Chapter 8.
The pain subsided, and Rip opened her eyes. The Captain's face was mere inches from hers.
"Do you love me?" she asked, tears streaking down her face.
"Don't make yourself a fool for such things." She was still pushed against the tree. She could feel the strength of his biceps against her lean arms. His body was dotted with sweat. Rip could read every pore in his face. She could see every bit of aging, She stood strong and stared him in the eye. Bryan remained still. He was scared and unsure of what he should do. His chest ached from the captain's blow. The Captain pulled his coat back again, he was still hard. Rip let out soft cry, she had dealt with him once tonight, she wished to not deal with him again. "please, go, just go, please." He kissed her one last time, forcing is canine tongue into her mouth. Rip's bottom lip snagged one of his large incisors, spurring blood from the wound. She shut her eyes tightly. He held her chin in his sinew hands.
"I will come back for you, you won't stay free much longer." His voice was deep, forced and raspy. Every word he spoke hurt. His vocal chords never fully recovered from WW2. Rip slowly sank to her knees. Captain turned, pulled his coat closed, and walked off, leaving Rip naked and scorn. Tears streamed down her face, Bryan walked up to her and wiped her tears with his shirt. He dressed her in his jacket, and carried her back to his apartment.
Bryan handed Rip a cup of coffee. She was covered in a blanket on his couch.
"I'm not sure what to say…"
"Then say nothing."
"Will you be all right?"
"I will be fine" she stated cradling the cup of coffee in her hands. He sat down next to her. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her, and held her close. She burst into tears, confused-scared and frustrated. He drew her closer to him, cradling her while she cried. Bryan kissed the top of her head, rocked her back and forth. She nuzzled into his chest, her hands dropped her coffee and wrapped around his back, pulling at his shirt. It was a painful moment for the both of them. Rip wished that Bryan hadn't been there, knowing he had seen what had happened only made her feel worse. Bryan wished he could've done something, but the strength of the massive monster was unimaginable.
"I'm sorry, Rip. I wish I could've done something." Thoughts rushed through Bryan's mind, it was then that he realized; He loved her.