Chapter Thirty Four #3
It’s of a happy family of three—growing together throughout the years and I can’t help but follow their journey through photographs.
The little girl looks so happy—so loved.
Her parents look so kind. I see her posing with her middle-school talent-show trophy and grin a bit.
What an outgoing kid she must have been.
I watch as the family gets older and older until I reach about halfway down the hallway.
One of the last photos is most likely a current one.
The dad has graying hairs and the mom has smile lines to show the years of happiness.
And the sweet daughter she... she… God, my stomach hurts.
And my head. I’m so fucking dizzy, it’s incredibly hot in here.
I look back to the picture after blinking a few times—trying to get this dizziness to fade. That’s some strong-ass wine.
The daughter—she’s grown now. Probably college age. Long pretty hair—big brown eyes, a wide smile and a… a lip ring… a—oh fuck. Oh God. I’m inside that lava lamp again, my limbs are turning to lead. It’s happening again—and I’m in her house.
Aaron—I have to get to Aaron. But I’m so far down the hallway and my feet are so heavy. I see a door and open it. An empty bedroom—perfect. I go in and shut the door, sitting on the bed and pulling my phone out while my hands still work.
Ring—ring—ring—ring— Aaron Archer—leave a message. Beep
Again—
Ring—ring—ring—ring— Aaron Archer—leave a message. Beep
Again…
Ring—ring—ring—ring— Aaron Archer—leave a message. Beep
Fuck—again!
Ring—ring—ring—ring— Aaron Archer—leave a message. Beep
My phone falls from my hand—fingers no longer responding to my brain. The door opens.
“Aaron?” I can hear the hope in my voice—the desperate plea.
“You came right to me. I thought you didn’t like it, huh?” She walks in—shutting the door behind her. Now that I know her face, I can see her so well. I can no longer hold myself up.
“My boyfriend just said he’s on the way from the kitchen.” She laughs.
“Really? I think Aaron Archer is still peering over a copy of
Macbeth—ignoring your calls.” She was listening through the door. Fuck. “Shall we?”
“No—I’ll scream—I’ll bite. I will not have sex with you. I’ll report you to the police.” This girl smiles down at me—mock sympathy.
“Poor boy. You think they’ll believe you?
An ex-junky just recently released from rehab?
Or me—a star student, the chief of police’s daughter?
” She’s done her research. She’s looked into me.
Was I ever safe? “Once you got so popular with your band I remembered you. I knew I had to get you again. It was all too easy.”
She’s pulling my shirt up—shoving a pair of socks into my mouth so I can’t scream—I can’t throw up, I can’t speak.
Her fingers undo my pants, pull out my limp dick.
Her claws scratch up my stomach as she puts her mouth around me.
I’m screaming into the makeshift gag—crying so hard I can barely breathe.
Again—I’m hard. Just like she said I’d be. Disgusting. Whore.
She’s taking off her underwear and hiking up her dress—crawling over me at the bottom of the bed.
Every move she makes is rushed, as if she knows time is limited and she doesn’t care to enjoy every moment to its fullest.
“Relax—enjoy the ride. I know you did last time. You even stopped fighting.” She’s smirking, resting her hands on my chest. And then—she begins to sink onto me. Everything’s happening so fast.
I see in my mind all of the moments from the past year where I thought to myself—will things go wrong? Will I be this happy forever? And I cry and cry. I try to stare at the ceiling but this time she wants me to watch her, grabbing my hair, forcing my head up off the bed to see.
“God—your dick’s huge. Bummer you’re gay. It feels so good.” She’s picking up pace and my chest is shuddering with the force of my cries—the socks are soaked in my tears and spit.
This hell will never end. This hell called my life is swallowing me whole and I can’t. Not anymore. Not after this.
The bedroom door flies open, and the girl drops my head. Aaron is standing there and for a moment I see the pain of betrayal, but after looking at the two of us—really looking—he’s filled with a rage not even fit for my father.
“Hey—you can’t be in here.” The girl says, still sitting on my dick.
Aaron walks up to her and grabs her by her hair—slinging her off me and throwing her into the dresser against the wall. She starts to cry.
“Aw fuck. I’m about to beat a woman. You fucking cunt—I hope you die—you disgusting fucking waste of space.
” He remembers me then, whipping around to face me.
Once he looks at me, he starts to tear up.
“Aw, baby—I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” He pulls the socks out of my mouth and as soon as they leave, I’m fucking wailing.
“Aaron—help me!” Aaron pulls my pants back up and grabs me, cradling me against his chest.
“You’re going to jail, dumb bitch.” He throws over his shoulder—running from the house and to the truck. He doesn’t put me in the passenger seat. He keeps me in his lap despite the squeeze—shushing me and crying with me.
“I can’t… I can’t move.” I cry—just in case he doesn’t know, they’ll need to know.
“I know, baby, I know. I have you now—you’re going to be okay. I’m so sorry.” He kisses my forehead, holding my head to his shoulder with the hand not on the wheel.
“She knew me—she planned it. I have no idea who she is.” I’m sobbing it all out—like he’ll need this when we get to what I assume will be the emergency room. “Said she’s the chief of police’s daughter.”
“I’ll tell them—we’ll get her, Button—I promise you.” I’m staring at his shirt—I can tell I’m shaking but I can’t feel it.
“Why…. I thought I was finally going to be happy.” Aaron sobs, pulling me tighter against him.
“You will—you will. I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I’ll never leave your side again.”
We get to the emergency room and Aaron leaves his truck running in front of the entrance, running inside to the front desk.
“What can I—”
“Help him. He’s drugged—he’s been raped. Please help him right now.” I can’t move to see the lady’s face. I’m pressed into Aaron’s neck. But suddenly there are a billion questions being asked. Then Aaron is setting me down on a bed and a woman is reaching for me.
“Aaron, Aaron—Aaron.” I’m crying—I wish I could run.
“Stop!” He yells. The nurse pauses, startled. “I’m sorry—but it has to be a man. He can’t handle women right now. He was just fucking assaulted.”
“Right! I’ll have a male nurse in here right away.” I hear the door close from where I’m laying down.
“Aaron?” My voice is so small—so scared.
“I’m right here.” He gets up onto the bed with me—pulling me into his lap again, staring down at me as he cradles me. “I’ll be here the whole time, okay?”
“Okay.” I whisper. Then—just to be safe— “Aaron, if I fall asleep, don’t let them touch me, okay? Just in case.” His eyes are watering again as he nods, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“Of course. Of course, baby. I’ll watch over you the entire night.”
And then, just like the scripture tells us—my God continues to watch over me.