Defiance

7.run

Otis Langston

Once he was done with the story he looks down with his head low as if he was ashamed.

"Can I hug you?" I ask softly. He nods.

I move forward slowly as I bring my arms around him and he moves into my chest as he sobs. I do my best to calm him down as he wails loudly.

"Why? Why do I al-always e-end wi-ith abusers?!! What did I do wrong? My parents then him!! Why?!" He screams his voice literally heartbreaking.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" I kept whispering.

I was grateful he didn't mention me. But I felt ashamed. He should've mentioned me too, I can't believe I did the same thing to him. I continue hugging and he becomes still after sometime. He nudges me slightly to look at me.

"This is not why I'm here Otis. You need to run away with your kids" he says serious all of a sudden.

"What do you mean?" I ask, he's speaking as if knows what will happen to us.

"Adam comes home at night and talks about his day. He mentions you everyday. I can see it, I can see his intentions changing about you and your kids. Please Otis, you have to leave" he begs.

"No no, I'm not leaving you there. Come with me we'll go to the police yeah? It'll be fine"

"No!! There is no proof" he sniffs.

"No proof? Rome, your existence is the proof. He's been abusing you, he's practically kidnapped you"

"He can get out of it. He'll talk his way out, it's not about me Otis I'll be fine, you should...you should run away" he whispers. Although he was talking about me, trying to say it's about me I can see in his eyes and hear it in his voice, he was begging me to help. He wanted to get out and he needed help.

"We'll be fine ok? I'll ask my kids to stay back for a few days,  meanwhile we'll find evidence for him to go to jail and I'll find a good lawyer too? Hmm? What do you say?" I ask as softly as I could.

"I am too broke for a lawyer" he whispers.

"That's alright, we'll help you" I say.

"No, you shouldn't do that" he cries.

"Once everything is fine, you can go back to working for us and you can pay back someday..okay? For now let's focus on you, okay?"

"I dealt with drugs in that past. I was caught. I have a bad record"

"Is Adam aware of that?"

"No...as far as I know"

"Alright. I'll talk to the lawyer about it. Now what you should do is....give me a minute"

I ring up a guy I know from town and request him to get me a recorder.
  He reaches within fifteen minutes to the location I shared. I hid Rome while I was talking with him. Once he was gone I called Rome to come out. He limped towards me.

"Hey this is a recorder, you are going to go back home....I'm sorry to do this but, you need to collect evidence. Crucial evidence for this case...just for today you have to go back. I'll bring you out of there by tomorrow? I promise. So just stay strong for today" I give him a hug as I drop the recorder in his pockets. He nods slowly.

"Be careful, I'll see you tomorrow" I resist the urge to give him a kiss on his forehead as I wave him a goodbye.

"Thanks" he whispers and leaves.

~~~

I kept praying that entire night, praying that he was fine, praying that it went fine, praying that he's not too hurt. Why is this world so cruel?

Rome Taylor

"Please stop Adam...please" I beg him as punches me in my gut for the hundredth time.

"I have to up my game in boxing you know. And my instinct says that the fact that I was stuck with Lucy for an hour has something to do with you" he growls.

"I don't know what you're talking about!! Please stop" I whisper-scream.

"No can do darling"

By the time he was done, my body has given up. I vomited the little food I ate in the morning and passed out. I tried to comfort myself. Otis has told so. Stay strong just for today. I can do that. He'll come get me tomorrow. I can do this. I can do this. I'll be saved tomorrow. Just 3 more hours until tomorrow. I'll be fine.

~~~

The next morning I wake up with a splitting headache and a sharp pain in my stomach. Or my ribs. Are they broken? Shit.
  I hear noises from outside. Is he here?! Finally?

"Please sir, you are a suspect under the present circumstances and we would appreciate it if you come with us to the station" I hear the police.

"Suspect?! Suspect for what??" Adam yells.

"Langston??! What are you doing here?" He cries as Otis appears behind the police.

"Where is he?" He asks.

"Where is who?" Adam questions innocently.

"Where is Rome?" Otis growls.

"Rome? He's sleeping in his bedroom. What is wrong?" He continues his flawless act.

"We request to see him" the police says.

Adam scoffs but he drags me outside while giving me a look that clearly screams you are so dead.

The police widens his eyes as he takes in my appearance.

"We suspect you as the abuser of Rome Taylor, and you need to come with us. You can hire an attorney but until then you'll stay in the station" the police says as he pulls out the handcuffs.

"Abuse?? He met with a terrible accident and he was jumped!! What abuse? Ask him if you're so curious. We're married for god's sake!" He says exasperated.

"Is he right Mr Taylor?" The police questions.

I glance at Otis who pleads with his eyes to tell the truth. I glance at Adam who's ready to pounce on me and kill me off any moment. I can feel my anxiety spiking as I think of a decision. I'll be saved I need to be honest.

Right?