Pentatonix and the Recovery

Chapter 2

My mind was registering the voices that surrounded me. I felt a hand gently pick up mine, and I could tell that it wasn't Kirstin's. Mitch, is that you? I thought as I painfully opened my eyes. As that happened, I felt a soft hand on my right arm. My voice was weak with pain as I opened my mouth to speak.Me: Kirstin?She smiled with joy as she gently threw her arms around me. I held onto her as I inhaled her sweet scent. It was good to be able to feel her warmth again. I then realized that her body was shaking with relief.Kirstin: Oh, Kailyn. I am so glad that you're awake.Her voice made me flinch. It felt as though I had been stabbed in the heart. Kirstin sat back down, concerned in her brown eyes as if she felt me flinch. There was also agony in those sweet soft brown eyes that are always comforting.Kirstin: I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to hurt you.Me: You didn't hurt me physically.Kirstin: Well, how did I hurt you?Me: It was how your voice sounded when I woke up. The pain and grief was what made me flinch.Kirstin gasped and pulled my hand to her body. I felt her warmth as she rubbed the top of my hand. Her voice softened and her brown eyes were full of understanding.Kirstin: I didn't know that it affected you like that.Me: It's fine, Kirstin.I was too sore to speak much or even try, but I was going to anyway. Scott smiled and ever so delicately placed his hand on my leg. His blue eyes were filled with fear and concern, but also with care and comfort. Then when Kirstin remembered something, she tried to lighten the mood.Kirstin: You know, we should talk about something exciting!Mitch: Like what?Me: My wedding!Kirstin: Exactly, now when do you want it?I was quiet as I pondered what season I wanted it in. May? No, possibly too hot. Plus, wouldn't they be on tour? More than likely they would be, if it was a semi-normal one at least. For some strange reason, I suddenly became fearful of what would happen when they had to leave to start preparing for tour. Kirstin sensed that I was becoming fearful so she gently rubbed my arm once again.Kirstin: What's wrong, sweetie?Me: Kirstie, what will happen when you have to head back to...I allowed my voice to trail away. It was already low from fear and Kirstin patted my arm and leaned closer as if she understood that she should hear it.Kirstin: to L.A.?Me: Yeah.Kirstin: Sweetheart, that's not happening for a while. For one thing, you can't walk, so how in the world could I leave you?Me: Get in your car and head towards home.Kirstin: Oh sweetie! This is my home. Los Angeles isn't my home anymore. I belong here, with you. Listen, I may be a singer, but that doesn't mean anything compared to your safety. You are more important to me than some award. At one point, I may have thought I was so proud to win a Grammy, but that is small compared to what I have now. You.Me: Wait what?Kirstin: Can't you see, sweetheart? I love you like a daughter, I would lay down my life for you as if you were my daughter. If you would let me, I would like to start calling you my girl, if you don't mind.She suddenly looked different and I pondered her request. Kirstin did love me as a daughter. That would explain why she was so gentle with me and how she could so easily handle my terrifying nightmares. This was something that I had wondered about in the past, but have been too scared or embarrassed to ask. I met Kirstin's brown gaze and smiled.Me: Of course! I would like that.Scott smiled again and moved his hand slightly, then he rubbed my leg. I looked at Mitch, longing to wrap my arms around him. I went to sit up, but Scott gently pushed me back down.Scott: I don't think that you should sit up yet.Me: But Scott!Mitch caught my attention, which made me shut my mouth. I reached for his hand. He put it closer, so he would side with Scott. Mitch scooted his chair closer to me and when he was in reach, I painfully threw my arms around his neck. I felt his wrap around me as well as he held me close.Me: Mitch, I thought that you had been killed.My body was trembling as I remembered the gunshots that rose into the air. Mitch's cry of pain echoed through my head as I sat there in his arms. Mitch gently rubbed my back and looked up at Scott, who nodded and gently nudged Kirstin. They both stood up and stepped into the hall, leaving me alone with Mitch. He released me and kept a hold of my hand. His brown eyes were troubled and he gently rubbed my hand as he took a deep breath.Me: Mitch, what's wrong?Mitch: Kailyn, why did it take you that long?Me: I couldn't find what I was looking for. Oh Mitch! I realize now that I was stupid for not at least coming back outside.Mitch was staring at my neck where I had several injuries, including handprints. His brown eyes were deeply troubled as if he couldn't quite figure out what the marks were, which I knew were handprints. I knew that he hated seeing my injuries. He sighed and gently reached to touch just by my mouth. I leaned into his hand and his brown eyes flicked to the other side. I didn't mind and it was comforting in a strange way. Maybe it was just the thought that someone cared for me.Mitch: Kailyn, can you remember what made those marks?Me: Which ones?I said it in a way that meant I knew how many different types of marks I had. There were burns, cuts, scratches, handprints, strange types, bruises, etc. Mitch gently put his hand on the one by my mouth that made me shudder. His hand shot back to his body, but I pulled it to me again.Mitch: Sorry, but do you know what made those marks by your mouth?I thought hard and remembered feeling a metal bar forced into my mouth. It had strings that held it onto-slash-in my mouth. One on each side of my face that someone held very tightly. My guess was that it was Megan, Victoria, or possibly Jessica. There was one time that it happened that whoever it was, wasn't as hard and I figured that was Jessica because she didn't want to hurt me. Another one went in between my eyes and down the back of my neck where a collar type thing was around my neck. Then there was another one that came down my neck and branched off to attach to the front two legs of the stand that I would be painfully stretched over for three days total. I explained everything of what happened with that to Mitch, and he sighed before rubbing my cheek gently with his thumb. I was relieved to know that someone cared for me.Mitch: I'm glad that you're okay. You're strong, because you wouldn't be alive if you weren't. I'm sorry that you had to wait so long.I gently picked up his other hand and smiled warmly at him, leaning into his hand that was still on my face.Me: It's okay, Mitch.His hand went to my neck and he gasped as if he realized that it was a handprint.Mitch: Is that...?Me: A handprint?Mitch: Yeah.Me: Yes. Zac Peterson would get on top of me and push down on my throat demanding me to obey him. If I refused he pushed harder, usually I would pass out before anything else and then he would stop.Mitch then ran his hand across my neck and he must have felt one of my burns and he gasped again.Mitch: What are those from?Me: They burned and shocked me.Mitch: Do you know what they burned you with?I hesitated and leaned into him. Images of what would go on when another new mark would be added flashed before my eyes. I shuddered in pain, but I wasn't about to move. All I wanted was to have him there, beside me keeping me safe.Me: Mitch, I was so scared. They would beat me or shock me whenever I tried to fight, cry for help, or even just to be brave.Mitch: I know sweetie. We got you now, you're safe.A small yawn escaped my mouth as I leaned into Mitch. The pain went away, but actually it was never there. The pain was in my head because of having to recall what I had been through. Mitch held me close and didn't let go. I held his hand still and yawned again. My back was then starting to ache from being beaten, kicked, and burned. He released me as he felt my body go limp. My eyes closed in pain and sleep as I felt that I couldn't move like when I was with Jessica when she was caring for me.Mitch: Kailyn? Are you okay? Stay with me, please.I leaned into him more as I fell asleep. The sleep came quickly because I was tired and for my body, it was the only way to control the pain on its own. At the sound of Mitch's worried voice, Scott and Kirstin rushed into the room only for Scott to sigh wearily. Kirstin and Scott both knew that I was asleep, but Mitch was on the verge of panicking. He placed his hand gently on his friend's back.Scott: Calm down, Mitch. She's just asleep. I understand completely, though. If I was in your position, I would be worried too.Kirstin smiled warmly at her friends before picking up my hand that had fallen to my side. She gently placed it to where it was in a more comfortable position as she grabbed Mitch's hand after sitting beside him.Kirstin: She's right here, Mitch. She'll live.Her voice was calm and gentle as she soothed her friend. She rubbed the top of his hand and leaned into him. A yawn parted her lips as her eyes closed in sleep. She snuggled in beside him and somehow drifted into a peaceful sleep. Scott was still standing behind Mitch with his hand on Mitch's back when he felt him relax. When Scott was satisfied with his friend being relaxed, he went and sat on the other side of the hospital bed. Scott gently placed his hand on one of my beaten legs. He sighed as he felt one of my burns.Scott: Please be okay, Kailyn.He bowed his head and kept his hand on my leg. Mitch looked at Scott waiting for him to look up. When Scott realized that Mitch was looking at him, he lifted his head meeting Mitch's brown eyes. Mitch's voice was low with anger.Mitch: Scott, Victoria and Zac will pay for what they've done to Kirstin and Kailyn.Scott: I know, Mitch. And if I have to, I will track her down myself.