Warning: Contains mentions of past abuse, sexual abuse, torture, and graphic depictions of violence.
Author's Note: Very sorry for the delay in updating. Had such a hard time with this chapter. But I hope it's turned out okay. Feel free to review and let me know your thoughts. Or not, that's fine too. Thanks.
Chapter Four
A fifteen-minute walk past the house the two young women have spent the last ten years being tortured in brings them to the local police station. The two slowly make their way up to the front desk; Nicky taps her hand anxiously against it to get the officer's attention—who's busy looking over some paperwork it seems. She tightens her arm around the shorter woman beside her, trying her best to soothe her.
"Yes? What can I do for you?" A very thick Russian accent questions. The woman behind the counter sets aside what she's been looking over to take a glance up at who's come into the station. When she realizes how battered the pair of them look, a deep worry slowly overpowers her. "What on Earth happened to you two? You might want to go to a hospital instead…you don't look too well!"
Nicky shakes her head furiously, her hand tapping anxiously against the counter. "What we need is for you to go arrest this man—he, he fucking kidnapped us and kept us locked in some torture chamber in his basement for years—he's probably still lying on the floor bleeding, hurry before he tries to leave," her voice all but begs as she stares widely across at the concerned female officer.
"Okay, hold on a minute—you need to calm down. Who is this that you're talking about? Can you give me an address?" The officer gently inquiries, getting out a pad of paper to jot the appropriate information down. Her blue orbs gaze across at the two young—terrified—woman with a slight concern seeping through them. Sure, they've had abduction cases come up here and there but nothing like what this girl has informed her about.
The sound of glass shattering and hitting the floor brings an immediate halt to the conversation. Several gunshots go off; both young women fall to the floor with fresh wounds of their own. The man, who they assumed to be lying in a pool of blood, hovers over them with a gun held tightly in his hand—the same gun that put a bullet in his shoulder—and a smirk spread across his face.
"Told ya ya couldn't kill me," he retorts, looking down at them with venom seeping through his cold orbs.
Quickly paging a team of officers, the Russian woman briskly makes her way from behind the counter and over to the guy. She forcefully yanks the gun out of his hand, placing it in her pocket, and tries to keep him detained until her coworkers show up to help. "What is your problem coming in a police station and gunning down two nice young ladies, huh?"
With scoff, he rolls his eyes and stares up at the officer with a dark gleam, "These two are far from nice—my disobedient daughters shoot me in the shoulder and leave me to bleed out? Ya call that fuckin' nice?"
Lorna can't find her voice; the fear his presence brings is an unnerving one. It's as if her body won't work anymore, the pain in her back only hyphens the sensation. Tears emanate from her brown orbs, but no sound accompanies.
The pain is easily ignored in Nicky. Her only focus is the tiny brunette beside her. She crawls closer to her, enveloping her arms excessively tight around her small frame. She lays Lorna's head on her chest and rests hers on top of the other's, silently allowing herself to cry. "It's okay…it's all okay, Lorn," her voice tearfully whispers, lips brushing softly against porcelain cheeks.
It all happens fast. The man who's taken so much of their life away is finally hauled off in handcuffs to prison and not long after, they're being ushered into a police car; the Russian woman in the driver's side, driving briskly down the road in lue of the nearest hospital.
She looks back at them, momentarily, and feels a rush of sympathy rise. They seem so young and broken, she internalizes. "That man is your father? You girls are sisters?"
Nicky curtly shakes her head, tightening her arms around the tremoring brunette. Her eyes darken at the thought; she balls her hands into fists. "Hell no—he's the man who kidnapped us and locked us in some damn torture contraption!"
With a sigh, the older woman faintly shutters at such a horrendous image. There are downsides to every job—this is the part she hates, having to find people who've encountered lows lower than lows. What they must have endured is something she can't even imagine. "Do you know his name or anything? Was he someone you two knew before this occurred?"
"He, he-he made us c-c-call him f-f-father," is Lorna's timid answer, her eyes closed in effort to keep herself from crying anymore.
Pulling Lorna's head closer against her chest, the redhead runs a hand tenderly through her brown hair and lets out a breath of air. "Get some sleep, sweetie. We're okay now; he's gone," her voice soothes gently into the shorter woman's ear, resting her chin on top of her head.
Her eyes wander back over to the front of the vehicle with peaking curiosity. "What's your name?"
"I go by Red," the Russian lady responds, staring back at her through the rearview mirror. "And you're right—you're both safe and okay now. That man is going to be in prison for a very long time."
Red sits in the waiting room the entire time after the two young women are brought back to separate wings of the emergency room. Usually, after bringing kidnap victims to the hospital, she leaves but something about these two lures her to stay. Something in her heart makes her yearn to help them beyond her job as a police officer. Maybe it's the strong motherly instincts that sit within her or maybe not; but she knows there's no way she's leaving until she sees the pair of them again and knows for a fact that they're all right.
She settles her eyes in front of a book, trying to distract herself from the wait, when she hears someone sitting down nearby and a loud sob escaping said person. Instantly, the book is placed back where found and she turns to see who's joined her. The sight in front of her nearly rips her heart out. "What's the matter? Did a doctor look you over, honey?"
Shaking her head, Lorna can't stop the cries from plaguing through her. She can't come to terms with the fact that the one person she knows she can't live without may not survive much longer. The thought alone has her stomach knot up with a strong sensation of nausea. "Nick-Nicky—she, she—he-he shot her in-in the back and-and the-the bullet…the bullet, it-it-it—"
"Shh, shh, come here," the Russian softly hushes, and very cautiously wraps the distraught young girl in a soothing embrace. "Take a deep breath; it's okay. What happened to your friend?"
The brunette sniffles quite loudly. Tears stream heavily down her porcelain cheeks. "She-she might die—the b-b-bullet hurt, it hurt her kid-kidneys real bad and-and she needs a new one," her voice cries out, she instinctively hides her face in the older woman's shoulder and lets the cries continue to escape.
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Is there anyone I can call for the two of you? Your parents or anyone?" Red softly questions, rubbing a hand comfortingly up and down the distraught brunette's back. Her heart aches deeply within her chest.
Lorna only shrugs her shoulders, clinging almost desperately onto the older woman. "I don't remember them…I just, all I have is Nicky and I-I can't lose her!"
The older woman sighs sadly to hear that. It makes her wonder just what that man did to them for so long. She secures her hold on the small brunette, rocking her soothingly in her arms while brushing a hand comfortingly through her hair. "It'll be okay. I'll stay here with the two of you and make sure you both get the best help possible, how's that sound?"
Hours pass by before Lorna finds herself timidly entering into her best friend's room. She feels her legs shaking as she walks—the realization of possibly watching her pass on shakes her to the core. Tears leak slowly out down her cheeks the closer she gets to her. The pit of her stomach feels thick and heavy when her eyes reach Nicky's. "I-I'm, I'm sorry," she sobs out, a bit wary of coming any closer from how pale and weak her body looks.
Nicky shakes her head and pats her chest, holding out her arms desperately for the younger girl. "Come lay with me, Lorn. You have nothing to be sorry about, kid. Come here," she lovingly commands; her big soft eyes gazing longingly up at her.
The brunette timidly does what's asked of her. She nervously settles herself into the taller woman's strong awaiting arms. Hers wrap very cautiously around Nicky's neck where she buries her face. "I-I-I can't lose ya, Ni-Nicky…you can-can't die!" She sobs fiercely, her tears soaking the other's skin in puddles of salty water.
"Hey, hey," the redhead softly hushes, wrapping her arms tight around her waist. Her lips press soothingly against Lorna's forehead. "None a that talk. I'm not fucking dying, hell no. You need me, baby; like hell I'll let that piece of shit take me away from you! Calm down, yeah? Everything's gonna work out."
For several silent moments, Nicky only lays there—running her hand slowly up and down her friend's back. She exhales a deep breath and fixes her eyes back down into the brunette's. "What the doctor say about you? Did the asshole hurt ya anywhere? Tell me the truth, kid; I gotta know if anything's wrong."
"Ain't nothin' wrong with me. You're the one he-he hurt, Nicky. And-and I told the doctor to see if I'm able to give you my kidney. I don't want you to have to wait because that mi-might make you worse," Lorna shakily informs her, clinging tightly to her neck.
Eyes wide with compassion, Nicky's heart nearly bursts out of her chest. She cups Lorna's face lovingly in her hands and rests her forehead against hers, "Baby, no way…no way will I let ya do something risky like that. You're the sweetest thing ever for even thinking of doing that but I cannot let you. I don't want you living with one kidney, hell no. I'm sure they'll find someone soon, kid. Don't worry." She pecks a tender kiss onto her cheek, smiling sadly at her.
The sound of the door creaking open interrupts their conversation and has their eyes glance over to see who it is. Dressed in a white-coat and holding a clipboard in her hand, the doctor quickly enters the room and walks over to the side of the bed to greet both women with a kind smile on her face. "I'm sorry we have to meet this way—but there is some good news to be shared," her voice deep and raspy; her eyes cast down to the paperwork in her hands. She looks back up and over to Lorna with a smile, "The results just came back, and you are a candidate for donating your kidney to Miss Nichols, if you so desire."
"Yes, yes, a million times yes," the brunette blurts out before Nicky has a chance to deny it. "I'll give it to her right now, whatever is possible."
Nicky instantly shakes her head, tightening her arms around her friend's waist while peering up at the doctor. "First, just call me Nicky and second, I refuse for anyone to cut into Lorna. I don't want anyone touching her. You're gonna have to find another match because there's no way Lorna is giving me a thing. I mean it," she darkly informs, her face stern with refusal.
Hearing this makes Lorna's heart race. She stares across the room at the doctor with pleading eyes, "It's my kidney and I want Nicky to have it. She needs it! Please let me donate it to her…I-I can't watch her die!" Her face turns back to stare up at the woman who holds her; she gazes fiercely into her eyes, angry that she won't let her help. "Nicky, please-please let me help you…why—why are ya refusing my kidney? Do you…do you think it's bad?"
"No, no; that's not it at all, kid. There's absolutely nothing about you or in you that's bad. I just—I don't want anyone cutting into you, baby; they'll hurt you and I can't willingly allow that. You've already been hurt enough; you don't need this," Nicky firmly mutters, pulling her closer.
Shaking her head in outrage, Lorna wraps her arms snug around her neck. She gazes sternly into her brown orbs, "I am giving you my kidney whether you agree or not. You need it, Nicky. I-I don't care what has to happen to me…I just I want you to be okay. The pain will be worth it as long as I don't lose you. You-you're all I have…please don't fight me on this."
"I won't be okay with these people putting a fucking knife—or whatever the fuck sharp objects they use—inside of your damn abdomen! They're going to cut your precious skin, Lorna, and give you even more painful scars. I don't want that for you. You have enough scars, baby, you don't need any willingly made."
The doctor listens to the conversation with a wavering concern. She's never heard such an odd conversation like this one before. Her eyebrows arch as she gives them an uneasy stare, "I hate to interrupt, but your conversation is starting to sound very worrying. I don't mean to pry into personal matters or anything, but if there's abuse the two of you are dealing with I am required by law to inform the police. From the wording you're using, that's the conclusion I'm coming up with. Are you guys living in an abusive house? Be honest about it. It's not safe to keep living like that."
"Somethin' like that," the redhead grumbles harshly, her arms wrapped protectively around Lorna's petite waist. Her eyes stare apprehensively up into the other woman's concerned ones. "The police already know and have the man sittin' in a prison cell. Look, we were held captive for the past decade and tortured on a daily fucking basis so forgive me if I don't want my best friend being put through some painful medical procedure just for my behalf. She's small and delicate; I don't want her going through something like this. I should have the final say in who gives me my kidney, yeah?"
To hear that intensifies the doctor's concern. In all of her four years of being a doctor, she's never had to deal with an abuse patient and now, not only does she have one but two—two young women who have been through the most horrific abuse she's ever heard of. "I'm so sorry to hear that…I can only assume it must be so hard dealing with what's been done, and the thought of having surgery is even scarier after going through what you've gone through. But this is different, Nicky, this isn't intentional. This is to help both of you. You'll both be asleep before we even begin the operation; you won't feel a thing until you wake up, I promise you that. We would never want to hurt either of you on purpose; this is just something that needs to be done to save your life."
Lorna nods in agreeance with the doctor and stares back up at the redhead. She nuzzles her softly on the neck, snaking her arms tight around it. "It's gonna be okay, Nicky. I'm doing this for you; you are my whole life, and this is what needs to be done. We'll both get through this…together, okay? You've done so much for me and keeping me safe—can't ya just let me do this one thing for you, huh? Lemme help you for once," her voice softly trickles against Nicky's skin.
Pulling her closer, Nicky groans and rolls her eyes. Her grip only tightens around her waist as a loud sigh escapes her. "I guess…but it doesn't make me any less against this. I really don't want you putting yourself through something painful like this, Lorna, just for me. You're in a very, very fragile state right now…ya sure this is a good idea?"
"We're both in fragile states, Nicky. But I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do this. You are all I have. I can't let you go."
Nicky sighs, staring sadly down into her eyes. She caresses a hand tenderly through her wavy dark hair. "I know, baby, I know. I just—I hate that you have to be forced in this situation. You're the sweetest, Lorna, ya know that?"
Kissing her cheek soothingly, Lorna settles back down on her chest and drapes her arms around her neck. "We'll be okay, hon."
The doctor watches them silently, astonished with how they have the ability to calm each other so easily. Once their eyes avert back to her, she decides to speak again. "Since it seems you're both willing to go ahead with the transplant, I will go ahead and set it up for tomorrow morning. And, maybe you guys might want to look into meeting with a therapist. I know, again, it's not my business. But from what I've heard, I think talking with someone will highly benefit the both of you."
The redhead nods her head knowingly. "We'll think about it…thanks for everything, especially caring enough to ask about the abuse. You're the first person to do that, so yeah, we're real grateful. What's your name?"
"Doctor Vause," the black-haired woman responds, a sympathetic smile on her face as she heads nearer the door. Before exiting, she turns to give them one last glance. "You girls get some rest, yeah? I'll come check on you in the morning."
Red comes back early the next day to visit the two young women. All last night she lay awake in her bed thinking about them. The thought of what they've been put through tears at her constantly. She knows she's got to do something more for them. And, if neither one of them remembers their family, she recognizes someone will have to be there for them; they can't go through this on their own. The aching feeling in her chest tells her that it's her calling to be here for these girls, she's always had the urge to nurture—and without the ability to bare children, she's never gotten the chance to use that instinct. This is her chance to take care of others, she sees.
Upon entering the room, Red's eyes widen to see that both of them are lying in separate hospital beds with IV-lines running in one of their hands. "What's going on in here?"
Doctor Vause—who's writing down vitals on charts—turns to glance over at the unfamiliar woman with a quirked eyebrow. "Do you know these two, ma'am?"
Nicky can't help but smile to see that the Russian woman's actually come back. She nods her head, staring back at her doctor with a warm expression seeping through her big orbs. "She's the one who kinda saved us. She brought us here yesterday, don't worry. Her name's Red, she works at the police station," she says, before gazing back over at the short-haired Russian.
"Oh, well, it's nice to meet you, Red," the black-haired doctor kindly states, softening her features with a gentle smile. "Didn't mean to be harsh, but after hearing what these two sweet girls have endured I want to make sure no one strange comes in here and makes them uncomfortable."
Nodding her head, Red smiles in return. "Of course; from what they've shared with me, it sounds like they've been through a lot of horrendous things. It's not a problem at all that you might be a tad protective—in fact, that makes me happy to hear. Now, could you tell me what's going on? When I was talking with Lorna yesterday, she said she was fine…have things changed?"
The redhead feels a slight warmth rush through her body. This woman's words are somehow reassuring to her. It's as if she actually cares for their wellbeing's—something Nicky's never had such pleasure of experiencing. "Lorna's donating one of her kidneys to me—she's being an angel, that's what's going on. An absolute angel is what she is," her voice trails off at the end as her eyes gaze over at the other bed where Lorna lies anxiously.
"Wow," the older woman mutters to herself; she slightly shakes her head. Even with all that these two young things have endured, they seem to be pushing on mercifully. She walks further in the room and pulls a chair up to place in the middle of them where she perches herself. "What a selfless thing to do. You two will have an even closer relation after this; what strong sisters you two are."
Nicky chuckles softly, her eyes peering over at Lorna. She shakes her head, "We're not sisters, Red. We're really close best friends, that's for damn sure, but we both grew up in our own fucked up families. Tried to escape it in middle school and ended up in an even worse fucking situation. Life's full of lemons, ain't it?"
Mouth slightly gaping, Red's heart shatters inside of her. She's in shock to hear that not only had they been tortured by a stranger but also the people who are supposed to raise them. It builds a rage inside her. People who don't want kids are easily popping them out but someone like herself—who's dreamt of nothing but holding a baby in her arms—is less barren than a cave in the desert.
"Do you remember your family? I asked Lorna if there was anyone I could call for you girls yesterday, but she said she can't remember."
"The monster brainwashed Lorna pretty damn good, huh? She's so sweet and pure, of course he had no trouble making her believe some real fucked up shit. But he couldn't do that to me—and he sure tried but I'm too smart for that shit. Not to say Lorna isn't…she's damn smart; she's just, she's too sweet. But anyway, I sure do remember my fucked up mother. Not to say I have her number or anything. I can't stand her. Nor do I know the number to Lorna's house. So, looks like we just got each other. That's not a problem, though, I'm fine with just my Lorna. We can get through anything together."
Red's heart aches even more. She can't stop herself from grabbing a hold of one of their hands each. Her thumbs stroke delicately over their knuckles as her eyes gaze softly down into Nicky's, "I'm sure you can manage just the two of you…but you shouldn't have to. You girls need someone to help you through everything. You've been through a lot of things, it seems. Someone needs to take care of you both."
"Yeah? And who the hell's gonna do that? We don't know anyone but each other."
The Russian woman gives her a kind smile, stroking her hand soothingly. "I'll help the two of you. You girls seem so sweet and there's something about you both that's calling me. I have a big house, lots of bedrooms; when you girls are released here I want you to come stay with me. I'll take care of the two you. I mean it."
Hours after the transplant, Lorna awakens in a deep panic. She thrashes about on the gurney trying to free herself from what she thinks to be the man who's kidnapped them. Her cries are loud enough to have her doctor come rushing to her side. The touches only hyphen her fear; she lets out several screams and tries to break herself free from the wires that surround her body.
Doctor Vause very delicately holds her down so that she doesn't hurt herself, peering empathetically down at her. She knows anesthesia can have some bad effects on people, but this, this is something altogether different. "Lorna, Lorna, wake up. You're okay, you just had surgery. No one is here to hurt you. Open your eyes, sweetie. You're okay, I promise. Come on. I promise everything's okay. Your friend is out of surgery, too, and recovering wonderfully thanks to you. You saved her life, Lorna."
The gentle voice slowly lures the young girl out of her restless slumber. Her eyes pop wide open and she stares blankly up at the black-haired doctor.
"Good morning, little one," the older woman softly murmurs as she checks her vitals, jotting them down on the chart that she carries. A friendly smile sits on her face while she very carefully looks the small brunette over. "Everything is looking really good. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain, Lorna?"
Lorna tiredly shakes her head. Her eyes continue to gaze up into the other's. "Nicky," is all she responds with.
"She's doing well, don't you worry. But you can't see each other yet; you both need to rest and take it very easy on yourselves. Are you sure nothing's bothering you? I don't want you in any unnecessary pain. If anything hurts—no matter how small—you tell me immediately and I'll get you all fixed up. We in agreement?"
The brunette shrugs but sighs. "Is-is she by herself? I don't want her to be alone."
Shaking her head, Doctor Vause only smiles more. The love these two share makes her heart swell. She's never seen anything as strong as the bond these young women have. "Nicky is perfectly fine and being looked after by Red. In fact, she was wide awake when I was checking her vitals and demanded I come over and keep watch over you. So, here I am. You two are extremely close, yeah?"
"She's all I have. I'd die for her."
"No dying talk, Lorna. You're both alive and well. And yes, you will always have each other but you also have Red to take care of the both of you. You girls can also add myself to that list. I know it's not always smart to befriend my patients, but you and Nicky are too sweet to not want to help. That being said, I want you both to address me as Alex from now on, ya hear?"
Lorna slowly nods and pulls the blanket further up her body, trying to stop the shivers. A wet, sticky substance touches her hand and she immediately screams when she sees that it's blood.
The black-haired woman instinctively rushes to her side to investigate the culprit. Her hand gently pulls back the cover to check the incisions and sighs when the largest one seems to have been gushed open—most likely from all the thrashing about she's done. "It's okay, Lorna. You're not bleeding to death; take a breath. You must have poked it on the railing of the bed when you woke up. I'll just have to bring you back to the OR, so we can stitch ya back up. It's no big deal, sweetie; calm down. You're 100% okay. I mean it, Lorna."