30. Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Axel
Coming home from school yesterday and seeing that video sent me over the edge. I left the house and went straight to hers, knowing she wasn’t there. I just needed to inhale her scent and figure out how to save her.
My brothers are all wrong. She doesn’t enjoy being used and fucked in every hole of her body. They wouldn't understand the lengths a victim will go to keep their minds and body safe from harm. They wouldn't know what it's like to be touched against your will, but I do. I can see the mask in place on her face. I can see that she fakes every moan, every whimper. It’s all a ruse to get through it and I don’t blame her. I know the feeling all too well and I’ve done the same thing time and time again.
I just want to know why she didn’t tell me. Why didn’t she trust me enough to come to me and let me save her? My heart literally hurts that I can feel her wherever she is, begging for it to stop, screaming for someone to save her. It fucks with my head so bad. It’s like she’s screaming for me, calling my soul to come to hers, but I can’t find her. The realization brings me to my knees, making it hard to breathe without her.
I couldn’t stay in that house another minute while they berated her and called her all sorts of names. Mostly Caspian, but I know he will soon find out the truth and regret everything he said. You can tell he’s hurt. She seeped into his black soul just like the rest of us, but unlike Harley and Rick, he keeps his anger bottled up tight until he can’t take it anymore and completely loses it. And when he does, it’s pure havoc.
Laying in her bed, I inhale deeply into her pillow, then reach over for the blade that’s still sitting where she left it the other night. Picking it up, I twirl it around my fingers as I pull down my sweats and boxers over my hip, bringing the metal to my skin, slicing down three times. The sadness I feel is making me want to cut more, wanting to feel all the pain until I can’t breathe, but I know it won’t help. I won’t be okay until she is back in my arms safely.
Getting up, I walk into her bathroom and find a bandage in her cabinet and place it over my wound. I know she’s not coming back tonight and I should really just go back home.
So I place the blade on her vanity and climb out of her window leaving the same way I came in. I could call one of my brother’s to come get me but I need to be alone.
Clearing my head isn’t helping as I arrive home, walking through the door to see Harley on the couch, talking on the phone. He raises a brow at me and I shake my head and go upstairs.
Opening my bedroom door, I see Caspian is playing video games so I ignore him and strip down to my sweats, climb into bed and close my eyes. I’m done with today and I just hope tomorrow that she comes back.
The next day is no better. Like a robot, I go through the motions of getting up and going to school. Being pissed all day because Presley never shows up and now there are rumors spreading about her. I ignore the lies, even if there’s proof being plastered all over the walls of the halls and being sent all over social media.
I know deep in my heart she was being forced. It took everything in me not to take a knife to Jacob Lee’s throat today as he smirked at us. As him and his friends taunted my brothers every chance he got.
Casp was the only one who stayed cool, and when Jacob thought it was okay to talk shit to my brother, Caspian’s response was to oink at him like a pig. I’ve never seen Jacob Lee’s face go completely white before. That’s when I knew he’s already had an encounter with my brother and he’s going to have another one real soon if he keeps it up. The only thing saving him is this school, because if this shit was happening on the streets, Casp would’ve made a mockery of him. How funny would it be to see that piece of shit collared and leashed? I’d die of laughter to watch my brother drag the prick around like a little bitch. Maybe I’ll plant the seed later on.
The school day is finally over and I walk home. My brothers all left early and I told them I would just walk. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I take it out to see who it is. It’s probably Casp checking up on me, but my heart stops when I see it’s Presley. Opening up the thread, my heart stills in my chest as I slowly walk up the driveway.
Presley: Hey my Fallen Angel. This is the last time you will hear from me. I’ve been abused, raped and beaten more times than I could ever tell you.
Presley: But I can’t take it anymore. I can’t stay here any longer. If I do, I’ll have to endure more than I already have and I just can’t live this life anymore.
Presley: I hate that I even have to send this to you, but I’m a coward and couldn’t face you. I’d never leave if I told you face to face. But I have to get out of here. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry for everything that has happened.
Presley: Please don’t hate me. I’ve lied to you all every single fucking day and it kills me, but whatever you hear about me, it’s true. Until it’s not.
Presley: I was forced and blackmailed to do those things. You know better than anyone else what it feels like. When you found me the other night, I did want to end my life. I still do because I can’t take it anymore. I’ve had enough. I hurt so fucking much and I know me leaving will hurt you too.
Presley: I’m sorry Axel. I never meant to come into your life, only to abandon you. You saved me more times than you will ever know. You saw the real me, made me strip my mask only for you to accept me underneath it all.
Presley: I don’t want to leave you. If there was another way, I’d do it, but there isn’t. Last night I sold my soul only to ruin myself in the process. I have twelve hours to gather my stuff and say my goodbyes before I marry Jacob Lee and become his trophy wife.
Presley: This was the only way to keep you all safe after having slept with Mr. Radley because I remind him of my dead mother.
Presley: Everything that has happened was punishment for what my mother and the founding women didn’t and couldn’t do. I don’t want this life. I won’t survive.
Presley: Just know that my heart will always be with you. My soul will always yearn for yours Axel. You are embedded deep within my bones.
Presley: Just please, don’t look for me. Move on with your life. Draw all the paintings your heart desires and find a girl who isn’t damaged to help mend your broken heart.
Presley: I will always love you, Axel. Find me in your dreams and let my dark angel wings fly.Love always, Presley.
I stare at the text in disbelief as tears stream down my face. She can’t leave. Everyone always fucking leaves. No one ever picks me. It’s always someone or something else. Alone is all I am. No, I don’t accept this. She isn’t allowed to leave like this. No. No! My heart can’t take it. The only girl my broken soul speaks to is gone. I can’t fucking breathe as my chest tightens and I fall to my knees, dropping my phone on the porch with a thud. I hold my head in my hands as I sob. She left me. She chose another life than one with me and my brothers. I try to take a deep breath, but I can’t, my heart hurts so fucking bad.
The front door swings open as heavy footsteps quickly stomp down the stairs.
“Axel, what’s wrong?” Rick asks as I lift my head to look up at him.
“Sh-she’s gone,” is all I can stammer out. His face drops as his brows furrow.
“Who? Presley?” He asks and I nod.
“What the fuck does that mean?” He shouts, making me jump as the rest of my brothers come piling out of the front door.
“What is going on?” Harley asks as Caspian bends down, placing a hand gently on my shoulder.
“What happened Ax, talk to me.” He whispers, but I shrug him off.
“Why do you care? You think she’s a fucking slut that asked for it.” I spit as I stand, causing him to stand as well, taking a step back.
“You all had so much to fucking say yesterday, but you got your wish, she’s gone. She can’t take it anymore and now I lost the girl who actually helped me find my fucking voice.” I yell as Brax picks up my phone.
“Go ahead, read it you fucking idiot! All of you. Read the truth, not the fucking rumors being spewed about her.” I growl, getting in Caspians face.
“You may have saved me when mom’s boyfriends tried to rape me, but if I ever hear you speak about her the way you did yesterday, I will take your own knife and slice your fucking throat, brother or not.” I threaten and he nods. Looking at my other brothers, I give them the same malicious look, but Rick interrupts before I can continue to speak.
“Fuck this. Look, she sent that twenty minutes ago. I’m not letting her leave. We can protect her. I’ll fucking buy her from that family if I have to. Fuck them pricks. We hold just as much power, if not more than they do.” He says as Brax chucks the phone across the gravel.
“Yep, let’s go get our girl. I’ll fucking kill Jacob for this.” He growls as Harley nods, climbing down the steps. Looking at Casp who looks deep in thought, I snap my fingers in front of his face as he blinks at me.
“You with us?” I ask and he nods. Harley gets in with Brax while Casp gets in with me and Rick.
“Let’s check her house first and if she isn’t there, we stop at the shop and grab some guns.” Casp suggests and Rick nods, backing out of the driveway. Presley’s house isn’t far from ours, so it doesn’t take long to get there.
We all climb out and run for the front door. As we stand about to knock on it, we hear screaming from inside. I’m the first one to swing the door open with Rick hot on my tail. Seeing a trail of broken glass littering the floor the further we step in, I hear her screams again and move my ass to the kitchen. I stop in my tracks as I see her covered in blood, repeatedly stabbing her stepfather in the chest and stomach, completely void of her surroundings.
Rick moves quickly around me and wraps his arms around her, pulling her off Stan’s dead body. The knife clatters against the floor as she slips in the blood pooling from his head. Rick catches her, taking a few steps back. She looks around with wide eyes, shivering as cold air seeps in from the kitchen window.
Her eyes connect with someone over my shoulder as the front door opens and shuts in the near distance. The sound of crunching glass under their boots as they get closer to us. I step into her space and place one hand on her heaving chest as the other lifts her chin to look at me.
She’s in shock and I’m not sure she even knows we're here. The door slamming once again causes her to jump, making me and Rick sandwich her in between us, hoping to bring her back to us and snap her back to reality.
She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath before opening them. Her bright green eyes take in the scene for a second before pushing me away and walking out the back door, letting it slam behind her. I look at Rick who stares at the door she left through, then back at the dead body behind me.
“I’m honestly fucking proud of her.” Casp says and I can’t help but laugh.
“You ain’t never lied, brother. This was a long time coming.” I say and they all turn to look at me.
“What? Ask the question. Don’t just look at me waiting for the answers. Fucking ask.” I spit through gritted teeth.
“Why is it a long time coming? I know he was a piece of shit, but what would motivate her to kill him like this?” Brax asks and I laugh, bringing my fingers to my lips, smelling copper on them.
“Remember the night she came to the house for the first time and freaked out about her fucking pills?” I ask and they all nod. “Well, when I got here, he was in her bed, naked and passed out.” I growl, taking in their expressions.
Harley looks like he’s about to throw up. Rick is ready to flip tables. Brax has his hands in tight fists but Casp, he has that same look I saw so many years ago in my room the night he killed that fucker. “He’s been touching her for years. I saw right through her. Her broken soul speaks to mine. Why? Because I’ve been used and abused for the sake of someone else's gain damn near my whole life. Broken sees broken any day of the week. How you all never saw it, is beyond me. But that amazing, beautiful girl out there, she’s a fucking warrior, a survivor. And what she did to this piece of shit, is the icing on the cake. She just freed herself from one hell only to enter another.” I say and they all stand there looking like I slapped them all with a dose of fucking reality.
“I feel like a fucking asshole. She’s been my best friend for so fucking long and I never knew she was hurting, that she was suffering all this time.” Rick says and I turn to him.
“How would you? She played the part well. She couldn’t tell you even if she wanted to, and trust me, I tried. What makes matters worse, the other night, I found her trying to take her life.” I say and they all gasp.
“Yep and I saved her. She has nothing else left in her to give. They’ve taken everything away from her. If any of you really care about her, you will help me save her, help me put her broken pieces back together. She deserves to feel safe again. And the only time she was ever genuinely happy, was when she was with us. Whether that be all together or any moments we steal with her. Because that's what it is, stolen moments, because now she’s theirs and we need to take her back.” I spit, hoping my words are sinking into their brains, because I will stop at nothing to make her happy and see her worth again. They don’t get to ruin her. They don’t get to break her. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
I spin and head for the back door, opening it and stepping onto the porch and down the stairs into the overgrown grass. I watch as she takes a deep breath, staring at the sky for a moment as the door opens and shuts behind me a few times. My brothers came to their senses as they join me, waiting for her to turn and acknowledge us.
I just want her to know we are here and there’s no leaving, there’s no walking away from this. Our hands are all bloody no matter how you look at it. We just need to know what the next move is. She takes another deep breath and spins, staring at us all as we stare at her. I can’t help but admire the woman covered in blood, looking hot as fuck, standing opposite me. I’m not sure what facial expressions my brothers have but I don’t fucking care.
“Angel Baby. We need a plan.” I say softly.
“We’re here to help, Gumdrop.” Casp rasps.
“Just tell us what you need, Beauty.” Rick begs
“I’m not sure what to do now. I should feel better that he’s gone and he can’t hurt me, but I don’t feel anything.” She whispers, taking a step closer to us.
“That’s because you’re in shock, Lil’Mama.” Brax states as Harley takes a step towards her.
“What do you feel, Pres?” he asks as he lifts her hand, placing it against his chest.
“I feel your heart beating rapidly. I feel the sun warming my skin and I feel all of your eyes on me.” She says and he laughs, shaking his head.
“No, what do you feel inside?” he asks as she takes a deep breath.
“Scared. Tired. Alone and broken.” She whispers and he nods.
“You’re not alone anymore. We’re here. We will figure this shit out. Let us protect you.” Casp says and she nods.
“Well we need to start somewhere. So, let’s go clean up the body and come up with a plan. I’m running out of time.” She says and my brothers spin and head back inside. I don’t move until she comes up to me. Cupping her face, I press my lips to hers, placing a small kiss on her cold lips.
“I love you too, Angel Baby. You’re stuck with me forever.” I admit and she smiles as a lone tear falls from her eye.
“No more crying, no more going through everything alone. We are in this together, forever, or so help me god.” I warn and she laughs.
“Forever?” She says and I kiss her again.
“Forever, baby.” I whisper as I take her hand and lead us back into the house.
I vow to never let anyone else take her from us. She is ours to love and protect until my last dying breath.