After the Storm- JJ Maybank (Outer Banks)

10.

TW: sexual assault/rape topics

"We saw him! We literally saw him commit murder!" I threw my hands down on Shoupe's desk, watching him scratch his mustache.

"Alright, where's the evidence again?" He crossed his arms, his shoulders shrugging.

"I told you this was a bad idea." I turned around to the group, who all were staring at me. I turned back around. "How about Rafe Cameron? How is he running free? He murdered my mother, shot JJ, and tried to kill me! You guys need to get your heads out of your asses and arrest him! He's a psychopath! He was the one who killed Peterkin!"

Everyone's facial expressions changed, the room was starting to feel so small.

"Rafe Cameron killed your mother?" Shoupe moved in his chair.

"Yes. My mother was trying to get away with me off the island and he shot her. He just killed her, right in front of me. I swear to god, that's what happened."

"That means you're an unaccompanied minor?"

I gulped my spit down.

"No, my dad." I lied.

"Alright. I'm just going to drop that for now. Let's go back to the Rafe thing- he tried to kill you?"

"He- he." I felt my lungs hurt with every breath I took.

"He kidnapped her." Kie's voice filled the room as she stood next to me.

"Kie." I saw JJ put his hand on her arm to stop her but it slowly slipped when he looked to me.

I was trying to keep my breathing under control. I was having a panic attack. My breath was hitched and I felt my eyes widen. JJ stepped in front of me and put his hands on my cheeks.

"Hey. It's okay. You're safe. You're okay. Calm down. Breathe. Breathe for me, princess."

I just moved my eyes to lock into his. I could get lost in his eyes, the waves of blue kept me under control. I started to focus more on my breathing, hearing Kie explaining what had happened to me. I tried to block out her words so I didn't remember it, but it kept coming back.

Rafe's lips connected to my neck, sucking hard. He kept moving down without losing suction. I was groaning against his chest. He kept laughing under his breathe.

"You like that?"

I felt lightheaded, trying to stay awake. I needed to fight, fight for my life. I tried to push him off of me but he pushed himself against me harder. I was slowly suffocating.

"Rafe."

"Moan my name again."

He was enjoying it. I tasted my salty tears running down my face. I just wanted this to get over with, I didn't want to feel. I didn't want to be alive.

I opened my eyes and looked to see JJ, the look of great concern across his face.

"You're okay. You're alright. It's going to be okay."

He slowly pulled me into him. I breathed in his scent, salt water and weed, a little bit like soap. It was slightly comforting. I scrunched up my hands against his back, holding him as tightly as I could.

"Don't ever leave me again. Okay? I need you." I whispered into his chest.

"I'm here to stay, Rachel."

"Well, we'll need to go through with some tests. Are you up for that, Rachel?" Shoupe stood up, scratching his neck.

"Tests? What kind of tests?" JJ lifted his head up, still holding tightly to me.

"From what I've heard, there's a possibility she's been sexually assaulted. There should be evidence of that. I'm going to have to get a female officer to take care of this, okay? Stay here."

He leaves the room and the room falls silent, besides the cries coming from my throat.

"He- Rafe assaulted you?" I could hear the anger boiling up inside the boy.

"JJ."

"I'm going to kill him. I'm going to make him wish he never touched you."

"Please. Can we just stop talking about it?" I pull out of him, looking to the others. "I'm sorry I'm ruining our investigation here. I-"

"You don't have to be sorry. None of this is your fault." Kie walked forward, pulling hair out of my face.

"We're here for you always. This can wait." Pope sits down on the couch as the door opens.

"Rachel. I'm going to take you in for some questioning. Okay?" I see a female officer besides Shoupe.

I leaned out of JJ and dropped my hands from his back. He flinched, trying to reach out for me. I turned back and gave him a soft nod.

"I'll be okay, J. Thank you guys. I love you." I scanned the room to look to Pope and Kie, stopping at JJ.

"We love you too." Kie smiled lightly.

I walked out of the room, following the officer. She took me into another office with a table. It looked like an interrogation room. That's probably what it was. The room was dark and cold. I sat in the chair and the officer shut the door behind her. She gave me a small smile, sitting across from me.

"Hi. I'm Shelia. I'm just going to ask you some questions about the situation. If you get uncomfortable or want to stop, please let me know. Okay?"

I nodded, putting my hands in my lap. I fiddled with JJ's ring on my finger, moving it around.

"The timeline your friend gave us- Rafe shot JJ in his front yard, he killed Peterkin, and then he killed your mother. Did you witness these events?"

"I witnessed him killing my mother and shooting JJ. Sarah Cameron and John B saw him kill Peterkin."

"Alright. What happened after he killed your mother? This was the same day that John B and Sarah Cameron passed, correct?"

I shivered at the thought, but no one could know they were alive.

"Yes. He took me out of the car and he had the gun. But, he took me back to his place. I just had to pretend for him, I was afraid he was going to kill me."

"He held you hostage over the entirety of the summer?"

"Yes."

"How did you get away?"

"Topper found me. He saved me."

"While you were being held hostage, did Rafe assault you?"

"He did. He beat me, cut me, and tied me up for days at a time without food or water. I was locked in the bedroom the entire time I was there."

"Did he sexually assault you?"

I thought for a second. I really couldn't remember if he did or not. I remember everything leading up to it but not the act. He probably had drugged me, like he did the night Topper found me.

"I- Im not sure."

"How are you not sure? Did he force himself on you? Did he make you do things?"

"He would kiss me and touch me but I think he- be drugged me so I can't remember." I started to fiddle with my fingers even more.

"Okay. You're doing great. Was there any prior assaults from him besides the shootings?"

"Yes. He assaulted me in the alleyway a few months ago by the general store. He touched me. Nothing else. I didn't report it because his dad threatened me."

"Did you have a relationship with Rafe Cameron prior to all of this?"

"He was a good friend of mine a year or so ago. He wanted more than that and I think that's why he took it all out on me and my friends when I didn't date him."

"It's not your fault. That's no excuse. He had no right to do any of this. Thank you for explaining everything to me, I'm so proud of you. We're going to get you into the medics to get some tests done, okay?"

I just nodded as she stepped out of the room, leaving me alone. The flashbacks kept running through my mind and I knew that they wouldn't be going away anytime soon.