Today was very long and very busy ending with a long late dinner with relatives in town for a wedding. So I wasn't able to start until late on this chapter and I was tired but I didn't want to not post anything today however it is a pretty short chapter but plenty happens.
Ch.5 A Shared Moment, a Dark Moment
(CLARE)
"Trouble wake up Mouse is missing and Bengal is dead," Owen says shaking me.
"What?" I yawn sitting up quickly and rubbing my eyes.
"Downstairs in two minutes we need to split up and look for Maya," Owen tells me and leaves the room.
I get up and follow him out, going into the washroom with Bianca to comb our hair and put deodorant on, aside from the occasional shower it's about as groomed as we can be.
"I can't believe Bengal's dead," Fitz comments as we join him, Dallas and Drew in the hallway.
"Which is exactly why Owen doesn't like any of us to turn tricks it's too high risk," Bianca says as we walk downstairs.
We join the others, Owen is pacing back and forth you can tell he's going out of his mind with worry.
"Why would she run off? She's never run away before, not from us. If she's been hurt…" Owen is saying to himself as he paces the downstairs.
"Muscles everyone's here," Freckles interrupts him as I sit next to him on the sofa.
Owen stops pacing and looks at us, "Mouse couldn't have gone far we'll split up into groups of three. No one go off on their own and check in with me every half hour. Trouble you go with Lone Star and Bruiser go south toward the bus station. Freckles, Spikes and Raven head to the east toward the park. Platinum, Dollar and I will go north toward The Dot and the Baker's church," Owen orders and we all stand up getting into our search groups.
I walk with Dallas and Fitz on either side of me, their arms around me like yesterday, as we look for Maya. We get down to the bus station but don't see her, Fitz texts Owen to check in and say that we haven't found her. We get a text back a couple minutes later that says no one else has found her either. We go a block past the bus stop in both directions and still don't see Maya, we're approaching the bus stop again when my stomach growls to remind me that I haven't eaten in 18 hours. I'm used to not eating very much at this point but I still need food now and then.
"Let's stop at the café at the bus stop and get donuts and coffee," Fitz suggests.
"I don't think Mouse would have gone this far, I know I don't know her as well as the rest of you but in the time I have known her I've never seen her be too far away from Muscles or Platinum. Unless someone took her I think she must be back near the hotel or maybe the diner," I comment after we have donuts and coffee and start walking again.
"Okay let's go back toward the diner, we should probably check all the alleys and back streets pretty carefully too," Dallas says.
"We have to check in with Muscles again, can you hold my coffee and donuts Trouble?" Fitz requests and I take his food.
Fitz says we still haven't found her but we're heading back to the diner and we'll look in all the alleys and back streets on the way. I finish my donut and toss the bag, Fitz and Dallas are still eating since they got two donuts each. We walk down one alley and walk down the street toward the diner, we've nearly reached the diner and still don't see. We get to the end of the last alley and for some reason I look back and that's when I see her, she's sitting on the roof with her back to us. I have no idea how she got up there because the fires escape seems to be partially broken but I know it's Maya.
"I see her," I tell the guys and they stop walking, turn and follow my gaze to the roof.
"I'll grab her," Dallas says and I grab his arm to stop him.
"Wait let me go, she ran off for a reason and she may not want to tell you two," I point out.
They nod and Fitz gives me a leg up so I can get on the fire escape and climb up. The guys are watching me from down below and Fitz has his phone out to text Owen I'm sure. Maya must hear me coming because the fire escape makes all kind of noise but she doesn't move or look back at me. When I'm at the top I can hear her quietly sobbing, walking over I take a seat next to her.
"Bengal's dead," Maya says in a very soft tear choked voice. It's the first time I've ever heard her speak and it's not even her voice because it's strained by tears and fear.
"We know," I nod speaking quietly and trying to sound comforting.
"I found her," Maya reveals and now I understand why she ran. "I had to use the washroom and I was thirsty, I got up to walk to the gas station and use their washroom and get a water bottle but…" she stops talking again and is shaking lightly as her head falls back in her hands. She's sobbing harder now, I move a little closer and put my arm around her back. She turns into me just a bit to cry on my chest a moment before wiping her I move a little closer and put my arm around her back. She turns into me just a bit to cry on my chest a moment before wiping her eyes and looking back up at me. "She was cut up, someone…someone cut her neck and arms and stomach."
"I'm sorry you saw that," I tell her holding her a little tighter.
"It's going to happen to me one day, I'll end up dead. Puck is gone and Bengal and since I've been on the streets so many kids I've known have ended up dead or gone missing and they're never found. When I saw Bengal that way I just took off, I looked at her but I saw me instead and I just ran," Maya tells me.
"My older sister committed suicide when I was 12," I reveal to Maya and she looks up at me again. "I woke up one morning to go to the washroom and found my sister in the shower, the water was cold by then and it had washed away most of the blood but I could see these big open cuts extending several inches down her arms from her wrists. The knife she used was still lying between her legs. She was pale and cold, she was still dressed and her clothes were soaking wet. What I remember most though were her eyes, they were…lifeless, empty and just void of anything. My sister's body was there slumped in our shower but my sister was gone. That was the beginning of the end for my family. And after seeing my sister there lifeless by her own hand I was never the same. I had to deal with it virtually on my own but you don't Mouse, you have all of us and Muscles has been really worried about you, we all have. Come on we should get back I have a feeling Muscles is going to hug you until you can't breathe anymore," I comment and she giggles a little.
"Sorry I didn't mean to worry everyone I just wanted to be out of there," Maya apologizes as we stand up.
"It's okay I understand and I'm sure Muscles will too when we explain it to him. Uh how did you get up here anyway?" I question her looking down at the broken fire escape.
"When I first ran away I slept up here, just for a couple of nights before Muscles found me. I took the stairs," Maya says pointing to the door to the stairs.
I smile and look down at Fitz and Dallas, "We're taking the stairs we'll meet you down there," I call to them and they nod.
I follow Maya down the stairs and as soon as she's out the door Dallas and Fitz hug her tightly.
"You had us worried," Fitz tells her.
"Don't do that again," Dallas says.
"We're meeting the others at the apartments c'mon let's go," Fitz comments and we start walking back to the apartments.
(OWEN)
The first half hour passes and we haven't found Maya, both the other groups have checked in and they haven't seen or heard from her either. My heart is sinking and I fear something terrible has happened and she'll end up like Bengal.
"Where the fuck is she?! She knows better than to go running off like that why would she do such a thing!" I grouse angrily into the air in lieu of lecturing Maya.
"We'll find her, we haven't even reached The Dot yet," my brother says and Miles stomach growls.
"We'll get something to eat at The Dot, won't be able to search for very long if we have no energy," I comment as the café comes into view.
Maya isn't there or anywhere around The Dot but I get hot chocolate and donuts for Tris and Miles while I just get coffee because I'm not really hungry. Close to The Dot is an entrance to the ravine that runs through most of the city but this is close to a school and a lot of kids hang out here, kids like us that don't want to go home or can't but at least most of them still have homes. We check there and all around the school but Maya is nowhere in sight and just as we're walking away from the school again everyone checks in to say they haven't seen or heard from Maya. I walk as fast as I can to the Baker's church hoping and praying that she's there.
"Luke," I call to him as we approach, he's in the yard picking up branches and looks at us when I call. "Have you seen Mouse she's missing?"
"No I haven't seen her all morning, I'll ask Becky," Luke says putting down the sticks and we follow him inside. "Mom, Becky have either of you seen Mouse? Muscles says she's missing," Luke tells them when we go inside.
"Oh dear that's terrible, I haven't seen her all morning," Mom shakes her head.
"Me either," Becky says.
"Why don't I take you to the police station so you can report her missing and then we can drive around looking for her," Mrs. Baker suggests.
"Yeah thanks," I nod.
"I'll take them Mom," Luke offers.
"I hope you find her," Becky says as we leave.
Luke drives us to the police station and I tell the other's to wait in the car while I go inside to file a missing person report. I have a picture of Maya on my phone, she's with Tris and it's not the best picture but it's the only one I have of her.
"Listen this girl is missing, she's fourteen," I tell the cop at the front desk.
"Are you family?" The cop questions.
"I'm the closest thing she's got," I respond.
"Muscles? What's going on?" Officer Turner asks coming in the front door with his partner.
"Mouse is missing, I got up this morning and she was gone and Bengal is dead! I have to find her she could be dead or…"
"Okay calm down Muscles we'll get patrol cars out looking for her. I'll get out a description do you still have my card?" He asks and I nod. "Call me if you find her and I'll be in touch with you," Officer Turner tells me.
"Thanks Officer Turner," I nod with a little relief knowing we'll have help.
I walk out to Luke's car again telling them what Turner said as Luke starts driving again. We search for a few blocks and then I get a text from Fitz.
Bruiser: Found Mouse we'll bring her back to the apartments.
"Bruiser, Trouble and Lone Star found her," I tell everyone heaving a huge relieved sigh.
Luke takes us back to the apartments and we beat everyone there. We wave to Luke as he drives off and I call Turner to tell him we found Maya. I pace around the downstairs wondering what's taking Clare, Dallas and Fitz so long to get Maya here. Tris sent a text to Adam so he Drew and Bianca know to come back. Finally the door opens and Maya comes in, as soon as she's in the door I run over and pick her up into a tight hug.
"Where have you been?! Why did you run off like that?! Don't ever do that again I was so worried," I scold her in a worried tone.
"Muscles she needs to breathe," Dallas says and I let go of Maya.
"Sorry I didn't mean to worry you," Maya apologizes as we all sit down. "I got up to use the washroom this morning and get some water at the gas station and I…I found Bengal. She was all cut up and I just ran," she says with tears in her eyes.
"Just don't ever do that again," I say hugging her again.
"I'm glad you're okay Mouse I was so worried about you," Miles tells her and kisses her cheek making Maya blush.
Adam, Drew and Bianca get here and after they hug Maya and she apologizes to them and tells them where she's been we all walk to the diner and I treat everyone to a big lunch happy to have Maya back safe. As we're eating though I can't help but wonder how long I'll be able to keep them safe, the streets aren't safe, Bengal is dead and Puck is dead. How long before someone else ends up dead, hurt or missing?
(CLARE)
It's been four days since Maya ran off and we found her, since telling her the story of finding my sister we've shared a bond and we're growing a lot closer, she even talks to me now. Maya's also been spending a lot of time with Miles and I'm sure they'll be an official couple soon. Fitz and Dallas both like me, or so Adam tells me anyway, neither one has said anything but I guess they are competing for my attention a lot. I'm fond of them both and not sure that I want to choose one over the other. Owen has barely let any of us out of his sight in the last four days and only let's go anywhere or do anything in groups, except sleep and that's what I was getting ready to do now. I had my own room and was getting ready to lie down and sleep, Drew and Bianca had the room on one side of me and Adam and Tris had a room with two double beds on the other. I'm asleep almost as soon as I lie down; I fall into a deep sleep and start to dream when I'm woken from sleep by someone sitting on my bed. My eyes bolt open but it's too dark to see who it is, I recognize his voice though when he slurs out some words.
"I'm sho drunk," Chains laughs.
"Sho am me too," Ape Man slurs.
They all seem to be drunk, one of them falls on the bed and I try to get up and sneak out but I bump into another one of them. He grabs me and pushes me back to the mattress.
"Hey there's a chick in here," Beast tells them.
"Let me go," I demand.
"Hey it's that Trouble Chick," Chains laughs using his phone to light my face.
I see them all on the bed now, I try to move but they grab me and force me down again. Taking in a breath to scream and Chains covers my mouth with his hand making me choke on the breath I just took in.
"Uh uh it's time for us to have some fun, you never did get initiated to the streets by us," he chuckles no longer sounding as drunk but very horny and evil.
I kick and flail my arms as tears come to my eyes but it does nothing to deter them, it does make them angry however and they all hit me. They manage to get off my shoes, socks, jeans and panties then one holds my legs, one holds my arms and is covering my mouth while the third one rapes me. It's terribly excruciating and I feel like my lower half is on fire, being mashed in a vice and having nails driven into it all at the same time. I thrash and cry but it's a hopeless fight, the harder I cry the more I need to breathe and the more I fight the more they hurt me. I start to choke on my tears and when I get hit in the stomach again getting the wind knocked out of me I pass out from lack of oxygen but at least with my mind being in unconsciousness is a sanctuary from what's happening to my body.
When I wake up the three of them are gone, I'm still half naked and when I try to move it's terribly painful. I crawl around in the dark and find my clothes to get dressed again and they I start sobbing uncontrollably, I just start and can't seem to stop it almost as if someone opened flood gates for my tears and they all poured out at once.
"Hello?" Asks a voice opening the door, it's Eli and he walks in the room sitting on the bed. "Trouble is that you?" He questions turning on his phone for some light. "What's wrong? It smells like sex and beer in here," Eli comments and I feel him move the phone to look around. "Is that blood? Clare were you…" I nod before he finishes the question. "Who?" He questions but I can't answer because I'm crying to hard. "There's a clinic not far from here you need to go there so they can check you out," Eli tells me but I shake my head. "Fine just come on you can't stay in here alone," Eli says picking me up.
I don't fight him or try to get out of his arms just cry on his shoulder. He walks to the end of the hall and kicks the door to a room; it opens a few seconds later.
"What the fuck!" Fitz asks in a groggy voice.
"Just watch her I'll be back," Eli tells him and then hands me to Fitz.
"Clare what happened? Did Gloom hurt you?" Fitz questions and I shake my head.
"What's going on?" Dallas yawns as Fitz carries me to a bed.
"I'm not sure," Fitz replies and sets me on the bed.
I cling to him and cry on his chest, he holds me tight and Dallas rubs my back. They keep asking me what happened but all I can do is cry.
Update Thursday August 21st and that will be the last chapter guys.