I woke up to feeling my hands restricted and above my head as I lifted and looked directly above me. I groaned as I still felt my mouth was covered, looking around I saw two other girls, both looking about what my age would be considered to the average person… I knew potentially what was happening. I saw one of the girls had black hair and green eyes, the other was a red head with brown eyes. I wiggled and moved my hands as they shook their heads at me. We couldn't communicate, but their panicked expressions made me think they'd already tried that and failed.
I looked around the room, we were clearly in a basement, the smell was horrendous, like a meat factory. I moved my legs and noticed my knees and ankles were bound as well as I looked down at my dress, it was filthy.
I didn't know how long I was out for, but I knew it was night as I could see a small window at the top of the basement, I wiggled and suddenly the door opened and the two girls squealed, they were both dressed in rags. They'd obviously had been here for some time.
The two men from before appeared and I was able to look at them as the broken lights of the basement highlighted their features enough. The first man was tall, fairly built, black hair and brown eyes and the other was a bit shorter, brown hair and green eyes. I glared at them as one walked over, the bigger burly guy knelt in front of me and lifted me by my chin,
"It's been a few hours, was hoping you'd be awake. It's not fun when they're asleep." He spoke and I felt my skin crawl. I needed to get out, I wasn't about to let this happen again! I trained so I could avoid this!
I felt the man lift the restraints over a hook on the metal bar and he dragged me along the floor as I cried out, the girls were squealing and looking sorry for me as I wiggled my legs. My heart pounded in my chest as my head span, I couldn't let this happen again… flashes appeared in my mind of cold blue eyes and black hair as I wiggled fiercely. The bigger man suddenly lifted me up and over his shoulder as I tried to smack his back with my fists.
As we got up top, I saw we were in a warehouse of some kind, I saw meat hooks hanging from the ceiling and the man pushed me against the wall and pinned his body against mine as he lifted my wrists above and onto a hook. He moved back and my feet barely touched the floor as I dangled there. My arms ached already from being in this position while I was asleep… the man smirked at me as he walked back over to me,
"You're a pretty one, aren't you? He's going to pay a lot for you. Just his type." The man smirked and I felt his hand slide up my dress as I flinched and closed my eyes. I opened them, lifted my legs, and kicked the guy in the nose fiercely. He stumbled back and held his face and screamed out.
The other man came running upstairs as his friend was crying, I glared at him as the other one came over and saw what I did,
"You bitch." He snapped and walked over to me, he punched me in the stomach and as he was so close, I managed to kick him in the balls again as I laughed behind my mask and the first guy glared at me,
"I'm breaking you on my own." The first man growled as his bloodied nose was apparent, he grabbed a knife and slashed at the side of my dress as I felt it slash at my skin too, I felt my body heal quickly as the man saw the alchemic spark from my body, "What was that?" He muttered and put the knife against my body gently, "do you have some power?" He asked as I glared at him, he slowly put pressure on the knife and slowly moved it over my waist and down my hips as I screamed out. As he moved my body healed not far behind as he laughed, "this is great! She can't be damaged!" The man laughed, "she's all mine," he grinned as I felt my pants break due to the knife slicing through them.
"Wait? She's ours, we both got her!" The second man snapped, I felt sweat building on my body due to the amount of pain I was in, I closed my eyes for a moment and the first man suddenly moved his hand on my leg as I looked down,
"She's going to be ours." The first man grinned and moved my legs apart, as the dress moved away from my first leg I wiggled and felt my hands move over the hook as the man had lifted me up slightly. I fell forward onto him and brought both of my hands down on his head.
The man let me go and the second tried to grab me, but I grabbed the knife from the floor, rolled to the side and slashed at the back of his leg making him fall and trip forward.
I lifted the blade up and ripped the cloth around my mouth, it cut my cheek, but it healed quickly as I looked at the two men on the floor. The first, I couldn't tell if I knocked him out cold and the other was wriggling in pain because the back of his knee was sliced.
"Don't touch me!" I snapped, suddenly a warehouse door opened, and three men walked in as I looked at them, "leave me alone!" I yelled as the men saw the mess that had happened,
"James, Carl, you know to keep your hands to yourselves!" One of the men yelled as I froze, this was a trafficking operation as I threw the knife into the first man's side to stop him from getting up and I ran back as two of the new men pulled out guns,
"Get her!" One of them yelled as I moved around the warehouse and tried to find some way out.
I saw an open window and as I ran to through the door and into an office I got to the window and felt an arm around my waist,
"No, you don't!" A man snapped, someone I hadn't seen who obviously worked on site,
"Help! Somebody please?!" I screamed at the top of my lungs and the man tried to cover my mouth, but I slammed my bonded hands against his head and disoriented him for a moment as I moved back to the window and tried to climb out. My ankle was grabbed as I screamed and gripped onto the edge of the window with my elbows, "Help!" I yelled again. I thought I could hear a response in the distance as I got pulled to the floor and the man pulled me under him, I wriggled tried to smack him again as he grabbed my bound wrists and pushed them into my chest. He lay his body weight on top of me as I tried to move under him,
"I'm too big for you to move you little bitch." The man smirked as I looked away, "try calling again. I dare you." He smirked at me as I glared and he reached and gripped my cheek, "bet you're the new one they pulled in. I like a girl with fire in her eyes." The man smirked and turned my head to the side harshly and I felt him bite down on my neck as I groaned in pain. I felt his other hand move over my hip and he lifted my leg above his hip as I tried to move it back down, but he kept lifting it up. I felt tears sting my eyes as his hand moved over my ass, I heard him groan as I couldn't move. I was paralysed with fear.
"Get your hands off her!" I heard a voice scream in anger as a huge stone hand lifted the man from my body and I crawled backwards, I looked around and saw Edward climbing through the window and he moved in front of me and pulled his red jacket off,
"Rea…" Edward spoke gently as I looked at him, his coat landed on my shoulders as he brushed my hair from my face as it was obviously slightly tangled and stuck to my sweating body,
"Ed… I…" I spoke weakly as Alphonse climbed in,
"It's okay. We've got you." Edward spoke as Alphonse walked by me and looked down the corridor, Denny and Maria climbed over and looked at Edward,
"We've radioed central command. They should be here soon." Denny spoke,
"There are two other girls… basement in the main room." I spoke quickly as I leaned my head against Edward,
"Get her out of here Ed, we've got this." Maria spoke as I gripped onto Edward tightly. I felt his arms move around my body and slowly lift me up. Edward was able to carry me in his arms as I just held onto him tightly.
Edward took me through the corridors, avoiding the loud noises of Alphonse using his alchemy to trap the other assailants with Maria and Denny. As we moved outside more soldiers appeared and had a car ready,
"Does she need the hospital?" One asked,
"Home." I spoke,
"She's okay. I'll take her home." Edward spoke,
"Are you sure, she looks like she's been bleeding?" The man questioned and Edward just glared at him.
Edward placed me in the car and after he got in, he pulled me onto his lap, and I rested my head on his shoulder as his arms moved around me. I felt secure, I could feel the heat from his arm and the cooling feeling from his automail as I took a deep breath and relaxed,
"Sorry we couldn't save you earlier. We didn't want to risk hurting you in the car." Edward spoke,
"I'm immortal. I would have been fine." I explained and sighed, "you found me though. That's all that mattered." I spoke as he nodded,
"It helped that they're car was quite recognisable with the damage I did on the back. And you shouting out for help. That was incredibly brave." Edward stroked my arm as I tried to smile,
"Thanks… though I froze up in the end." I responded,
"Given the circumstances, I don't blame you." Edward spoke as I frowned,
"I gave one a broken nose and slice the back of another guy's leg." I added,
"See, you can handle yourself. How about you train with me and Al? We could probably help you learn to protect yourself a bit more." Edward suggested as I thought about it for a moment,
"Sure." I nodded and Edward smiled.
As we got back to the apartment I walked with Edward's arm around my body, still wearing his coat I moved into my apartment and collapsed on my knees on the floor. I suddenly started crying as Edward moved besides me and just wrapped his arms around my body. Edward didn't say anything, he just held me, I don't know how long we were there for, but I soon found myself falling asleep in his arms.
It had been by pure luck and timing that they managed to find Reaka. After he damaged the car, it had a leak they were able to follow for some time. They lost track near the warehouse district and started looking at some of the warehouses, they'd managed to find the car dumped at a warehouse not too far from where Reaka was being held. It was when they were about to leave to come back with reinforcements in the morning that they heard Reaka's screams in the distance.
Edward had been panicking all evening and night since they saw her get taken. He'd never felt such worry and pain seeing it all happen. When it all happened, Edward had left to meet Reaka as she was due to be home, as he left, he saw her down the next street, but as he went to call her name, he saw the man grab her. Edward could never admit the terror that filled his heart and mind in that moment as he watched it happen. Edward just knew he had to try and save Reaka.
And save her, he did.
Edward knew this would shake her up though, given her past that she had previously explained to Edward. Edward lifted her body gently as he noticed she had fallen asleep crying. Taking Reaka to bed he gently pulled away his coat and saw her dress. It had been ripped down the side, Edward blushed as he was her bare skin going from the side of her bust down her waist, over her hips and down her leg. Edward looked away and placed his coat on Reaka as she grabbed it in her sleep.
The door opened a moment later and Maria walked in,
"How is she?" Maria asked,
"Sleeping." Edward simply answered as Maria walked to his side an put her hand on his shoulder,
"She can't stay in those clothes, you go. I'll change her." Maria spoke as Edward looked at Maria, "It's probably best if another woman looks after her for now." Maria spoke as Edward looked back at Reaka as he nodded.
Edward sat outside and waited on the sofa, Alphonse and Denny had not long come back and a nurse went in to see Rea while she was sleeping.
Maria came out with Reaka's torn dress and Edward looked at it,
"She managed to fight off two of the men at the warehouse, she did incredibly well. Given her size and age." Maria spoke as Edward and Alphonse looked at Maria, they obviously didn't know about Rea's body.
"Yeah… she did." Alphonse nodded,
"Let me have that. I'll fix it up." Edward spoke and took the dress from Maria's hands and put it on the floor. As Edward clapped his hands together, he put his hands to the material and the dress sowed back together and was clean again.
Edward moved the dress over a chair and sat down again on the sofa as he looked at the piano, he had fixed it up for Rea today… he'd also been out and got her another present. After Alphonse had spent hours teasing him about it… it all seemed so small given what happened after. Edward looked at the door as the nurse walked over.
"Sorry, I was unable to get your coat back from her, she refused to let go even in her sleep." The nurse spoke, "she's all fine though, I've managed to put her into something comfortable, just leave her to rest now." The nurse added as everyone nodded,
"Thank you." Edward spoke,
"She was lucky, no marks or anything on her body. It doesn't even look like she put up a fight…" the nurse spoke, Edward knew that wasn't true though as Alphonse had told him upon returning, she had badly wounded two of the men. The rip on her dress also looked too clean for it to be ripped apart, something more happened to Rea that they didn't know about…
Edward sat back down and put his head in his hands as Alphonse watched his older brother,
"How do you think Rea is?" Alphonse asked,
"I should've been quicker…" Edward muttered,
"You can't help the actions of others, Edward." Maria spoke as she sat down next to the older brother,
"If I had left to meet her sooner…" Edward frowned,
"How was you supposed to know that this was going to happen?" Maria asked, Edward looked at her,
"Well, I… I don't know." Edward frowned,
"Exactly, so don't blame yourselves." Maria spoke as she stood up, "we will leave you boys to it, hopefully Sheska will have the work you guys need completed today or tomorrow." Maria spoke as Alphonse nodded, Edward just stared at the ground as Maria and Denny left the apartment.
Edward waited for the door to close before letting out a long sigh,
"You should go to bed, Ed." Alphonse spoke, "It's been a long day." He added as Edward nodded,
"Yeah… I-huh?" Edward stopped as they both heard the door open, and Reaka was stood in her doorway.
I looked down and gripped onto Edward's jacket, I felt tired, but I had a nightmare that woke me.
"Ed…" I spoke, he suddenly got up from the sofa and walked over to me, he knew something was wrong as I never called them by their nicknames, "can you stay with me tonight? I don't think I can sleep alone." I muttered as Edward reached me and put his hands on my arms gently, he smiled and wrapped them around me pulling my body closer to his,
"Sure thing, go to bed. We'll get you a drink and I'll be right there." Edward spoke as I saw Alphonse peering around the corner, I nodded and went back to my room as Edward walked back to the kitchen.
I climbed went to go back to bed but stopped seeing my green dress over the sofa, it had been fixed, looked good as new. I smiled as Edward had tried to erase most of the memories of what happened today. I smiled to myself and walked into my room and climbed onto my bed. I still had Edward's jacket in hand and securely kept my hands on it.
"Night, Al." Edward spoke,
"Night, Ed." Alphonse called, and Edward pulled the door two. I heard him move to the side of the bed and put a cup down,
"I've got you some water in case you need it in the night." Edward spoke,
"Thanks." I nodded my head a little and then he climbed onto the bed. I turned over as Edward was on his back, I had my own double bed, Edward had quickly changed and was in his boxers and a loose top as I was in my long top as well. I moved towards Edward and rested my head on his chest as I moved my arm around his waist. "Sorry, I just need some comfort right now." I admitted as I felt Edward's automail arm land on my back. Edward then kissed my head gently as I opened my eyes in surprise,
"It's okay. You know I'll do my best to not let anyone hurt you again." Edward whispered,
"I know…" I smiled to myself and squeezed Edward a little under my grasp as I closed my eyes to fall asleep.
I woke up part the way through the next day and woke up on my other side and I could feel an arm around my waist, I peered over my shoulder and saw Edward was fast asleep behind me. I felt his arm securely around my waist as I smiled to myself, I felt safe, I relaxed and knew that I was okay. I'd been through worse, and I could work through this. I moved to get out of bed, but Edward gripped me tighter as I ended up with my best pressed against his body as I felt my face warm up.
"Rea…" Edward mumbled as I turned my head slightly and hummed back to him to try and elicit a different response. As none came, I realised he was still asleep, moving my arms I tried to pull his away from me. Edward's hand only moved up along with his arm as I froze, he was just under my right breast as I tried not to react. I took a breather and moved back to try and loosen Edward's grip. "Rea?" Edward mumbled as his hand moved again and ended up on my breast this time as I knew he was awake,
"Edward." I spoke bluntly as I turned on my back, Edward opened his eyes and saw where his hand was and immediately moved away from me,
"Ah! I'm sorry!" Edward jumped and moved back as I chuckled and sat up,
"It's not the end of the world." I smirked and saw Edward was bright red in the face, he stared at his hand for a moment as I sat up in bed and stretched my arms into the air. Edward was still looking at his hand in thought, he looked surprised and curious at the same time. I smiled gently and leaned my head forward and pulled my knees up, "are you okay?" I asked Edward as he looked at me,
"Yeah… sorry about that." Edward spoke as he put his hand behind his head,
"As I said, it's fine." I chuckled and Edward blushed lightly as he smiled, Edward moved and sat on the bed next to me as he moved some of my hair behind my ear,
"How are you feeling today?" Edward asked as I looked down at the bed and frowned slightly,
"I'm okay, I've been through worse, scary to say but true." I frowned as I rested my chin on my knees, Edward put his auto mail hand on my back and it made me jump slightly, "cold." I chuckled as Edward smiled sadly.
Alphonse knocked on and door,
"Everything okay?" Alphonse asked,
"Yes, Alphonse, you can come in." I spoke as he walked through the door,
"Maria and Denny got here not long ago." Alphonse spoke as I smiled,
"Great, they can stay for lunch and dinner today." I spoke as Alphonse nodded, he moved to the end of the bed as Edward got up,
"I'm going to get dressed." Edward spoke as I smiled,
"We'll sort everything today, Rea. Don't worry about it." Alphonse spoke as I looked at him,
"N-No. I'd rather be busy, or at least help." I spoke, Alphonse sighed,
"You need to rest." Alphonse spoke as I frowned and Maria walked in,
"Alphonse is right. You went through a terrible ordeal. I'm surprised there's not a scratch on you." Maria spoke as Alphonse and myself froze.
I chuckled and started laughing nervously,
"Yeah, lucky I guess." I spoke as I laughed, Alphonse nodded quickly,
"Very lucky." Alphonse spoke, he moved out the room as Maria brought my green dress in,
"Ed fixed it up for you." Maria smiled as I looked at it and smiled,
"I do like this dress." I muttered and pulled it towards me, I could smell the warehouse on it though and had a flash to the knife in my side and jumped, I moved back against the headboard and held my head, "goddamit." I groaned as Maria moved the dress away quickly and sat on the bed next to me,
"It's okay. You're safe." Maria quickly spoke as I looked at her,
"I know… it's not the first time I've been attacked like that." I frowned and closed my eyes as tears started to sting the corners, "I thought I could handle this…" I tapped my wrist again my head as Maria smiled,
"If only it was easy. Just take it day by day, Rea." Maria smiled and I looked at her and sighed,
"Thank you." I spoke.
Alphonse came to the door with Denny,
"Uh… Rea?" Alphonse questioned as I looked at him,
"Yeah, what's up?" I asked,
"There are people outside wanting to see you." Alphonse spoke as I frowned,
"Hang on, let me change quickly." I spoke. Maria left the room with the boys, and I grabbed some trousers and a top. I put my hair in a ponytail and walked outside to see Alphonse standing by the door.
As he opened it, I saw some of my neighbours standing outside,
"Rea, we saw an ambulance and some soldiers, is everything okay?" Someone called,
"Are you feeling, okay?" A girl asked,
"We brought you some cake to wish you well." An old lady smiled as I smiled gently,
"Hey everyone, I'm fine thank you." I spoke as I walked out.
The people were those who I helped settle into this apartment building and helped them get back on track, I smiled seeing they all brought gifts for me. I sighed and looked at everyone,
"The only gift I want is for you all to help each other." I spoke, a lot of them were surprised as I looked at Alphonse, "Could you lift me up?" I asked, Alphonse nodded and let me sit on his shoulder and lifted me from the ground so I could see above everyone, Alphonse moved to the edge of the hallway, and I looked around everyone.
Maria and Denny stood in my doorway, I noticed Edward peer around as I smiled and looked at everyone,
"I appreciate all your gifts and you all coming to visit me. I really do. But what I would love as a gift to wish me well, truly, is you all working together and helping each other. You all know what I've done here, that I want to help you all get back on your feet, and I believe we can all help each other. Craig, you could teach Greg some of your woodworking skills as I know he needs to build up some furniture. Cecilia, you could teach Jane how to sow as I know her kids love to rip and mess up their clothes. This is what I want, we can all learn from each other and become better." I explained as the people listened, they all started to slowly look at each other as I smiled. I noticed Craig moved through the group to Greg and shake his hand as I grinned and then Cecilia moved to Jane and put her hand on her arm. "You can put me down now, Alphonse." I smiled as the people started talking, we all moved back into my apartment as a little girl moved through,
"Rea…" she spoke, and I looked at her brown eyes,
"Hey, Sally." I grinned and she lifted a tray of cupcakes,
"For you." Sally's face turned red as I smiled gently and took a cupcake,
"Thank you. Now head back to your mum. And enjoy the rest of those cakes yourself." I chuckled as she nodded and ran off.
I closed the apartment door and sighed as Denny, Maria and the boys were looking at me,
"What?" I questioned,
"That was quite a speech." Edward folded his arms with a smirk,
"I… don't know what you mean." I rubbed the back of my neck,
"That was pretty natural for you almost." Maria spoke as I walked between them all,
"Sure… I just told them the truth, that's all." I spoke as I took the cake to the kitchen and got a small plate. Taking the wrapper off I decided to eat it now.
I sat down at my table as Edward sat at the table next to me,
"Fancy a piece?" I asked as Edward glanced at my cake,
"Nah, I'm good." Edward folded his arms and sat back as I already chopped it in half and pushed the plate towards him with that piece. Edward looked at it and then me as I smiled and took a bite out of my bit of cupcake, "thanks." Edward spoke quietly and took the rest of the cake as I finished mine. It was lemon flavoured again, everyone knew I loved lemons and oranges.
I moved from the table and smiled as Edward had the cupcake in one bite and I put the place back in the kitchen sink ready to clean later.
I looked at my piano and noticed it looked different. I frowned and stared at it as I saw Edward smirk,
"Notice something different?" Edward grinned as I turned my head but kept staring at it,
"What have you done?" I asked and slowly walked over to it,
"We fixed it!" Alphonse spoke as I lifted the key cover and saw they were all clean and fully repaired. I looked under the lid and saw everything was lined up and connected as I stepped back and touched a key and the note played perfectly. I smiled and moved my hand over a few more keys, playing a small melody as I looked over the piano.
I then sat down and added my other hand and continued with a melody as I loved my piano, the sound it made to me could mean so much. The melody could be sad and longing, or happy and upbeat. It was easy for me to convey emotion through its sound. I continued to play for a few minutes as I heard Alphonse move and sit on the sofa and Edward moved around with Denny and Maria as they just listened. I finished playing and smiled,
"Thank you." I spoke and looked between Edward and Alphonse,
"That was beautiful." Alphonse spoke as I grinned,
"It's my favourite instrument. As much as I love the violin and guitar, the piano has always been my go-to." I smiled to myself and closed the lid on the piano,
"You play well!" Maria smiled, "are you thinking about doing it professionally?" Maria asked,
"It's not something I've considered to be honest." I shook my head.
"Anyway, let's relax today. And tomorrow will be a new day. Here's hoping Sheska will have everything done!" I grinned and looked at Edward, he nodded and smiled at me. I stepped back from the piano; I was incredibly grateful that Edward and Alphonse fixed my piano and clothes as well.
The rest of the day was uneventful, we stayed in, Edward and Alphonse helped me with dinner. It was nice and without me asking Edward came into my room again that night and stayed with me. I appreciated him looking after me and he didn't say anything when he came to bed, he just did it. It was one of the things that I was starting to admire about Edward and understand. He wouldn't say much about how he was feeling or thinking, but his actions would be clear enough for me.
I felt my heartbeat jumping as I lay in bed with Edward's arm around me, I knew what was happening… it scared me to no end, but as I lay there, I thought about what Windy and Alex had said when we spoke about it.
I wasn't going to reject this; I was going to keep moving forward. I was falling in love with Edward.
