My Hero
Chapter 3:
Richard's POV:
When I woke up the next morning Raven was still sleeping. She had rolled over so her back was against my chest. I gently pulled away just enough to get another look at her neck. Carefully I pulled the hair farther away, I wanted to get a look at the scar. I needed to know if it was new. Raven moaned quietly as she shifted, waking up. She sat up slowly and looked around alarmed. I rested a hand on her leg. "Good morning beautiful" she must have finally recognized my room because she physically relaxed. She laid down, snuggling up against my chest. "Morning" she murmured sleepily. "Raven, the cut on the back of your neck? When is it from?" She tried to get away. I knew she didn't like to talk about anything involving her parents, including the scars they gave her, but this was getting out of hand. I held her tightly. I needed to know. "Raven, I need to know. When is that from?" My voice was soft but firm. She stopped struggling and calmed down a bit, curling back up against me again. "I'm worried about you." She closed her eyes nuzzling her nose against my chest. "Remember when I was out of school for a week, because I was in the hospital?" I nodded it wasn't long after we had gotten together. "That cut put me there" I had tried to go visit her at the hospital but they wouldn't let me because I wasn't family. "What did they do?" She hesitated before answering. "They had found out we were together and didn't like the idea of me having someone who cared. So they cut me with a razor blade, they thought a week out of school would put an end to our relationship"
Ravens POV:
He stared at me with wide eyes. "Raven...this can't go on." I looked at him. I didn't know what he meant and I wasn't sure if I wanted to know. "What do you mean?" My voice quivered a bit. "I'm sorry but I have to tell Bruce about your parents." He said standing up. I grabbed his wrist. "No, please no. Richard please don't tell." My eyes were watering. "You promised you wouldn't tell" I sobbed. He sat back down pulling me into a hug. "I should have put a stop to this a long time ago. I'm sorry Rae but they've gone too far. I mean putting you in the hospital because you're in a relationship is too much." he smoothed my hair back as he ran his fingers through it. "Come on, we'll tell him together" I was still really reluctant to tell anyone, heck I'd had a hard time telling Richard.
Flashback:
We had been together for almost two months. I had gotten out of the hospital only the week before. "Raven, I missed you so much! What happened?" He pulled me into a gentle hug. It was the first time I had seen him in two weeks. I winced as he squeezed me. "Raven, why were you in the hospital?" I pulled back, not meeting his gaze. "I fell down the stairs" He shook his head. "I know that's not everything. Raven, what's going on?" He lifted my chin, a sad smile on his lips. I knew he didn't believe me. "You're always hurt when I see you. I'm worried about you. Is someone doing this to you?" He was digging to deep, getting too close to the truth behind my injuries. I tried to back away. "Tell me, let me protect you." He can't find out. He'll tell then I'll never see him again. I tried to pull away but he grabbed my arms. "Raven..." His hands went to my shoulders. "I-I can't" he cupped my cheek. "You can but you won't. You can tell me, you can tell me anything and I'll always be there for you" his words were gentle, caring. His eyes were pleading with me. "If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone, ever" I said putting my hand over his. Just his touch did so much for me. Richard was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I didn't want to lose him. "Rae, I swear I'll never tell" I looked up into his blue eyes. "My-my dad. He hurts me when he's mad." Richard pulled me into his arms. He didn't speak. He just held me.
End flashback.
"Does Bruce have to know?" I asked, still crying. We were on our way to Bruce's study, where Richard was sure he would be. He sighed squeezing my hand a little. "Raven I should have told him this a long time ago. He can get you away from them" anger flared inside me. "They'll take me away. Put me in a home, I might never see you again." I yelled. Richard suddenly pinned me against the wall. "Don't think like that. Anything would be worth it for you to be safe" he growled. I shuddered. "And who might your daughter be?" Oh no!
We could hear Alfred on the phone down the hall. "Why yes Miss Raven is here, would you like to speak to her?" I closed my eyes, praying this was a horrible nightmare. I knew who was on the phone. When I opened my eyes again Bruce and Alfred were watching us from the other end of the hall. I burned scarlet and muttered "I have to go home, will you come?" I knew Richard hadn't meant to be rough like that; he was just worried about me. "Of course and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that" I wrapped my arms around him "It's ok. And thank you for always being there for me" I really didn't want to lose him. "Bruce, will you take me home tonight?" He smiled nodding. I hadn't really spent any time with him, like I had with Alfred. And I knew it bothered Richard that I wasn't closer to him. But honestly I was a little afraid of him. He was a big strong looking guy, like my father. I didn't want to risk angering him and finding out if he was abusive like my father. I knew I was safe if Richard was with me though.
Bruce pulled into my driveway and turned around to look at us. "Thanks for driving Bruce." I whispered. "Want me to walk you to the door?" Richard offered. "We'll both go. I haven't had the honor of meeting your parents yet" Bruce commented as he opened his door. "No, you don't need to" there was panic in my voice. "It's fine. If they are anything like you I'm sure I'll like them." And before I knew it the three of us were walking up to the front door. I stopped a few steps away with Richard when the door opened while Bruce went on ahead. "Thank you for letting me stay last night." I whispered taking both of his hands in my own. "I was glad you stayed. I like to know you're safe." I opened my mouth to speak but cringed as my father's voice rang out. "Rachel. Let's go!" Richard wrapped me in his arms and kissed my forehead. "I'll call you soon alright?" I nodded before walking over to the door. "Get in the kitchen, I'll deal with you in a minute" I bowed my head and went past him towards the kitchen. A few minutes later the front door slammed. He stalked into the kitchen, fists by his side. "Rachel, Rachel, Rachel. Sneaking out and staying away overnight. You know better. You're in for it this time." Knowing I was in trouble, I ran for my life. Flying up the stairs I went into my room locking the door behind me. I put my back to the door praying it would hold. Pulling out the phone Richard gave me I called him.
Richards POV:
"Get in the kitchen, I'll deal with you in a minute" I watched Raven walk by him and into the house. Her father glared at us as I went to stand by Bruce. I returned the glare filled with my hate for the man. "I don't want my daughter hanging out with him anymore" he pointed a finger at me and Bruce raised an eyebrow. "He's a bad influence. Both of you just stay out of her life and don't come around here again" then he slammed the door in our faces. That was the second time I've had this door slammed at me. "Why would he say that?" Bruce said as we went back to the car. "I have something to tell you, something that I should have told you a while ago," I slid into the front seat next to him. "What is this about?" I know I told Raven that we would tell him together but I was worried. Her dad was mad and I didn't want anything to happen to her tonight. "Raven. She has a secret, one that I kind of forced out of her. A while ago too. It's about her family." He glanced at me. "What about her family?" We were well on our way back to the manor. "Her father is abusive. He pushed-" Bruce's phone rang. The caller ID said 'Richard'. I picked up the phone putting it on speaker. "Raven?" I was hoping she was alright. "Richard!" There was panic evident in her voice. "Please help me, I- I'm scared. He he's try-ahhhhhh" she was in danger and I wasn't there to help her. I knew this was going to happen, I shouldn't have left her there. I looked at Bruce. He was already turning around, driving like he was Batman.
We got back to Ravens house in a little over a minute. We broke down the front door. There was a scream. "Her room. Upstairs" I said already taking the stairs two at a time. Her door was broken down. There was blood on it. My eyes got wide as Bruce gave it half a glance before running at Ravens dad. I was only a beat behind him. Her room was covered in blood. I was going to help Bruce, determined to be the one who got to kill this guy. "I got him find her" Bruce ordered. Raven was nowhere in sight. I started moving around the trashed room. Her bed was ripped, the walls had holes, the window was broken and there was blood everywhere. There! A shadow behind the dresser moved. I went over and saw a puddle of blood. There were sirens in the distance. "Raven" I put my hand on her leg and she flinched. "It's ok. It's me, Rae" she slowly opened one eye. "You came" I leaned forward and she wrapped her arms around my neck. "Of course I came." I gently lifted her out of the small space. "It's ok now. I got you and I'm not letting go." She leaned her head against my chest and I felt something warm and sticky drip onto my hand. "Blood" I whispered. Carefully I sat down and brought my hand to the back of her head. A nice cut, still bleeding. She winced when I touched it. "Where else are you hurt?" I asked. I could hear the sirens out front; the cops would be up here soon. I cast a glance at Bruce, he was still struggling to pin her father. "Rae, where are you hurt?" She lifted her head a bit. She slowly began pulling her shirt up stopping just above her belly button. A four inch cut ran across the bottom of her stomach. That too, was still bleeding and quickly soaking her shirt and mine. Her eyes closed again. The police barged in and went to help Bruce. "Rae, Raven. You gotta stay awake." I patted her cheek trying to keep her up. "How is she?" Bruce asked as he came over. Four police officers were escorting Ravens dad out. "She's got a nasty cut on her head and on her stomach." I was still trying to wake her up.
The commissioner walked over to find out what happened. "Her father was hurting her. He's been abusing her for years. I don't know what he did to her tonight." I replied since Bruce didn't know. Ravens eyes fluttered open. "Raven" she was still lying in my arms. "It hurts. So much." I felt so bad for her. "I know. I know just try to stay awake ok?" The commissioner spoke up again "What injuries does she have?" Where do I begin? I thought. "A head wound and a cut on her stomach." He nodded "She needs to go to the hospital." Bruce and I nodded. I was afraid of what else they would find. Three paramedics walked in with a stretcher as I stood up. Raven was unconscious again. She twitched in her sleep as I rested her on the stretcher.