AUTUMN'S POV
I was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of my phone ringing.
"Hello" I groggily answered
"You fucking bitch" her raspy voice sent chills down my spine. I instantly sat up fully awake
"M-mom" I whispered, a thin layer of sweat starting to form on my body
"Where have you been? Have you been being a whore? Sleeping with men for money! You're so god damn pathetic, that's all you ever do isn't it!?" She started to yell making me flinch even over the phone
"Please stop this" I begged and the body next to me started to shift uncomfortable. I instantly stood up and made my way to the bathroom
"Where are you slut? Out with a man? You better come the fuck home! Right now! I don't care how much you're getting paid, I'll come look for you myself and have your father beat the living shit out of whoever you're with" she seethed
"No! Leave me alone! You can't keep doing this!" I began to cry. I didn't want to think of my friends being hurt all because of me
"If you're not home by tomorrow night, I'm coming for you with your father. He'll be sure to make the people you're with don't even want to see you again! You don't deserve happiness! You don't deserve anything at all! I'm going to beat the living shit out of you next time I see you, so you better be prepared" she screamed. I stood frozen in my place as the buzz of the after call rang in my ears.
I dropped my phone next to me and let out a choked sob. I fell to the floor tears rushing down my cheeks. I couldn't let my friends get hurt because of me. I wouldn't allow them to. I wouldn't forgive myself. I need to protect them.
I was so caught up in my thoughts I didn't realize how loud my sobs were and the knocking that was slowly getting louder
"Autumn! Open up right now! AUTUMN!" The person was pounding on the door "I'LL BREAK THIS DOOR OPEN IF YOU DON'T OPEN IT RIGHT NOW!"
"Just leave me alone. Please, just leave me alone" I begged hoping that the person on the other side could just barley make out the words and leave. But that didn't happen.
"God damnit Autumn! I'm breaking this door down!" They continued to pound
"NO! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE" I screamed as loud as I could and they immediately stopped "I just want to be alone. I- I can't put anyone else in danger. This is my problem and no one should have to deal with me"
"No, Autumn don't talk like that" my cries slowly grew softer as they spoke. I heard another pair of footsteps paddling into the room and soon the click of the door behind me
"Autumn!" Ryan gasped and quickly wrapped his arms around me "what happened"
"No! You guys can't help me anymore" I started to sob again "I'm only putting you in danger of being hurt. I can't let any of you get hurt, not because of me. I have to go home, they're looking for me. If they find me here they'll hurt you"
"Shh babe, who told you that?" he whispered in my ear
"She called me, she- she was so angry, she threatened to hurt whoever I was with. She said she was going to beat me the next time she sees me" I wrapped my hands around his torso "I'm so scared for you all"
"We won't let them get to you or us" he cooed in my ear "I think it's time to go to the professionals to handle this"
I froze in his hands. The thought of going to them has occurred to me numerous times, and I would of gone but they threaten to hurt me worse.
"No! They threatened that if I do tell they will hurt-" I shook my head
"They can't hurt you if they're behind bars babe" Ryan tried to convince me
"What if they find a way to hurt me" I questioned looking up at him. He wiped away the tears on my cheeks and hugged me tighter
"They'll have to get past us first"
"You can't keep doing this to yourself" May kneeled down next to us.
"We need you Autumn, we will help you get through this. So don't be scared if we're caught in the middle"
