𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐔𝐌𝐁 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄|𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐒

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿:𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺

WARNING!!! THIS CHAPTER DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR OBX3!! PLEASE DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE SEASON!!

"Stop fighting me Esmeralda," Rafes voice echoed in Esme's ears as Sbe thrashed in his hold. "This is what you deserve for disobeying me."

Agony. That was all Esme felt as the blade was sliced into her tan skin. She screamed as loudly as she possibly could, but Rafe slapped her across the face to silence her desperate cries.

Esme wanted to die. The pain was too much to bear, and she felt that if anymore was inflicted on her body she may loose her mind. Rafe climbed on top of Esme, the air being knocked from her lungs. Tears streamed from her eyes as she squeezed them shut and tried her best to block out Rafes face from her mind.

"I don't think your little Pouge boyfriend would like what we're doing, huh?" Rafe sneered, laughing as Esme only sobbed in response. Pope, her sweet, dorky Pope. She would give up everything to be in his arms once more, to have him call her out on her stupid actions in a stern yet caring way at the same time. To have his lips on hers. It was a dream, a fantasy at this point.

"Just kill me," Esme begged, her voice barley raising above a whisper. "Please just kill me. I can't take it anymore."

Rafe 'tsked' and shook his head, stroking Esme's throbbing cheek. "No no no, Esmeralda. That'd be too easy. Rest up, you're gonna wanna be awake and alert for where we're going."

Esme was brought out of her traumatizing memory when a hand was placed on her shoulder. She spun around and pointed her bow and arrow at Pope who only threw his hands up in surrender.

"Don't do that," Esme huffed, slowly lowering her weapon. "I could've hurt you."

It had been over a month since Esme started to live on what JJ called "Pougelandia" and in that month the Lopez girl still hadn't fully recovered from Ward and Rafes abuse. No one was rushing her, but Esme still felt as if she had to get better in order to protect the group in case something happened.

"Sorry babe," Pope apologized, stepping back from Esme. "I was looking everywhere for you."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wander off again it's just—"

"No no, don't apologize. I get it. After all the shits that happened, you need your own space. Are you feeling better now?"

Esme nodded, a smile on her face. Leave it up to Pope to make her feel better despite the fact she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. He stepped forward, hesitating before pressing a soft and caring kiss to her lips. Esme hadn't even realized how long it had been since they shared a moment like this up until now.

"Dork," She commented, attempting to lighten up the mood which worked. "What were you doing just now?"

"Looking for berries which may or may not be poisonous. You wanna come? Cleo's tagging along too."

Esme shrugged. "Sounds like a blast."

Pope nodded before grabbing Esme's hand gently and helping her down from the steep rock she was once sitting on. Butterflies formed in her stomach at the fact that his arm was now wrapped around her waist as they walked to catch up with Cleo.

As they walked around the forest Pope caught Cleo up on everything that had been happening in his life.

"So you're telling me you had your own house, your own room, and they was gonna give you money to read books?" She questioned once Pope had finished.

"Well it was a scholarship, and I don't know if I had gotten it. It's whatever now."

"You underestimate yourself too much," Esme commented, Cleo pointing a finger at her and nodding. "You're fucking Einstein. You would've gotten the scholarship, easy."