Safe and Sound | Marina

Chapter 11:

Maya POV

"Hello," I said with a sleepy voice. "M-Ma-Maya," I heard someone say over the phone. Their voice was so hoarse, I could barely hear them. 

Who could this be calling me this late at night? OH MY GOD, what if it's Siena! The voice did sound kind of familiar. 

I sat up straight in my bed and kind of spoke loudly enough to wake up Carina, "Siena, is that you?" Carina turned over and sat up as well and said "What!" The person over the phone responded, "Y-yeah," now that I awaken fully, I can hear her crying. "Please can you come?" The call was then ended by the 15-year-old. 

Without any hesitation, I hopped out of bed and started putting clothes on and so did Carina. "Was that her," my wife asked as we were locking the door to our home. "Yes," I said. "I think it's her." My nerves were shot because so many things were running through my mind, so I asked Carina to drive. The car ride was silent, and I can tell that she was as worried as I was. The closer we got to her house, the more nervous and worried I became. 

I began to bounce my legs and fidget with my fingers. Carina noticed and placed one of her hands on my legs that were shaking and grabbed my hand to hold it on my leg. "We got her now Bambina," she said as we were one minute away from Sisi's street. I didn't remember exactly what house she lived in so I asked Carina to drive slow. It was pretty dark outside, so I couldn't see. 

We passed by a street light, and at the end of the road, we saw something lying in the front of someone's yard. They were scrunched up in a ball as if they were in pain. "Stop the car," I told Carina. As soon as she stopped the car I opened the door. "Maya, what are you doing," my Italian said as she raced over to my side of the car. "That might be her, and if it is not, they look hurt."

She nodded her head and we made our way over to the yard. We were about 5 feet away, and we both looked at each other in a panic because it was Siena. "Oh my god," Carina screamed softly as we sprinted over to her. "Siena, sweetie," I said as we kneeled to see if she was conscious while I was tucking her hair behind her ear

She has bruises all over her face, and legs. Siena looked very malnourished, dehydrated, and she was in the same clothes she had on when she left the hospital. After a while of Carina and I, trying to look at all over her injuries, Carina spoke first, "We need to get her to a hospital." We heard Siena groan, "Mhm, no-- no hospital." 

"Bug, we have to get you to a hospital for your injur-," I was cut off by the young girl, "No, I--I- I'm fine, I can walk." Carina stopped her and pushed her gently back on the ground, "Bambina, no you can't get up." She was still trying to get up and we were holding her down. She soon stopped resisting and I said, "How about we take you to our home and check you out, and if you're still in a lot of pain we take you to the hospital the morning?"

She started crying softly with her eyes shut and nodded her head. I could tell that she was too weak to respond. Carina and I helped her up and carried her to the car. As we got in the car, I sat in the backseat with Siena's head in my lap and Carina drove us home. 

Siena POV

I could barely stay awake. The last thing I remember fully is calling Maya to come to get me. As I was laying on Maya's leg, I felt her stroke my hair, and I was glad they came for me. My head was banging, and I felt like I was literally about to die. I slowly started to nod off and Maya realized and shook me.

"Bug, I need you to stay awake," Maya said. To keep myself awake, I started drifting away in my thoughts while Carina was driving us to their home, and Maya still stroking my hair.

I am embarrassed and grateful at the same time. I feel like a burden, but also I knew that it was time to get help and leave my dad. Too much has happened, and I've witnessed too much. I'm tired now, and I am truly ready to leave him. I've just been holding everything in, and those 3 days in the basement were hell. 

Yeah, I cried a few times, but I need to do something more than cry. I want to scream until I can't anymore, I want to break something, I want to cry until I can't, but I also feel like I need to be strong for myself. I need to put up a front. They will know that I'm not okay, but I also don't want to break in front of them. I'm a big girl, I need to try to take care of myself. 

Carina stopped the car and I realized that we made it. I sat up slowly trying not to move too fast. Maya and Carina helped me out of the car and into the house. "I- Um, I need to use the restroom," I say as we walked through the house. "Bambina, do you need help," Carina asked and I shook my head yes. "Carina you help her, and I'll go and get the first aid kit," Maya said as she walked into the kitchen. 

Carina and I made it to the bathroom, and she had the door open a little bit, but I didn't want Maya to hear me. "Can you close the door all the way please?" Carina shook her head yes and closed it. When she tried to help me, I pushed her away slowly. She stepped back giving me my space. I took a deep breath so that I didn't cry while trying to speak. "Bambina, what is it?" Carina asked. I took another deep breath, "I-I, It hurts" I said while staring at the ceiling because I didn't want tears to fall.

"I know sweetie, it's okay," she said. "We will look at your bruises after you use the restroom." I took another deep breath. "N-no, I mean my v--," I was cut off by the Italian. "Okay Bella, do you want me to take a look?" Without realizing it, tears starting streaming down my face, and I whipped them away immediately. 

"Um, Yes--if you don't mind," I said with a fake chuckle because I was a little uncomfortable. "Don't tell Maya, please," I said. "I want to tell her myself." I kept talking, "And before you ask-- because I know you have to," I said while taking another breath, and pausing, "Yes, it was my d--," and I was cut off again.

"Siena, you don't have to tell me anything that you're not ready to say," she said walking closer to me and rubbing my cheek. "And I won't tell Maya anything Bambina, it's not my place." I nodded and hugged her tightly and cried a little bit, but was still holding back and whispered, "Thank you." She hugged me back and replied, "Anytime and anything for you Bella," and then she placed a kiss on my head. 

I pulled away, and asked, "Can you look now because I feel-- um a little sore." She nodded and kissed me on the head again and instructed me to take off my pants and undies and lay down on the floor with my knees bent. She needed to grab some things from her office, and before she left she asked if I needed help undressing. I told her no because I didn't want her to see, even though she was going to eventually.

When she walked out, I went behind her and locked the door. I looked in the mirror and saw all the bruises and cuts all over my face. It looked like there was blood in my eyes, which meant I must've popped an eye vessel. I started to cry again because I was beyond embarrassed at this point. Humiliated if you will, and disgusted with myself. It was my fault. I wanted to lift my shirt, but I was too terrified to see the rest of my scars.

I whipped my tears, and calmed myself down, and did as Carina told me, and took my pants off. I put a towel down on the floor, so my butt wouldn't get cold and, another towel over my legs and laid down. I patiently stared at the popcorn ceiling while waiting for Carina.

Carina POV

As soon as I walked out of the restroom, I went straight to my office to grab some things to avoid talking to Maya, because I didn't want to slip up. When I started putting things in my bag, Maya walked in. "Carina, what are you doing?" "Um- I'm just going to bandage her up in the restroom since she feels more comfortable in there." "How is she," Maya asked, and I just shook my head no.

I can tell that she's trying to compose her emotions and be strong for herself and us, but she doesn't have to. 

"Babe," Maya said, and I looked up at her, "Why are you grabbing your 'lady parts' tools?" I walked towards the door to try and avoid her question. "Carina, I'm talking to you," she stopped me at the door, "Bambina, it's not my place," I said as I made my back to the bathroom.