Apocalyptic Romance

Chapter 12: Come Back To Me

**RECAP: Eliza caught Jason beating up Jack, she intervenes, and Jason beats and chokes her. Bruce tackles Jason when he sees what Jason has done to his kids. Lizzie tells Bruce to come and take a look at Eliza instead of explaining her condition**

**Bruce's POV**

I walked into the tent and saw my only daughter, the light of my life since her mother had passed, laying unconscious on a table top. I felt my throat tighten and my feet became very heavy. I wanted to collapse on my knees at the sight in front of me, Eliza laying motionless, bloody, beaten, and bruised. Dark purple hand marks formed around her throat from where Jason was choking her, she had a black eye and what looked like a broken nose. Rage boiled in my blood as I thought of what that monster did to my daughter, but I quickly suppressed it because I wouldn't want her or her brother to see me in that state. Slowly, I extended my hand and walked towards my little girl, my feet feeling like they were made of cinderblocks. I stroked her face as gently as I could, but even in sleep she flinched and quietly whimpered under my touch; rage boiling inside of my blood once more. Not being able to take it anymore, I gently kissed her forehead, earning me another whimper and flinch, and I quietly left Medical. 

I wasn't in my right mind in those moments in time. I didn't realize where I was even going, for right now my feet were in control. My mind blurred and all I could see was Eliza laying on the table not looking anything like herself; so hollow and empty. She wasn't dead, but she looked like she was. Her face was so damaged but pale, no longer glistening with the light that radiated from her wild spirit. 

I was hurting for Eliza. I was hurting for abandoning Jack. I was hurting for my late wife, Tess. I was hurting for myself. I was hurting for everyone who that monster, Jason, ever hurt. 

Jason. The bastard who nearly killed my daughter.

Every time I closed my eyes I saw him manhandling her; her small and frail body becoming limper with every second he had his hands locked around her neck. I opened my eyes and saw that I was no longer in camp, but in the dreaded spot where I found them all. I dragged my feet over to the tree where Eliza was, standing over Jack to protect him. I fell to my knees, my eyes feeling heavy, and slowly touched the ground with a gentle hand as if it might collapse under my touch. 

It was at that moment, I began to sob uncontrollably. 

I'm a terrible father. I abandoned my only children and I might lose them forever.

I knew I needed to get them out of here as soon as I could