Finding Family

Chapter 14

"What is your final verdict?" the judge asks the jury.

"Guilty"

Lily had felt somewhat relieved she wouldn't have to see her coach ever again. However, Robert was still dwelling on her mind.

"Come on lets go home" JJ said as she and Emily pulled the young girl into a hug.

Even though this trial was over, Lily felt like crap. She quickly ran upstairs to her room. Emily and JJ thought it was best too give her room and decided to cook her favorite dinner. A few hours later Charlotte came home from a day out with her friends.

"Hey Char, how was your day?"

"Good"

"Well, that's good, can you go and get your sister for dinner?"

Charlotte nodded and headed upstairs when she heard whimpering coming from Lily's room.

"Where are you going you little bitch?" Robert screamed through the house as Lily ran to quickly hide her sister in the closet just as Robert came around the corner.

"Don't you dare leave me when I am talking to you, I deserve some respect! Now go clean the living room, we have guests tonight" Lily nodded and ran quickly past the man. Later that night, Robert's friends came over. They were playing cards and drinking beer while Lily was busy playing waitress for them. Soon the men got bored and wanted more, Lily noticed the change in the atmosphere and quickly tried to run. However, two men grabbed her and dragged her to the couch. She kicked and fought but it was no use against the 5 other men holding her down.

"Help me! Please! Let me go!" Lily tried screaming.

Charlotte quickly ran to Lily.

"Lily, wake up! You are safe, it's me, Charlotte!"

Lily was still thrashing and fighting Charlotte's arms.

"Stop! Let go of me!"

Emily and JJ heard this commotion and quickly ran upstairs. JJ immediately wrapped her arms around Lily and rocked her slowly as Lily's cries subsided.

"C'mon Char, let's go finish prepping for dinner." in attempt to get Lily to open up to JJ.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes. JJ sensed Lily needed some time to gather her thoughts.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" JJ asked.

"It was an old foster father" Lily responded, which surprised JJ.

"I was cleaning up after my foster father's friends, but they wanted more.." Lily started crying, JJ squeezing her tighter.

"Shhh...It's okay, you are safe now" JJ said rubbing small circles on the young girl's back.

"No, no we're not" Lily sniffled.

JJ looked at the girl confused.

"Charlotte saw him at the beach"

Everything about Charlotte clicked, the attitude, the not feeling safe, and the overall shift in her demeanor towards herself and Emily. She was trying to protect her family.

"Come on, let's go get some dinner"

"I told her" Lily whispered to her sister as she walked into the kitchen. Charlotte looked at her disappointed.

"Char, why didn't you tell us?" JJ asked.

"Because he said he would kill us!"

"But we can protect you!"