Memoirs of Retribution

Chapter 29 - Picnic Panic

It has been three days since I left Dominic's office without a backward glance, not wanting to hear any more of what he had to say or the explanation behind what he did. Or what he did not do, would be more accurate.

Have I slept well since I was told? No. Have I done anything about it? No. Do I want to? Maybe.

I wanted to go to him so many times and ask, but I always lose my nerve. What if the reason he did nothing was because of exactly that, he saw nothing? Nothing worth saving. Nothing to worry himself about, as if everything that was happening to me wasn't even wrong or immoral.

So, I hid, took the easy way out, and for the first time in my life became a coward. This is how I wallowed in self-pity while sitting in the infirmary while Lucas worked over my newly cut-up arm and severed fingers, checking the wounds meticulously and redressing them with deft hands that have seen too many varying wounds in his short lifetime.

I could feel that he wanted to talk about it, ask me what happened and more than likely how I feel about it, but I just wanted to forget. It was irritating that people walked on eggshells around me as if I was back to being that delicate little flower that first arrived here.

I was so much stronger, and they fucking knew it. Dominic saw my resilience, he never treated me as delicate, until now. With a heavy sigh I steeled my spine.

"Spit it out already." I demanded reaching my limit. I actually reached it yesterday when everyone went quiet as I entered the kitchen, but I stayed silent like a good little me, not showing any emotion, and promptly left. Leaving them to continue their whisperings and gossiping.

"Sorry." Lucas started before I cut him off.

"Why are you sorry? You didn't do anything, or did you?" He shook his head quickly, pleading showing brightly in his eyes. Clearly wanting me to believe him., and truthfully, I did.

"I didn't know. If that's what you're asking. But I did know after you were here, I just didn't say anything." He guiltily glances my way before dropping his eyes back on the task at hand.

"I guess am just as bad, by way of omission." He added.

I wondered who else would know. Definitely, the inner circle that's for sure but anyone else? Zander maybe? I decided I didn't care, what was one more person knowing, or two or three.

I huffed out a laugh at the joke that was my life. From my periphery I could see Lucas eye me sceptically. Probably wondered what was so funny but I shrugged in way of response, no need to add any more fuel to my bonfire pity party for one.

"All set." He declared pushing the wheeled stool he was sitting on away from me and putting the now dirty and soiled bandages and wrappers in the trash.

Washing his hands, he looked back at me still sitting in silence.

"Come on let's get out of here. It has been ages since we hung out." His light-hearted suggestion briefly lifted the corner of my lips before it dropped again as reality flooded back over me, but I still found myself nodding anyway. Maybe getting out of this house would do me some good. My eyes dropped to my bandages, and I smirked, hopefully better than the last time I left this house anyway.

The drive wasn't long, only ten minutes or so away but far enough that a slight trickle of vulnerability tingled at the back of my mind.

The sign indicated that we had arrived at Orchid Drive nature walk and picnic area. The dirt covered parking lot is mostly deserted, except for a few un-noteworthy cars and a minivan complete with bike rakes mounted to the roof of it. The bumper sticker read, 'There is no mountain high enough, to keep me away.' I absentmindedly pondered whether the owner was religious or just an avid cyclist or both.