saving grace

Chapter 33: Safe

TW: dissociation, flashbacks
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Stop. Please, stop.

Tears were streaming down your face, you were kicking as hard as you could. One man had your arms, the other at your feet. And then you were laid on concrete, upper body pinned down by knees. A clothed groin in your face.

Stop.

Your heart beating as fast as that of a hummingbird. Your breathing echoing throughout the dimly lit space. Your screams muffled by a hand over your mouth. You were breathing too hard. More tears. A knife coming to your neck. Eyes scanning. The man at your feet had a knife too, it was scraping against your thigh.

Please.

Backwards baseball cap. Black sweatshirt. Tan cargo shorts. Deep voice. 6 foot tall? White skin. Blue eyes. Brown hair. Calloused hands. The smell of gasoline.

Please. Don't.

Knife on your abdomen. Ouch, that hurt. String of your shorts unknotted, pulled off, thrown over to the side. Panties being ripped in two. Rough fingers running through- a faint voice.

"Y/n..."

Your body shaking.

You leapt up from your position, now seated on the bed. You were covered in sweat, everything wet. Your throat felt tight. Tear stains drawn on your face.

"Y/n, baby. Come back to me, love."

A light was being turned on, the bed then dipping down slightly as arms enveloped your body.

"Baby, y/n. Hey, you're safe, now. It's Cate."

Your head turned towards the direction of the voice.

Cate was there. You were in Cate's room. You were on Cate's bed. You were in Cate's embrace.

You wanted to say her name but nothing came out.

"I'm here, baby. Cate's here."

You whipped your head around to the door, the door was closed. Was it locked? Were the two of you alone?

"Hey, it's just me. No one else," she promised, placing a hand on your thigh.

You jumped. There was just a knife on your thigh. You scooted back on the bed and away from her touch.

"Y/n. Baby, it was a nightmare. You had a nightmare," the blonde spoke gently.

You turned your head. The bathroom door was open, the closet door shut. What if they were in there? What if they were waiting for you?

Cate followed your line of sight. Reading your mind, she got off the bed and rounded to your side, her eyes trying to find yours, no matter how far away you were. She brought a hand up to your face and you flinched, your eye lids flying shut. A strand of damp hair was being tucked behind your ear then the backs of fingers were on your cheek. You felt those things. That was real, that was Cate.

Cate was touching your face. Cate was real. Cate wouldn't hurt you. Cate was safe.

A muffled voice, "Pretty girl."

Your eyes opened, drawn immediately to a soft smile.

"Cate," you were able to shakily voice, reaching your hand up to touch the one tracing your cheek.

"Cate," she repeated, nodding her head.

She slowly grabbed your hand, moving it from your face to hers. You started to touch her, your fingertips running over her smile lines.