EETSWA / Chook

𝕿𝕳𝕽𝕰𝕰 𝕺𝕱 𝕾𝖂𝕺𝕽𝕯𝕾

I stood with Harper outside on the front porch, my arm wrapped around her in comfort, as the medics wheeled her father away and into the ambulance, I tried not to think about the scary similarities between this moment and when I was fifteen, trying to be strong for Harper in her time of need.

I'd arrived to the scene heart dropping when I'd spotted the ambulance, Harper walking out of the house splattered with blood

"It happened again" she cried out to me as she stood their body shaking.

I helped Harper clean herself up in the bathroom before taking her with me on a walk towards the beach to try clear her head of this mornings events, knowing how traumatic it can be to be stuck in a place that held those haunting memories.

We sat together on one of the picnic tables planted by the beach when Harper began to reveal everything to me and I just listened

Flashback to festival night - Harper:}>}>}>}>}>}>}>}>}>}>}>}

I opened my eyes, vision blurred as I heard male laughter echo around me, a boxing kangaroo air freshener swaying from the rear view mirror

"Aye here she is, wakey wakey" Tiller spoke next to me, at-least I think that's what his name was, he had his hand grasped around my leg, stroking it.

My heart beat was increasing as I looked around the car, realising it was Chook's, but he wasn't the one driving it

"What's fuckin good bro" the guy driving said as he bounced along in his seat hyping up the boys in the car, except Cash, who glanced at me from the corner of his eye

"Are you dropping me home?" I asked trying to stay calm but they all began to snicker

"Yeah that's what we're doin sweetheart, just making a little detour" Tiller whispered towards my ear, I tried leaning away from him my body racing with adrenaline but he gripped my thigh as the guy driving took a sharp left forcing me to come back

"I think you're going the wrong way" I mumbled out still feeling drunk as I forced my body to try and sober up I felt tears begin to swell up in my eyes

"Shhhh cmon baby smile, you look better when you smile" the guy driving said as he peered through the rear view mirror, I felt Tiller play with my hair as I held my body still, looking over my shoulder I saw the road grow darker as we travelled away from civilisation, I tried to remember the way.

It began to thunder with rain as they pulled into a gassy, the driver stepping out to head into the store while Tiller sat on his phone, I gazed to Cash, watching as his hands slowly inched along the dash buttons, every fiber in my being was begging him to help me, to do something, I stared at his hand as he moved it towards the unlock button, we locked eyes as he pressed it down, I grabbed the door handle and rushed my way out, feeling pain erupt from the back of my head as Tiller yanked the strands out but I didn't care, I broke into a run

"Oi what the fuck are you doin" one of them yelled as they chased after me

I weaved through the bushes along a path, my body pumped full of adrenaline as I pushed myself to run faster, I didn't know how close they were but I couldn't stop.

I grunted as I tripped smacking into the ground, quickly I crawled up and in to the nearest bush trying not to register the pain that was punching through my body, I stayed still holding a hand over my mouth and observed as they came running into the little clearing

"Where is she?" One of them yelled as they brought out their phone lights to look around

"Keep looking, find her NOW or Chook's gonna fuckin kill us if he finds out" another spoke out angrily they began to retrace their steps heading back as they yelled in anger.