Christian's POV

It has been a week since she was discharged from the hospital. After talking to John, I realized that maybe it was still early for her to talk about things… but she was taking it to the extreme… she was afraid of everything… Since we returned home, she enclosed herself into her room and only came to the living room if we dragged her with us. I was getting concerned that she was becoming clinically depressed… or maybe this was another way she was handling herself.

We still haven't watched the DVD but we planned on doing so today. We had to find our courage and face the reality of what our daughter went through. After all she did stick up for me… she did put her life at stake to save mine.

Every time I entered her room, or the living room, the two places she started hanging out at, she was always lost in a book or listening to music or working on some paper that she wanted to work on. She started skipping meals again… but we didn't let her win. Even if I had to drag her down… and today wasn't the least.

'Christian…' Ana started. 'Try talking to her… she said she's not hungry and that she's still full from the lunch soup…'

'How is she?' I asked concerned. She had been in the living room for over 5 hours.

'Like a ghost…' She admitted. 'I've tried everything… I've even tried bribing her…'

'I'll drag her myself if the need be…' I said as I made my way to the living room. We didn't know what to do anymore. She was shutting us out. I called her over 5 times but she still didn't hear me. I could hear the music blasting from her headphones from few meters away. I went from behind her and touched her shoulder lightly… she jumped at my touch knocking everything from her hands.

'Shit! Dad don't sneak up on me!' She quickly stood up.

'I'm sorry… I called you 5 times…' I replied as I took a look at her playlist. 'Born to die… Sera listen to something better…'

'It's fine dad…' She let her gaze drop as she sat back down.

'Baby… what's wrong?' I asked her gently as I sat beside her and hugged her to me.

'Nothing… It's just… you scared me…' She admitted as she continued writing stuff.

'Why don't you talk to som…'

'Dad… I'm fine…' She insisted again.

'Then come for dinner… Your mother and I are waiting for you…'

'I'm still full…'

'…from lunch… I know… your mother told me… but I'm still asking you to join us… it's your choice how you want to do it, whether I drag you down or not…'

'Why are you making me do this?'

'…because I'm your father and I love you… and frankly this isn't normal behaviour… not for you…'

'I'll eat later…'

'You still have to join us. We are a family and we should act like one…' I insisted as I took her pen. 'Paper work can wait… Now come…' I insisted again. 'Sera there is no way in hell you're getting out of this…'

'Ok… Fine…' she finally gave up.

'Your parent's called…' Ana started trying to make a suitable conversation to drown the quietness that was eating us.

'Yes… dad called me few hours ago.'

'Are we going?' She asked again.

'Why not? It would take our minds off things for a while…' I replied back.

'Wh…Where are we going?' She asked almost afraid.

'Your grandparent's are organising a charity ball. We're all invited…' Ana replied.

'When is it?'

'Next Saturday…'

'I'll stay with Gail…'

'No… you're coming… You are part of all of us…' I insisted.

'We'll go shopping and by some new dresses.' Ana tried.

'I hate ball gowns mum… besides I'd rather spend my night with Natalie then having to spend my night with a bunch of strangers.'

'We'll by a long chiffon dress if you hate ball gowns… besides the Taylor's are also invited…' Ana added.

'Why don't you want to come?' I asked as I rested my back to the chair eyeing her.

'I just don't feel like going out…'

'Why?' Ana insisted again.

'It's just… there will be bunch of people all poised and elegant and business talk… I'll be a fish out of the sea.' She quickly answered.

'It's a charity ball… you're coming… besides you need to get out of this damn house…' Ana finally laid down the law.

'Mum…'

'You're coming end of discussion! I'm tired of seeing you closed in here…' She said again. 'Sera… I'm sorry… but you need this… it will help you… you need to start talking and going out again…'

'Ok…' She finally said. 'Can I be excused please?'

'Finish your dinner please…' I ordered gently.

'Um… dad… can I skip tomorrow? I know I promised I'll be coming to work with you… but I'm doing the work here… so can I please stay?'

'No Sera… You need to get out of here…' I insisted again.

'But dad…'

'No… you're coming with me…'

'Why do I have to do whatever you tell me? Can't I just please stay home.'

'Watch your tone with me Sera!' I scolded. 'We are not doing this to irritate you or to make you unhappy… we want to help you, but you are shutting us out… but I'm not letting you drag yourself into this path. I've been there before your mother came along and I can assure you that it doesn't have a happy ending.'

'Like there ever is a happy ending dad…' she said again as she left the table. I stood up wanting to go after her, but Ana held my hand.

'Give her a minute…'

'Ana… She's bailing on us.'

'Christian do you remember when we bailed on her?' She reminded me. 'Give her a minute… she needs to calm down and think for herself.' She insisted. '…and I thought you weren't going to work tomorrow.'

'I'm not…'

'Than why did you tell her you are going?'

'I'm taking her out to beach and we are going to talk…'

'Christian… you know it can back fire…'

'It won't Ana… I've planned it till the last detail. I'll take the route to work and then change direction. When we'll arrive she won't have time to argue…'

'That's not what I mean…' Ana said again. 'That is not the point. What I mean is that if she'll feel that you lied to her…'

'I'm not lying to her…'

'It seems to me that way…'

'So what are you suggesting? Do nothing?'

'No Christian, you're choosing to hear what you want. What I'm saying is that telling her you're going somewhere and you take her somewhere else isn't going to help either.' She explained. '…besides she's not dumb… she is going to realise that you're not taking the same route to work.'

'So what am I supposed to do? Let her rot in this misery?'

'Christian… do what you like… I'm tired of trying to explain.'

'So what this is my fault now?' I threw back.

'It is both our fault… We didn't realise she was keeping such a burden…' She said again. 'I want to talk to Earl…'

'No Ana… that is absolutely out of discussion…'

'Christian I will be behind a glass with a detective beside me.'

'No Ana! I said no!' I stood up pacing away.

'Fuck Christian! You always do this! You cannot control the fucking world and you can't control me!'

'In this yes Anastasia… You don't know what we found on his computer.'

'…and you know…'

'Yes, as a matter of fact I do Anastasia… He knew where every second of day you were… he knew your every move… we found a tracker device in your phone that is registered to him… Yes Ana I know…' I said desperately as she sat down in defeat. 'Ana…' I moved forward to her. 'I'm sorry…'

'He knew everything…'

'Unfortunately… yes…'

'How did we miss this Christian?'

'I don't know… what I know is that he'll pay and Elena will too…' I tried again. 'Ana… maybe it's not a good idea to wat…'

'No… I want to watch it… I've prepared myself for it… It's time we face the facts Christian…' She insisted.

'Ok…' I agreed with her as we both moved to my study. I brought the DVD from the security vault and she took it from my hands. She entered the passwords and placed the DVD. She sat down on my chair while I remained standing. We looked towards each other looking for support. We both didn't know what we were expecting. We were both hesitant on pressing the 'play' button. 'Ana… maybe we shouldn't watch it…'

'Christian… we have to… for her…' She insisted as she grabbed her courage and pressed it. At first there were nothing but dark smudges of someone walking, until the iron door opened.

'What the hell took you so long?'

'Hey she was reluctant and she's with her friends.'

'Oh… let me get a picture of that face… Daddy Warbucks will enjoy this more than we will…' His voice echoed. It brought shivers down my spine. 'She's fading fast… how much have you given her?'

'About 4 or 5 drinks and 9 pills…' He answered back.

'Josh… please… let's go…' she begged.

'Oh no missy… not so fast…'

'Where are we?' She asked trying to push him off.

'In your worst nightmare…' He said again.

He threw her to the floor and as she tried making a run for it, he grabbed her leg. Earl's voice guided Josh what to do. Her voice broke my heart. She cried and begged… but they kept forcing themselves to her. She fought… She didn't give in immediately. I looked over to Ana and I could see her drowning in tears. She cleared them immediately. She was stronger than me this time.

'Oh yes Josh! Do her good!' Earl started. 'Move a bit to the left… There…'

'No… please… I'll do anything… I have money… I'll give you the money…' She kept begging. PLEAASSSEEEEE' Her piercing scream ran down my spine.

'Oh Sera… I don't want your money… I want to ruin your father's empire!'

'Please Josh… Please don't!' She kept begging as he kept pushing himself into her.

'You think because you're daddy's princess you'll be having it easy… you're wrong! Big time!' He continued. 'Pinch her… yes that's it… pull her bra off…' He continued. 'Oh my… daddy must be very proud with this…What I would do to that body… Josh move over and hold the camera…' He ordered as Josh took the camera. She tried making a run for it, but it was to no use. Earl grabbed her foot and threw her against the wall. She tried getting up but it was too late. He was on top of her. 'Oh God… you're so tight…'

'Show her face…' Josh guided.

'My my Sera… this is what daddy kept… my jewel… remember back when you were young? How much we played while I took you to the park? Wow… those were the times… but this is better… way better…' He continued.

'Please… stop…' She kept begging, while Ana placed her hand to her lips. She quickly got up and searched for my bin. She threw up violently. This took its toll on both of us. I took her seat but tears were messing up with my vision.

'Pathetic… you think you can get rid of me this easily?' He laughed again. 'Don't worry Sera… I'll let Josh do the honours…' He said again as he grabbed the camera from Josh and quickly changed places. 'I got a taste of how you are…' He smiled again as he went over her face.

I looked towards Ana, and she laid there resting her back to the wall with the bin by her side. She cried and I cried with her.

'Fuckk…' Earl shouted. 'Say anything about me Sera, and your father is dead…'

'Christian… stop it…' She ordered as I closed my laptop off. We remained there not saying a word…but finally she broke the silence.

'What sick bastard does that to a 17 year old?' She cried. 'Why couldn't we keep her safe Christian?' She said again as I moved beside her and held her to me. I was afraid that if I open my moth I would get sick myself. I never thought I would have to see my kid going through this… let alone see what I just saw… It was brutal… and she didn't go down easy… but they still took her down. She kept this to herself for all this time… That's why she still suffered from nightmares… that's why I had the feeling that she was hiding something… 'Say something…'

'I don't know what to say Ana…' I admitted.

'Will she ever be what she was?'

'She will be… I know she will be…' I kept repeating the mantra. I chose to believe that we will work through this… I wanted her to be the chippy girl she was… but now the closed wound had opened.

'Has she talked you about this?'

'That he threatened her? Yes… but she doesn't want to talk about it…'

'Do you blame her…' She replied. 'I'm tired… I'm going to bed…' She replied as she got up. 'Are you coming?'

'In a minute…' I replied. 'I have to take care of some things first…'

'Ok… just… don't take long…' She instructed as she exited my office.

I rested my head to the wall and closed my eyes. I couldn't help but picture the picture perfect family we were becoming. I never thought I would want that… but in reality, I always craved for it. I wanted the happily ever after… but is this a happy ever after? He smile radiated into my brain. I would do anything to turn back time to when she was 2 years old. I would give anything to have a fresh start where nothing happened. Where I was still able to dress her in those little sundresses and take her to work, go to picnics, trips on The Grace. She on Ana's hip and clinging to her neck… both of them ganging up on me… I remembered all those times she woke us up in the middle of the night to check for monsters under her bed… only today… the monsters are real… and they are tormenting her.

I moved to my laptop and took out the DVD and placed it back to the original place. When the right time arrived, I was planning on destroying it… but I had to consult Ana about it first.

While I was walking back to our bedroom, I realised that the lights in her room were still on. I knocked gently not wanting to scare her however there was no response. I opened the door slowly and realized she was lying in bed sleeping. She had been up for over 22 hours. Finally exhaustion took over. The medications weren't working anymore… guess her body got accustomed to them. I smiled at her. She was peaceful… She laid on her side hugging the pillow tight to her. Ana sleeps like that. She had it from her. I moved forward and covered her gently dropping a kiss on her forehead. She didn't even feel me. I was glad… she was in deep sleep. Her eyes were moving under her eyelids… I wished I could know what she was dreaming of.

'Sleep tight Peanut…I love you…' I smiled as I switched the lights off and closed her door.

'She finally slept…' I started as I closed our door.

'Finally…' She said in defeat, as she lay down. 'Christian… maybe we should insist more that she talks… she is like you… once you built the wall completely you'd need a crane to crush it down.'

'Yeah…' I admitted as I joined her and hugged her tight to me. 'You left me that time… You wanted more…'

'Christian what a child wants isn't always what she needs…'

'That's why I'm taking her out tomorrow…' I continued. 'Let's sleep Ana… we're both tired… we'll talk tomorrow… I love you Ana…'

'I love you too Christian…'

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