Homebound

Chapter TwentySeven

I had hoped for Hex and I to drive to Harley's and drop off her car and then get an uber home together but that went out the window when he was driven off in Hellbound's van. I had left the police station immediately and somehow got home without remembering the drive at all.

I stumble into the apartment, nearly tripping over my shoes in the dark. I switch the lights on and ignore Teddy when he meows for me. I make my way into the kitchen and drop the keys on the island with a rattle.

I pat down my body, forgetting where I had put my phone before remembering it had stayed in my bra the entire night.

My hands shake uncontrollably as I fumble with my passcode and then find Harley's number. I don't have enough emotion in me to cry from being emotionally drained and I just want to tell Harley what happened and then crawl into bed.

She answers on the first ring.

"Hello?" she answers. It's quiet in the background, meaning she had got home safe and she also sounds alert now, the alcohol must have worn off. "Poppy?" She calls again when I can't get the words out.

"Hi, I'm here" I choke out. Even though the tears are no longer threatening to fall, I can't help the tight chokehold an invisible hand has on my throat.

"What's happening?" she asks warily, she must have heard the shake in my voice.

I clear my throat, hoping to come across confident so that she doesn't have to worry too much. "He has two weeks before a violation hearing and from there they will decide his punishment" I pick up Teddy and hold him close to my chest for comfort when he wraps his tail around my legs and meows up at me.

"W-what type of punishment?" I open my mouth to answer but nothing comes out. She already knows what kind of punishment but I could tell she wants me to confirm it. "Oh, right" she mumbles quietly when I don't say anything.

We sit in silence for a moment as we take in the last few hours. My eyes stare at the wall opposite me as I zone out. I subconsciously start to swing my hips side to side while holding Teddy; he rubs his face on my cheek lovingly.

"Can I talk to him?" Harley asks and draws my attention back to her as I stop rocking my hips. "Poppy, can I talk to him?" she asks almost demandingly when I don't answer immediately.

"Harley, I-I" my voice breaks and I have to look up at the ceiling to gain my composure "they- he has to stay at Hellbound for the two weeks" I hear her whimper on the other end of the phone. It makes me grab the bridge of my nose as I place Teddy on the island so I have both my hands available.

"Why?" she cries.

"Because he was violent" I answer. I feel sick to my stomach, I don't even have anyway to contact him, at least not until he calls from the prison common room phones.

"What are we going to tell mum?" Harley asks as she sniffles. Oh shit, I had forgotten the three of us had told Wyonna we'd visit tomorrow. We can't say he went back to the army.

"We'll just say he's sick and couldn't make it. It's okay Harley, everything will be fine" I say, hoping I can speak the words into reality.

I pull my phone away from my ear and look at it in confusion when I hear loud knocking, almost banging, on Harley's door.

"Is everything okay?" I ask warily, ready to call the police if I need to.

"Yep, one second" I hear her put the phone down and then walk away before the distant sound of her yelling can be heard.

"Go away!" she doesn't sound angry, more so annoyed. I can hear her feet slapping the floor as she stomps back to the phone.

"Sorry" she apologizes.