Playing Perfect

Chapter 20

Chapter 20 Nichole

                I could barely move, but I gathered all my strength to warn Louis. In the end it wasn’t enough. He was thrown on the floor beside me and Will shut the door locking it from the outside. He must have had a lot of time to plan this because all the lights had been taking out, all the possible weapons were gone, and the window was covered and locked.  Louis was scrambling around the room trying to find me, but when he finally did his elbow jammed into my side. I sucked in a sharp breath making him apologized twenty million times. “Nic.” He held my face in his hands, but we couldn’t see each other.

                “You shouldn’t be here.” I slowly lifted my arm and nudged his hand so that he’d take it off my face. I was having a hard time catching my breath and the pain in my side was close to unbearable. “I’m not your problem anymore.” He sighed and sat next to me.

                “I didn’t want you to go. I just didn’t want either of us to have to deal with long distances and rumors. I was trying to protect you. Lottie convinced me to come here-” he paused and I felt him tense beside me. “Lottie’s still in the car.” His voice was emotionless but you could feel the fear in the room.

                “Call Jo. Tell her to come get Lottie and don’t come in. Then tell her once she gets Lottie to call the police from a safe place. Not my driveway.” I coughed up some blood and spit it on my floor. I was way too used to this. No one should ever be abused let alone used to being abused. Louis pulled out his cell phone and called his mom. Her voice was filled with panic, but he assured her that we were alright. Once he hung up he turned on the flashlight on his phone. He shined it in my face and gasped.

                “Nic.” His eyes widened and I shook my head. I felt the cut on my right cheek bleeding and I knew for sure I had a black eye. My shirt and jeans were covered with blood and my hair was in knots. My whole body was shaking and my ribs were bruised. My forearm was cut open and bleeding all over everything.

                “No matter what he does to me to make you mad don’t let him get to you. Your mom’s on her way and she’s bringing the police. I’ll be okay. The worst he can do is kill me and I’ve been through this before. No matter how much I protest or kick and fight. Don’t. Do. Anything.” I coughed again and clutched my throbbing side.

                “So you’re telling me you don’t want me to help you?” He was beyond confused.

                “Just listen please.” I kissed his forehead softly before leaning back and closing my eyes. I could hear Will coming down the hallway. Louis squeezed my hand and I knew no matter what I told him he wasn’t going to let go. Will threw open the door blinding me with light.

                “You two are pathetic. You thought you were so cute walking around holding hands, kissing, laughing.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “The things you should’ve been doing with me.” He looked down at our joined hands. “And Louis thinks he’s so big and bad that he comes to your rescue all the time, but he’s just a nobody like his dad.” Louis jaw clenched and he squeezed my hand harder. I heard Jo’s car pull in crunching through the gravel. Will started walking towards the window.

                “You want me not him. Leave him alone.” I yelled taking his attention away from what was happening outside. Louis tried to jump up and hit him but I tugged on his arm making him sit back down.

                “Well Nic. You could’ve been free by now if you would just let Louis go. Instead you go about your stubborn ways.” He shook his head and yanked on my arm making me gasp as I stood shaking with pain. “Such a shame to see you treated like this.” I rolled my eyes and spit out the new wave of blood in my mouth. I heard their car pull out, but Will was too lost in his craziness to realize it.

                “Yeah well you’ll have to do a whole lot worse than this to beat what my dad’s done.” Louis was pleading with me to let him beat the crap out of Will, but I wouldn’t let him. Will smirked.

                “It’s sad to see such beautiful ladies like you always respect the abusers.” He pulled on my arm and pushed me out the door. Louis was on his feet now, but I raised my hand.

                “Stay.” His mouth dropped. Will smirked before he bent his head down and forced his filthy lips against mine. I tried to push on his chest to get him off but he didn’t bulge.

                “Get off of her!” Right before Louis reached us Will slammed the door in his face. Louis banging on the door and Will’s psychotic laughter made me want to puke. All of a sudden I heard sirens. I closed my eyes to some relief. The front door burst open and three police officers marched over to Will guns in hand.

                “Sir, please step away from the lady.” My heart was beating fast as I watched Will’s eyes dart between me and the police. He raised his hands in the air making the police lower their weapons before he shoved past me. All the officers followed him, but I couldn’t move from my position on the wall. I couldn’t feel my arm. An EMT walked over to me, but before he could ask me any questions I nodded towards the door.

                “Open it.” Were the only two words I managed to get out of my mouth. My lungs felt like they were closing in while my heart felt like it might burst. My migraine was making it hard to focus on anything. He looked confused but he did it anyway. The second the lock clicked Louis was through the door and by my side. He was asking me a million questions, but I couldn’t answer a single one. My vision started blurring and I’ve passed out enough times to know that’s what was happening. Louis looked like he was crying, but I was focused on the wall behind you. “I love you.” Those whispered words were muffled by the oxygen mask and blackness.