ImPORTANT NOTE: A few significant mentions of abuse in this chapter. Read with caution if you're sensitive to those types of mentions.
Chapter Nine
It took me a moment to realize what had happened.
Without even knowing what he was doing, Zack had gotten me into trouble. By dumping everything from my bag, he'd either emptied the card out as well, or uncovered it for Jack to look twice at. Which was bad. Very bad.
Jack didn't say a word. Probably waiting for my nervous mind to come up with some sort of explanation.
"Um.." Was all I could manage.
"Really?" He finally asked, and though his voice wasn't shouted, I took a step back. I thought hard, "Where'd you get this?"
"I found it." I mumbled, hoping he'd believe me.
"You found it?" He asked pointedly, and I nodded, "Really?" He was giving me a chance to change my lie. I wasn't about to, however, "Why are you lying to me?"
"I'm not." I replied, "I'm not."
"You know how much I hate it when you lie to me." His quiet voice was anything but calm anymore, "You just happened to find a card with the exact same number on it that called me that day?" Stupidly, I nodded. It was true. I did find it. I found it in my pocket. I just never told him about it.
"Now explain to me. Why did you decide to bring it with you?" He'd never believe that I didn't find it until we were already here. It'd be stupid to expect him to.
"I-I don't know-"
"Why didn't you just.." He stepped closer, "Throw it away?" I was quiet, "Why the fuck do you have this?"
"I found it."
"Bull shit." He snapped quietly, "You brought this as a back-up plan. Didn't you?" He'd figured it out. Having a secret wasn't fun anymore. It wasn't. It was scary now. I suddenly remembered why it was stupid to keep things from him.
I stayed quiet. The pressure squeezed me, and I knew I needed come up with something. Soon.
I bit my lip, keeping my eyes down as he asked again, "Didn't you?"
That was the second, and I knew without a doubt if he had to ask a third time, it wouldn't be pretty. I kept silent, however, nervously clasping my hands behind my back. I didn't feel comforted by the fact that there were others in the house. Not with the anger I saw in his eyes.
I was nervous, but more protective of them. If he knew about them continuing to help me, that put them in danger too. I worried for them. Although, it would be pretty funny to see him try to hurt Emmett. That didn't make me laugh, though. I didn't want them anywhere near him.
He wouldn't give up as easily this time.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled, and that hardened his gaze. His eyes narrowing just a bit, his tone getting just as tight.
"What are you sorry for?" He asked, stepping even closer. I was quiet again, stepping back. Whimpering as my back hit the wall beside the door, "Huh? What are you sorry for?"
"I-I.." I couldn't make my voice work, even if I could think of what to say. His hand came up, slowly grasping and tightening on my neck. My tight breathing shook again, which I was sure he wanted to hear.
"Jack?" Heather was knocking at the door now, "Open the door." He glanced to the door, tightening his clenched teeth.
Spinning me, he dragged me across the room. Away from the door now. Probably so he could talk to me without Heather overhearing, but I wasn't focused on that. I was more preoccupied with the increasing difficulty to breathe. Jack was quiet, as was I. We looked at each other now. His jaw clenched in anger, his eyes reflecting it as well.
"What are you sorry for?" He asked again. I knew what he was worried about.
"I didn't tell." I whimpered quietly, a single sob leaving with my whispered voice, "I didn't. I was good. I swear I was good." As much as I could whimper, anyway.
"Are you telling me this guy doesn't know anything about what I do?" He asked, holding up the card, and I averted my eyes, "Leandra?"
"They figured it out." I whimpered as his hand tightened, "I didn't say anything, I even denied it."
"Jack?" Heather again, "Leave her alone."
"And just what did they figure out?"
"They figured it out." I sobbed, "I didn't say anything. They figured it-"
"Figured what out?" He growled through his teeth.
My silence this time pissed him off, given the too-tight way he held my neck in his hand. Completely cutting off my breath for just a moment, "You stupid little slut." My hand came up, trying to pry his hand off my neck, but he captured it with his other hand and threw it off of him. I squeezed my eyes shut, my hand replacing itself. I couldn't help it.
I fought a little, but that just made him hold tighter. Pushing me back against the wall beside the window with a quiet thud. I shook now in a handful of fearful sobs.
"That's the last fucking straw." Jack muttered, crumpling the card in his hand, "That's it, you dumb bitch." I watched as he tossed the card away from him, and it fluttered into the corner. I tried to tell him to let me go, but I couldn't make a sound. Tears continued to scatter down my cheeks, though. I couldn't look up at him.
He suddenly moved, shoving me harder back against the wall before releasing me, allowing me to fall. Stepping back, away from where I laid on my side against the wall. He was still standing there, watching me as I dizzily pushed myself up. Looking up at him. It bothered him to look at me. I could see that in his eyes.
Heather knocked louder on the door now, "Jack? Dammit! Open the door!"
Neither of us spoke now as I rubbed my sore neck. Looking up at him, I didn't dare look away now. The moment I did, I'd probably get kicked. At the very least.
"That's it." He finally muttered again, pointing at me, "You're the reason.." He trailed off, falling silent again, "It's you.. I didn't want to have to do this, but now I'm sure of it. Now thanks to you.." He trailed off again.
"Jack!" Heather shoved harder at the door, but the lock held.
I flinched as he suddenly turned around with a growl of anger. Striding back across the room.
He yanked open the door, and I stayed there, watching as he left. Pushing passed Heather standing in the hall, and I heard him start heavily down the stairs.
He was mad. I knew that much, but he'd never been too mad to hit me before. That's the feeling I got from that. Heather's presence outside the door hadn't done anything to stop him from hitting me. It was his anger level that stopped him. I'd never seen him that mad before without him doing something about it.
What did he mean by that? That's it? What was it? Heather peeked in as I shakily climbed back to my feet, using the wall to brace myself on. I walked over, lifting the squished card in the corner beside the bed.
"Are you alright?" She asked, and I nodded a little.
"I'm fine." I mumbled, smoothing out the card. It remained wrinkled, but it was otherwise fine. I was actually surprised he let me keep it. What did that tell me? Maybe he just forgot about it?
"What happened?" She asked, stepping in.
Instead of answering, I stood up, and moved to my bag now. Kneeling beside it, I started to put everything away, almost numb. What was that? I didn't recognize anything about the tone of his voice, so I had no way to figure out how much trouble I was in later.
I knew he was mad. That was clear, but it sounded different. I was scared, which was probably easy to see, but she wouldn't know why.
Heather helped me. Kneeling next to me, folding everything with me, and I knew she could see my uncertainty when I glanced up at her.
"I won't try to make excuses for him." She finally said, "But I know he's got a temper. He's always had one." She watched me, "Show me a man that doesn't have a temper." She laughed a little, probably trying to cheer me up. I only glanced at her, no smile anywhere near my face.
She set the shirt she held down, "What happened?"
"This." I whispered, hesitantly holding up the card. She gently took it from me, smoothing it out a little more and looking it over with a small frown. I sniffled a little, "He found it."
"This is yours?" She asked, looking to me, "You know Dr. Cullen?" I nodded a little.
"Alice." I mumbled, "She's his daughter, and she's my friend."
She was beginning to understand, "And he thinks..?" I nodded again.
"That's the only number I have, and I just wanted one friend." I couldn't help starting to cry. She reached over, hugging me tightly with a sigh, "But he's so mad."
"I'll tell him it's mine." She offered, and I looked up at her, "That I gave it to you."
"No." I murmured, "Then he'll be mad at you."
"I can handle it, sweetheart." She replied, "I think I'm the only one in the world almost immune to it." She sighed, looking at the card again, "I'll take this with me for now, okay? I'll give it back tonight." I nodded a little, despite the way I wanted to hold onto it.
"And, honey?" I looked back up at her, "You have more than one friend now. No matter what, I'm not losing track of you again."
I hoped she knew how much I held onto that. I began to understand what she meant about what she said the morning before, about what I meant to her. She must have been better friends with my parents than I thought.
"Stay in here." She murmured, hugging me tighter briefly before she released me, "I found it easiest just to give him space when he gets like that. Let me talk to him." That was all she said, patting my hands as she stood up. Leaving the room. Giving me my space as well.
I always felt shaky after he threatened me like that, but this was different.
Something was going to go wrong. I knew it. It wasn't over, and I knew better than to think it was. That had more to do with knowing Jack, though.
I came back downstairs after putting everything away, hesitantly in search of Jack. Almost nothing seemed wrong by just looking around, but I could feel it. Especially seeing Jack standing there talking to Heather. Ken sitting across the room with the boys.
Jack didn't seem to notice me right away. Lost in his conversation with his sister. As if I were suddenly invisible. I worried. Had I made up his mind?
Something had changed. I knew that the moment he glanced at me. Jack was angry, that much was clear, but Ken was pleased. He was happy about something, confirmed by his smile as I turned to look at him, and I didn't trust that smile one bit.
I tried to ignore it, the way Ken watched me all through dinner. I tried to ignore it, the way Jack acted like I wasn't even there. I didn't like this. The cold distance he gave me worried me.
He wasn't possessive. He wasn't protective. He wanted me gone.
That was it. That was what he meant earlier. That had to mean that he was going to leave me here. Once everyone had eaten, I sat there at the empty table, watching Jack and Ken again. They sat out on the back porch, smoking and talking. No doubt about me.
"Distracted, much?" I jumped at Zack's voice as he literally popped up beside me at one point, yelping. He grinned, "Scared you."
"Yeah." I muttered, "You scared me."
"What are you thinking about?" He asked.
"Lots of stuff." I sighed, finally looking over at him, "What about you? Where's Josh?"
"He's helping mom clean the kitchen." He answered, taking the open seat beside me. I looked over, noting that I should have seen that easily for myself. I was more distracted than I thought.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I told him with a sigh, "How much do you know about Jack?"
He immediately smiled, "Jack's the coolest uncle in the world." He replied, "I love my dad, but if I had to choose a second dad, Jack would be it. Why?"
"No reason." I shrugged a little, "Just wondering."
"Well, if you don't stop wondering, I think your head is gonna explode." He admitted, "Come on. Let's go sneak some cookies." I was pretty full from dinner, but I figured one wouldn't hurt. Anything to ease my tension and worry. So I stood up with him, following him.
"I hear you guys are leaving tomorrow." Zack added conversationally.
"We are?" That was a surprise.
"Even before us." He replied, surprised, "Dad has to get back, because he has work on Wednesday. He always says he doesn't like to navigate through idiots in a hurry." He looked over at me as we crossed the space into the kitchen area from the dining area, "Think we'll see each other again? Or is Uncle Jack going to hide you away again?"
"I don't even know." I told him quietly, "No promises."
"It'd be nice to see you again, I think." He added, "I kinda don't want to leave."
"You never want to leave." Josh overheard as he paused, three clean plates stacked in his hands. Heather placed a fourth on the pile.
"Well, I really don't want to leave this time." Zack corrected, "Leandra's going to disappear again." I looked down at that word. I wasn't the biggest fan of it.
"Not if I can help it." Heather added next.
I watched as she grabbed two small plates, and turned for the fresh plate of cookies on the far counter. How did she know what we were in here for?
"Think we'll see her again, mom?" Zack asked.
"We will." She replied with a small, comforting smile, placing one small plate of cookies in front of Zack. He immediately picked one up as she placed the other small plate of two cookies in front of me.
"Good." Josh gave a nod, and I smiled slightly.
"Thank you." I told her quietly.
"Thanks, mom." Zack echoed me, as if just remembering. She smiled appreciatively at him now, patting his head.
I watched my plate. I wasn't sure if I wanted these or not, to be honest. I felt sick. Not quite nauseous, but cold. Trembly, shaky.
"Really." Zack piped up around half a cookie in his mouth, his eyes on me, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I mumbled again, shaking my head.
"Mom, I think she's sick or something." Zack mumbled, looking to his mom. He leaned over holding up two fingers at me, "How many?"
"Stop it." I couldn't help laughing a little. Swatting his hand away as he gave me a grin in return.
"Leandra?" Heather spoke up, and I looked to her, "Come over here for a second, please." I watched her brush her hands on her jeans as she rounded the counter. I instantly hopped down from my seat, following her back toward the dining area. She wanted to talk to me.
She turned me to face her, glancing back toward where the boys stayed, both of them probably curious. I watched her reach into her pocket, lifting out the card.
I had to admit, I was reluctant to believe I'd get it back, but she handed it to me easily.
"I told him it was me that gave it to you." She told me quietly, "But honestly, I don't think it made a difference." I nodded a little, "Be careful with this, sweetie. Remember what I said. Jack holds onto people. No matter what it takes. No matter the cost."
I nodded again.
"I know." I mumbled, looking back up at her.
"I know you do." She wasn't fooled, "Just tell me.. Tell me it's not as bad as I think it is."
I stood silently, not sure how to answer. I would never confirm it, at least not to her, but I wasn't busting my ass to deny it either.
The silence was quickly smashed as I heard the back door slide open, both Heather and I looking over as Jack and Ken filed into the house. I scrambled to stuff the card into my pocket. Scrunching it in there, probably crumbling it worse.
"Leandra." Jack effectively killed that moment. He was calling for me. I went to turn, but Heather caught me.
"Leandra," She murmured, and I didn't miss the way her voice lowered. Jack continued on, Ken still following him. Leaving us in privacy once more.
I looked up at Heather again, and she continued, "I don't know what you're waiting for, but you won't get another chance like this. You won't get another chance like now. You have a way out, and it's paved right in front of you. I watched him overtake and destroy your mom's life. I won't watch it happen to you too. I'm watching, sweetheart. I'm watching, and I'm waiting. Don't waste this chance, Leandra."
I hesitated, slightly more nervous now. She had such confidence in me. How could I let her down? I'd have to.
"Goodnight." I mumbled, and she seemed slightly disappointed, but sighed with a nod.
"Goodnight, baby." The term affectionate, not condescending or mean, I appreciated it. No one but my mom had ever called me that, but it meant a whole lot more coming from Heather.
I turned, moving to follow Jack. Just like he wanted. Just like he told me to.
"Night, guys." I called to the boys.
"Night." Josh and Zack returned at the same time.
I found Ken and Jack in the dim living room, finishing up a discussion. Words I really didn't want to hear.
"Now, you can't be complaining." Ken grumbled quietly to him, "You know this is best."
"Yeah." Jack replied bitterly, "Yeah, I get it."
"You'll get used to it." Ken assured him, reaching out as I neared hesitantly. He took my shoulder in his hand, two of his fingers finding and lightly petting my neck as he tugged me to his side. I was in on it now. I knew what this was.
Had he been saying earlier that he didn't want to have to leave me here? Was that what he had meant? It sure made sense. A couple of papers in Ken's other hand took my attention. I recognized just the top page, which was my birth certificate. The official typing across the top announcing that. Certificate of live birth. My name on the first line.
Why would he have that? Unless he was planning on keeping me longer than a year.
"Come on." Jack growled at me, taking my wrist. Still reeling from what I'd seen, I didn't resist much as he pulled me away from Ken, nearly shoving me forward toward the stairs.
I actually hoped Jack would address what happened earlier, though. I was trembling on my way up the stairs. I couldn't help it, not with Jack directly behind me. I didn't think he'd hit me here, but I could be wrong.
Once in the room, the door closed firmly, I was shoved forward. Hitting the bed with a bounce, I flipped over and looked up at him.
"Go to sleep." Was all he said to me. He went to leave again, but I stupidly spoke up.
"He wants to keep me." I pointed out quietly. I needed to know what was going on, or I'd lost my damn mind.
"And?" He barked, "Whether or not he gets to keep you is not up to you."
"You won't let him keep me, will you?" I asked pleadingly, more scared than I had been in awhile. At least over something non life-threatening. I didn't want to stay here. Just leaving my life behind? As shitty as it was, I really didn't want to spend a year, maybe more, with Ken. I didn't like Ken. I didn't know him, and I sure as shit didn't trust him to keep me alive.
"Why wouldn't I let him keep you?" He countered, "You're nothing but trouble. Something I never signed on for. Worthless, and weak. You're pathetic." His words hurt more than I was sure he knew, "Why the hell would I want to keep you around? I should have shoved you at him the first chance I got."
He was getting more and more irritated the more he spoke. I looked down now, my eyes closing. Fighting back the tears, but losing. All I wanted was to be wanted. All I ever did was try to do as he said.
"Stop your crying." He barked again and I shrunk a little, looking down, "You should be glad he wants you. You're lucky I don't just drop you off in the middle of Mexico somewhere." Hadn't I just been considering him doing that? "Let someone else profit off your ass. My dad raised me just fine. You'll be no damn different."
He'd decided. What he just said proved it. The way his ice blue eyes bored into mine also told me. He had decided. That's what had changed. I didn't want this! Had I known this was a possibility, I probably would never have taken the card with me. Or at least hidden it way better, but the way it was found, there wouldn't have been many good places to hide it.
He crossed the room, seeing I was still crying. I whimpered, scooting back the way I had done to Ken just a few hours before. Before I could retreat much further, he kneeled on the bed beside me, and caught my neck yet again. Pulling me closer, I gasped a little in my fear.
"You're pathetic." He repeated, frowning at me, "I'm actually relieved to be rid of you." He sighed in annoyance, looking away briefly before returning his gaze to mine, "I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon, and you won't be coming."
"No." I cried, "You can't do that." I hadn't anticipated the slap. It was a harder slap than I'd gotten from him in a few days, and my cheek stung with the pain.
"Shut the fuck up. You don't tell me what I can and can't do, little girl." He growled, closer to me now, "You don't say what I do. You don't say what you do. I say what you do. My dad says what you do. Stop crying." This was the second time he had to tell me. I whimpered, struggling to do as he told me. He shook me a little, his hand tight around my neck, only succeeding in drawing a sob from me.
Why was I fighting this so much? Sure, Ken was creepy and cringe-inducing, but he hadn't really hurt me yet. Not like Jack had.
Maybe because I didn't want to be stuck here for a year, while Alice forgot about me. I couldn't let that happen. My hands came up, gripping onto his wrist as he shook me again. I shook my head, struggling to keep my tears under control.
He'd had enough.
Pinning me roughly to the bed by my neck, I coughed until I couldn't.
"Stop crying." He growled, squeezing my neck in his hand. I remembered this. I really didn't want to go through this again, but I had little choice either way. Reaching up, he roughly wiped my face with his free hand. Clearing the tears from my cheeks. My tears only renewed as I struggled for breath.
"I should just kill you now." He said, "Then you'd be nobody's problem, but I won't. You don't belong to me anymore. You're not mine to kill. You're his to do whatever the hell he wants to with you. You're his problem now."
I had to be more than that to him. More than just some problem, but I knew better than that. I stopped struggling, knowing that was what he wanted. I stopped resisting, and sure enough, he released my neck a few seconds later.
"I don't want you anymore." He told me, "You're his problem now. I'm done dealing with you." I laid there, gasping for breath as he climbed off of me, "Since your bitch of a mother left, I don't have an obligation to give a shit anymore. Why should I keep you when this is easier on me?" A few more sobs left me, and I sat up.
Stupidly, I spoke up.
"You can't leave me here." I coughed a sob, "You can't."
"Watch me." Was his reply.
"I'll tell." Threatening him. Now I knew I definitely had lost my mind. That sure stopped him in his tracks. He paused, slowly turning to face me.
Even more stupidly, I kept talking, "I-If you leave me here, I'll tell. I swear I will, Jack. I'll do it. I'll tell everyone everything you did to me."
I realized my mistake a second before he reached me, and I struggled. Scrambling to get off the bed, but he caught my lower leg. Pulling me back onto the bed, and flipping me back over onto my back. He gripped my face in his hand painfully, and I knew if he applied just a bit more pressure, he'd really injure me. I could feel the strain as it was. He leaned over me, looking into my eyes as my hands reached up, trying to pry his fingers loose.
"No you won't." He murmured, "Because even someone as stupid as you are knows when something they do will get them killed. Trust me. You won't say a word to anyone." I couldn't reply to that. He knew me too well, "Not. One. Person." Each of those three words had a patting sort of slap against my cheek behind it.
He released me, and climbed back off the bed as I tried to recover from the pain. Once he was far enough away, I sat up. Panting, and tears still spilling from my eyes. I watched him closely, watching as he pulled open the door.
"Watch me." I challenged, and he paused yet again. Looking back at me. Instead of coming back over, though, all he did was shake his head and leave the room. Closing the door behind him.
Now what?
First things first. I moved for my bag, yanking open the zipper with trembling hands before digging the card out of my pocket. Looking it over, sniffling and blinking tears from my eyes. I wouldn't let them go. Even if it was for my own good, and theirs as well. I couldn't.
I carefully hid the card, now folded twice, into a balled up pair of my socks. Burying that pair of socks at the bottom of the bag. I'd know which pair it was, but Jack would probably assume Heather had kept it.
I chose a set of dark gray and white dotted pajamas. I liked this set, because the bottoms had a zippered pocket in the back. I thought that was neat, so I bought them.
He came back into the room before I'd fallen asleep, but it wasn't brought up again. By either of us. I laid there, sniffling on the bed. Considering my options as he settled on the bed behind me.
Maybe Ken wouldn't be so bad. Sure I hated him, but he hadn't even really hurt me yet. He just scared me. He didn't hurt me. Jack had. Why was I struggling so hard to stay with him? Maybe it was more than being afraid of Alice forgetting about me. Maybe it was because Jack was all I had left of everything I knew.
My mom had already left me. Maybe I didn't want Jack to as well. Maybe I just didn't want to be abandoned by everyone I knew. First my dad, then my mom. Now Jack? What was so wrong with me?
I only wanted to be wanted.
He offered no comfort this time when he laid down. He acted as if I weren't even there, which was highly preferable to the alternative, but it meant he'd already let me go. I could feel it.
As I laid awake that night, staring around the moon-lit room, I considered ways to get Jack to change his mind. I could beg, but that never got me the result I wanted. What I said earlier had given me an idea, though.
Maybe if I pissed him off even more, he'd want to be the one to correct me? I would have to piss him off a lot for that to happen, clearly. It didn't take much to piss him off anyway, so that wasn't an issue.
Thinking harder now, I listened to his deep breathing behind me, and I came up with an idea. It was stupid. Very stupid, but I had to try. I needed to piss him off to change his mind. I wasn't about to just let myself be given to Ken like that. I wasn't about to just let myself be given away.
There was one sure way to piss him off.
I slowly rolled out of bed, standing in the dark room. Searching for something that would work. Looking around the room, I spotted Jack's belt hanging on the wall by the door. This was just stupid enough to work.
Crossing the room, I slowly reached up and struggled it off the hook, the buckle hitting the floor with a thud before I could catch it.
Wincing, I looked back at where he slept. Waiting for him to move, but he didn't. His breathing resumed. I sighed, looking at the cold leather in my hands as I slowly crossed the room toward him. How could something so harmless hurt somebody so much? Just holding it made me tremble lightly, inspecting it between my hands. It felt too heavy, but I couldn't let myself think about that.
Could I do this? I stopped by his side of the bed, looking at him laying there. I gathered it the way he always did. Wrapping it around my hand, leaving a tail at the end, my hand able to hold a lot less than his could. I brought it back, and paused. Thinking about what this would do.
Before I could swing it down across his face like I wanted to, he suddenly moved. His sudden movement scared me, and I yelped.
Reaching out, he grabbed me by the waist and spun me around as I dropped the belt. Slamming me down on my back onto the bed, near his feet. Being laid across the bed so suddenly stunned me, and he pinned me there. His hand over my mouth, he straddled me. Sitting across my stomach, pinning me in place with his knees.
"Lesson one." He murmured in a growl, "Make sure I'm asleep before ever attempting that again." I whimpered behind his hand, writhing a little. Adjusting his hold over my mouth he pinched my nose closed, and punched me in the stomach. Despite his hand tightly in place, the air rushed out of me around it in a cry, but I couldn't breathe in. The pain was intense, and I couldn't make a sound. His hand too big on my face.
Fighting under him, I struggled to breathe. Squeezing my eyes shut around the involuntary tears. Releasing me after a few seconds, his hand released my mouth. I coughed hard, fighting for another breath in. His knees squeezed me, not letting that happen.
Unfortunately, he only released me for a rough, jarring slap.
"If you ever try that again," He growled, grabbing my face in his hand, "You've got a lot worse than that coming. I promise."
He got off of me, probably making sure I didn't die right there. Letting me get a breath in. I arched a little in an attempt to breathe in deeper than I was capable of right then, but eventually settled back down, coughing that breath back out as I rolled slightly.
With a sigh, he laid back down. Making sure to kick me in the head as he did so, "Now go to sleep, you stupid bitch."
After a few intensely painful moments, I rolled up and crawled weakly to the other side of the bed.
"Oh, no." He chuckled as I laid down, "You fucked up." Sitting up, he took my arm violently in his hand, and pulled me off the bed. Pulling me over him and onto the floor, "You get the floor, and don't let me catch you on the couch, either."
I whimpered as he released me, letting me fall to my knees. I hadn't quite gotten the strength back in my legs. I kneeled there, rubbing my bruising arm as I looked up at him. Watching as he laid back down with a chuckling sigh.
"Moron." He muttered.
So there I laid, curled into a ball on the hard floor once I fully regained my breath. Blinking slow, silent tears from my eyes.
My plan had failed, horribly, and I didn't have another one, so I gave up for the night. I was cold, and I knew I deserved this. The pain was intense, but nothing I hadn't felt before. I knew I'd live, but it was a very hard lesson to learn.
I woke in the morning to Jack kicking me on his way passed me to the bathroom. I rolled a little with the force of it, so I knew it wasn't an accident. My back protesting at the point of impact, and not just the bruises.
Thanks to my horrible night on the floor, I was tired. More tired than usual, and sore. I sat up, climbed to my feet, and crawled onto the bed and sat with my back to the door. I hoped sitting here was at least acceptable.
Blinking tiredly in the bright morning light, I sat there almost dazed for a minute. I raised my shirt, looking over the new bruise I had on my stomach. It wasn't as bad as it could be, but it did hurt a whole lot. Deeper than the skin, it ached.
I looked back up, glancing over as Jack came back into the room, reaching down to lift the belt off the floor where I'd dropped it the night before. Inches from me. I let my shirt drop, not daring to move a muscle otherwise. I watched him closely, nervously biting my lip.
Glancing over, he noticed me watching him nervously, and he smirked. He chuckled, standing upright. Shaking his head, he turned. I thought he was going to ignore me again, so when he headed for the door, I looked down. Until I felt the pain.
He'd turned around, and gave me one good slap across my back with the belt. The sound echoing in the room as my skin erupted in pain. In what felt like a split second, he was there behind me. His hand back over my mouth, pinning my head back against his chest.
"Hold it." He threatened instantly in my ear, "Don't make a sound. Not one. Don't you dare." I held my breath where it threatened to leave me in a howl as he released my mouth. Testing me even more. Testing me to my limit. He obviously had more confidence in me than I thought before.
Biting my lip painfully as I laid to the side. He let me, watching. I let out the breath that tried to burst out in a only quiet sobbing whimper. The pain making my head spin, and my stomach turn. I sobbed again, the sound drawn out, but quiet. I shook, trembled, but didn't dare make a louder sound than that.
"Ow." I panted quietly through tears, and he chuckled.
"I'm impressed." He said, and he stood up. Seconds later, I heard the door close. Seconds after that, I was in harder, breathless tears. Rolling slowly a bit to muffle the sound in the blanket. Why did living have to hurt so much? I could feel the burning pain of the new welt raising over the older ones, aching deeply. Just like the new bruises he'd given me the night before.
I stayed laying there, sniffling to myself quietly.
I should be happy. I should be glad he stopped at one. I listened to the loud conversation downstairs. Jack's voice let nothing slip about the morning's activities. His laugh gave nothing away, until I couldn't hear it anymore.
Taking several deep breaths, I realized how lonely I was. How much I wanted someone to understand. To be able to talk to someone.
I thought about Alice yet again. She said she already knew. I could talk to her, I considered, just not mention where I was. All I wanted was to feel like someone cared about me again. Someone from home. Someone who could help me if I needed it. Heather was great and all, but she wasn't who I wanted. Someone like Alice wanting to be my friend was a very addicting feeling.
I didn't have to be alone. I didn't have to suffer alone.
Forcing myself up, I hoped I had some time before I would be bothered. Glancing across the room, right to where I knew Jack's cellphone sat on the bedside table. He never grabbed it, as I could plainly see it sitting there.
I made a quick stop to my bag, and was incredibly relieved to find the card still sitting inside it. Still crinkled, but there it was.
I pulled the phone to me, sitting stiffly on the bed. Suddenly feeling even more lonely fueled me as I turned the card over in my hand. I dialed the number carefully.
I sat there for a second, staring at the number on the small screen. Hesitating in pressing the 'call' button. What was I even going to say? That I just called to chat? Get her hopes up for nothing? Admit how pathetic I really was, and just wanted to talk to her? And that's even if she was with Carlisle. He'd probably be at work or something.
Damn.
Before I could call, however, the door opened. I darted to my feet. Standing there, I hid the phone and the card behind my back. Hastily clearing the number as Ken held my gaze. I slowly, very carefully slid the card into the back pocket of my pajama pants I wore, hoping he didn't see me move. Zipping it closed, just in case.
"Jack took the boys and their parents to lunch." Ken informed me after a few very tense seconds of silence, "As a sort of goodbye thing. Come on downstairs." If he noticed anything, he wasn't saying anything.
"When will he be back?" I asked quietly on my way passed him. He was quiet as he turned with me, sighing and taking my shoulder painfully in his hand. I winced, squeaking, but was otherwise silent. He noticed Jack's phone still in my hand, and he took it from me. Holding onto it himself.
"Leandra." He scolded, his tone half amused, "Now that you're mine, we can set a few ground rules." I hesitated, looking up at him.
"Ground rules?" I asked.
"Basic rules." He clarified, "The rules upon which every other rule will be based." That made sense, and I nodded a little. I looked down, though, as he started down the stairs with me. Just so I didn't trip or miss a step.
"They're pretty easy." He continued, "Don't speak, don't ask questions unless expressly told to. Don't whine, don't cry, don't bug me. You'll go to school, and you'll come home. Dinner at five, and bed by nine. Every day."
All of these sudden rules made my head spin a little. I was half surprised he was offering food every day. I nodded, letting him know I heard him. We reached the bottom of the stairs, and he led me toward the living room.
Those rules weren't much different than the ones Jack had set for me. They didn't seem so bad. Not so hard to live with. We stopped walking, and I looked up at him.
"If you're to go anywhere, I want to know where." He added, "Anyone you talk to, I want to know who. Names, numbers. Friends are okay. No boyfriends. Not ever." I shook my head at that one. I doubted I'd ever want one anyway.
"Follow these rules, and we'll be okay." He continued, setting the phone down on the table, "Don't follow these rules, and we'll have a problem. I don't like having a problem." He was no longer trying to be comforting,
"See, I'm not stupid. The way Jack went about things was stupid. I'm surprised nobody noticed you sooner, but that won't happen here. You're stuck with me, sweetheart, and I know ways to punish you without leaving a mark."
His tone scared me now. He meant every word, and I knew I had every reason to be afraid of him.
I realized then how small I was compared to him. I'd known it before, but somehow, his gaze made me feel even smaller as he turned me to face him. In a split second, I went from cooperative, to wanting to run. Just as I had with Alice, but this was out of fear, instead of self-preservation. I knew the difference.
I wasn't afraid of Alice, but I was afraid of Ken.
I tried to take a step back, but his hands captured my head, near my neck. Leaning down until he could stare straight into my eyes. I had no choice but to return his gaze. Even if it scared me. I gave a quiet whimper, trying to turn my head to look away, but he kept a tight hold. He waited until I stopped any attempts at freedom to speak again.
Just the way he looked at me made my skin crawl.
"But make no mistake, darling." He murmured softly, "I'm not against leaving marks. You know what that's like, don't you? Being beaten within an inch of your life? Follow those rules, and you won't be. Break those rules, you'll face the consequences."
I gave a brief, tiny struggle, but he just held me even tighter.
"To keep my son out of jail, I'll take you in." His tone was soft again, but still just as dangerous. Giving me a small nod, "You don't want him in jail, do you?" I was quiet, my breathing trembling along with me, "Do you?"
"N-No." I murmured, and he smiled a little. I bit my trembling lip briefly.
"Good." He said, his smile still in place, "That's good, because.." He paused, holding me tighter as I whimpered and tried to pull away again. His thumbs rubbed my cheeks almost softly, "It's very easy for someone like you to go missing around here, and I'm a very good liar. I can do the things I will do, and I will do them, because I know how, and there's nothing you can do about it. I'll be making sure that not one person will ever believe you. They'll turn on you so fast, you won't know what fucking hit you. If you follow my rules, we won't have a problem, and there's only one thing I'm asking of you in return."
I was alone with this lunatic. With one fleeting thought, my fear tripled. This was how it would be when Jack left without me. He was going to leave me here. I couldn't help the sob, watching him smile.
I couldn't speak now if I wanted to. A strong tremble drew a whimper from me. Until suddenly, he pulled me closer, and his lips pressed to mine. In a startled reaction, I fought, but he held me there easily. My strength no match for his. His hands managed to knot in my hair, effectively cementing me to the spot.
My struggles only seemed to make him hold me tighter. I kicked and thrashed, but it did no good. My legs wouldn't hold me anymore, but he held me up. His kisses were painful, and I cried now. I squealed in protest as I felt his breath on my face, seconds away from loudly bawling. I sobbed against his lips, unable to do much else.
Jack never kissed me. Not once, so this scared me.
My legs were still useless in holding me upright, so when he finally shoved me away from him, I fell right to my butt. However, once I realized I was free, I turned over and raced across the room.
"You better pray they forget all about you, honey." He kept watch on me, "You're mine now and I won't stand for that." I crouched a little, retreating as far as the wall would let me. Tears streaking down both cheeks, I looked up at him.
I sobbed quietly, my hands pressed to the wall behind me. Almost willing it to disappear, and to let me out of this hell. I didn't know what else to do. I was pretty much cornered. The only way out was passed him.
This trip suddenly meant something different. Jack had been planning this from the start. Ensuring I was no longer his problem. Did he know what his dad was like? Did he know what leaving me here would be like for me?
"One more thing." He told me, bringing my focus back to him, "Don't run from me." I just sobbed. I would run. I'd run as fast as I could. I wasn't going to just stand there.
He took a step, and that's all it took. I ran.
I bolted, scrambling passed him. Just out of reach of him, so he couldn't grab me on my way by. I had to find some sort of safety. That's all I wanted. I even gave thought to trying to hide under the couch as I passed it, knowing full well I'd never fit.
That's when the chase started.
He gave a sighing groan of frustration as he rounded to follow me. In my panic, I fumbled up the stairs, stupidly by-passing the front door, which I hardly stopped to realize.
I made it to the hallway, but he was faster. He plucked me up like I weighed five pounds, spinning me around and lifting me under my arms. Off my feet, holding me up easily.
"What did I just say?" He shook me roughly, and though he was chuckling, he was mad. I knew that, "Don't you know how to listen, girl?" I whimpered as he shook me harder, until he dropped me. My legs tried to buckle, but he caught me again. Capturing my face once more. Kissing me for the second time. Harder this time. I screamed against his mouth, terror stealing my rational thought. Twisting and fighting again. Fighting this time did even less to free me than it had before. His grip on my head, partially down my neck was hurting me.
I didn't like this!
Something sort of snapped in my mind, and before I could even think twice, my teeth sank into his lip. I only had time to barely bite, before he was away from me. He pushed me back, and I landed against the wall with a light thud. I stood there for a second, petrified to the wall. Viciously trembling, quaking from head to toe. I was shocked my legs could hold me up with how badly I shook. I peered up at him, covering my mouth with my trembling hand.
He wasn't bleeding, but I knew if I had bitten him any harder, I would have drawn blood. It was obvious he was shocked, staring at me. Until his eyes narrowed.
"You little bitch." For a second I was stuck there, "You little bitch!" That got me running again. Shoving passed him and back down the stairs, listening to him slamming his hand against the wall as he rounded to follow me. Jack was more like him than I thought. I didn't stop to think about that, though.
"How I've missed this!" He laughed behind me, but even the laugh was intensely angry. I nearly fell down the stairs in my haste, not touching the step for longer than a second as I yanked myself down. Squeaking in fear, skidding down the carpeted steps. Rounding quickly at the bottom of the stairs, I tore back through the house. My heart in my throat, I ran as quickly as I could toward the back door.
Until my hair was grabbed, twisted violently and I was pulled to a very painful stop. Literally jerked off my feet, backwards and his other hand clasped around the back of my neck briefly.
I choked on my fearful cries now, half crawling and half being dragged behind him as he pulled me back toward the living room. The pain was intense. Tearing, pulling at my hair in his large hand.
"You kids think you're fast." He chuckled angrily, stopping by a closet in the hallway. Slamming the door open with my hair still in his fist. Reaching in, he grabbed something, slamming the door closed again after him.
Dragging me, whimpering and crying, into the living room before dropping me onto the carpet. I attempted to scramble up, crawling away, but he only had to take one step to catch up to me. He wasted no time.
I heard it whistle through the air, before it hit me. It wasn't a belt, but something much thinner. It was more pliable than any belt I'd ever felt, but the pain was deeper as it curled over me and I collapsed to the floor on my stomach.
It wasn't a belt, but a bunch of rope, coiled in his hand.
I only got six good whacks, curled in on myself until he was done. Trying to make myself smaller, trying to make it harder for him to hit me. I breathed heavily, my arms shielding my head as I cried into the carpet. He stood back, watching me as he tried to catch his own breath. The effort he put into hitting me, and the chase having stolen his breath.
"I didn't want to do that." He finally said, listening to my cries, "You left me no choice."
Kneeling beside me with quiet sigh, he took hold of my arm and flipped me roughly over onto my back. I gasped at the pain, and couldn't move right away.
I refused to look at him, so he reached down and gripped my face in one hand this time. Turning my head to look up at him.
I held my breath to stop my crying, whimpering at each breath out. At some point, while looking into his eyes, I suddenly thought of what I was doing before he came into the room. I thought about who I was about to call. I took another, deeper breath, holding it for a moment before my cries restarted.
"Have you had enough?" He asked, and that only reinforced my thoughts of Alice. The way he asked that was like a trigger, reminding me of the last words I'd had with Alice. He didn't even know it, but he'd just made up my mind for me.
The answer to that was clear. They could help me. If I could get away, they could help me. I wouldn't have to stay here, but I was scared.
"Have you?" He asked again, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I whimpered, rolling back over and pushing myself up a little. Not sure what else there was to do.
I couldn't help it, though. I tried to hold it back, but I soon dissolved into harder, panting tears. I just cried, and he must have taken that as surrender. He sighed, setting the rope to the side and reached for me.
I cringed away, but he caught me easily. Standing up and lifting me with him. I couldn't struggle yet, still trying to catch my breath that pain had stolen, while crying at the same time.
"If you'd just followed the rules," He murmured, "I wouldn't have had to do that. You really left me no choice." He was being easy with me again. His tone quiet, almost caring.
Sitting on the couch, resting me across his lap, he sighed again. Deeper this time, as if content. He held me now the way Mike had the morning after we first got here. His arms tight around me, though, felt nothing like Mike's. I felt trapped again, and I realized I had every right to.
If I was going to do this, I needed to do it soon. Pain or not, I wouldn't get a chance later if Jack got home. I had to decide right now. It was either stay with Ken, or get away. Stay, or go?
That should have been something easy to decide, but fear was a huge factor in keeping me there. It always had been. It still was, but when that fear turned a little, becoming a fear of what I'd be going through that night, that was what I needed.
"Are you going to behave yourself?" He asked, and I looked up at him, "I don't want to have to do that again." His hand smoothed over my cheek, and I knew. It was now or never.
He pulled me closer, about to kiss me again, and that was it. Fuck no. There was no chance to consciously decide. I just did it.
Another snap in my mind answered for me, and without waiting, I turned my head, biting onto his wrist. Going with instinct. Fight or flight. The second the pressure of his arms released, I rolled away from him. Landing on my feet off his lap.
I flinched as he shouted in anger and probably pain, grabbing for the cell phone sitting on the coffee table in front of us before racing back toward the front door.
The door that opened just as I reached it.
I didn't stop in surprise. I wasn't about to stop. Shoving passed Heather, nearly tripping in my haste. She tried to catch me, to steady me, but I fought away and continued on.
I didn't stop to wonder why they were back so soon.
"Leandra." She called in surprise, watching after me. I raced out the door, jumping from the small porch, landing on the grass and continued on. Passed Jack, and passed Mike. Passed the boys. I didn't stop.
"Leandra." Josh called after me, "Wait up. Where are you going?" I didn't wait. I didn't stop running. I raced up the street into the early afternoon light.
"Leandra!" Ken called after me, and that only made me run faster. Thoughts of what would happen when he caught me only pushed me faster. That was something that had always happened with Jack, but he always caught me before I even had a hope of getting away. I wouldn't waste this opportunity.
"Leandra, stop!" Heather called again, and as much as I hated upsetting her, I continued.
"Leandra." Jack's voice actually did have me stumble to a stop, right there in the middle of the street, "Don't you take one more step." My panting panicked breathing shook, trembling along with the rest of me. Threatening more tears and throwing up in each breath.
I had a choice to make right then. I realized that I'd just been faced with a decision. A life altering one that would send me one way, or another, depending fully on what I chose to do in this moment.
Do one thing, get one result. Do another, get a completely different result. Exactly like that day, but far more intense. A decision I had to make right on the spot.
"Turn around." Jack barked, "And get your ass back here." I whimpered, standing stock still. Slowly, I turned. Looking back at them from where I stood up the street, "Come here." Everyone watched me now, and I felt the pressure. It really did feel like the whole world was watching me. Watching, waiting for what I'd do.
Stupidly, I sobbed, and I shook my head. For once, I was telling Jack no. I wouldn't. I couldn't let myself go to him.
"What did you do?" Heather suddenly demanded, her eyes on Ken standing on the porch. I wasn't paying attention to them right then, though. My eyes were on Jack's eyes on me.
"No." I spoke, and my voice shook just as much as my breathing did, "No!"
"Leandra!" Jack's command was heavier now, and I flinched. Squeezing my eyes shut, I realized. I'd had enough. This was what it felt like to find my limit. To finally have found out what it meant to have enough. This was what I needed to find to realize I needed Alice's help. I needed help.
I couldn't go back to Ken. Not with what waited for me. I shook my head, still refusing. Jack only managed to take two steps before I got moving.
This was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do, but instead of going back to Jack, I took first one step backwards, then another. Realizing that was harder than what came next, when I found I could move again. Even if I went to him now, I would still be in so much trouble. More trouble than I was tempted to go through right then.
I spun, and I started to run again. I heard him growl, and that was the last I heard. I stopped listening to what was going on back there. Glancing back, I saw he wasn't chasing me. He was running back inside.
I didn't look back again. I had to hurry. In my mind, I was thinking about how long it would take for Jack to get into his truck, and chase me down. He'd have to walk back inside, and find his keys. They'd taken Mike's SUV out that morning, for the extra room.
In case Mike decided to hunt me down as well, with a whimper, I ran faster. Rounding first one block, then another, I bought myself a few more minutes if I was lucky, but I was still headed the same direction. I had a head start, and I wasn't about to waste it.
I thought hard as I ran, my thoughts racing as fast as I was. The cell phone held tightly in my hand. This was it. I could never go back.
Jack didn't want me anymore, that was fine, but I wasn't going to stay with Ken. I knew, even then, that there was no way I could stay. This would have happened eventually, and I knew I'd learn to hate in that house. As okay as Heather seemed, I didn't want to become her. I had to get away now, before I learned to listen to Ken. That was nothing but a trap. Ensuring I'd always stay stuck there.
I wasn't going to be raised by Satan's father. I wasn't going to stick around, just to see what else Ken had planned for me. I could still feel his lips on mine, and his breath on my face. The memory of it made my stomach turn, and it was all I could do to keep running, and not have to stop to throw up.
I couldn't do that. I couldn't stand it. The fear of remembering what he did pushed me on. Passed the ache in my lungs, passed the pain of the pavement against my bare feet.
I choked on a sob as I ran. Tears painting my cheeks as I realized. I was not only running for my life, but from my life.
The decision I just made was the single step I had to make for myself. Without even really knowing it, I'd decided to turn my back on everything I knew before. And for what? Alice had told me to call when I'd had enough, and I was praying harder than I ever had before that she didn't go back on that now. This had to be the very definition of blind faith. I had to trust not only her, but her family as well. I had to trust them to come through without knowing if they really would. That was a very hard thing to do.
My life, right then, was hanging on whether or not they could do something to help me. As much as that thought scared me, I hesitantly hoped.
"Please." I sobbed to myself, my breathing racing harder than it had in awhile, "Don't turn me away."
I needed her. I needed them. I didn't know if they could really help me or not, but it was the best chance I had at getting away. My only chance. Without them, I'd have no choice but to go back, and hope at only a brief beating or worse. If Jack didn't kill me for what I just did.
I could never do this alone.
My bare feet slapped against the pavement with each running stride, and I didn't slow down. Even when I reached the main street several blocks away. I ran across the busy street, narrowly missing being hit by at least three cars.
Just run, I told myself. Run, and don't stop. Run. Don't look back. Keep running. Get away. Stay away. Don't stop running.
I didn't stop running. I had no idea where I was going, but I just ran until I found myself somewhere Ken would never look for me. Where his house was situated, wasn't far from the center of the city. It really didn't take me long to reach a very populated area. Which was just what I was looking for. I hoped that maybe he'd think I had kept running. Not stopping to look until he was much farther away than I was.
Nobody stopped me, thankfully. Nobody seemed to think a kid running down the street in her pajamas and bare feet was odd. I preferred it that way. Fuck them.
Most people in my situation would have kept running. They wouldn't have known to stop. The best thing someone could do in my situation, though, was finding the most coverage you could as fast as you could, and stick to it. Being out in the open, continuing to run was dangerous.
The first safe, covered place I found was a dark alleyway between two buildings on the corner. I didn't waste it. I crouched beside a dumpster about halfway down the alley. Closest to the brick wall, just struggling to breathe. It was shaded down this far, and I knew it'd be difficult to see me if he were to come looking. Which I had no doubts he would. The thing was, there were so many places I could be in just that area alone. They had an entire city to search.
Crouched there in my thin pajamas and bare feet, I had no other choice. I was out of options, and at my wits end. Scared, and now all alone, I had one option. The broken glass beside the dumpster stabbed into the bottoms of my feet painfully, until I laid a piece of cardboard box leaning against the wall down and perched on that.
I shakily pulled out the card scrunched into my pocket. Relieved somehow to find it there. Flattening it out over my knee, I dialed the number, already starting to cry again. My fingers shaking so hard, and my teary eyes making it difficult to see, I had to start over twice. I was trembling so roughly, my teeth chattered. I wasn't cold, though. Even if it was a little chilly here in the dark alleyway.
It was a very big relief to hear Carlisle's voice as he answered. I couldn't speak at first, too scared to make a sound. What if he'd already forgotten about me? What if to him, that offer had expired?
"Hello?" He had to ask again, as I hadn't spoken yet. That's about when my sobs started again. He seemed to recognize the tone of them, though. Speaking, "Leandra?"
"I've had enough." I sobbed to him, "I can't stay anymore. Please." I'd meant to ask for Alice, but I couldn't wait that long. I could barely hold onto the phone. How he responded now was what my life depended on. Every sobbing breath I took held onto his response.
"Leandra, calm down." Carlisle instructed me, the comfort in his tone more than I'd ever heard before. Recognizing it was instant, like he'd comforted me before. I almost couldn't breathe, conflicted. I wanted to listen to him, but I just couldn't.
"Just breathe." He told me, "Tell me where you are, and I'll be there." Was he telling me he was going to help me?
"You can't." My sobbing voice hardly made a sound, "I can't stay anymore. I need you to come get me but I don't know where I am." I wasn't thinking straight. I meant that I didn't know where I'd run to, but that was too much to explain right then. Tears flooded down my cheeks. In my heightened fear, I almost forgot how to speak, "You can't, but I need you to come get me. Please."
I had to be hard to understand, but I couldn't calm down. I coughed two more sobs, looking around. I was just steps away from openly bawling, and I knew I had to cool it. I had to be quiet, or I was going to blow it.
"I'll be there." He told me firmly, and I gasped for breath for a moment, "Tell me where you are. That's all I need to know." The familiarity of his voice took me off guard for a moment. Long enough to clear my thoughts enough. Just enough to realize he'd just told me exactly what I needed so badly to hear right then.
"California." I sobbed. I managed to sob out the name of the city, and begged him, "Don't let them find me, Carlisle. Please don't let them find me." He couldn't stop that from happening any more than I could, but I needed to tell him. To somehow let him know how afraid I was. I was terrified. So scared of everything.
"I'm on my way." He told me, the same firmness in his voice, "Stay put." I sobbed in relief now, but not enough to calm down. I couldn't relax until he was there. How long had it taken us to get there? He continued, "If you find a cop, go with them."
"No." I shook my head, "He knows them. He has to know them." I recalled his threat. Telling me that he could do whatever he wanted, and from that, I took that he meant he would never get into any trouble.
"Leandra, he won't-"
"You don't know him." I cried, "I don't trust them. I trust you." He was quiet now, and I wasn't sure if I'd pissed him off yet, "Carlisle?"
"I'm coming to you." He repeated, "Be careful, Leandra."
I sniffled hard, nodding, "Okay." I struggled so hard to get myself under control, "Okay. I-I'll just... I'll j-just stay right here. I won't move, okay?"
He kept me on the phone, and despite how I still looked around paranoid, I talked with him. I slowly calmed down enough to breathe, and uncurl slightly from my crouched ball. I quieted down, something I never thought I'd ever be able to do. I listened to him when he told me to just stay calm, and I never even realized just how tight I held onto each word he said.
"Should I move?" I whimpered at one point, "Find another spot?"
"No." He replied, "Stay where you are, okay?"
"Okay." I sniffled, "I'll stay."
"Are you outside?" He asked, and I nodded. Then realized he couldn't see me.
"Yeah." I answered, "I'm hiding between the two bars on one of the main streets." That didn't tell him much, but I'd give him more information when I was brave enough to look for it. For right then, I was still too scared to move.
"Actually." Carlisle spoke again, "Yes. Move. Find another spot, but be careful."
"Okay. I'll try." I mumbled, sniffling as I pulled myself to my feet. Trembling where I stood, looking back toward the street. I hated the idea of moving out into the open. Even for the tiniest amount of time it'd take to find a new hiding spot.
With the phone in hand, I managed to dart back across the street, making it to the tiny alley between the general store and a restaurant on the corner. It wasn't much better, but it was better than where I was.
"I'm cold." I mumbled without thinking. There wasn't much I could do to fix that, aside from finding a building I could hide out in and hope the people inside didn't call Jack. I didn't trust anyone but Carlisle and the rest of the family. Everyone else could go straight to hell.
The battery on the phone started to die around three that afternoon, roughly four hours after I first called him, so I had to hang up and save what was left of it. I used that time to snooze until I got a call at about seven-thirty that night. I waited to see what number it was before answering.
"Hello?" I asked, the first ring not even through yet.
"Where are you?" Carlisle asked, "I need to know where you're hiding." I gave him the name of the street, and the store I was beside. I hoped that was enough, "Give me three minutes." And apparently it was enough. He hung up again. I followed suit, now peeking around the dumpster, toward the street. I waited, my breath coming in trembling gasps. Each car that drove by I looked for some hint that it was him. Or Jack. I was so afraid that Jack was going to find me before Carlisle could.
It didn't even register to me how Carlisle had made about a sixteen hour trip in about eight. I didn't care. All that mattered to me was the fact that he was there. He came, just like he said he would.
Cold from hiding in the shade for so long, and shivering from the fear I still felt, I didn't know what to think when I saw his car pull up. I couldn't think anymore. It pulled up outside the alley beside the curb, and I stood up from my place beside the dumpster. I had to make sure, though, so I waited. I recognized the shiny black paint, the pitch dark tint on the windows. I cried, suddenly trembling triple fold as I saw him stand from the car.
It was Carlisle, no doubt about it. The same one I was so scared of just a few days before. All I could think about was that he was there. He climbed out, rounding the front of the car in a hurry. I didn't hesitate now.
I ran forward the moment he took one step into the alley, and I hugged him. So relieved to see him. I just needed him to know. I wasn't trying to bother him, but this was just too much for me. I was alone, and I was tired. More scared than I'd ever been before. I needed him to know how much this meant to me. That someone who had no idea who I was would come through when I desperately needed him to.
Sobbing silently into his side, taking deep breaths before sobbing them out. Tears flooding down my cheeks, falling from my chin nearly constantly. I couldn't stop them any more than I could stop being so scared.
"I tried." I cried, "I tried to be brave, but I can't."
"Leandra." He sighed, "You are brave."
"No I'm not."
"I understand how much courage this has to take." He replied and I was quiet now. He let me cry for only a little while before he spoke again, "Alright. Come with me. I'll get you something to eat, and we'll discuss what comes next, okay?"
Sniffling, I nodded, reluctantly pulling back. He took my hand, and I paused, looking up at him. It didn't bother me for him to take my hand. Instead of leaving my hand limp for fear of him thinking I was resisting, I held his hand in return. I trusted him.
Despite how cold my hand was, his was even colder. That was significant enough to me that I paid attention to it. Even through the mind-numbing fear. Looking up at him, I was both desperately grateful, and intensely cautious.
He came through. That was all that mattered to me right then.
A/N: Finally lol
Why was that chapter more intense than the one I edited it from? To me, it felt that way. Whoo.
THANK YOU to those that left their thoughts on previous chapter! :D THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THAN- You get it. ;)
I know I'm coming out with these pretty fast, but I can't help it. :) I've had them partially edited for awhile, especially the ones like this one that needed it. Badly.
Anyhoo. Ten shouldn't take long.
Early Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all. I hope you enjoy yourselves, and stay safe. :)
Until Ten, my friends! :D