Thank you so much to everyone who's reviewed! I actually did a little celebratory dance. You shoulda seen it, it was so sad! If you haven't already reviewed, please do as it would make me unbelievably happy!
Enjoy :)
Lisa
I chewed my lip all the way down to Remy's room, one hand behind my back. Feeling such a traitor.
I decided that her being intubated and unable to speak would make it easier for me to talk to her. It seemed a bit mean, but it was for her own benefit. I stopped at the door, stunned by the sight of her. She was pale and withdrawn looking, as though she had been stretched too far and wouldn't ever recover. Bruises were spread all over her skin; and that was just of what I could see. I sat on the opposite side of the bed to Allison, whose gaze was fixed on her and Remy's clasped hands. I tried to smile, but could only manage a false grimace. She must have found that comforting though, for the corners of her mouth turned up, trying to return my feeble attempt. She was shaking, and after a couple of minutes of silence I pressed down on her wrists, already burned from the rope that had bound her, to keep her still.
"I have to give a statement to the police" I began. "And I have to tell them anything that'll help them get a lead on this guy. So I brought these." I produced the notepad and pen from behind my back. She stared blankly at the wall behind her, her lip visibly quivering even under the array of tubes pushed down her throat. I released her arm and handed her the pen, holding up the notepad for her so she wouldn't have to release her grip on Allison. "What was his hair colour?" She blinked a couple of times. She wrote BROWN down.
"Long, medium, or short?" SHORT. "Eye colour?" GREY. "Skin tone?" WHITE. "Any distinguishing features?" She paused for a moment, before writing 'I didn't see much of his face' in small letters. I had to take the pad from her to be able to read it.
"Okay." I said quietly. "It wasn't the same man from when you were in medical school, was it?" she shook her head slightly. Damn. Less of a lead to go on. Nevertheless, I smiled reassuringly at her and patted her awkwardly on the shoulder.
"What did that guy do to you?" Allison suddenly blurted out. She blushed immediately, and both me and Remy gave her questioning looks. She swallowed apprehensively. "Your... Boyfriend. What else did he do to you?" I looked at the brunette. She was staring at the ceiling, her normally bright eyes clouded with shame and hurt. She seemed to be recounting some long lost memory, and I noticed her hands clench into fists unconsciously . Finally she closed her eyes, tears dripping down her pale cheeks. I could feel the sting of tears in my own eyes, and looked away, telling myself not to cry. Minutes passed, and still Remy hadn't opened her eyes. She was crying silently, as was Allison... And I myself was still fighting hard to keep the tears from coming.
"Remy?" I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Can you tell us? It might make you feel better." She shook her head.
"C'mon, sweetie" Cameron piped up. "Just write it down."
Reluctantly, she picked up the pad. Her hands were shaking so hard that she was struggling to write. Once she'd finished, she passed it to me. I read it,and passed it to Allison.
'He hurt me' she'd written. 'he beat me with his fists or his belt. He whipped me till I passed out from pain. He controlled every part of my life. He wouldn't let me talk to anyone. I wanted to get away, but he said he'd kill me. He cut me. Raped me, made me do stuff I hated doing. When he found out I'd gotten pregnant he stamped on my stomach until I lost the baby. He tortured me.'
I heard Cameron gasp several times while she was reading. My mouth was set in a thin line; I was filled with more hatred than I thought was every humanly possible. Remy brought her hands up to her face and let out an anguished sob. She twisted round in her bed so that her face was pressed to the pillows, taking all her many lines and tubes with her.
"Babe, you'll hurt yourself..." Cameron said feebly. Remy didn't care, and for a moment we helplessly watched her writhe in pain. Old, forgotten pain. We only really sprang into action when she ripped the intubation tubes clean out her throat, screamed in pain, and started thrashing about desperately, one hand reaching out and grasping fistfuls of her blankets. I grabbed one wrist, Allison the other and we flipped her back over.
"Remy!" I yelled at her. "Stop it, please! You're going to hurt yourself even more!" she cowered back from me and a pang of guilt shot through my body like a bolt of electricity. Sighing, I grabbed a shot of sedative and, as Cameron pulled her onto her side, pushed the needle through the Remy's thigh, not before noticing the faint scars criss-crossing her skin.
Her body relaxed and went limp, and I staggered to the bathroom and threw up noisily into the toilet bowl. I retched for so long that it felt like I was bringing up baby food; and once I'd finished I collapsed on the floor and burst into tears.
"Why?" I sobbed. "Why her?"
Bit of a short chapter, but I want to skip ahead a little in the next one.
I'll start writing tonight, and hopefully it'll be up by Friday.
Toodle pip!
