Hey guys, so sorry for the slow updates! I barley have time for anything anymore! Who knew when I moved away I'd be so busy! Thank you all for your patience and I really hope you enjoy the chapter! I really appreciate the feedback, so as always, please leave some! x
Callie was lying awake, tracing the raised bruise that was now on her arm thanks to Liam's antics at school. She sighs. Everyone had gone to bed hours ago, she appreciated the effort Stef and Lena were putting in to help her, but they really needed to drop it. Liam wasn't going to stop until he was sure she'd keep her mouth shut, but was she willing to let Sarah stay in danger? It was so selfish of her; but hadn't she been through enough already? Sighing, she grabs her guitar and heads outside. She needed to think long and hard about what she was going to do.
The first few strums brought a sense of calm to Callie. She felt at peace. A short-lived peace, as it was then, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Callie yelped, dropping the guitar. It landed with a thud, the sound of strings harshly vibrating. Trying to get up, she began to beg.
"Liam, please, I won't say anything, I swear, leave me and it'll be the end of it! I'm in the process of swapping group as we speak!"
Liam came closer, lifting her up by the front of her shirt and pinning her roughly against the oak tree.
"Oh Callie" Liam put his face close to her, and inhaled deeply "I love it when you beg"
Liam ran his fingers through her hair, then made a fist and slammed the back of her head into the tree. Callie let out a whimper of pain.
"Please" She cried, "I swear…"
"Your word means nothing to me you slut! There is nothing you can say to me, after the stunt you pulled with you little boyfriend?! Oh you messed up BIG time" Liam spat the words, moving his hands menacingly over her collarbones. Stopping for a moment, he looked at her. Callie was filled with hope that he would leave, but seconds later; he grabbed her, pushed her out and punched her in the face. She fell hard to the floor and then, Liam dived on her, throwing punches.
Jude awoke, unsettled. He'd not been sleeping well the past few days; he was too worried for Callie. He nearly lost her last time. She'd made so much progress, he didn't want her to go back down that road, she may not make it back this time.
Drowsily, he made his way downstairs. Reaching for a glass, he began to feel uncomfortable, he thought he heard something; listening for a moment and hearing nothing, he shook it off. As he began filling the glass with water, he looked up out of the window and his heart leapt. There was Liam, straddling his sister, his hands around her neck. She looked like a mere rag doll compared to him. Dropping the glass, it shattering on the floor, he runs upstairs into Lena and Stef's room.
"GET UP, GET UP, NOW. HELP ME" Jude was hysterical, Lena and Stef jumped up startled, before they had even registered what was happening, Jude ran out of the room, Stef on instinct jumped up and followed, Lena close behind her.
As they ran down the hall, the rest of the kids popped their heads out of their doorways, curious as to what was happening. Ignoring them, Jude, Lena and Stef make their way downstairs. The moment they enter the kitchen, Jude points and screams to the window.
"HE'LL KILL HER, HE'LL KILL HER!" Jude tried to scramble to the door, towards his sister, but Lena holds him back whilst Stef Dashes out.
Hearing the commotion, Liam delivers one last kick to Callie and dashes away. Moments later, Stef reaches her, drops to the ground to assess the damage on Callie. She's a mess, barley recognisable with her face bloodied and swollen.
"Oh my love"
Stef listens to Callie's breathing, it's shallow, the wheezing getting worse with each breath.
"Lena, get over here!" Stef feels helpless
Jude tries to get to his sister. "Callie!" As he lays eyes on her, he backs away, scared by the state she's in. Almost tripping over Brandon, who is stood, speechless looking towards Callie, Jesus scoops him up in his arms. The small boy begins to sob.
Mariana steps forward, "Mom's? What… what happened?" She is almost too scared to go any closer.
Lena looks around, calmly. "Mariana, call an ambulance, Jesus take Jude indoors and Brandon, You're in charge tonight. I don't know what's going on, but we'll talk when we're back from hospital tomorrow.
"NO" Jude tries to scramble from Jesus' arms. "You can't take her there, he'll find her! He'll kill her!" Callie begins to struggle, trying to make her way towards Jude, shaking her head. As she moves, she begins to cough violently. As she coughs, specs of blood appear. Giving Jude one last warning look, she passes out.
"Mariana, call them NOW!" Stef shouts at her daughter, and then turns her attention back to Callie.
Lena goes over to a sobbing Jude, pulling him into her lap; she looks up to the 3 teens standing in the garden looking scared and confused.
"Brandon you're in charge tonight, I will follow Stef and Callie in the ambulance"
"But…" Jesus begins to protest
Stef's voice fills the air "Not tonight Jesus, you need to do what we say, got that?" giving a stern look to emphasise her words.
Jesus backs down and nods reluctantly.
"Brandon, call your father, I don't know who attacked Callie but I will not have you guys here on your own here in case he comes back, you got that? No arguments!" No one agues, Stef is deadly serious and they begin to realise the magnitude of the situation.
Sirens ring in the distance and moment's later Mariana runs into the garden followed by paramedics
"We will call you all tomorrow morning. Look after each other and get some rest my darlings" Stef moves aside for the paramedics to work on Callie. She watches with worry as they strap an oxygen mask to her face.
She goes to hug each of her children and goes over to Lena and Jude.
The paramedics secure Callie onto a stretcher and get ready to carry her to the ambulance. "Whoever is coming with her needs to come now" the paramedic says, looking towards the family in the garden.
Stef gets to her feet, exchanges a glance with Lena and makes her way towards the paramedics. Lena turns to Jude on her lap "Jude, honey look at me. I know it's been just you and Callie looking out for each other for a long time, but you need to share that responsibility with myself and Stef right now" Lena strokes his face tenderly.
Jude looks at her thoughtfully and Lena can see the conflict in his eyes.
"Sweetie I know you listen to Callie and do what she says, but she is very hurt at the moment, and keeping who did this from Stef and me will only hurt her more, do you understand that? Jude hesitates. "You trusted us enough to tell us that you were worried about Callie the other day, and it seems that you were right to worry. Jude sweetie you need to tell me everything"
Jude just nods as tears stream down his face, he buries his face into Lena's chest, sobbing. Lena looks up at the 3 children in front of her.
"Brandon, have you called your father?" He nods. "Okay good, I want you three to go inside, lock yourselves in and only answer the door to mike, do you understand?" They all nod, not daring to ask questions or challenge her.
Jesus walks over to Lena "What about Jude?"
Jude will be coming with me, I won't leave him here away from Callie, I promise I will call you when we hear anything and I will update Mike tomorrow.
"Be safe my darlings" She then stands up, carrying Jude with her to the car.
As she walks along she notices how thin and light the small boy actually is. When Jesus and Brandon were younger, they were almost a head taller and much heavier. She helps Jude into the car and straps him in. As she slides into the drivers seat and shuts the door she sighs.
Whoever could the Jacobs siblings be so afraid of? Whoever it is it seems they mean business. Haven't these kids been through enough already? She wipes a stray tear away from her eye and put the car into reverse and backs out of the driveway, her mind filled with questions and fear.
Thanks again for being so patient guys! I will try to update quicker, but I don't have much time to myself at the moment!
xxx
