Chapter Six

Mom and Steven are married a whole month this week and it's my birthday on Friday, so a whole lot of celebrating this week. Mom is in a really happy mood. School was okay and all my lost school work I have caught up on including my shifts at my two jobs. I worked Monday after school and I have a double shift Saturday and Sunday. Christian is not happy about this at all. I know he doesn't like it but I don't get an allowance like the rest of upper class society kids does I have to really work for a boss to earn a living.

It's Wednesday and I just got home from the Four Season's Bistro and it was an okay night. It was busy but the general atmosphere at the restaurant was playful. We all laughed so much, my stomach still hurt on occasions. I walked into the house and mom is sitting in Steven's embrace watching some TV. I said my hello's and got myself an apple but decided to leave it since I'm not really hungry and walked up to my room with all my bags dragging behind me. Christian was already in my room since he fetched me at my bus stop.

The one with the broken street lamp, so I wouldn't get off in the dark. He walked me home and while I exchange pleasantries with mom and Steven, he would climb my tree and sneak into my room. I kissed him quickly then took off to take a nice bath. I washed and shaven all over that needed shaven. I got out dried off, got dressed for bed then walked back to my room. I took my school work out and started and with a few difficult questions in biology I asked my handsome man to help me and we worked through it quickly. After all my school work was done, Christian sat with me till I fell asleep. He would hum to me softly a lovely unfamiliar lullaby.

'I love you Christian.'

'I love you to, princess.' He said kissed the side of my head then turned on my security camera like he always does before he goes back home. Since mom and Steven came back from their honeymoon, Steven's visits to my room started up again. I'm starting to get really-really scared every night he comes to my room. I fell deeper into my sleep.

I later woke with a startle as I lay asleep on my back and Steven sat astride me. I wanted to scream but he gagged me so I won't. He gripped my wrists so hard I thought my hands will pop off. I tried my hardest to kick him off me but the look in his eyes just said it makes it more challenging for him and he clearly likes it. He tore my clothes off of me and started violating me. He was busy with his pants getting them down and I fought for all I'm worth. He only gripped my wrists harder.

On one stage he let go of my one hand and I scratched him all over his face and neck. I've watched enough C.S.I. to know about DNA. He slapped me a couple of times so hard my lips are split open and stinging badly. He hit me again across my face and I am out for a few minutes that's when he started raping me. I cried silently since it doesn't help anymore to protest he turn me over and violated me again and again. We were both cover in my own blood and a lot of it, as he went about his business.

After he was done I felt like there won't be enough soap or bleach in the world to get me clean ever again. He got off me and I jumped to my feet I kicked him so hard in the groin he fell to the floor holding himself as I ran out my room down the stairs and out of my house straight to the Grey's. I looked back to see if he's following me, I tripped over my own feet twice before I reached the Grey's. I finally fell to my knees. My face hurts a bit but nothing like the gripping pain in my groin. I rang the Grey's doorbell over and over and then finally my body couldn't take the strain anymore and I blacked out. I briefly came to in an ambulance, with Grace and Christian's face hovering over me.

'Hold on Ana dear we are almost at the hospital. Who did this to you, sweet girl?'

'Steven Cullen.' I cried and streams of tears ran down my face. I could see Christian getting really pissed off not just mad, but try to hide it for my sake. We reached the hospital and the police were called and their forensic department of Detroit were also called to come and examine me and took pictures to report the case. Grace cared for me and was with me the whole time the forensic lady took photos of me all over. She took the skin I scratched off Steven's face and neck. I told the forensic lady that I had a security camera installed a few months ago when I started to notice that Steven my mother's new husband coming into my room early in the mornings.

She wanted copies of all the footage I have and I told her I'll give her copies of it. Grace take down the nice forensic lady number and gave it to Carrick that showed up later. They tried over and over to reached mom but she clearly didn't answer. I hope she's alright. I finally saw myself in a mirror we passed in the corridor, my left eye is black, I have a cut above my eye and across my nose, my cheeks are purple and my lips are split open.

I feel so cold and extremely dirty. One of the nurses finally got a hold of Ray and he is also spitting mad by the news that Grace gave him about me. I felt sick. I wrapped my arms around myself and Christian stayed by my side holding me to him as I have crying fits over and over. Where is mom? Did he do something to her too? The police later went to my house and found that mom was drugged with sleeping pills enough to let her sleep for two weeks through a war.

'Oh, mama.' My mother was brought to hospital to and my body is starting to hurt all over and now that I finally have a good look at my wrists they are black with bruises to. An arrest order for Steven Cullen has been put out and they also looked for him at his office in town. Ray arrived later and he was so shocked by the way I looked he would have killed Steven with his own hands if he could right now.

Christian held me to him on his lap soothing my back. His breathing was my own lullaby as I fell asleep in my wonderful boyfriend's arms. It didn't last long when I started to have a nightmare of Steven as I see him again on top of me. I cried and Christian held me a little tighter to him. Ray was busy talking to a police officer and the forensic lady. He answered all their questions as we all sit around mother bed. Oh mama please wake up. I reached out to take mama's hand and it's cold I placed her hands under her blankets and cover with the blanket up till under her chin.

Ray and Christian are talking by the door of my mother's room. I'm starting to feel worse and worse with every passing hour. I looked over to were Christian and Ray are still talking and Christian just sadly nodded his head as he looked from Ray to me. Carrick later showed up and Ray talked to him as well and Grace as she came to check on mom and me. I just wrapped my arms tightly around myself as I looked at mom sleeping off her drugs 'he' gave her. I felt sick again and had to run for the bathroom. Christian and Grace where at my side as I dunk my empty stomach content in the toilet. I started to bleed again down there and Grace helped me while I silently cried.

'Hey, you're alright now sweet girl. Your safe. Your safe.' Grace held me to her chest after I cleaned up again. Ray and Carrick with Christian waited outside the bathroom for us to come back out.

'Annie, darling we are going back to Vancouver just you and me. Mom can come around whenever she likes as long as she leave that…' Ray had to control his anger here and I wanted to cry again. 'But you are moving back to Vancouver with me.' He finally controlled himself enough to continue to speak again.

'Yes, daddy. But what about my jobs and school and… and Christian…' I looked up at Christian and he looked so sad.

'We can go around there now and to your school to tell them about the situation. Christian is free to come and visit you anytime he likes on the base on school holidays.' Ray spoke stepping towards me. My whole world is crumbling around me. I suddenly felt dead tired and I just want to curl up in a ball and cry my sorrows away. After that Christian drove with me and Ray to my two jobs to tell them I'm no longer going to work for them but they all understood and they both agreed to give me letters of reference for my future employers.

They all understood my situation and both the kitchen staff where shocked when they saw me. They all just want to go cut the person that did this to me. Well I am sure they have to get in line, between Ray, Carrick and Christian they surely want to lay the first hand on Steven Cullen. I said my teary goodbyes to all my nice friends I made and soon we were at my school and Ray was busy talking to my principal, Mr Taylor Jameson. Mr Jameson where shocked without hiding it when he saw me and hear Ray out.

Mr Jameson quickly got all my transfer papers in order for me to go back to Vancouver. With all my transcribes and my whole school career in a rather thick file we drove home. I placed my two new letters of reference inside my school folder. Christian gave Ray directions to our home and we all arrived there. Christian was out of the car when Ray finally came to a standstill. I didn't notice it but Steven was here. I stepped out of the car and Christian was already laying his punches on Steven. By the forth punch Steven was on the ground he was already bleeding.

Ray jogged to the scene on the lawn and pulled Christian from Steven so he can lay his own punches on Steven and with his Marine training he'll hit Steven and he will never get up again. Christian got on his phone and called his father and the police man that is working my case. After he was done talking we pulled Ray from an unconscious Steven and he is bleeding now to. Christian gone through Steven's garage and found those long thick cable ties and tied up Steven's hands behind his back and his ankles. I just stood in front of my house frozen in place I couldn't move and I felt ice cold.

After a while Ray and Christian got me in the house and I started packing all my things. I looked in on last night's recordings and as sure as I was blinking every single thing was recorded including what he said to me. I copied everything I had for the forensic lady and copied everything for Carrick like he asked me to when we were at the hospital earlier. I gave the burned DVD to Christian to give to his father.

The police arrived and with all my things now packed we loaded it in Ray's rental car's trunk. The forensic lady arrived a few minutes later on the scene and I gave her the copy of the footage she asked for. Ray and Christian gave their statement to the police with Carrick present. They took semi-conscious Steven away in a police car. I tend to Ray and Christian's bleeding hands before Ray and I fly back to Vancouver. We visit mom one last time before we drove to the airport. Grace said she'll give me regular updates on mom's progress. I thanked her for everything they've done for me and mom. Grace hugged me and with a lot of tears we said goodbye. Christian and I exchanged lots of information we didn't had before. Street address, postal address and finally my one other e-mail address. We said our final goodbye in the parking lot of the hospital and Ray and I left for the airport.

'Annie…?' Ray tried to pull my attention back to him.

'Yes, daddy.' I looked at him as tears ran down my face.

'You know why I am talking you away right?'

'Yes, daddy to get away from Steven Cullen so you can protect me better on the base.'

'That's right sweetheart. You've been through more than enough. I told Christian that I am honored to see such a great young man standing up and protecting you so aggressively. He can come and visit whenever he likes, weekends, school holidays, public holidays. He is really a strapping young man.'

'That he is. I'm going to miss him very much.' I utter as we park at the airport. We got out and started to load our luggage trolleys with all our stuff. With my well-earned cash from my now former employers we booked our flights and I paid extra for my stuff. I just had enough to cover everything. Our flight is in two and a half hours. Everybody just stared at me. I later took out my hoodie and pulled it on and cover my face with it. I just stared at the tiles of the airport. Our flight is called and we boarded the plane.

Four and a half hours later we land in Vancouver and got all our bags. We head out to Ray's military vehicle and load all our things in the trunk of the brown car. Ray drove us back to the base. I haven't spoken to him since we boarded the plane in Detroit. I just don't feel like talking much or eating. I am really afraid of going to sleep tonight since the last time I fell asleep in Christian's lap I had a nightmare of the event. An hour later we are in the familiar house on base where I grew up in. I Skype'd Christian letting him know we arrived safely back in Vancouver and that I already miss him like crazy. He looks even more sad than I am.

'Christian…?'

'Yes.'

'Do you think we can still be together long distance?'

'We can try Ana.' He spoke up and finally look at the camera.

'Yes we can try. I'll skype you later tonight. I'll miss you till then.' I looked at him.

'I'll miss you to my sweet Ana. I love you.' He utter but heartbroken.

'I love you too.' We end our Skype call and I got started to unpack all my things. I was just about done getting my room organized when Ray stepped into my room with a plate of food. I am sorry but I am just not hungry or up for anything cheerful.

'Thank you for dinner daddy but I am really not hungry or up for anything cheerful. I just want to take a shower for an hour with a bottle of bleach and a scrub brush.' He placed my plate of food on my chest of drawers and walked over to me where I sat at my computer. He pulled me out of my seat and just held me to him letting me cry my heart out on his ugly father Hawaiian shirt with palm trees and long board surf boards on it.

'That's it Ana you cry as much as you want to feel better. I promise I won't make you start school until you start to look much better.'

'Thanks daddy. I can't really face a crowd of opinionated, popularity seekers right now.' I hiccuped as I still cried. He just held me in his arms, these arms that did kept me safe for most of earlier years. It's nothing like Christian's but it is home to. I lay my head on daddy's chest. 'Thank you for bringing me home. I did plan to come visit you over Christmas holiday then this…'

'It's okay sweetheart…' He kissed my hair then with one last hug he let me go and I took my bruised violated body to the shower I washed myself like five times then got out and dried off. I got into freshly washed pajamas then went straight to bed and it was just after eight PM. I just hugged my knees to my chest and stare at the patterns on my flowery duvet. By nine PM I walked over to my computer and Christian Skype'd called me. I answered it and we had an hour long Skype'd call.

My poor man looks so lost and sad. His hands hurt and his mother had to give him a few stitches on one of his knuckled he opened when he hit Steven. I cried as I touched the screen. Christian tried to cheer me up but it didn't work at all. It just made me twice as sad now. We end our call and I just crawl into bed and cried my eyes out. I fell asleep crying then scream myself awake, Ray was at my side shaking my awake every time. By morning Ray looked worse than I did. After two AM I vow never to go to sleep again.

'I am sorry daddy.' I said as I served him bacon and eggs with toast and sausage with his favourite tea for breakfast.

'It's not your fault Annie. I going to make you an appointment with a psychologist today.' Ray mumbled while he ate his breakfast.

'Daddy a shrink?'

'Yes, I want you better and you are going to get help.' He talked to me like he does with his troops in training.

'Yes, daddy.' I sat down with only my tea.

'You're not going to eat honey?' Ray asked looking directly at me.

'I am sorry daddy but I am not hungry at all.' I spoke and pick at the table cloth. Ray continue to eat and I just sat silently. After breakfast Ray got dressed in uniform and called the closes psychologist office. I have a ten AM appointment and it's a double session. I reluctantly walked back to my room and got dressed for the day. I gone through my daily routine in the bathroom. I pull out a black hoodie from my closet and got into it. I pulled the hood over my black and blue face and later when Ray got back for giving his orders to his men he drove me to town so I could take my psych appointment.

It turns out I do need a lot of help and I have to see Dr Lennon three times a week for the next three to four months. My two-hour session felt like forever, Ray drove us to a Taco Bell and we got some take-out. Okay more specific Ray got take-out while I just had an ice tea. We stop by Ray's office and general Hopkins that I see as a wonderful grandfather saw me and Ray gave him my story while I sat quietly in the reception area of his office staring at absolutely nothing. My psych session playing in a loop in my head. The general turned his head in my direction when his shock wash all over his face as he heard my whole story from Ray and took in all my bruises.

'Annie, you remember general Hopkins right.' Ray pulled my attention back to the now.

'Of course I do daddy. It is nice to see you, sir. How is Mrs Hopkins?' I asked and I tried to smile at the nice friendly old man.

'Oh, Ana I am so sorry what happened to you.'

'Th…thank you sir.'

'Mrs Hopkins she's doing well. She is visiting Mike and Devan in DC.' The general smiled as he answered my question about his wife visiting their two sons.

'That sounds nice. Please tell her I say hello, next time you see her sir.'

'I will do sweetheart.' The general gave me a half a hug. My phone rang and I excused myself from the men. I walked outside.

'Hello.'

'Hello Ana, it's Grace.'

'Hello Dr Grey, any news on my mother?' I asked holding my breath.

'No, darling no change yet. But she is sleeping comfortably.'

'Thank you for the update ma'am. Thank you also for looking after her so well for me.'

'You're welcome Ana.' Grace smiled. 'Ana Mr Grey wants to speak to you too.'

'Oh, okay.' Oh what now?

'Ana, it's Mr Grey. I just want to give the news. Steven's case went before the court today and with all the photo's the forensic lady took of you. Steven got convicted not just on your rape case but he's been a wanted man for child molesting and rape for a couple of years now and he's got a live time prison sentence with the chance of parole only after he served his time.' Carrick spoke up.

'Thank you sir. I will hand you over to Ray now.' Ray has walked out and stood next to me. I hand Ray my phone and Ray and Carrick talked and talked so I sat on the grass. Ray walked about while he and Carrick talked. After Ray end their call he drove me home so he can get back to the office and catch up on some of his missed work. He also have, a night drill tonight so I'll be on my own for most of the night. The clouds are building and it looks like it will be raining tonight. We got home and made Ray a quick lunch and he was off again. I got to do something.

I can't just sit around doing nothing it's driving me insane. I started to clean the house, wash the dishes and started on our laundry. After our laundry was washed and dry I set out to iron everything like Ray taught me when we all lived happily on the base. I cried while I iron the last of our things. I dried my tears and packed our things away. I made a meal for one and store it in the oven for Ray with a note. I took a really hot bath then got into my pajamas as I slip into bed after I Skype'd with Christian.

My old girlfriends were asking him where I am and I could only tell them I've moved back to Vancouver due to domestic violence from my so called step-father.I roll myself in a tight ball in bed and tried to rest my scratchy eyes. I fell asleep and I finally saw Christian's face he touched my face like he always does then his face changed and its Steven as he slapped and rip my clothes from my body and I yelled; 'got off of me!' over and over I yelled it and I tried to get him off me and I was finally shaken awake.

'Daddy…' I sigh of relieve and finally fell back in his arms as my wet teary cheeks stain his shirt.

'Ana… Your safe sweet girl. Your safe now.' Ray say over and over to calm me down.

'I keep reliving that event over and over every time I close my eyes. I don't think I will ever sleep peacefully ever again.' Ray held me tighter to his chest as the pain of my words grip his heart.

'Can you only if you are up for it of course, tell me what really happened that night?' Ray asked in a whisper.

'I was sleeping and I when woke he was already on top of me. I wanted to scream but he gagged me so I can't he really gripped my wrists so hard that I thought my hands will pop off. Then he ripped my clothes off of me. He let go of my one wrist and I scratch him to get his DNA under my nails, he got a hold on my wrist again and then grip it so hard in one hand and slapped me repeatedly.

I must have been out for a minute or two. He got his pants down and the rest was… there were so much of my blood on everything, me and him. When he was finally done with me and he was busy getting his pants back on I kicked him so hard in his balls and I bolted out of the house running straight for Mr and Mrs Grey's house down the street. I must have blacked out between there and the hospital.' I told him my story while it is still fresh. We are both crying.

'I am so sorry Annie that I could have protected you as I should have. Can you every forgive me to fail you.' Ray cupped my face in the dimly lit room.

'I forgive you daddy. You've done nothing wrong here.' I spoke through my newly shed tears.

'Oh, Annie.' He hugged me to him and kissed the top of my head repeatedly. That's how daddy and I spend an hour at two in the morning on my birthday. Happy Birthday to me…