Chapter 23: Aftermath

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Annie awoke with a start in a hospital bed. She quickly looked around to take stock of her surroundings. A typical hospital room, there was the rolling table, a couple of chairs for visitors, a window with a few vases of flowers next to it, etc. After a few moments, she started to remember what had happened to her. It came in flashes, intense and terrifying.

Belenko's men had pulled her by the chains she was tied by to a mattress in the middle of the floor and locked her wrists and ankles to rings bolted into the floor. One of them whipped out a switchblade and cut off her clothes. Afraid to move, lest they hurt her more and she possibly lose the babies, Annie stayed perfectly still and allowed what was about to happen to her, happen.

One by one, each man, except Belenko himself, plunged themselves into her and roughly, brutally, pleasured themselves with her body. They used every orifice she had at their disposal, sometimes two or three of them at once. Surprisingly, they didn't beat her, maybe because she never once moved or tried to fight them off. They just raped her. Silently, she couldn't stop the tears from sliding down her cheeks as they did what they did. She tried so hard to think of Auggie, his tenderness and love for her and their babies, but it didn't work.

She was acutely aware that Belenko was filming everything. She couldn't help but wonder what he planned to do with the images. Would he send them to Joan or Auggie? God, Auggie would go absolutely and furiously insane once he found out what had happened to her. She shuddered internally to think what he might do.

After what seemed like hours, they finally stopped. Belenko was telling them that her rescuers would be there soon and they had to be on their way. One of the men put a strong smelling rag over her face and the next thing she knew she was waking up here, in this bed, alone. Chloroform, they must have used chloroform.

Why was she alone? Did Auggie not know that she was here? God, she ached everywhere. Where were the doctors, nurses, anybody? Suddenly, she felt cold, so cold. She pulled the blanket that was on top of her up to her eyeballs and wrapped her arms around herself.

A soft knock came at her door. She looked up and saw a very friendly looking female doctor smiling at her. "Hello, Miss Walker. I'm Dr. Austin. I'll be overseeing your case while you're here. I... I know this is a very stupid sounding question but how are you feeling, physically?"

Annie sat up slowly. Her whole body ached. She was sore in so many places. When she spoke her voice came out hoarse from the abuse her throat had incurred. "Sore. Tired."

Dr. Austin nodded. "I've been made aware of your heart condition and your pregnancy. I want you to know that your babies are doing just fine. They suffered no adverse damage from the ordeal. All their levels are completely normal and we did an ultrasound to check on them."

Annie felt a pang of guilt. She hadn't yet thought of the babies safety since waking up. Of course she was happy to hear that they were fine but she felt like the worst mother ever for not even thinking about them. Touching her stomach, she felt tears well up in her eyes.

Dr. Austin continued, "Your heart also seems to be doing ok. It was slightly erratic when you first arrived but it calmed soon after your arrival. Also, it appears that your attackers used protection so your chances of catching an STD are very slim."

Ignoring the news of her own health, Annie asked, "Doctor, why... why am I alone? The babies father, August Anderson, he should be here... is he aware that I'm here?"

"He's here, in the waiting room. It's standard procedure with rape victims to not allow male visitors into the room until the victim awakes and ok's it. He's not been happy about being left out there, either. I hear the waiting room has seen better days. Do you wish for us to bring him here?"

Rape victim. That's what she was. That's what he doctor had referred to her as. Another cold chill ran through her body, causing her to shiver visibly. Slowly, Annie nodded. She wanted Auggie.

'Go slow,' the doctor had warned him. 'She's been through quite an ordeal and may not be as recetive to you as you wish her be. Rape victims often experience mistrust of men for a while after the trauma, even men they completely trusted beforehand.'

Auggie's head was spinning. On one hand, all he wanted to do was hold her, comfort her, help her heal. On the other, he wanted to personally find Belenko and rip his head off with his bare hands for what he'd done to her.

The bastard had filmed it and left it for him. He had dubbed the entire video, explaining exactly what was being done to her. The whole time taunting him with overly descriptive words. He heard the man smiling as he described each act with pure joy in his voice. Auggie had forced himself to listen to it all, tears in his eyes. She had lived it, the least he could do was hear about it. Once it was over, he had pulled the flash drive from his computer and taken his cane to it, smashing it to a thousand pieces all over his office. He had sunk down to the floor and wept for her. If only he hadn't let her come. If only she had listened to him. If only his plan had gone according to plan. But they had underestimated Belenko, and it had cost them.

He made his way to her as quickly as the doctor leading him allowed. He had to hear her voice, touch her, know she was ok. The doctor had informed him that the twins were fine and that physically, Annie would be fine in a few days. The physical trauma had been minimal. But mentally, the doctor had warned, mentally she will need a lot of time to return to any semblance of normalcy. She had given him the name and number of a rape counselor she recommended.

Annie watched as Dr. Austin led Auggie to her bed. She smiled at Annie and told her to press the call button if she needed anything at all. With that, she exited.

Auggie found the table next to Annie's bed, folded his cane and laid it on the table. Turning to her, he reached a hand out to find her face. As he slowly touched her cheek, he felt her involuntarily flinch. Fighting his instinct to pull her to him and try to comfort her, he pulled his hand away. She needed time.

"Annie... I'm... God, I'm so sorry. This never would've happened if not for me."

Annie looked up into his face. His eyes were bloodshot. He'd been crying for her. She felt a pang of guilt for flinching at his touch. She hadn't meant to, it had just happened. Slowly, she forced herself to reach out to him. Touching his hand with her own, he grasped it, tightly. He brought her hand up to his face and placed a light kiss on it.

"It's not anyone's fault." She spoke softly and slowly, her voice still raspy. "I'll... we'll get through this, Auggie. Together. Like we always do."

Auggie felt a tear slide down his cheek as he nodded at her words. "Together. I'm always here for you, Annie. Always. I promise you, we'll find that bastard. He'll pay for what he did to you."

"I know, Auggie. I know."