It was pretty funny, actually.
"Just coming by."
"Well, leave."
"Hey, Dally. Thanks. I haven't had such a good time in...a few years. I mean there isn't anyone around to make my life suck."
"What?"
"I mean that its nice to not worry about Clay for once. He isn't here, so its great."
"Oh, well, he isn't here because he's having a party of his own tonight. Now get outta here."
"Nice. Anyway..." I drifted off into the crowd again, a feeling of true freedom coming over me for the first time in what seemed like forever.
I had been at the party for quite a while by now, like an hour, hour and a half, when a friend stopped me as I left Dally behind and went on to see other people.
"Hey, Rees!"
I turned around seeing Jim. He was a short but muscular guy with brown hair that was a few inches long and messy. He was strong and intimidating despite his seemingly small size in height. He was more a friend of Skye's, not mine, but he was cool.
"Hey." I said happily.
"Hey, ah, where's Skye? I haven't seen her in a while."
"Oh, she's at home sick."
"What? She is? But I just saw her out with a few guys." Some dude chimed in. I didn't know him very well, but I recognized him.
"What?" I almost yelled.
"I just saw her out with some guys on my way over here."
"You did? Was she with Darry or something?"
"Nope. Miles."
"Oh..." IShit! /I
I worked around through the crowd and tried to get to Dally. If they were having a party and Skye was with them...oh God no! I was in a panic by then. I knew what was going on, although I wished I was really just over reacting.
I found Dally and this time I wasn't going to let him push me away.
"Dally!"
"What? Leave me alone!"
"No, Dally, we gotta go."
"I ain't leaving, I got business, now scram."
"No, listen to me for once. We have to go!" I was so upset and panicky, I couldn't contain myself. I was /I going to let them do that to Skye. It was the worst thing to happen to anyone, and Skye didn't deserve it, even if she was annoying and stupid at times. I would do anything to stop it, including going over there. In fact, I planned to go over there, with male presence, of course. I had to do /I.
He just looked at me like I was crazy. I wasn't going to take that. Maybe another night I would, but not then.
"Fine, then give me your keys."
"I don't want my ass being kicked tonight, are you crazy?"
Since when did Darry care if I drove around in a car? Maybe he was referring to the fact that I would be alone, but whatever. At that point I couldn't really put it together, and frankly, I didn't care all that much if Dally got his ass kicked. He was always asking for it, he deserved to get it one of those days.
"Well, to bad, cause you are if I have anything to do with it." I reached out and grabbed his keys from out of his front pocket and spun around to leave.
"What? Where do you think your going with those? Your...give those back!"
"Don't think so. Your drunk, Dal." I said still striding away and trying to get out of there before Dally caught up to me and killed me. I fully expected it to, but it was worth a try.
"Fine, but be back in two hours to pick me up...and fill it up when you' re done. And if you crash it..."
He kept talking but the voices around me drowned out his voice as I got further away and ran out the door. He really was drunk, I mean, I didn't think he was going to try any harder to stop it, so he had to be out of his mind. I went out to the car and sped home. I didn't have a lot of time, you never knew. I had no idea how long ago it had been that that guy had seen Skye, but I was willing to bet that I didn't have much time, I had to get there quick.
I got home in record time and ran in the open door. No one home yet, so I wrote out a note to Darry, saying I would be home by one or two at the latest. I didn't say where I was going or why, but he would have to deal with it. After writing the note, I decided to go down to the DX. I had to find someone to go with me. I wouldn't be able to help Skye otherwise, well maybe I could, but it was a sure thing with Darry or Soda or one of the gang there. I preferred Darry, but he wasn't around to help and I didn't have time to waste.
When I reached the DX, I found that Steve and Soda were both already off. I guess they decided to go on a date or something. Basically, my problem at that point was that I had no one to go with me and I had no time. I sat in Dally's car, thinking, shaking and shivering at what might happen if I did go alone. Going alone meant they could get me, again. Going alone meant sacrificing myself so that Skye could get out of it.
After what seemed like forever, but was really about ten minutes, I knew my time was up. I made my decision and started the car again. I didn't have a choice, not then. But I decided to go by the house a second time, hoping that I missed Darry by just a few minutes. No such luck there. And times up!
Shaking nearly the entire way over, I thought over what I would do when I got there. I had to have a good excuse to just show up or they would definitely kill me. All I could come up with was that Darry wanted me to go and get Skye because she had been sick and he didn't want her out. Yeah, that was a weak story because Darry would have come with me, but chances were that Clay and his gang would be drugged out, so I could get away with it once. Besides, none of them knew Darry, so they probably wouldn't catch on anyway...or at least I sure hoped so.
I parked the car out in front of the hang out. This was where everything happened. If they brought you here, you were in for trouble. It was in the Soc neighborhood, so they could get away with more and no one would come looking for them on that side of town. The kid that lived there was born greaser, but lived like a hood, and he would never stray his ways, despite being adopted into a Soc family. He acted like a Soc, dressed almost like one and spent money like one, but that was all a front. I knew him better, and he just used that stuff so no one would think of him. Anyway, the hang- out was near the back end of the property so that it was a little hard to see in the dark, but it was just down the long driveway that led around back for extra parking. They had claimed the garage as theirs, and made it real /I. See, everyone around thought they were just innocent teens, trying to form a band or something. Ha...yeah, right. The thing that made it even more convenient was that there were about three different ways to get in there, two of which people never caught onto. Yeah, I did, but I had seen all the stops pulled, and been told all the secrets. That was why Clay hated me so much. I was a threat to him and his ego. I could put him in the slammer, and he knew it.
As I came closer, the place sent shivers through my body. It brought back images, feelings, and all kinds of things I had long since tried to forget. I was more than scared to go in there and face up to Clay, he could easily do whatever the hell he wanted with me, but I knew I had to. Someone had to, and I was the chosen one, the only one who put it all together.
I pulled my jacket tighter, took a few deep breathes, and opened the door, striding in like it was a normal visit. Like everything was good, and I wasn't scared. One good thing that I learned from Clay was how to put up a front, and here I was using it against him.
"What do you want?" Clay asked, his voice a little slurred from one too many drinks. He was sitting in a big recliner chair, the only one in there. His eyes were wild, and he followed me, never letting me out of his site. God, he was high; shit, the whole place was. Looking around, I saw that everyone in there was high. Oh, goody. I really hoped that Skye wasn't there. She had better not be there, with everyone high and all. There would be no way to not get high in that place after a while. Darry would kill her.
"Aren't you going to answer me? You better." Clay said, a hint of anger seeping through his voice. It was more than a seep, but I made myself believe that he wouldn't kill me then and there.
"Relax, Clay. I just dropped by get Skye. She's been sick and Darry asked me to pick her up on my way home. I figured she would be around here somewhere. Where is she?" I said it like it was a regular conversation, pretending in my head that I was talking to Dally in a bad mood. I wasn't scared of Dally, but thinking of that helped me keep my tongue in check. That was what I had learned from Dally.
"Oh, she's long gone." Clay said with satisfaction.
"Where'd she go?"
"Home. Where do you think?"
"Uh...I don't know. Well, sorry to interrupt your...party then. I gotta go."
"Baby, I was starting to think that you missed us." Clay said. It wasn't a whining type of thing, it was a Iyou do miss us, because even if you don't there is no way your leaving/I type tone. That tone freaked me out, and the Baby thing disgusted me. And miss them? He said, us. Us, as in the entire gang, not just him...everyone. Everyone included five other than Clay and Miles, five that I knew...well.
I swallowed hard. What was I supposed to say to that? I knew that there was no way of getting out of it, so I said the first thing I could come up with, and I didn't care that it would make him mad. If I died, I wanted to die fighting. If he did anything to me, I would go down showing him that he didn't rule the world. I would make it hard for him. And I meant that.
"Clay, if you dropped form the face of this earth, not one soul would miss you at any point in time. It would be like you never existed at all, no one would even know your name. Not even your mother would give a fuck." I lined it off smoothly, with contempt and anger. With power, a sort of warning message I guess you could say.
"What? Now, you know that ain't true..." he tried to sound all sweet, like I would take the bait. I wanted to run, but knew I couldn't get far, everyone was...everyone had the hungry look. The look I knew and feared with all my being. Instead of running, I stood waiting, watching Clay get up from his chair and approach me. He wanted me to run, it would give him a reason to get mad...but then I realized he already had one.
Of course I knew this before, but I didn't really think on it until now. I could see the hate in Clay's eyes, the need for vengeance, complete vengeance. He had never come to get me, but now I had come to him. A perfect opportunity to punish me for all I had done to him. For betraying him.
When I didn't answer, and stopped listening completely, it got heated. Clay hated people tuning him out and not answering him more than anything. He came after me, and because I was ready, I dodged him and slugged him in the stomach. Yeah, that wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I knew that before I did it. I wanted to piss him off. He would kill me anyway, so I might as well get something good out of it.
Then he turned around quickly in a rage. I had seen him mad, but /I like that. He punched me and then took hold of me and literally slammed me to the ground. Pain shot through my body as he continually beat the crap out of me. He went from kicking, to punching, to slamming my head to the ground repeatedly. He did anything and everything to beat the hell out of me until I became so dazed I had no idea what was going on. I had no idea how long he spent trying to kill me before going on, but it seemed like forever and the whole time I wanted desperately to just pass out. Finally, I did and I would have been grateful if I had been given the chance.
(Darry's POV)
I walked out from Pony's room after checking on him for the thousandth time. I had nothing better to do, so I kept checking on Pony. He had no idea where everyone was, which made me just a little miffed. Rees just left a note, and she knew that that drove me crazy because it meant that I no say. But I figured that she didn't do it much, so it was okay, she probably had a good reason. The writing on the note was scribbled and messy as I had ever seen her write, so I guess she was in some kind of hurry or something.
Then there was Skye. She had just up and left, leaving Pony alone. And she was sick, not to mention that she hadn't told anyone where she was going, or even left a note. I was mad over that, but I would take it up with her when she got home, it wasn't anything new, and I was mad, but I wasn't going to freak. Just tell her that she shouldn't do it again, I mean is it that hard to tell me where she was going? She could leave a note or call or something.
I looked up, hearing the door open slowly. Skye walked out from around it slowly. I about started yelling, but there was something really wrong with the picture.
"Skye? What's wrong? What happened? Are you..." my voice drifted off as I connected with her eyes that had been staring at the ground but had now moved to plead with me. There were tears welling up in them, and she looked close to hysterics.
Then I realized that she didn't have a jacket. Now that wouldn't help with the emotions, but one thing at a time. You cant jump right into things with Skye, I reminded myself, it didn't work very well. She had to have time, in all things.
"Hey, C'mere. We need to get you warmed up before you catch pneumonia." My voice was surprisingly gentle, but Skye didn't really react to it. I knew she was cold, she was shivering like crazy and her teeth chattered. The least I could do was warm her up.
"Skye? Hun, c'mere, I know you're cold."
She didn't move, but her eyes changed as if she was pleading to me. But for what?
"Hun? Hey...what's wrong?"
Again, I got nothing but a pleading stare. I mean, I knew there was something wrong, but I didn't know what, not yet. It was really freaking me out that she was doing that though. Skye tells you or she yells at you to get out of her face. She never just looks at you, and never when she is close to tears. If there is one thing united about our family, it is that no one likes to cry and if they have to, they at least look away. Not that its bad, but it just was the way things were.
I took a step forward, and reached out to Skye grabbing her arm as gently as I could. Before I took hold of it, I noted that there were burn marks on her wrists. It looked like it was from a rope or something, what the hell? That made me worry even more. What was going on? Who had done what? The only other time I had ever seen that was when Reesa came home after...Oh my God. No, no it couldn't be that. Anyway, I had to take one thing at a time. If it was that, then I really had to give Skye time, and I wouldn't blame her if she didn't want to tell me.
I hesitated a moment, but then grabbed it and pulled her arm towards me to lead her to her room. Time, time. I kept telling myself, time. And what if it wasn't that?
That's when I saw it. Her shirt was ripped in two down the middle and as I pulled her arm away from her body, it fell exposing her bra to open view. The way she had been hugging herself, I had assumed for warmth, had hidden the whole shirt thing and now I knew. There was no question.
My stomach turned to knots, and I wanted so badly to just die right there. I wanted to kill someone and take everything Skye was going through away from her, neither of which were possible. I felt so bad, I should have been there to protect her, I was the older brother, that was my job. But even as I thought it, I knew that there was probably nothing I could have done. It was probably some fluke thing, something out of my control. It was like I couldn't protect Pony form getting jumped, I couldn't prevent my little sister from getting picked up. Not unless I held her on house arrest, which would be almost as bad for her.
I think out of shock, I stood there, unmoving. Would Skye freak out? I knew I wouldn't, not in that situation, not then. I couldn't, and I wouldn't; it was that simple for me. It had to be in my family.
I looked away, a natural instinct, but also a gesture to help Skye out. I had never wanted to see that. Not from either of my sisters, but now I had seen it. This wasn't as uncomfortable as the times you walk in on them dressing and stuff, but it was worse in a different way. This time it meant something, it wasn't just a mistake that you hate and have to live with. No, it was evidence of a night of pure Hell, and a life of suffering from it. Okay, maybe not a life but close enough. This was something that a girl would never get over, and I saw that every day.
Reesa never quite got over it. She did mostly, but she hated guys she didn't know, feared them and she hated to be alone. Especially when she was sick, because she felt vulnerable. She didn't like to go out as much, and when she did she was always with someone. I don't think she had gone on very many dates since then, and I didn't know when she would. Then again, she was a better fighter afterwards. She was feisty and didn't put up with people she didn't trust. And she told me things, most everything. She wasn't afraid to tell me things, she trusted all of the gang, and would come to us having seen what could happen if she didn't. I thought of that as a good thing, but it was so different. The experience had changed Rees for life, and I thought that Skye would probably take it worse. She was different from Rees, she was more innocent and vulnerable. Reesa had always been the tough one, she just took things differently, and liked to move on. She had done well with that, but I didn't know that Skye would. Reesa was affected, but not all the time. It was more of a subconscious thing for her, not something she dwelled on.
I looked back up to Skye, we had to get past that, and get her taken care of. She was obviously in shock and upset. Any girl would be after that. I saw a tear run down her cheek. Taking a step nearer to me, she nearly stumbled and I saw that the way that she was walking was...abnormal also. I knew that she was in pain, but I didn't know what to do about it. Oh God.
She started to stutter, trying to tell me what had happened to her as she tied to come closer, but she was to upset to say it. Besides that, she didn't need to, so I cut her off.
"Shhhh...it's alright. You don't need to tell me...I know." She looked close to collapsing, and so I stepped over to her to hold her up just when her legs gave out. I caught her before she hit the floor, and sat down in the doorway, letting her lay there in my lap. I shut the door all the way then, as she had left it partially open letting in the cold air.
By this time, she was sobbing and gasping, like I had never seen from her before. I couldn't blame her, and so I just let her cry, holding her, rocking her just a little and telling her it was all right. I wished I could do more, but there was nothing. The only thing to make that better was to make it go away, and I couldn't do that.
After a minute or so, I thought we should move. Skye was still cold, and I had to warm her up. Besides that, I had to get off that floor. I slid out from under her as she sent me a fearful look, and crouched down on my haunches.
"It's okay. I got you, I'm not leaving. We just need to move over to the sofa. It will be more comfortable and warm there, okay?"
She just looked at me, her eyes tired and red. I got up and grabbed a blanket to put over her before picking her up and taking her to the couch. When I picked her up, she let out a constrained scream, like she was trying not to scream, but couldn't help but let a little of it out. I knew that it hurt like hell for her, and I felt bad to move her around, but I also felt it was the best thing to do for her then.
I sat beneath her on the couch, her head in my lap and the rest her body spread out on the couch. She was still shivering, but at least now she had a blanket. After I moved her, she moved her legs on her own, squinting in pain and effort to get more comfortable. They were now sprawled out, far apart from each other. She was lying on her back, but her face was facing my stomach, as tears continued to roll down the side of her cheek. She was so pale, and so weak looking. I hated it, I hated to see her that way. It was horrible, and it brought back images that I never wanted to have to see again.
All I could do then was wait. I sat with my head in my hands, bent over Skye and talking to her in a smooth tone. With one hand I stroked her forehead and cheek as Skye slowly started calming down and warming up. She stopped shivering, but every once in a while she would suddenly gasp or groan, like from pain. I hoped that someone got home soon. I was so worried about her. I wanted to get her to a doctor, where at least they could give her some pain medications and check over her.
In the time that I sat there waiting, I kept thinking back to the night when Reesa had come home just a few years ago. That night was a night I would never forget. I mean, it wasn't as bad as this time with Skye. Physically, Reesa didn't seem as bad, but emotionally she had been. I could deal with both, although I hated the emotional stuff and the physical stuff just freaked me out.
When Reesa had come home, she didn't let on about the physical pain, although she was too weak to stand. She had collapsed into Steve's arms at the door after he had pulled it open. She had just sat there for awhile while we all took in the site and tried to figure out what was going on in silence. Then she had collapsed, and Steve reached out and caught her, bringing her over to me.
That night had been hell. She told us what happened, and I hated to hear it. She cried and cried more, shedding more tears than I had ever seen to that point in my life. It scared me that she was so freaked out, but at the time I didn't understand it. Looking back, I feel real bad about it, I mean I was insensitive, especially at first. When I finally grasped what was really going on and how bad it was for her, she had it handled and didn't want to talk about it anymore.
I remember the confusion and frustration I felt all through that night. At least this time it wasn't as present. Well, not in some matters. See, I know why Skye is so upset, so that helps. And I don't have the heart- wrenching decision between food on the table or taking my sister to the hospital. That was a hard one, and I am glad it was Rees. Any other girl wouldn't have been able to handle it, not physically. Rees was one of a kind, she just put up with it. There were few times when I actually took her to a doctor, she just didn't need it. Then again, when it got down to it, I put my foot down and made her if it was that bad. Lucky for us, it hadn't been at that time. I mean, we just didn't have the money. Mom and Dad had just died and we were still trying to pay things off and get by.
The door opening broke me out of my thoughts, and I half looked up to see Soda and Steve walking in. Actually, it was more like hearing them. I couldn't really look up, I didn't want to make eye contact with anyone, I didn't want to have to see anything. I was easier to look down and stare at the floor and I would do that for as long as I could get away with it.
Steve and Soda were horsing around as usual, but it didn't last long. As they stepped into the house Soda's voice died out in mid sentence as he smarted back at a comment Steve had just made. When I looked up, I saw the smile of his wiped from his face as he stared down at Skye.
I wanted so bad to drop my head and hide from the reality of it, but I couldn't, I was the one who had to take care of it then. I wanted Soda to catch on, I didn't know if he would, but I didn't know if I could voice it out loud. That would be too much.
"Darry...? What...?" Soda finally got out.
I just looked at him, trying to get him to understand without words. When he didn't seem to understand, I looked down to Skye's legs, hoping that he would follow my gaze. Then I dropped my head again, unable to bear it any longer.
"No...No...Oh god...oh god no." it started to dawn on him, and every word got to be louder, "No! God Damn it! No! How can this happen? Shit! This /I happen, Damn it. Damn it. Oh God...Damn it!"
He continued on, nearly throwing things across the room in anger and frustration. I wanted to stop him, but I couldn't. Not only was Skye on my lap, and I knew it would hurt her if I moved her, but I was almost grateful that he was saying it. I couldn't, I had to be strong, but it almost helped to have someone else let it out.
I hadnt seen Soda that angry in...in a long time, and I knew it wasn't all anger. It was more desperation, sadness, and guilt. Everything that I felt at the time.
"Soda, calm down." I finally said loud enough for him to hear. He didn't though, and I can't blame him. There wasn't even much conviction in my voice when I had told him to stop, I didn't have the right to tell him that.
"That Fucker. TheFucking son of a bitch!" Soda spun around in a terror, and punched the wall, leaving a dent as he did so.
That was when I freaked out. That was over the line, and Skye was really getting upset by then. I had thought that she was out of tears, but she wasn't. She has mostly stopped crying, but this brought it back to the surface.
"Soda! Stop it! Now!" he calmed a little, but not much, "/I! God Damn it, Soda! Shut the hell up!" I said sternly and very loud that time.
The second after I said that, Steve stepped forward and took hold of Soda's shoulders, shaking him slightly.
"Soda, buddy, you gotta calm down. Okay?...Hey, listen, you...just stop it. You need to stop it."
Soda did then, nearly breaking down into tears. He turned to face Steve and balled up his shirt in his fists, leaning against him and breathing deep to get control.
After a few minutes he had, and he turned suddenly to us and came over, dropping to his knees at Skye's head. She was sobbing again then, and was quite upset. I didn't know why, but it didn't matter why, it only mattered that she was.
Soda reached out and brushed a clump of hair away from her eye, "Skye? Skye...I'm sorry. Im soo sorry, Hun. I didn't meant to...I'm sorry." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it, "Are you okay?"
She tried to tell him something but didn't get it out, she just couldn't. He looked at her, and stood up, pacing the room. He seemed so filled with anger that he couldn't hold still, couldn't handle being gentle. He couldn't stand to see Skye like that. As bad as he felt, he couldn't be that close, couldn't deal with it, not then.
I got up, picking Skye up as well as I could. She squealed in pain, but didn't move, "I'm sorry, Hun. I'm gonna get you taken care of, okay? You gonna be fine in no time at all." I said to her quietly.
I walked over to the front door, but turned, "Steve, hand me the keys?"
As he was getting them, I turned to Soda, "Soda, you need to stay here. Reesa aint home yet, I don't know where she went. Left a note saying she'd be home by one or so, no later. I'll call you and let you know what's going on a little later, but stay up and wait for Rees."
"...Okay." Soda replied, now standing still and looking at Skye in worry.
I turned and rushed out to the truck and to the hospital. The sooner we got her taken care of, the better.
Oh...
Tensleep: And you made my day again! Yes, you make my day. Thanks for the compliment! And thanks for the support...I think anyone who flames us should burn in hell too, but that's biased...ya know. Anyway...you got a ton of flames? That sucks! Those people suck...anyway, I have go, but enjoy! Just so you know, curveball is an understatement. So...have fun!
Kay people, here goes...another fun chapter for you. WARNING: if you didn't like the last chapter, don't read this one...
Chapter 14 (Skye's POV)
I had no concept of time or reality. I couldn't tell you if twenty minutes or two hours had passed; I didn't know. What I could tell was that I felt violated, berated, and dirty. I didn't want to open my eyes. It was easier to see only the darkness behind my eyelids. The feeling and sound was bad enough -- I didn't want to have to look at my trespassers.
My body stung with pain and ached from throbbing uncontrollably. The soft material around my mouth was soaked with blood and saliva, most of it not my own. I gagged on it from time to time, but no one cared and only sat back and let it happen. It really disgusted me how far people would go to get what they wanted, even if they didn't want the victim themselves.
My torso was unbelievably sore. My arms were digging into my back and the extra added weight wasn't helping matters any. I knew that physically my appearance hadn't changed much, but my bones ached. Every single one of those guys was larger than I was and they were really careless. There were times when I thought if the gag hadn't been there, I would've literally been sick from breathing in their putrid breath. Because they weren't in a normal state of mind I think it was much worse than it would've been, or at least I liked to think that was the case. Nothing else could possibly surpass that.
The worst part had to be the fact that none of them seemed to be in any hurry. They all took their time and enjoyed every second of it. They made sure of that. When I thought it was all over, it wasn't. They all made catcalls and blasted their music so loudly I was amazed that my eardrums didn't burst. No one came over or called the police complaining about it. The kid's parents didn't even come outside to ask them to keep it down.
Miles was even acting differently. He was definitely a different guy when it came to this. He was rough, forceful, and totally in control. I hated it so badly. It's disgusting how they could all find their own ways around my binds and helplessness. Even he seemed to know what he was doing and I couldn't help but wonder if I had been their first victim. I thought I would've heard about it at one time or another and if I had I would've never tried to get to know him in the first place. News travels around our school fast, so I didn't know what to think about that. I realized how easily word could get out about me and how before very long there could be some abhorable rumor going around that I ran a whorehouse or something.
I had started to wonder when I was going to be able to leave, if they even intended on letting me go. They already practically kidnapped me, who was to say they wouldn't just keep me there until people started to search for me? I was not going let this turn into a Ponyboy case and have cops searching for me in several states. I didn't think it would go that far, but I can't explain my state of mind when that was running through my thought process.
My emotions were going haywire inside my brain. I still wasn't giving them the pleasure of knowing what they were doing to me, but in my mind I was going insane. I didn't know what emotion was stronger; hate, anger, mortification, fright, sadness. They were all racing to be the top emotion and none of them were letting go.
Just when I thought I was about to scream through the moist gag, to let out a little of my pent of frustration and horror, the kid rolled off me and someone turned off the music. I didn't dare to move because for all I knew someone else was in line and that would do me very little good to try and get up. Besides that, I felt so weak and tired I didn't know if I'd have been able to stand up on my own right then. It didn't help that I couldn't move my arms. When no one did come over I began to relax and breathe normally again. My eyes remained closed, though, until I heard someone draw the curtain back and they grabbed me by the arm.
Clay yanked me into a sitting position and pulled me over to the edge of the bed, to reach behind me to untie my hands. That act alone sickened me. Why couldn't he have just turned me around? After he fought for a minute to get the ropes loose, he tore the material off of my head and I finally was able to breathe like I should've been.
He backed away and that's when I could see everything clearly again. Miles was sitting in the far corner from me; legs outstretched and arms folded. The other boys were arranged lazily around the room and they were still drinking. The air had cleared a little from their smoke, but the smell was still running strong. All of them stared at me with satisfaction. I only stared coldly at Miles. I had no respect, or even an inch of like, left for him in me. For none of them.
"Get dressed," Clay said as he turned away and went to the cooler to get himself a beer. I didn't comprehend what he had said for a brief moment but when I did I felt like lashing out. There shouldn't have been a reason in the first place for me to do what he said. I felt tears stinging at my eyes but I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't. I hated him so much.
I felt my mouth as I went around the foot of the bed to find where my clothes had been strewn. There was fresh blood leaking out of the cuts in the corner of my mouth and a good amount of it was pooled in my mouth. I wanted to spit it out but I wasn't going to do that in there. I was too scared of what they'd do about it. I found all my clothes, including my torn shirt, near the wall. I didn't want them except for that I needed them to get home. I'd never wear them again for the memories that I'd have from wearing them, which really sucked because that was my favorite shirt too. But now it was ruined; ripped down the front.
I dressed as quickly as I could, but I felt swollen and I kept spotting new bruises that sort of caught my interest. Not in a perverted way but I had never looked like that unless I was in a fight, and even then it wasn't anything like these. I finally got them all on including the shirt, which I held shut with my hand. When I looked down at myself, I saw how red and sore my hands were. I knew they hurt, but I hadn't had the chance to look at them and I was being to wish I never did. There was some serious rope burns circling my wrist and they killed.
I didn't know what I was supposed to do at that point so I stood there and looked around at them all. None of them looked like they'd attack me again, so I felt fine in that area, but I didn't know what else there was to expect. I was hoping my face was already red from heat because I didn't want them to notice the change of shades caused by my anger and embarrassment.
"Well?" Clay asked as he stood leaned back against the table to one side. I didn't know if I was supposed to say something or not so I didn't answer. "You can leave now."
I could hardly believe my ears. Was he for real? I wanted to listen to him, but I was afraid to move. I didn't know if he was teasing me or if he really meant it so I didn't move an inch. I didn't want to take the risk. What if he was trying to pull me into another trap?
"I said you can leave now." He was being impatient. "Get out!"
I didn't need to be told a third time.
I pushed past the curtain and walked as quickly as I could to the door. I half expected to be stopped on the way but no one tried, so I pulled the door open and left. I could hear them all laughing behind me, and my blood boiled even more.
Now I had only one more problem to face that I knew of and that was getting home. I was on the other side of town from where I lived and I had to walk several miles before I'd be anywhere near my house. As much as I didn't want to walk home, I didn't want anyone else to see me like this, so I practically ran in the direction we came in. I wouldn't let any Soc see me like that if I could prevent it.
(Reesa's POV)
I went over to find Dally and see what he was up to. I was having a great time and I hadn't seen anyone that would worry me, so I was pretty care free. It was just fun to be at a party with no worries.
"Hey, Dally." He turned around.
"What you want?" He was soused by that time, but it wasn't to bad. Dally didn't really get drunk, he just got a little weird. It was pretty funny, actually.
"Just coming by."
"Well, leave."
"Hey, Dally. Thanks. I haven't had such a good time in...a few years. I mean there isn't anyone around to make my life suck."
"What?"
"I mean that its nice to not worry about Clay for once. He isn't here, so its great."
"Oh, well, he isn't here because he's having a party of his own tonight. Now get outta here."
"Nice. Anyway..." I drifted off into the crowd again, a feeling of true freedom coming over me for the first time in what seemed like forever.
I had been at the party for quite a while by now, like an hour, hour and a half, when a friend stopped me as I left Dally behind and went on to see other people.
"Hey, Rees!"
I turned around seeing Jim. He was a short but muscular guy with brown hair that was a few inches long and messy. He was strong and intimidating despite his seemingly small size in height. He was more a friend of Skye's, not mine, but he was cool.
"Hey." I said happily.
"Hey, ah, where's Skye? I haven't seen her in a while."
"Oh, she's at home sick."
"What? She is? But I just saw her out with a few guys." Some dude chimed in. I didn't know him very well, but I recognized him.
"What?" I almost yelled.
"I just saw her out with some guys on my way over here."
"You did? Was she with Darry or something?"
"Nope. Miles."
"Oh..." IShit! /I
I worked around through the crowd and tried to get to Dally. If they were having a party and Skye was with them...oh God no! I was in a panic by then. I knew what was going on, although I wished I was really just over reacting.
I found Dally and this time I wasn't going to let him push me away.
"Dally!"
"What? Leave me alone!"
"No, Dally, we gotta go."
"I ain't leaving, I got business, now scram."
"No, listen to me for once. We have to go!" I was so upset and panicky, I couldn't contain myself. I was /I going to let them do that to Skye. It was the worst thing to happen to anyone, and Skye didn't deserve it, even if she was annoying and stupid at times. I would do anything to stop it, including going over there. In fact, I planned to go over there, with male presence, of course. I had to do /I.
He just looked at me like I was crazy. I wasn't going to take that. Maybe another night I would, but not then.
"Fine, then give me your keys."
"I don't want my ass being kicked tonight, are you crazy?"
Since when did Darry care if I drove around in a car? Maybe he was referring to the fact that I would be alone, but whatever. At that point I couldn't really put it together, and frankly, I didn't care all that much if Dally got his ass kicked. He was always asking for it, he deserved to get it one of those days.
"Well, to bad, cause you are if I have anything to do with it." I reached out and grabbed his keys from out of his front pocket and spun around to leave.
"What? Where do you think your going with those? Your...give those back!"
"Don't think so. Your drunk, Dal." I said still striding away and trying to get out of there before Dally caught up to me and killed me. I fully expected it to, but it was worth a try.
"Fine, but be back in two hours to pick me up...and fill it up when you' re done. And if you crash it..."
He kept talking but the voices around me drowned out his voice as I got further away and ran out the door. He really was drunk, I mean, I didn't think he was going to try any harder to stop it, so he had to be out of his mind. I went out to the car and sped home. I didn't have a lot of time, you never knew. I had no idea how long ago it had been that that guy had seen Skye, but I was willing to bet that I didn't have much time, I had to get there quick.
I got home in record time and ran in the open door. No one home yet, so I wrote out a note to Darry, saying I would be home by one or two at the latest. I didn't say where I was going or why, but he would have to deal with it. After writing the note, I decided to go down to the DX. I had to find someone to go with me. I wouldn't be able to help Skye otherwise, well maybe I could, but it was a sure thing with Darry or Soda or one of the gang there. I preferred Darry, but he wasn't around to help and I didn't have time to waste.
When I reached the DX, I found that Steve and Soda were both already off. I guess they decided to go on a date or something. Basically, my problem at that point was that I had no one to go with me and I had no time. I sat in Dally's car, thinking, shaking and shivering at what might happen if I did go alone. Going alone meant they could get me, again. Going alone meant sacrificing myself so that Skye could get out of it.
After what seemed like forever, but was really about ten minutes, I knew my time was up. I made my decision and started the car again. I didn't have a choice, not then. But I decided to go by the house a second time, hoping that I missed Darry by just a few minutes. No such luck there. And times up!
Shaking nearly the entire way over, I thought over what I would do when I got there. I had to have a good excuse to just show up or they would definitely kill me. All I could come up with was that Darry wanted me to go and get Skye because she had been sick and he didn't want her out. Yeah, that was a weak story because Darry would have come with me, but chances were that Clay and his gang would be drugged out, so I could get away with it once. Besides, none of them knew Darry, so they probably wouldn't catch on anyway...or at least I sure hoped so.
I parked the car out in front of the hang out. This was where everything happened. If they brought you here, you were in for trouble. It was in the Soc neighborhood, so they could get away with more and no one would come looking for them on that side of town. The kid that lived there was born greaser, but lived like a hood, and he would never stray his ways, despite being adopted into a Soc family. He acted like a Soc, dressed almost like one and spent money like one, but that was all a front. I knew him better, and he just used that stuff so no one would think of him. Anyway, the hang- out was near the back end of the property so that it was a little hard to see in the dark, but it was just down the long driveway that led around back for extra parking. They had claimed the garage as theirs, and made it real /I. See, everyone around thought they were just innocent teens, trying to form a band or something. Ha...yeah, right. The thing that made it even more convenient was that there were about three different ways to get in there, two of which people never caught onto. Yeah, I did, but I had seen all the stops pulled, and been told all the secrets. That was why Clay hated me so much. I was a threat to him and his ego. I could put him in the slammer, and he knew it.
As I came closer, the place sent shivers through my body. It brought back images, feelings, and all kinds of things I had long since tried to forget. I was more than scared to go in there and face up to Clay, he could easily do whatever the hell he wanted with me, but I knew I had to. Someone had to, and I was the chosen one, the only one who put it all together.
I pulled my jacket tighter, took a few deep breathes, and opened the door, striding in like it was a normal visit. Like everything was good, and I wasn't scared. One good thing that I learned from Clay was how to put up a front, and here I was using it against him.
"What do you want?" Clay asked, his voice a little slurred from one too many drinks. He was sitting in a big recliner chair, the only one in there. His eyes were wild, and he followed me, never letting me out of his site. God, he was high; shit, the whole place was. Looking around, I saw that everyone in there was high. Oh, goody. I really hoped that Skye wasn't there. She had better not be there, with everyone high and all. There would be no way to not get high in that place after a while. Darry would kill her.
"Aren't you going to answer me? You better." Clay said, a hint of anger seeping through his voice. It was more than a seep, but I made myself believe that he wouldn't kill me then and there.
"Relax, Clay. I just dropped by get Skye. She's been sick and Darry asked me to pick her up on my way home. I figured she would be around here somewhere. Where is she?" I said it like it was a regular conversation, pretending in my head that I was talking to Dally in a bad mood. I wasn't scared of Dally, but thinking of that helped me keep my tongue in check. That was what I had learned from Dally.
"Oh, she's long gone." Clay said with satisfaction.
"Where'd she go?"
"Home. Where do you think?"
"Uh...I don't know. Well, sorry to interrupt your...party then. I gotta go."
"Baby, I was starting to think that you missed us." Clay said. It wasn't a whining type of thing, it was a Iyou do miss us, because even if you don't there is no way your leaving/I type tone. That tone freaked me out, and the Baby thing disgusted me. And miss them? He said, us. Us, as in the entire gang, not just him...everyone. Everyone included five other than Clay and Miles, five that I knew...well.
I swallowed hard. What was I supposed to say to that? I knew that there was no way of getting out of it, so I said the first thing I could come up with, and I didn't care that it would make him mad. If I died, I wanted to die fighting. If he did anything to me, I would go down showing him that he didn't rule the world. I would make it hard for him. And I meant that.
"Clay, if you dropped form the face of this earth, not one soul would miss you at any point in time. It would be like you never existed at all, no one would even know your name. Not even your mother would give a fuck." I lined it off smoothly, with contempt and anger. With power, a sort of warning message I guess you could say.
"What? Now, you know that ain't true..." he tried to sound all sweet, like I would take the bait. I wanted to run, but knew I couldn't get far, everyone was...everyone had the hungry look. The look I knew and feared with all my being. Instead of running, I stood waiting, watching Clay get up from his chair and approach me. He wanted me to run, it would give him a reason to get mad...but then I realized he already had one.
Of course I knew this before, but I didn't really think on it until now. I could see the hate in Clay's eyes, the need for vengeance, complete vengeance. He had never come to get me, but now I had come to him. A perfect opportunity to punish me for all I had done to him. For betraying him.
When I didn't answer, and stopped listening completely, it got heated. Clay hated people tuning him out and not answering him more than anything. He came after me, and because I was ready, I dodged him and slugged him in the stomach. Yeah, that wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I knew that before I did it. I wanted to piss him off. He would kill me anyway, so I might as well get something good out of it.
Then he turned around quickly in a rage. I had seen him mad, but /I like that. He punched me and then took hold of me and literally slammed me to the ground. Pain shot through my body as he continually beat the crap out of me. He went from kicking, to punching, to slamming my head to the ground repeatedly. He did anything and everything to beat the hell out of me until I became so dazed I had no idea what was going on. I had no idea how long he spent trying to kill me before going on, but it seemed like forever and the whole time I wanted desperately to just pass out. Finally, I did and I would have been grateful if I had been given the chance.
(Darry's POV)
I walked out from Pony's room after checking on him for the thousandth time. I had nothing better to do, so I kept checking on Pony. He had no idea where everyone was, which made me just a little miffed. Rees just left a note, and she knew that that drove me crazy because it meant that I no say. But I figured that she didn't do it much, so it was okay, she probably had a good reason. The writing on the note was scribbled and messy as I had ever seen her write, so I guess she was in some kind of hurry or something.
Then there was Skye. She had just up and left, leaving Pony alone. And she was sick, not to mention that she hadn't told anyone where she was going, or even left a note. I was mad over that, but I would take it up with her when she got home, it wasn't anything new, and I was mad, but I wasn't going to freak. Just tell her that she shouldn't do it again, I mean is it that hard to tell me where she was going? She could leave a note or call or something.
I looked up, hearing the door open slowly. Skye walked out from around it slowly. I about started yelling, but there was something really wrong with the picture.
"Skye? What's wrong? What happened? Are you..." my voice drifted off as I connected with her eyes that had been staring at the ground but had now moved to plead with me. There were tears welling up in them, and she looked close to hysterics.
Then I realized that she didn't have a jacket. Now that wouldn't help with the emotions, but one thing at a time. You cant jump right into things with Skye, I reminded myself, it didn't work very well. She had to have time, in all things.
"Hey, C'mere. We need to get you warmed up before you catch pneumonia." My voice was surprisingly gentle, but Skye didn't really react to it. I knew she was cold, she was shivering like crazy and her teeth chattered. The least I could do was warm her up.
"Skye? Hun, c'mere, I know you're cold."
She didn't move, but her eyes changed as if she was pleading to me. But for what?
"Hun? Hey...what's wrong?"
Again, I got nothing but a pleading stare. I mean, I knew there was something wrong, but I didn't know what, not yet. It was really freaking me out that she was doing that though. Skye tells you or she yells at you to get out of her face. She never just looks at you, and never when she is close to tears. If there is one thing united about our family, it is that no one likes to cry and if they have to, they at least look away. Not that its bad, but it just was the way things were.
I took a step forward, and reached out to Skye grabbing her arm as gently as I could. Before I took hold of it, I noted that there were burn marks on her wrists. It looked like it was from a rope or something, what the hell? That made me worry even more. What was going on? Who had done what? The only other time I had ever seen that was when Reesa came home after...Oh my God. No, no it couldn't be that. Anyway, I had to take one thing at a time. If it was that, then I really had to give Skye time, and I wouldn't blame her if she didn't want to tell me.
I hesitated a moment, but then grabbed it and pulled her arm towards me to lead her to her room. Time, time. I kept telling myself, time. And what if it wasn't that?
That's when I saw it. Her shirt was ripped in two down the middle and as I pulled her arm away from her body, it fell exposing her bra to open view. The way she had been hugging herself, I had assumed for warmth, had hidden the whole shirt thing and now I knew. There was no question.
My stomach turned to knots, and I wanted so badly to just die right there. I wanted to kill someone and take everything Skye was going through away from her, neither of which were possible. I felt so bad, I should have been there to protect her, I was the older brother, that was my job. But even as I thought it, I knew that there was probably nothing I could have done. It was probably some fluke thing, something out of my control. It was like I couldn't protect Pony form getting jumped, I couldn't prevent my little sister from getting picked up. Not unless I held her on house arrest, which would be almost as bad for her.
I think out of shock, I stood there, unmoving. Would Skye freak out? I knew I wouldn't, not in that situation, not then. I couldn't, and I wouldn't; it was that simple for me. It had to be in my family.
I looked away, a natural instinct, but also a gesture to help Skye out. I had never wanted to see that. Not from either of my sisters, but now I had seen it. This wasn't as uncomfortable as the times you walk in on them dressing and stuff, but it was worse in a different way. This time it meant something, it wasn't just a mistake that you hate and have to live with. No, it was evidence of a night of pure Hell, and a life of suffering from it. Okay, maybe not a life but close enough. This was something that a girl would never get over, and I saw that every day.
Reesa never quite got over it. She did mostly, but she hated guys she didn't know, feared them and she hated to be alone. Especially when she was sick, because she felt vulnerable. She didn't like to go out as much, and when she did she was always with someone. I don't think she had gone on very many dates since then, and I didn't know when she would. Then again, she was a better fighter afterwards. She was feisty and didn't put up with people she didn't trust. And she told me things, most everything. She wasn't afraid to tell me things, she trusted all of the gang, and would come to us having seen what could happen if she didn't. I thought of that as a good thing, but it was so different. The experience had changed Rees for life, and I thought that Skye would probably take it worse. She was different from Rees, she was more innocent and vulnerable. Reesa had always been the tough one, she just took things differently, and liked to move on. She had done well with that, but I didn't know that Skye would. Reesa was affected, but not all the time. It was more of a subconscious thing for her, not something she dwelled on.
I looked back up to Skye, we had to get past that, and get her taken care of. She was obviously in shock and upset. Any girl would be after that. I saw a tear run down her cheek. Taking a step nearer to me, she nearly stumbled and I saw that the way that she was walking was...abnormal also. I knew that she was in pain, but I didn't know what to do about it. Oh God.
She started to stutter, trying to tell me what had happened to her as she tied to come closer, but she was to upset to say it. Besides that, she didn't need to, so I cut her off.
"Shhhh...it's alright. You don't need to tell me...I know." She looked close to collapsing, and so I stepped over to her to hold her up just when her legs gave out. I caught her before she hit the floor, and sat down in the doorway, letting her lay there in my lap. I shut the door all the way then, as she had left it partially open letting in the cold air.
By this time, she was sobbing and gasping, like I had never seen from her before. I couldn't blame her, and so I just let her cry, holding her, rocking her just a little and telling her it was all right. I wished I could do more, but there was nothing. The only thing to make that better was to make it go away, and I couldn't do that.
After a minute or so, I thought we should move. Skye was still cold, and I had to warm her up. Besides that, I had to get off that floor. I slid out from under her as she sent me a fearful look, and crouched down on my haunches.
"It's okay. I got you, I'm not leaving. We just need to move over to the sofa. It will be more comfortable and warm there, okay?"
She just looked at me, her eyes tired and red. I got up and grabbed a blanket to put over her before picking her up and taking her to the couch. When I picked her up, she let out a constrained scream, like she was trying not to scream, but couldn't help but let a little of it out. I knew that it hurt like hell for her, and I felt bad to move her around, but I also felt it was the best thing to do for her then.
I sat beneath her on the couch, her head in my lap and the rest her body spread out on the couch. She was still shivering, but at least now she had a blanket. After I moved her, she moved her legs on her own, squinting in pain and effort to get more comfortable. They were now sprawled out, far apart from each other. She was lying on her back, but her face was facing my stomach, as tears continued to roll down the side of her cheek. She was so pale, and so weak looking. I hated it, I hated to see her that way. It was horrible, and it brought back images that I never wanted to have to see again.
All I could do then was wait. I sat with my head in my hands, bent over Skye and talking to her in a smooth tone. With one hand I stroked her forehead and cheek as Skye slowly started calming down and warming up. She stopped shivering, but every once in a while she would suddenly gasp or groan, like from pain. I hoped that someone got home soon. I was so worried about her. I wanted to get her to a doctor, where at least they could give her some pain medications and check over her.
In the time that I sat there waiting, I kept thinking back to the night when Reesa had come home just a few years ago. That night was a night I would never forget. I mean, it wasn't as bad as this time with Skye. Physically, Reesa didn't seem as bad, but emotionally she had been. I could deal with both, although I hated the emotional stuff and the physical stuff just freaked me out.
When Reesa had come home, she didn't let on about the physical pain, although she was too weak to stand. She had collapsed into Steve's arms at the door after he had pulled it open. She had just sat there for awhile while we all took in the site and tried to figure out what was going on in silence. Then she had collapsed, and Steve reached out and caught her, bringing her over to me.
That night had been hell. She told us what happened, and I hated to hear it. She cried and cried more, shedding more tears than I had ever seen to that point in my life. It scared me that she was so freaked out, but at the time I didn't understand it. Looking back, I feel real bad about it, I mean I was insensitive, especially at first. When I finally grasped what was really going on and how bad it was for her, she had it handled and didn't want to talk about it anymore.
I remember the confusion and frustration I felt all through that night. At least this time it wasn't as present. Well, not in some matters. See, I know why Skye is so upset, so that helps. And I don't have the heart- wrenching decision between food on the table or taking my sister to the hospital. That was a hard one, and I am glad it was Rees. Any other girl wouldn't have been able to handle it, not physically. Rees was one of a kind, she just put up with it. There were few times when I actually took her to a doctor, she just didn't need it. Then again, when it got down to it, I put my foot down and made her if it was that bad. Lucky for us, it hadn't been at that time. I mean, we just didn't have the money. Mom and Dad had just died and we were still trying to pay things off and get by.
The door opening broke me out of my thoughts, and I half looked up to see Soda and Steve walking in. Actually, it was more like hearing them. I couldn't really look up, I didn't want to make eye contact with anyone, I didn't want to have to see anything. I was easier to look down and stare at the floor and I would do that for as long as I could get away with it.
Steve and Soda were horsing around as usual, but it didn't last long. As they stepped into the house Soda's voice died out in mid sentence as he smarted back at a comment Steve had just made. When I looked up, I saw the smile of his wiped from his face as he stared down at Skye.
I wanted so bad to drop my head and hide from the reality of it, but I couldn't, I was the one who had to take care of it then. I wanted Soda to catch on, I didn't know if he would, but I didn't know if I could voice it out loud. That would be too much.
"Darry...? What...?" Soda finally got out.
I just looked at him, trying to get him to understand without words. When he didn't seem to understand, I looked down to Skye's legs, hoping that he would follow my gaze. Then I dropped my head again, unable to bear it any longer.
"No...No...Oh god...oh god no." it started to dawn on him, and every word got to be louder, "No! God Damn it! No! How can this happen? Shit! This /I happen, Damn it. Damn it. Oh God...Damn it!"
He continued on, nearly throwing things across the room in anger and frustration. I wanted to stop him, but I couldn't. Not only was Skye on my lap, and I knew it would hurt her if I moved her, but I was almost grateful that he was saying it. I couldn't, I had to be strong, but it almost helped to have someone else let it out.
I hadnt seen Soda that angry in...in a long time, and I knew it wasn't all anger. It was more desperation, sadness, and guilt. Everything that I felt at the time.
"Soda, calm down." I finally said loud enough for him to hear. He didn't though, and I can't blame him. There wasn't even much conviction in my voice when I had told him to stop, I didn't have the right to tell him that.
"That Fucker. TheFucking son of a bitch!" Soda spun around in a terror, and punched the wall, leaving a dent as he did so.
That was when I freaked out. That was over the line, and Skye was really getting upset by then. I had thought that she was out of tears, but she wasn't. She has mostly stopped crying, but this brought it back to the surface.
"Soda! Stop it! Now!" he calmed a little, but not much, "/I! God Damn it, Soda! Shut the hell up!" I said sternly and very loud that time.
The second after I said that, Steve stepped forward and took hold of Soda's shoulders, shaking him slightly.
"Soda, buddy, you gotta calm down. Okay?...Hey, listen, you...just stop it. You need to stop it."
Soda did then, nearly breaking down into tears. He turned to face Steve and balled up his shirt in his fists, leaning against him and breathing deep to get control.
After a few minutes he had, and he turned suddenly to us and came over, dropping to his knees at Skye's head. She was sobbing again then, and was quite upset. I didn't know why, but it didn't matter why, it only mattered that she was.
Soda reached out and brushed a clump of hair away from her eye, "Skye? Skye...I'm sorry. Im soo sorry, Hun. I didn't meant to...I'm sorry." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it, "Are you okay?"
She tried to tell him something but didn't get it out, she just couldn't. He looked at her, and stood up, pacing the room. He seemed so filled with anger that he couldn't hold still, couldn't handle being gentle. He couldn't stand to see Skye like that. As bad as he felt, he couldn't be that close, couldn't deal with it, not then.
I got up, picking Skye up as well as I could. She squealed in pain, but didn't move, "I'm sorry, Hun. I'm gonna get you taken care of, okay? You gonna be fine in no time at all." I said to her quietly.
I walked over to the front door, but turned, "Steve, hand me the keys?"
As he was getting them, I turned to Soda, "Soda, you need to stay here. Reesa aint home yet, I don't know where she went. Left a note saying she'd be home by one or so, no later. I'll call you and let you know what's going on a little later, but stay up and wait for Rees."
"...Okay." Soda replied, now standing still and looking at Skye in worry.
I turned and rushed out to the truck and to the hospital. The sooner we got her taken care of, the better.