Chapter 7

5:00pm

When Ray reached the hospital, he rushed out of his car to the building. Once in there, he rushed to Charlotte's room to find them talking to each other closely. He gently smiled at the conversing couple, but then he realized why he really was here. Ray slowly walked in the room Henry was the first to notice him. Henry whispered to Charlotte letting her know that Ray is here. She quickly turned around,

"Hey Ray!" charlotte exclaimed trying not to strain her sore throat. Ray went over and gently hugged her Charlotte squeezed him lightly.

"Aww, I missed you too," Ray said as he patted his back and pulled away from the hug.

Ray turned his attention to Henry and smiled lightly.

"Hey, Henry." Ray patted his shoulder henry knew something was up by the look on Ray's face. The mood shifted in the air.

"What's up Ray?" Henry asked as he mentioned Ray to sit in the chair next to him.

"Yeah what's wrong?" Charlotte asked quietly.

"Well like you asked Henry, I looked at Jasper's files this afternoon and I found many charges against him. 1 case of arson, 2 counts of domestic violence, 1 count of attempted murder, 5 charges of rape."

Charlotte couldn't believe what she was hearing her eyes went wide. So did Henry's. Charlotte didn't know that she wasn't the only girl being beaten and raped by Jasper. This was good news but not good under these circumstances but the victims can help her case. It gave her a little bit of hope.

"So you're telling me that there are more victims than just me?" Charlotte asked making sure he was presenting the information correctly.

"There is only one victim who talked to the police and she lives out of the country."

Henry knew who Ray was talking about it was that girl who emailed him a year and a half ago. Henry spoke up,

"Is her name Jessica Myers?" Henry asked Ray looked at him surprised.

"How do you know about that?"

"Well after Jessica 'broke' up with Jasper, she moved away. Two months after she left, she told me that I needed to take a closer look at Jasper's behavior. Jessica told me that Jasper would abuse and control her in any way possible. Until she finally left after dating him for almost a year." Charlotte's memory was resurfacing.

'I remember that day.'

*FLASHBACK*

It was after school Charlotte was super excited because her second childhood crush asked her out. She was ready to find Henry to tell him, but instead, Henry came rushing up to Charlotte frantic. Charlotte places a hand on his shoulder.

"Henry, what's wrong?" Charlotte asked forgetting about what happened earlier that day.

"It's just that I found out something about Jasper, he is mean and was abusive to his ex-girlfriend she sent me an email yesterday. Charlotte you need to be careful around him." He stressed to her. Charlotte got pissed.

"Henry! Jaspers not abusive or mean. He's your best friend for Christ's sakes plus Jasper asked me out today." Charlotte said excitedly.

"But Char listen to what I'm saying you need to avoid him at all costs please…" He pleaded. Charlotte's thoughts instantly went to him being jealous.

"What do you mean to avoid him? He's my boyfriend now and you can't tell me what to do Henry." Charlotte pointed at Henry with a hurt expression.

"I'm just trying to keep you safe Charlotte." He tried to reason with her.

"No, you are just jealous." That struck Henry in more ways than he can describe. She walked away leaving Henry all alone and ashamed of even bringing it up to her.

*FLASHBACK OVER*

Charlotte gasped at the memory. She looked Henry in the eye.

"Henry I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed as she threw her arms around his shoulders carefully.

"I should have listened to you. I didn't mean what I said I was just hurt that you didn't want me happy. At least that's what I thought. I was so wrong Henry and so naïve I wished I had just stayed and listened to what you're saying. I'm sorry again." She mumbled in his chest.

"It's okay I just should have brought it differently and not in that manner. I'm sorry too." They pulled apart and looked at each other in the eyes.

"Get a room guy," Ray said chuckling as he rolled his eyes. They both broke their eye contact and laughed lightly. Charlotte turned her attention to Ray.

"Thank you, Ray." She spoke sincerely.

"No problem Char." He said reaching to pat her foot that was covered by a thick blanket.

Her chest swelled with gratitude. She was finally safe and away from him. But what the trio doesn't know is Jasper is desperately trying to find Charlotte lurking in the shadows.

End of chapter 7…