Koda

Part 8

Koda fought like the devil to escape Father's grasp as he pinned her to the tile floor, hovering inches from her face. The small kitchen was dark, and his breath reeked of whiskey.

"Miss me, Worm?" He grinned like a monster as she struggled beneath him. 

He let go, allowing her to drag herself a few inches before he grabbed her waist and yanked her back, tossing her into the the hard door of the fridge. The breath was knocked out of her as metal pots rained down, having been jolted off the top of the fridge at the impact of her body. 

Father slowly approached, a menacing gleam in his eyes. He grabbed her ankle in one hand and began to walk toward the living room, dragging her behind him. She tried to get purchase on the cold tile floor, her hands squealing as her flesh was scraped off. (A/N: like carpet burn? but tile)

When that didn't work to stop his forward momentum, she resorted to twisting up and clawing at his hands. She drew blood, or was that her own? He was unbothered and continued to plod along, rapidly closing the distance between them and the basement door. He flung it open, and continued his drunken march. 

He didn't pause at the top of the rickety wooden stairs, but continued to drag her struggling form behind him. Down the stairs. The pain was unimaginable as she dropped with each stair, busting her lip on one, slamming her head into the next. She tried to turn to where she would slide down on her back instead of her stomach, but it didn't work. By the time they were at the bottom, her head was pounding and her body was buzzing all over with pain.

After dragging her a little ways past the landing, he dropped his hold on her ankle. She lay unable to move on the rough-hewn wooden floor. He walked to a cluttered table and snatched up a half-empty bottle of whiskey. He returned and crouched beside her, losing his balance and falling into a sitting position. He let out a roar of drunk laughter.

"Jus' look atcha, Worm. You're bleedin' all over my floors." He turned her head to face him. "Here, this might help with the pain a lil'." He jammed the opening of the bottle into her mouth and dumped out whiskey. 

She choked and most of it ran out of her mouth and seeped across the floor. He threw the bottle into the wall, shattering it, and hauled himself to his feet. He stumbled away as he screamed at her. "You wasted my damn booze! I tried to be nice and share with ya, and ya jus' go n' spit it out? Stupid little Worm!" 

Some of the glass lodged into her flesh as it rained down around her. She was still unable to move, and he was lumbering back towards her. Panic rose again in her chest as her heart began to pick up pace once more. She screamed as he bent down, ready to hurt her more---

                                                     * * * * * * * * 

Emory was startled awake at the same time as Kieran. What was that noise? There! Panicked shrieking was coming from Koda's room. They untangled themselves from each other and their bedding and rushed from the room down the hall. They flung open her door, finding her struggling and screaming in her sleep. The blanket had been kicked off and was in the floor, her hair disheveled and in her face. "No!" She screamed and kicked. "Don't hurt me, please! I'm sorry!" Tears ran from her closed eyes. 

Emory's heart raced in his chest. What were they supposed to do? Could they wake her without making it worse? Was this a nightmare or memories? Would their presence terrify her as she came out of it?

Kieran didn't hesitate. He rushed to the bedside, grabbing her wrists to stop her flailing. She continued to scream. "Hold her legs down so she can't kick!" He commanded. Emory took a tentative step forward, but froze. 

"Em, she's hurting herself. We need to get her to stop moving." He was right. She'd clawed at her face, neck, and arms and had drawn blood. Emory moved closer, grabbing her ankles and using his bodyweight to pin them to the bed. 

"No! Please, I'm sorry--I didn't--don't hurt me--" Her screams turned to begging sobs, and Emory began to cry as he held her, feeling guilty. 

Kieran held her small wrists in one large hand, using the other to stroke her hair away from her face. "It's okay, Sweetheart. We're here, they can't hurt you. listen to me,"

He continued to comfort her as her struggles died down. Her eyes flew open, and she panicked when she felt herself being pinned to the bed. They immediately released her, but didn't move from her side. She sat up, her hand reaching up to claw at her chest. "My heart," she stuttered as she pulled herself upright. She looked from Kieran's to Emory's face, scared.

"It's okay, Koda. It was just a nightmare. You're okay. We just had to make you stop hurting yourself." Emory silently prayed that this hadn't broken what little trust they'd gained from her. 

She tried to catch her breath as she glanced down at her bloody fingernails. She gingerly placed a hand over the long deep scratch over her right cheek, and locked eyes with Kieran. 

He slowly moved closer to her. "Can I see?" 

She didn't reply, but didn't retreat when he gently pried her bloody palm away from her cheek. He inspected the cut as Emory stood beside them, unsure how to help.

"Love," Kieran glanced at Emory. "Can you go get the first-aid kit?" He knew he needed to get Emory out of here for a few moments. He was a gentle soul, and got extremely worked up when someone was hurt. Emory nodded and dashed away.

                                                     . . . . . . . . . . .

They sat on the floor of Koda's room, the fairy lights bathing them in a warm glow. Kieran had the first-aid kit at his side, and was cleaning and bandaging Koda's wounds. She flinched at every touch. Emory was in the kitchen, making some tea and fetching medicine to help her (and himself) sleep after the traumatic incident. 

She winced as he applied antiseptic to her cheek.

"Sorry, I know it hurts," He winced to as he gently wiped away the blood. 

"You're really good at this," Koda tried to distract them both. 

"I'm a children's doctor. I have to clean up things like this all the time." He gently smiled, appreciating her attempt to lighten the tension a bit. "Sometimes I do stitches, sometimes I clean up gross stuff from sick little ones, you know. Kids are chaotic." He chuckled.

Emory entered the room with a warm glass of tea and a couple pills. He placed them on the nightstand. "This one is for the pain, and this one will help you sleep, if you want. I'm taking one." He smiled, trying to calm his frazzled nerves. 

"I'm so sorry," Koda whispered as Kieran finished applying the last bandage. "I didn't mean to scare you guys." She felt guilt wash over her in a wave.

"No, don't feel sorry! You did nothing wrong. Remember earlier when I told you we'd be here for you? Whenever you needed us? This is what I meant. It's okay, Koda. Really." Kieran packed up the first-aid kit and stood to leave.

"Do you. . . do you wanna sleep in our room tonight? So you're not alone?" Emory hesitantly questioned, unsure if that was too much. 

"I'm okay, but thanks. I'll just take that pill." They nodded and headed for the door. "If you need us, come get us. We're not mad, and we'd be more than happy to come be with you if you need us, okay?"

She nodded and they left, closing the door behind them. She sighed, thinking about the nightmare. Only it wasn't. That had happened a few months ago, while Mother had been out with friends. She couldn't clearly remember what he did to her next, and she didn't want to. She swallowed the pills with some tea, and sat back down in the floor, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her head on top. It was a while before she drifted back off, this time with no dreams thanks to the medicine.

                             Part Nine Coming Soon