Fame

Chapter-17

Chapter-17

-Roxy

I can't move. Blood.. His blood is all over me.

I feel trapped in my own mind. On the outside emotionless. Staring at the dead body on the living room floor. Jess is beside me with her arms wrapped around me but I hardly acknowledge it.

Seth comes running in and takes in the scene. And next thing I know he's by my side in an instant. Jess releases me and his arms envelop me in a tight embrace. Sharp pain shoots through my body but I don't acknowledge it, or him. I just stare at the body laying in a pool of blood. A pool of blood that I was just laying in, with a dead corpse on top of me.

"She's in shock. She wont stop staring at it." Jess' voice just sounds like background sounds to me as she speaks to Seth.

He kneels in front of me but I stare straight past him. Unable to look away. "Roxy.. please.." He squeezes my good hand but I do nothing. I just stare.

More police come in, taking photos of the crime scene and they cover the body up. One makes his way over to talk to me but I just stare at the tarp covered body.

"Roxy? I know this all must be overwhelming. When your feeling up to it I'd like to ask you some questions. I understand your in shock but it'll wear off. I'll check in to make sure your okay in the next few days after this is all taken care of. We're going to clean up and you should get cleaned up too." He looks over at Jess and Seth. "You guys should get her out of here, maybe take her to your place or something."

"Thank you officer we'll do that." Jess says their goodbyes and Seth picks me up. I stare blankly over his shoulder at the body until it is out of sight.

My head turns and I lean back, staring at the elevator ceiling. I can't speak. I can't move. My body feels frozen. Just like I was frozen in fear.

"Oh my God is she okay?" Dakota's familiar voice is just in the background like everyone elses. We're in his and Seth's penthouse.

"She's in shock. I'm going to take her to get cleaned up." Seth carries me up the stairs and Jess follows.

I hear the sound of the bath starting but my brain never fully registers it. Seth undresses me and Jess wraps up my casts so they don't get wet.

He lifts me in the bathtub and turns the water off. The water turns red around me as he begins to wash the blood off. I stare straight at the wall in front of me.

Bang! The memory flashes through my mind over and over again.

Your not going anywhere without me..

The memories flash over and over in my mind.

Your mine.

His voice haunts me as does the memories.

"You should go rest. You've both been through a lot Jess. Don't worry, I wont let anything happen to her." Seth reassures her and Jess sobs.

"Thank you.." She hugs Seth and leaves the room.

We all have ways of coping. Her's is crying until she can't and then it all just turns into the past. And for right now, my way is shutting down. That's exactly what I do.

Seth leans me back to wash my hair and my eyes close. He doesn't put me underwater. Instead, when he's turned to grab the shampoo, I push myself underwater.

I lay there. Not breathing. Not moving. I just lay there under the water. Strong forceful hands pull me up and I breathe in. My eyes blink open and I continue to stare.

"What the hell Roxy?? Are you trying to drown yourself??" Seth turns my face to him and his eyes are full of fear and worry. I just turn my head back to facing the wall as he washes my hair and then my body.

After drying me off, he bandages my abdomen back up from the glass shards that stabbed me along with othsr injuries. He dresses me and carries me to his bedroom then lays me down and covers me with blankets.

He changes into sweatpants, takes off his shirt, and crawls in beside me. He pulls me close and wraps his arms around me but I just lay on my side staring out the window.

The thin spaced window..

All the memories come flooding back and replay in my mind. Bang! The car hits me. Bang! The door is smashed in. Bang! The gun goes off.

These are the images I fall asleep to.

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He hits me again and again. "You will be mine! No one else can have you!"

I have to escape..

The window! Just go! I smash it and crawl out. I run but he's right behind me. He's always behind me and I can't get away.

"You wont get away from me. Not this time." His voice echoes in my mind and haunts me.

Just run.

Keep running.. Don't stop.. Just run!

"Got you!" His hand yanks me back. "Your not going anywhere without me.." He holds the gun up at me. No ones here. No one can help me. No ones going to save me. I'm going to die..

Bang!

I jolt awake, screaming in terror and thrashing out.

"Your okay! Your safe baby your safe, its me, its Seth! Roxy your okay!" His arms protectively encircle me tightly.

My breathing comes in raggid pants and tears stream down my face. He holds me close and rocks me back and forth. "Its okay baby.. its okay. It was just a dream. Your safe now.." He calms me down a bit.

"But it wasn't a dream.. not all of it.." I sob and hug him the best I can given my injuries.

"I know baby but its over now.. he wont ever hurt you again.." He kisses my head and continues to rock me back and forth until I stop shaking. My breathing has returned to normal and the shock has mostly worn off.

I tilt my head up to look at him and he meets my gaze. "Do you still love me?" It may seem like a silly question to ask.. But I just need to hear him say it right now.

"More than anything." He kisses my forehead and lays me back down beside him.

"Is it okay if I stay here for a little? Just until I'm ready to go back to my penthouse.. You wont even know I'm here, I can stay on the couch if I have to-- "

"Shut up." He cuts me off before I can finish and I lean back.

"Did you just tell me to--"

"Yes I did. Because you can stay as long as you like and I want to know that your here and you can stay in my bed or wherever you would like. I'm not going anywhere and I'm not going to let anything happen to you. You need to feel safe? I'm there. You need someone to cry to? I'll be there. You need someone to love you? I already do but I'll make sure to prove to you that I do. I'm going to be here for you for as long as you need."

Tears well in my eyes and I lean over to kiss him. He kisses me back, gently not wanting to go too far with me. I love him for that. For everything..

"I love you Seth.."

"I love you too Roxy."