No Choice {GaLe}

Chapter Twenty-Four (End)

The footage mostly started off with regular, everyday things, but it slowly emerged into something more terrifying. The first thing that was off was when my mother started screaming at me. There was no audio, but you could tell she was being loud and angry. Like a coward I would cower in the corner, crying until there were no tears. Then, came the first abuse. It was just a couple punches and kicks, and I felt like I could feel her kicking me when I watched. As if, I was reliving that nightmare. Soon enough though came the first burning.

"Where did she..... take you?" The man controlling the video asked when my mother dragged me off the frame.

"The... uh..... basement..." I whispered, squeezing Gajeel's hand more then I was before. He punched a couple of the keys, making the basement footage appear.

"What the hell?!" Gajeel yelled, watching my mother burn my stomach. I saw the complete and utter terror on my face, making me feel that same terror again. I thought I even felt a burning sensation in my ribs like it was burning through the gauze.

"Gajeel....." I whispered, letting a single tear run down my face, trying to keep the rest in. His angered expression softened when he saw me. His eyebrows knitted together, as he brings his thumb up and cleaned the tear. 

The simple gesture felt so relaxing and comforting that all the terror and pain seemed to fade away. Nodding to Gajeel, I turned back to look at the screen, only to be welcomed by my limp form on the floor, sobbing and covered in blood. Nothing about watching this was pleasant, but I wanted to show myself that I could be strong for once in my life. That I could be the one to be able to overcome what I faced.

I wanted to be able to do that.... and Gajeel wanted answers. Although I didn't want him to have them, I still felt like a weight was lifted off my chest when we were watching this. I felt like I wasn't lying to him anymore, even though the truth may be ugly. 

This may even be the reason why he ends up leaving me, maybe because I didn't fight back and was a coward, maybe he just doesn't want to get tangled up in my pathetic life. I guess he just needed to know the truth and I was giving it to him. He's getting what he wanted. He wanted to know, and he is starting to know.

Throughout the entirety of the footage, I could tell Gajeel was angry. I could feel his anger in waves that were hitting me forcefully and with speed. I knew he was trying to keep it all in, but who knows what he might do or say after he let off some steam. 

I would occasionally have to tell the man where my mother dragged me off too, or just where I was in general. It was miserably embarrassing for everyone in the room see me at night, crying like a weak idiot, sobbing into the pillows and trying to rap pieces of toilet paper around my wounds.

Even though I lived through it and knew exactly what was going to happen and how painful it was, I still got tense and my heart beat sped up when my mother started to yell and threaten me. Thoughts and feelings came back to me that I never thought I would feel again. The type of fears that used to keep me up at night seemed so large before, looking back now, they don't scare me as much.

As long as I know that Gajeel will be there. Well, knew he would be there. I don't know if he's going to want to be there after this. At this point, I felt horrible for having to lie to him, and I felt even more horrible at the fact that he had to find out like this.... by watching it. By having it right in front of him. Everything I tried to hide and keep secret, was now blown away and cast to the side, now that he knew.

He knew....... The more we watched, the closer we got to me finally getting out of there and meeting Gajeel. Although we didn't have the best encounter, I'm still incredibly grateful that I got him. Not some other rich guy who cares about nothing but himself and money. I thought Gajeel was like that at first but boy.... was I wrong.

"And after this, you didn't really come back.... may I ask, where did you go?" The man asked, right when we watched my mother push me out the door to go to Gajeel's mansion for the first time.

"I went to him," I smiled, pointing upwards to Gajeel, who didn't even seem to be in the same world as me. If we were in one of those silly cartoons right now, I bet that actual steam would be pushing itself out of his ears, and his face would be as red as a firetruck.

"Miss... again... I'm so sor-"

"Don't be. That's the past, and this is the present." I reassured, hoping that the present would be better than the past once we go to Gajeel's mansion. The rest of our stay at the police station was pretty short. 

They asked me if I could answer some questions which I politely declined, telling them I would like to come back another time to answer them. Of course, they let me, probably not wanting to pressure me or anything, probably pitying me. J

ust the thought of being pitied made my blood boil. I know that I've been through a lot, but I didn't want people worrying about me or having to force themselves to think about me and my safety.

"G-Gajeel?" I squeaked, as we started walking towards his house. He didn't respond, he didn't even seem to acknowledge my existence for that matter, he just kept walking. He didn't even start to walk faster in hopes of getting away from me he just kept doing the same thing, the entire time we were walking to his house. I made several other attempts at trying to get his attention or get him to talk to me.

I didn't even get a glance my way, even as he opened the door with the spare key he had in his pocket. Never would I have guessed what he did when we got in. He backed me up into a wall, only stopping when his hands were planted on either side of me and we were inches apart.

"Look, Levy, I can't even imagine what ya went through. I don't even want to think about it. Just seeing you there....... in such..... pain made me hate myself for not being there for ya. And ya know what? Yer amazing, Lev. When ya first came here you seemed like just another girl. But you were hurting so much inside. You're the strongest person I know. Hell.... you're stronger than me. Now listen to me, Levy. I don't ever want to hear that you were hurting in the past and I couldn't help you. I don't ever want to figure out someday that you've been faking your happiness and not telling me what's wrong. So..... please...... always tell me......"

I was so stunned at what he said I didn't move. I couldn't seem to fully grasp his words, my mind felt foggy and entirely blank despite the hundreds of thoughts that were zooming in my mind.

"I..... I will...." I finally managed to say.

"Promise?'

"I promise."

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Hello, my little droplets! You all read the title correctly..... No Choice is over T_T let me just say this, I started this book months ago, and never in my wildest dreams thought it would get this far. I've gotten so much support and amazing fans from this story that will always have a place in my heart. This is the first story I'm genuinely proud of and it's my longest story so far... it's just been a big part of me no matter how silly it sounds. I just can't express what I'm feeling right now... it's a mixture of utter joy and utter sadness...... I really hope all of you guys liked this story and stuck around until the end, you guys are the reason why I smile everyday ^^

As always a new Gale fanfic will be out soon! I'm thinking of a possible sequel to this book! What do you guys think?