Chapter Five: The Nightmare
Erin had just finished organizing the clothes in the tote and selected a pair to wear after her shower in order to change out of the clothes she had been wearing since the previous night. She brushed her brown hair away from her face and proceeded to the small walk-in bathroom connected to the room.
She was pleased to have the opportunity to shower and cleanse herself of the dirt and any remnants of Luke's presence on her skin. Upon reaching the shower, she adjusted the water to the desired temperature, covering her chest with her arms before stepping in.
A sense of relief washed over her as the warm water cascaded down her body. While running her hands through her wet hair, she heard the door open and Meredith's voice calling out, 'Al told me you might need some shampoo and soap,' as the older woman approached the teenager inside the shower.
Peeking cautiously to ensure her modesty was preserved, Erin expressed her gratitude by saying, 'Thanks, Ms. Olinsky,' as she observed the woman nodding and not departing. 'I am uncertain of your intentions, young lady, but stepping out of line will not be tolerated,' Meredith cautioned.
Erin's expression turned to a frown, puzzled by Meredith's words but choosing not to challenge her. 'Al is merely aiding a struggling teenager who is attempting to find her place,' the older woman remarked.
Despite feeling unhappy about the situation, Erin refrained from questioning the woman, understanding the importance of showing respect towards those welcoming her into their home.
'Do you understand my expectations?' Meredith asked sternly, locking eyes with Erin's unblinking hazel gaze. 'Yes, I assure you I will not misbehave,' Erin affirmed as she moved away from the shower to begin soaping up.
Prior to her departure, Meredith ensured she observed the adolescent transitioning from the shower. Upon noticing the bruises scattered across her body, Meredith exhibited a frown.
Despite feeling compelled to address the bruises present between Erin's legs, Meredith refrained and simply shook her head. Her sole intention was to emphasize and ensure Erin's understanding of the rules.
· Back To The district with Voight and Al*
Voight was seated at his desk, reviewing documents that required completion, his thoughts drifting towards Erin. As Al approached, Voight expressed, 'I was contemplating the idea of locating Erin's brother to determine his whereabouts.' Voight considered the matter and indicated his discomfort with the situation of Erin's mother losing her son.
'We will need to inquire with Erin about the name and age of her brother,' he stated. Al, in agreement, remarked, 'I am astounded by how well Erin has managed through all of this, considering her significant reasons to persevere.'
Voight, concurring, added, 'She exemplifies remarkable strength as a young woman.' As Voight wrapped up his paperwork, he remarked, 'In any case, I am going to conclude my work for the evening.' With a nod to Al, Voight departed the office for the night.
Upon arriving at his house after a brief drive, he entered and retrieved a beer from the refrigerator before settling into his chair. He then took out his phone and dialed Erin's number, hoping for her to pick up. 'Hello?' Erin's voice greeted him on the other end of the line.
'Hey, Erin, how are you doing?' Voight inquired as he took a sip of his beer. 'You seem to be veering into stalker territory,' Erin teased, eliciting a chuckle from Voight.
'Oh, I'm just checking in on you,' he replied. Voight paused to take a deep breath before mentioning, 'Things are alright here, except for Al's wife being difficult, but it's nothing major,' Erin's joking comment prompted a laugh from Voight.
'You'll get used to it, and she'll warm up to you eventually,' Voight reassured her. Erin let out a sigh, 'I'm not so sure, but anyway, what do you need other than keeping tabs on me?' she playfully asked, causing Voight to roll his eyes at her remarks. 'You mentioned having a baby brother,' Voight said.
Erin expressed, 'He is around 4 or 6 years old now; it has been quite a while since I last saw him.' Voight inquired while rocking in his chair, 'What is his name?' Erin replied, 'Mom named him Teddy. Why do you ask?' Voight sighed and took a sip of his drink, 'Al wants to try and locate him for you.'
Erin gasped at the other end of the line and questioned, 'Are you both certain about this? Helping me get out is already more than enough, and I am unsure if he still resides in Chicago. He may have been adopted, especially by a good family. I do not wish to disrupt that.'
Voight asked Erin, 'Do you desire to know the whereabouts of your brother?' Erin responded, 'Every day, but I cannot expect you to undertake this on my behalf.' Voight asserted, 'We are not seeking your opinion. Anyway, I must prepare for bed now.' Subsequently, Voight ended the call.
· With Erin *
Erin set her phone down after speaking with Voight and wondered if they would be able to assist her in locating her brother. In all honesty, she had not given Teddy much thought lately, as he had been taken away when he was just a year old, leaving her with few memories since they were only half-siblings. The brunette let out a sigh as she prepared for bed, changing into a nightgown she found in her bag.
As she approached the door to lock it, her phone rang, prompting her to secure the door before checking her messages. 'Voight, if you're texting to inquire about my well-being, you just called,' Erin teasingly remarked as she sat down to read the message.
Upon seeing that it was from Luke, she hesitantly read the content. She scrolled through the message, feeling uneasy as she read, 'Enjoying your time at your new friend's house? Day one of you being a little whore.' Luke had texted, 'I will be waiting for you when they turn you away.'
Erin hesitated about responding to the message but decided it was best to power off her phone, place it on charge, and set it on the nightstand. She then curled up in a ball, allowing tears to slowly stream down her cheeks.
Closing her eyes, she pulled the blanket over her head and sobbed quietly, questioning her ability to handle the situation before finally falling asleep. As the night progressed, Erin became restless, sweating and whimpering as she tossed and turned in distress.
In her sleep, she cried out, 'Get off.' These cries intensified into a panicked plea, 'Get off me Luke!' as her nightmare persisted.
Someone tried to comfort her by reassuring her it was just a dream, but their efforts were met with a sharp yelp from Erin. Sobbing, she begged, 'Please…I'm sorry… just stop and get off of me.'
Approximately at 3 am, Al was in the process of getting a glass of water when he heard a loud screeching noise emanating from the garage. The sound was of such intensity that it had the capacity to awaken the entire neighborhood. Subsequently, Al made the decision to investigate the source of this disturbance, which led him to the young teen, Erin.
Upon entering the garage, Al was struck with a pang of sadness as he observed Erin tossing and turning while murmuring in her sleep. In response to another piercing screech from Erin, he swiftly moved towards her to offer comfort. 'Please cease… I apologize,' Erin could be heard crying out in her sleep.
Al tenderly whispered to Erin, reassuring her of her safety. 'It is alright, Erin. You are safe. Please awaken, my dear,' he implored while delicately nudging her shoulder to rouse her.
As Erin's eyes fluttered open, she perceived a hand resting on her shoulder and a voice reaching her from beyond the realm of her unconsciousness. Abruptly sitting upright, she nearly toppled Al to the ground in the process. 'I apologize,' she murmured softly, her fragile frame trembling as tears streamed down her face.
Al slowly seated himself on the bed, embracing her, causing the brunette to tense briefly before relaxing. 'It's okay, take all the time you need,' Al whispered softly in her ear. 'I'm sorry… I woke you,' Erin whispered as she withdrew from his arms.
'Don't worry, would you like to discuss the dream?' Al inquired, his thoughts racing to consider what might have transpired with Erin before she arrived.
He hesitated to entertain the possibility of something dreadful, yet the revelation of bruises near the young teenager's legs by Meredith hinted at the truth.
Erin shook her head as she wiped her eyes. 'It was merely a dream, I am foolish to allow it to persist,' she whispered, rubbing her face with her hands. 'Erin, I implore you to communicate with me, I am here to assist,' Al affirmed, gazing into Erin's teary hazel eyes.
The teenager declined firmly, 'No, I am unable to. It was merely a dream, it holds no significance,' Erin stated. 'Please refrain from persisting with your inquiries,' she pleaded, while curling into a ball.
Al consoled her by rubbing her shoulder and assured her, 'Okay, I will not pressure you, but if this recurs, I will continue to inquire until you confide in me,' he conveyed.
Erin acknowledged with a nod and closed her eyes. She did not withhold the information from Al or Voight because she did not wish to share it but because she did not want to put them at risk of harm. After Al departed, Erin contemplated returning to sleep.