1Holding Down Gravity
Chapter 9, focusing on Danny's anger and Arielle's astonishing revelation. Please R&R- I live off your comments, good or bad.
"Danny!" Flack called, running after him. Danny ignored him- all that was going through his mind was, I'm going to kill this guy. Let them catch up- let them get me. I'm going to kill someone today.
Hands grabbed him and pulled him back, to a stop. He fell down, and Flack and Aiden stood over him. "What the hell, Danny? What was going through your head?"
"I... I don't know," he gasped, pain rushing into his lungs with the air.
"I think you do," Aiden replied. "You were going after someone."
"Yeah, so what? He deserves it."
"That's not going to save your badge. Just cool it. Damn, what's with everyone today? All of a sudden, I'm the most composed person here." Flack straightened his tie. "It's a little liberating."
Aiden turned and saw Arielle in the hall. Her face was tear-streaked and pale. Aiden walked towards her and put her arms around her. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Flooded with the pain of realization, Arielle could do nothing except hug her back, silently and softly. "What did they say?" Aiden asked her.
"I'm... I'm all right, no STDs, nothing..."
"Nothing at all?"
She shook her head. "Except... I can't have children."
"You what? Oh my God... I'm so sorry..."
Arielle nodded, crying silently. Through blurred eyes she saw Flack come and embrace her... she buried her face in his jacket, wishing she could stay there and the world would cease to exist... she felt him gently kiss the top of her head, and the feeling increased- it was empty and hollow, blunt with the pain... not even he could make it go away...
"Come on, let's go," he whispered, walking her out.
She woke up the next morning. Flack was next to her, sleeping soundly, and she lay in his arms a moment, chewing over everything with a dull feeling...
It seemed like a bad dream, but she knew it wasn't... she was raped at fourteen, and she couldn't have children because of it. All her life people had told her she was ugly and worthless... and she was convinced now. She would never be beautiful.
It was like holding down gravity. It would get you first. Just like her thoughts and everyone's statements... she would brush them off, but not before they grabbed her and held her down.