Chapter 4
I am startled awake by a blood curdling scream. I hear it again and am jolted into action when I figure out where it is coming from.
"Heidi? Natalie! I'm coming, hold on honey!" I yell although I am sure she can't hear me. I don't think the scream is hers but I know it's coming from her apartment and that it is definitely female. I grab my cell phone and dial 911 as I run out of the apartment.
"911, what's your emergency?" the bored voice on the line asks.
"There's something bad happening in the apartment next door to me. I can hear a woman screaming like someone is killing her," I say, trying to hold onto some form of calmness even though I am terrified for Natalie and her mother. I am now outside her apartment with my ear to the door. I want to beat it down but I am afraid of what I may find behind the door.
"Okay Ma'am we have your location and help is on the way. Please stay on the line till they arrive," the operator says calmly.
The screaming is getting louder and now I hear another voice. This one is much deeper and sounds dangerously calm. "Look bitch, I paid you for two hours, I still have forty minutes. You owe me the rest. You said I could do what I wanted for what I paid you." Then I hear another scream and some glass shatter. The sound of crying makes me feel useless. I know the crying is Natalie and she sounds so close. The screaming is cut off suddenly, too suddenly.
"The screaming has stopped but something is really wrong. There's a little girl in there, please hurry!" I beg.
"They are just around the corner now, Ma'am. Any second now they will be running up the stairs."
Just as I feel like hope is just a second away, I hear the most terrifying thing thus far. "Come here you little bitch, Mommy's not holding up her end of the bargain so I guess you'll have to do." Then the sound of furniture scraping on the floor and Natalie's crying stops, making my heart leap into my throat.
I start pounding on the door, praying that it will distract the man long enough to save Natalie. The door is yanked open and a dark headed man stands naked in front of me. He is breathing hard and his face is red. "What the fuck do you want?" he barks.
"I heard screaming and came to see if my neighbors were okay." I want to sound strong and in control but I know I sound scared. I try to peek around him to find Natalie but he's blocking my view.
"We are all just fine here. Just a little family disagreement," he says knowing I don't believe him.
"Really, family? I haven't seen you around here before and I've lived here for a month," I challenge. This man is only a few inches taller than me and not all that big so I feel confident that I can hold my own if need be.
He starts to answer but is cut off by the sound of the door bursting open downstairs and people running up the steps. The police are here. I won't turn around for fear he will hurt me so I don't know exactly how many people are behind me but the man quickly backs up and slams the door closed. I grab the handle before he can lock it and slam my shoulder into the door. The door flies open and bangs against the wall. He's running to the back of the apartment! The police run past me. There are only two of them. I see a small streak of blonde hair peeking out from behind the couch and hold my breath. She's lying down from what I can tell.
My attention is broken by the sound of a struggle and the call for a bus. Having grown up with a cop for a dad I know that means an ambulance. I run over to Natalie and push the couch out of my way. She's out cold. I'm not sure what he did to her so I'm afraid to move her. I scream for help. I'm on my knees trying to keep from picking her up and hauling her out of here when a pair of green eyes locks with mine.
"Ma'am, please don't move her. The paramedics are on their way. What's your name?" he asks.
I don't look away from his face for fear that I will inadvertently hurt Natalie. "Bella," I mumble.
"Okay, Bella, can you help me here? What is her name?" he asks nodding towards the lifeless little girl between us.
I look down at my sweet little friend. "Natalie. She's only 9. Help her!" I plead.
"I'm going to do everything I can for her, sweetheart."
I look back up at him and he gives me a reassuring smile. I want to return it but I am just too scared.
He bends down putting his cheek by her nose and feels her throat for a pulse. "Ok she is breathing and has a nice strong pulse. She's just knocked out. Don't move her but she can hear you if you want to talk to her." He smiles again. "Is that her mom in the other room?"
"Yes. Is she okay?" I ask, knowing the screaming I heard indicate she is not.
"She's injured pretty badly. Can you tell me her name?" he asks while pulling out a tablet.
"Yeah, her name is Heidi Larks. She's a hooker. She wasn't supposed to bring anyone here. Natalie was supposed to be safe. She promised me," I say through the tears spilling down my cheek.
"Larks, yeah we know her. I didn't believe her when she said she had a kid. They all say that when we pick them up."
"Well she does. She used to leave her alone a lot but now that I live next door I watch her most of the time. Where is the ambulance? She needs help."
"They'll be here soon. We'll get them to the hospital, don't worry. He reaches out and puts a hand on top of mine. I feel a little jolt but attribute it to the warm contact in this frightening situation.
"Thanks Officer," I say leaving room for him to fill in his name.
"Cullen."
"Thank you Officer Cullen."
I look down to my sweet girl and whisper to her, "Please wake up baby. I need to see those blue eyes. I need you to be okay."
When Officer Cullen moves his hand I realize he is getting up. "I have to check on the other victim and we are questioning the assailant. Do you recognize him? Is he maybe a regular?"
I shake my head. "No but I don't see her clients. He was yelling at her, something about letting him do what he wants after what he paid her. He said he was going to make do with Natalie, that's why I pounded on the door. He was naked when he opened it. I think he threw her across the room."
"Ok, thank you Bella. That will help a lot. Hopefully Miss Larks will cooperate with us and we can lock this asshole up."
"Hopefully they both wake up," I add.
"Hopefully," he replies with sad eyes.
When he leaves us alone, I only have enough time to brush Natalie's hair off her face before the EMT's are in the door. The first two come to us and the next two head to the bedroom. They ask a lot of questions and place her on a spine board.
"Are you her guardian?" one EMT asks me.
"Not officially. I watch her most of the time. Her mother is unconscious as well and they have no other family. Will she be okay?"
"Yeah, it looks like she is unconscious and likely has a concussion but we'll know more at the hospital. I will tell them you are next of kin so they will tell you what's going on."
"Thank you. Thank you so much," I cry.
I hop up and head home to get dressed so I can follow the ambulance. I call my dad and tell him everything. He says he'll meet me at the E.R. I run out the door and head to the hospital behind the two ambulances.
As I sit in the waiting room I do the only thing can I think of, I pray that God will save Natalie and if he's feeling merciful, Heidi too. I pray that if they both make it, Heidi changes her life. I pray that if something happens to Natalie that Heidi still changes her life. I pray that if something happens to Heidi that Natalie will be allowed to be mine. I vow that I will never let anything happen to her ever again.