Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
KAI
I ’m sitting in the library going through pictures I took at the protest over the weekend, trying to decide which ones to submit to the local paper. I got some excellent crowd shots and more than a few of a woman giving an impassioned speech seeking police reform. Her son was shot during a routine traffic stop. My heart clenches as I find one focused on her face, her expression equal parts fury at the injustice of it all and grief over the loss of her son. In the background, I can make out the blurry outlines of the police—all kitted out in riot gear on the perimeter—lending an ominous juxtaposition to the emotion pouring out of her. I decide this photo is front page material and send it to my contact in the newsroom at the Birch Falls Times.
The buzzing of an incoming call on my phone draws my attention away from my work. It’s a local number I don’t recognize, and it has me wondering if Marcus already got my email and saw the pic. I answer it while continuing to scroll through the rest of the images from the protest. “Yeah, Kai here.”
“Kai, honey, it’s Laura.”
I sit up, my attention fully on the woman on the other end of the call. I haven’t spoken to Laura since her move to Whispering Grove, and the nervousness in her voice has me on full alert.
“What’s up, Ms. Laura? Everything okay?”
“Have you talked to Reenie lately? She was supposed to come visit this weekend, but she didn’t. She hasn’t called either. I just was wondering if she had something else going on and forgot?”
I can hear the worry and hurt in her voice that Laura is trying to mask. Her question causes a pit to open up in my stomach. Serena wasn’t in class today either.
“You’re…sure she didn’t come?” I ask hesitantly, trying not to offend Laura by calling her memory into question. She lets out a frustrated sigh.
“Yes, I’m sure. I always write down when we speak or see each other so I can keep up with what’s going on in her life. It’s not like her to not at least call to tell me she can’t make it. I tried calling her, but her phone went straight to voicemail.”
“Right, um, she wasn’t in class today either. Maybe she’s sick?” I don’t believe the words coming out of my mouth, but I don’t want to give Laura more reason to worry until I know what’s going on.
“Yeah…maybe you’re right. Do you mind checking on her? I’d call Dom, but I don’t have his number.”
I can tell Laura doesn’t want to bother me, so I do my best to put her at ease.
“Yeah, yeah, no problem. I need to hook up with her for a project in class anyway so I’ll reach out to her. I’ll make sure she calls you when I talk to her.”
“Thanks, honey. Tell your mom and dad I said hello.”
I’m already packing up my laptop before we hang up, the burning need to find my friend spurring on my movements, despite Dom’s previous threats to stay away from her playing in the back of my mind.
My first stop is Brewed Awakening to see if Serena went to work today. Marie is behind the counter looking frazzled and way more pregnant than any person should. Serena might have been on to something when she joked that Marie was pregnant with a baby yeti. When Marie sees me, she manages to flash me a tired but friendly smile.
“Hey Kai. What can I get you?”
“Actually, I was looking for Serena. Did she come to work today? She missed class, and we were supposed to meet up to study.” I make up a lie, trying to get a feel for how much Marie knows without raising too much suspicion. I don’t want it to get back to Dominick that I’m looking for Serena without a plausible reason.
Marie lets out a frustrated sigh before answering. “She sent a text this morning saying she was sick and probably wouldn’t be in all week. I hope she’s okay, but man, her timing sucks. I was seriously considering starting my maternity leave this week, but I can’t leave Eddie and Marge in the lurch like that. Lord knows if they have to rely on André, nobody in Birch Falls will get the right coffee order.”
“I heard that!” André hollers from the kitchen on the other side of the passthrough window.
“Good! I meant for you to hear it!” Marie rolls her eyes at me, ignoring André’s indignant huff behind her. Deciding I’m not in the mood to get burned by a pregnant woman’s wrath, I redirect the conversation.
“Do you have her new address? I’ll drop by the notes from class so she doesn’t fall behind. I’d ask her, but her phone is off and going to voicemail.”
“Yeah, I think she changed it for payroll. Let me go check.” When Marie returns with Serena’s new address on a slip of paper, I am out the door on a mission to rescue my friend no matter what it takes.
Dominick’s house is located outside of town, secluded on a large lot surrounded by trees. After parking in the driveway, I send a quick text to my parents with a pin for my location, just in case. Seeing only Serena’s car present, gives me hope that she’s here alone. I don’t trust the asshole cop not to start some shit if he’s here, but I refuse to leave without speaking to Serena myself. He can fucking arrest me for all I care—I just need to make sure she’s okay.
“ReRe! You here?” I bang on the door loudly, hoping she realizes it’s me at the door. The memory of how broken she looked last time we saw each other haunts me, lending a frantic energy to my knocking. “ReRe! It’s Kai. Can you open up? Your mom asked me to check on you!” I press my ear to the door, listening for any signs of life coming from inside the house. I hear the faint shuffle of footsteps. The sound is light, almost timid. Definitely not Dominick. “Serena, I can hear you. Can you please come talk to me?”
The sound of the lock disengaging sends relief flooding through my system, but that feeling is quickly squashed by the scared, haunted face appearing in the small gap she allows when she opens the door. Her eyes are bloodshot, streaks of tears staining her cheeks. The look of absolute terror in her eyes is what makes my blood run cold.
“Kai! What are you doing? You shouldn’t be here!” Her warning is delivered in a panicked whisper like she’s afraid of waking a sleeping dragon.
“Your mom called me. She was worried about you and wanted me to check on you. Can you let me in so we can talk?” The only way to describe the look on Serena’s face at my suggestion is pure unbridled terror.
“I’m fine, Kai. Please, you need to go now. Dom will be home any minute. I’ll call my mom later, okay?” She moves to shut the door, but I shove my foot into the opening before she can shut me out of her life again. I am not backing down this time. Not without a fight. Serena is clearly scared and in danger and I refuse to let her deal with this alone. The move to prevent her from shutting the door surprises Serena enough that she takes a step back. I take the opportunity to push my way in, hoping if I can get her to talk to me, I can convince her to leave. What I see when I finally get a good look breaks my heart into a thousand pieces.
Serena stands before me in a tank top and shorts pajama set that more closely resembles lingerie than the normal pajamas she prefers. It is also wildly seasonably inappropriate and goosebumps erupt all across her bare skin. She crosses her arms over her chest and ducks her head like she’s trying to hide herself from me, but it isn’t enough. I see the angry purple-red bruises dotting her biceps and her thighs, the size and shape of fingertips. The more I look, the more of the disgusting, punishing marks I find, dotting her chest and neck. My vision goes red from anger. I reach out for her, ready to drag her to safety if I have to, but Serena pulls away before I can reach her, eyes wide with terror.
“No, Kai! Please, you need to leave. You can’t be here; Dom will kill you if he catches you.” Tears shimmer in her eyes as her gaze darts around the room like she’s waiting for him to jump out of the shadows.
“The fuck I will, ReRe. I am not leaving you here with him! Are you kidding me? What did he do to you? You’re covered in bruises.” This time Serena doesn’t pull away when I gently grab her hands, pulling her arms away from her body so I can take in the full scope of her injuries. I feel like I’m going to throw up at the sight of her trembling, battered and bruised body. The guilt I feel for letting this happen to her causes bile to rise up in my throat. Serena’s face crumples as a sob escapes her. I pull her into my arms, holding her as tight as I dare while my own hot tears slide down my cheeks and land in her hair.
“I’m so scared, Kai… He’s not who I thought he was. I fucked up. God, I fucked up so bad.”
I squeeze her in my arms, trying to comfort her without hurting her more. “Shh, no you didn’t. He’s the one who fucked up by hurting you. I’m going to fucking kill him.” I don’t recognize the cold fury lacing the tone of my words, but I know without a doubt I mean every word I say. I hold Serena for as long as I dare, but I know every minute we waste gets us closer to being caught by Dominick.
“Come on, ReRe. Let me get you out of here and somewhere safe.” Serena looks up at me, fear shining bright in her eyes. Her mouth opens to tell me no, but I put my finger on her full lips, shushing her before the word makes it past them. “I am not leaving without you, so get that out of your thick skull right now. Get your shit so we can go. I am not going to let him put his fucking hands on you ever again. We good?” I feel Serena’s head nod more than see it, but it’s enough affirmation for me to remove my finger so she can talk.
“He took my purse, keys and phone to work. I’ve been trapped here since Friday. He wouldn’t let me go to work or class today. I don’t know if he will ever let me go back.” The broken, defeated inflection to her voice stokes the fire of rage burning inside of me, strengthening my resolve to see her to safety.
“Aight then, let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Serena doesn’t protest when I take her by the hand and lead her out the door, away from this nightmare.