Daddy's Little Princess

Chapter Eight - Step by Step

The nightmares were vivid. Over and over again, reliving That Night until she could force herself awake. Those eyes, beady and black, the only things visible in the dim light of the street lamp. The pain. The tears. The gut-wrenching helplessness. Everything seemed so real. She woke up, pausing in terror for a few seconds too long before she remembered where she was. Alex flung open her bedroom door and padded into the living room, not wanting to be alone with her memories. Fernando was sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV. When he saw her, he jumped to his feet like he had been electrocuted.

"I'm sorry" He looked nervous "but I was trying to distrac-"

"Fernando it's fine" she told him.

"You were screaming. In your sleep."

"I'm sorry." She apologized over her shoulder as she walked into the kitchen. She browsed the fridge, looking for something to eat.

"Don't be sorry. And we are completely out of food"

"I really don't want to go out for now" She whispered "Can you-" He interrupted with a nod. There was no need for words, he seemed to know exactly what she needed.

"I will be back in thirty minutes." He said firmly. He put the pistol on the coffee table. "It's loaded. Do not go back to sleep without me here. I will knock three times before I enter again, alright Alex?" She nodded meekly. Somewhere deep down, Alex knew it would be fine. Fernando picked up his leather jacket, black and soft to the touch, and left with a forced smile that was anything but reassuring.

It will be fine.

Fernando will protect her.

She must not fall asleep.

She was awoken by the sound of the knocks on the door, followed by the jingling of keys. Fernando opened the door, but did not walk in.

"Alex?" he called tentatively "It's Fernando. Are you alright?"

"Yes" She called out, and he walked in slowly, two bags of groceries in each hand. She stood up.

"Here, let me help you." Alex reached out and tried to take two of the bags, but he held them back.

"No need, I am a grown man who can handle groceries" Fernando stumbled into the kitchen and plopped them down on the table. She hopped up next to the sink and answered his questions of the whereabouts of items to put away.

"Soup?" He asked, holding up four cans of Cambells.

"Here" She touched the cabinet just above her head. He inched over, put his hand right next to her face, and slid the glass door away. Without taking his eyes off of hers, he reached up and stored the soup away. He stood there, staring at her, his eyes searching her face for the answer to a question she did not know. He was calculating, figuring out how to say something.

"Alexandria" he whispered. "No offense, but you seriously need a shower." She laughed, though it sounded forced.

"I was expecting something a bit more intense and thought-provoking." Alexandria told him, sniffing her hair. Ugh. She was in desperate need of a shower.

"Okay" She agreed, sliding of the counter gracefully. "Wow that was lithe" She mumbled and hobbled over to the bathroom. She turned on the vents, the hot water and locked the door. Slid out of her smelly, cold jeans. Brought her arms up and...stopped. Tried again. And again. She couldn't lift her arms above her ribs.

"Shit!" She whispered.

"Alex?" Fernando asked. "That wasn't a very quiet whisper, what happened?"

"Ummm..." She hesitated, risking potential embarrassment. Tenativelty, she called back "I can't get my arms over my head?"

"If you let me in, I can help you." He said quietly and shuffled to the door. This was another deciding moment: trust Fernando or no?

Alex bent down and unlocked the door before she could think twice. Her arms were tangled in her half-off shirt, one behind her back and the other clasped to her neck.

"Wow" He said with a hint of amusement. "How did we get in this predicament?" She stuck her tongue out at him and turned her back.

"Help?" She urged, but nothing happened. Silence. He didn't move to help her. I turned around slowly. He was staring at her body.

"FERNANDO!" Alex shrieked, terrified. "WHAT THE FU-"

"You are covered in bruises" He whispered. She looked at the mirror in shock. He was right. Head to toe, she was black and blue. Neck, arms, legs, stomach and back. Everywhere.

Their eyes met, mirror images of gruesome horror.

Time stopped. The world stopped. Everything stopped.

"We need to go to the police." He told her firmly.

"NO!" She screamed, backing against the shower curtain. "You can't make me! I don't want to go there. They'll ask me questions! I don't think I could ever talk about it with anyone besides you. I just want to forget about it." He ran his hands through his hair, shut his eyes tight and turned away.

"Alexandria" He growled quietly "We. Can't. Let. This. Go. There is some sick bastard out there who is-"

"Fernando!" She shouted, before lowering her voice. "I want to forget. Let it go." She gave him the most meaningful look she could muster through her heavy, tired eyes. He sighed.

"For now."

"Shirt." She said. He gave me a funny look.

"Alright, but I'm not sure what that's gonna do" He said and proceeded to remove his own shirt, revealing dark, toned abs. Drool.

"Put your shirt back on!" She laughed, turning away. "I did not need to see that!"

"But I made you laugh!" He insisted, laughing genuinely. All sound ended, however, when his fingertips grazed her back ever so gently. Alex's breath caught as she remembered That Night. Her heart beat a thousand times a second and the blood rushed to her head.

If this was any other girl, the situation would be very different right now. But it was Alexandria, she and Fernando. He gently eased the shirt over her head, careful not to touch her bruised, battered body. He tossed it on the floor.

"Any more help, chica?" He asked with joking seductiveness, accentuating his attempt with his Spanish accent.

"I got it from here"

"If any further assistance is required, I am at your service, Madame" She looked over hershoulder to see him bow deeply and leave. She locked the door quietly, threw her undergarments along with her shirt and pants into the garbage. They were just another trigger. She got in the hot shower. At first it was scalding, but Alex didn't dare turn it down. After a few seconds, her body adjusted and her muscles released. She sighed as the heat calmed her. Moving slowly and gingerly, she erased every scent, every fleck of dirt and grime, from her person. It swirled down the drain, a figment of the past.

I am safe.