Matthew stared at his two girls, his throat went tight and he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He sat down next to Mary and stayed still, he didn't want to scare Sybbie. She looked awful, her face was pale and she had finger imprints on her skin. He growled protectively, they must've grabbed her so hard! How dare they do this to her, she should've been safe at school and she wasn't. She was never going back there, that was the only thing that he was certain of.
Sybbie hid her face in Mary's chest, sobbing and broken. It hurt, not just physically but emotionally too. The name calling she could have coped with, they were ignorant and had no idea of what she had gone through, but the assault itself by someone who she'd never even met before who didn't even know her. All her classmates that watched and did nothing to help her, who had sat there and laughed as she was violated again... she would never forgive them. Ever.
"I know darling, I know. What on earth happened? Can you tell us?" Mary whispered soothingly,she couldn't believe that this had happened to her again. Somewhere she was supposed to be safe, somewhere she had really wanted to be. Mary's insides churned with guilt, how she wished that she'd never suggested for her to go back to that place. Sybbie burst into loud wails, shaking her head and pushing away from her surrogate mother. She got up pacing the room, her arms wrapped protectively around herself.
"I can't... I can't! Not again, I just can't!" She gulped back sobs and was absolutely hysterical, slumping to the floor and hiding herself protectively within her pyjamas, Matthew and Mary's hearts broke as she sobbed more. Matthew gently approached the girl, sitting next to her on her level and just listened to her sob. Sybbie sobbed for her mama and papa, begging for them to come back and how she needed them. Matthew's eyes filled with tears, it always broke his heart when she sobbed for Tom and Sybil, he'd do anything to bring them back for her. He hesitantly rested his hand on her back, retracting it quickly when she flinched away from him. She looked up at him apologetically, slowly curling up into him. Pushing through how uncomfortable she was now feeling.
"Sorry daddy... I'm trying, really I am!" She hiccuped pitifully, twisting the cufflinks in his shirt. Matthew looked at Mary in shock and then down to his little girl, here she was after everything she had been through apologising to him! He picked her up in his arms and stood up, smiling sadly when she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder. The feeling of disgust was slowly leaving her body, she was with her daddy. She was being held by a man who had never let her down, who had always been kind to her no matter what.
"Shhh my darling, don't you dare apologise. You have done nothing wrong, you've been hurt in a place where you were meant to be safe. You are never ever going back there, mummy and I will not allow it. If you want to continue your education when you're up to it then we will get you a governess..." He hugged her gently to his chest, pressing kisses to her forehead. Sybbie nodded, wrapping her arms tight around his neck.
"Please don't tell George... please!" She said softly, looking down as if she were ashamed. Mary got up and gently approached her, reaching under her chin she tilted her face up so she was looking into her eyes. She stroked her cheek gently, getting even more protective when she saw the hurt in her eyes. My god, their little girl was in so much pain.
"We won't tell him anything, sweetheart. We will go at your pace, you're in control of everything ok?" She said softly, kissing her cheek and took a deep breath. They didn't like hiding things from their son but it wasn't their call, she'd already been violated enough. She didn't need them to do it to her too by disrespecting her boundaries. She felt Matthew's arm wrap around her too and she cuddled in close, the three of them hugging each other tight. Desperately trying to take away some of the pain.
After a couple of hours, Sybbie was tucked up in Matthew and Mary's bed. One on either side of her, it wasn't particularly late so Mary had rung through for some sandwiches and tea. Sybbie picked at the sandwiches, feeling nauseated and not hungry in the slightest. Mary frowned slightly but she wasn't going to push her, not after everything she had been through. Sybbie bit on the corner and forced herself to swallow it, she repeated the action until she had finished one small sandwich. Mary and Matthew smiled lovingly at her, they were so proud of her. She was trying so hard. Sybbie handed her plate to Matthew and picked at the bedspread, she trembled ever so slightly. They deserved the truth about what happened to her.
"It started out fine, today I mean." Sybbie whispered, sitting herself up and hugging her knees together. Matthew and Mary stopped eating, put their plates down and gave her their full attention. Mary soothingly rubbed her hand up and down her back, letting her know that she was listening and that she was safe here. Sybbie gained a little confidence, she rubbed her hands nervously and took a deep breath.
"It was when we started our lessons, that's when they started laughing at me and sniggering. They didn't particularly like me before because of where I live, the money, apparently I'm too quiet. But, today it felt different... nastier almost. Mrs Woods was praising me continually, I wish she hadn't. It was making them worse and worse. I heard one boy call me whore, I still don't know how they all found out about what happened!" Sybbie's eyes filled with tears and she blinked them away angrily, Matthew handed her his handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. The anger he felt as he looked into her tear filled eyes was enough to make him want to kill them.
"I managed to get through it until lunch time, I was sat minding my own business until this boy came up to me with a big group of students. Some of them I recognised but this boy I didn't at all, I'd never seen him before. He asked me how much I charge for you know..." She blushed furiously, looking down at the duvet cover. Mary shushed her softly, pulling her into a hug and kissing the top of her head.
"It's ok... you have nothing to be embarrassed about, you can tell us" She said soothingly, running a hand through Sybbie's still slightly damp hair. Sybbie hiccuped slightly, her hands shaking and Matthew reached out and held both of her hands in just one of his. He fumed silently, his little girl didn't deserve this! Just wait until they went to the school tomorrow all hell was going to break lose!
"I was so embarrassed, I could feel my cheeks burn. I tried to walk away from them but he grabbed me hard and twisted me.. he grabbed my breasts and called me a whore again and told me that he was talking to me. I was frightened, there was big group of boys and girls surrounding me, they're all so much bigger than me!" She said angrily and swiped her tears away, Matthew and Mary growled. How dare he touch her like that! How dare they just stand there and watch her get touched like that. They sat there and just let her talk, not interrupting her once.
"Then that girl Anne who I used to be friends with told them that William had told her brother that I gave it out for free! Her brother got a scholarship to go to Eaton so he knows him! They all just laughed and jeered more! Mummy... Daddy I swear I wanted the ground to swallow me up whole! I just wanted to cry but I knew that I wouldn't help the situation.. so I stood up for myself, I told them to shut up and that they had no idea what they were talking about!" She took a shuddering breath, snuggling within their embrace and finding comfort there. They always made her feel safe and secure.
"Then two boys grabbed me by my arms and my legs and then dragged me off to the sports hall and held me down on the floor, I tried to fight them off I kicked and screamed but no one came! Some of them kept a lookout for any teachers coming but they all go off school grounds for lunch so it was pointless. Then this boy, Fred I think his name is ripped my shirt off in front of everyone. I tried to keep covered up... but then, the boy who started it all off ripped my skirt up!" She let out a wail and burst into tears. They kept her in their arms, shushing her and comforting her.
"I begged them to let me go, I promised that I wouldn't tell anyone! He ripped my undergarments off and then he said that this was for William, that apparently I had lied so he was going to make sure that I regretted it! Then he... he hurt me and they all just stood there and watched! After it had ended, I got up and ran home as fast as I could. I'm so sorry I didn't... I'm sorry!" She wailed, getting up out of bed and violently throwing up into the toilet. Matthew was right behind her like the time it had happened before, getting Mary to wet a flannel for him to dab her face with.
"Take deep breaths darling, you're ok. You're safe... Mummy and Daddy are here now, hush my darling" Matthew said softly, wiping her face with the cool damp flannel and let her slump back into his arms. She was absolutely exhausted and curled up into him, hiccuping pitifully. Mary bent down to her level, taking her hands in her own.
"Let's get you freshened up sweetheart," She said softly and seeing that she was in no fit state to stand up, Mary got Sybbie's toothbrush and toothpaste and cleaned her teeth for her, allowing her to lean over the toilet to get rid of the excess toothpaste from her mouth. Mary then made quick work of brushing and braiding the little girl's hair, keeping it out of her face in the way that she liked. Sybbie leaned into their embrace, they were always so unbelievably kind and gentle with her and she loved them so much. Just having them here was making things a little bit easier for her. Matthew scooped her up in his arms and laid her back in the bed, both of them getting into the bed with her. Sybbie snuggled in their arms, her eyes beginning to feel heavy.
"I can't go through with this trial Mummy... not now. I know it's selfish, I know Alfie needs me and so does this other boy but I can't," She whispered softly and felt Matthew stroke her hair comfortingly and kiss the side of her head. It broke their heart, of course they wanted her to go through with it but not at the expense of her well being. Mary and Matthew shared a look and just spent time comforting the little girl.
"You are not selfish! You've been through something awful today and he's put the fear of God into you and I don't blame you... we will be on your side, no matter what you decide!" Mary said soothingly, hugging her tight and letting her know that she was safe here. That no one would hurt her, that they wouldn't let that happen. Sybbie relaxed and fell asleep safe in her mother's arms, Matthew waited until he was absolutely certain that she was asleep. He got the duvet untucked and tucked them all up, looking into his wife's eyes he stroked her cheek. He loved her so much, he loved his family so much. Oh how he wished he could tell George everything that was going on.
"I think it's time that I dish out my own justice..." Matthew whispered keeping his voice low to the point where Mary had to strain to hear him. She looked at him, frowning ever so slightly. As much as she wanted to she wasn't sure whether it would be a good idea, everything that they had done had blown up in their faces. She gave him a confused look, wondering what he had planned.
"I'm going to kill him, Mary. I've made my mind up... I'm done with him, what he's put her through, what he's done to Alfie, to George and this poor other chap. Probably to more people too, I wouldn't be surprised. He's an absolute psychopath. No, I'm done. I am going to kill him" Matthew growled.