Learning to Live, Again

Chapter Twenty-seven

Niamh

When I saw them cart Caleb away, my heart squeezed in my chest. Blood coated his chest and spilled onto the bed. He was moaning and writhing in pain, and all I could do was watch as they pushed him down the hall and out of sight.

"Niamh? What's going on?"

My heart beat in my chest, and I shook my head, tears filling my eyes. "Caleb, he's been shot!" I watched an older officer, one that I recognized, run by me. "Sir? Sir?" I was too afraid to reach out and grab his arm, so he ran past us.

I turned to Corbin, and his brow was furrowed in thought. "Why would someone shoot him? He hasn't been on duty for quite a while, and he hasn't been home. He's-" Realization dawned on his features, and I gripped my hands together.

"What? He's what?"

Corbin turned to me. "He's been staying at your house."

His words felt like what I imagined a bullet in my own chest would feel like, and I fell back against the wall, sliding to my butt on the ground. It's my fault. I told him to pack up and get out. If I hadn't of done that, he wouldn't have been there.

Corbin squatted down in front of me, laying a hand on my knee. Bile rose in the back of my throat, and I fought the urge to shove him off and run. "Niamh, it's not your fault. I don't know how you're rationalizing it in your mind, but it is not your fault. He's been staying there since you went missing. He would have been there tonight."

I nodded. "All because I got him involved and left him my house." I shook my head, tears falling. "I killed him."

Corbin took me in his arms, and I couldn't stop my reaction. I shoved him off, running to the farthest corner and bracing my hand against the wall. I hurled everything I had eaten that day on the ground, shaking as I did. I had the same reaction with most males that touched me too fast or too hard or too much. I couldn't stop myself.

When I finally gasped, gulping air into my lungs to combat the stinging of my throat, I turned around, setting my butt on the window seal, and wiping my mouth. Looking up, my eyes connected with Corbin's, and his look of hurt made my stomach churn with guilt. He was my best friend, and here I was throwing up because he touched me.

Well... Not just because he touched me..

"Corbin, I-"

He held up his hand, silencing me. "Don't worry about it, Niamh. I got the message. I'll just go." Before I could stop him, he picked up his jacket and left the room. I wanted to chase after him, to explain myself, but I couldn't. Fear had grabbed a hold of my stomach and my heart and refused to let me go.

~~~~~

"Niamh? May we speak to you?" I looked up from my covers to find the older cop from the other night standing there. Behind him he had a mean looking lady cop, and they each approached me like I was a hurt animal who might bite them out of fear. Looking at the man, I might just do that. "Hi, Niamh, I'm officer Kobe. Do you remember me?"

Slowly, I nodded. "You helped my family and I when our house was ransacked."

Kobe smiled. "Exactly. How are you feeling? You're looking-"

"Where's Caleb? Is he okay? I saw him brought to the hospital. He had what looked to be a bullet wound. Is he alive?"

The female cop shared a look with Kobe, and my stomach sank in fear. "Maybe we should stick to what happened with you. We can talk about Caleb at a later date," the female cop said, a hint of annoyance in her speech.

I frowned, instantly wanting them to leave. I didn't want to talk about what happened with someone who cared. I certainly didn't want to talk about it with someone who gave no shits about my situation. "There's nothing to talk about," I said curtly, staring down the cop.

"Niamh, if you refuse to participate, your attackers will remain at large, and they may come after you again, or worse."

I swallowed the rising bile in my throat, fighting to control my breathing. Instead of getting scared, I got mad. "How dare you threaten me," I snarled at the female cop. "Haven't I been through enough? Just get out of my face."

Kobe sighed, giving the female cop and annoyed look. "Niamh, please, let us help you."

He went to touch me, and I shot out of bed, moving away from him. "Get out of here," I say. "I don't need your help. They'll get tired of me. I've already given up." I shrank back and looked out of the window.

"Niamh," Kobe said softly. "We think that this attack on Caleb has something to do with the people who attacked you."

I swallowed, my heart slowing. They attacked him? Why him? He knows nothing. Slowly, I turn towards Kobe. He looks at me hopefully, and I bite my lip. Fear grips my tongue and makes it useless. I want to help him, but, maybe, if I stay out of it, they'll leave my family alone. Maybe, they'll leave me alone.

Kobe sighs. "I understand. We'll try again later.." He turns to leave, but stops when the female cop doesn't follow him.

"I think I'll just wait here for a bit," she says. "Maybe we can have a little bit of girl talk."

Kobe nods. "Alright. I'll wait out here." He leaves the room, the door closing behind him, and the girl gives me a dark smile.

"So, slut," she murmurs, "why don't you tell me how great it was to be adored by those men, and maybe, stop lying and telling everyone you were raped."