The Awakening

6 - Glass

The world came crashing down. Shards of glass filled the air, electrifying the mood. The candlelight caught in the webs of broken window scattered about throwing beams of light. There was a beauty to the glisten but she would not see it. Her eyes caged behind the worn burlap. Wires cut into the soft flesh of her wrists – binding body and spirit.

A clicking noise followed the scratch of metal, as it trailed along the stony path. The sound put a curve in her spine and a hitch in her breath. It was the exact reaction she suspected he wanted, as his gloved hand caressed her thigh. It ran the length down to her ankle, wrapping itself around and pulling.

She knew pain would follow next and the previous wounds had not healed. She couldn't see her face but her fingers had felt the contours and she was sure the shape had changed which terrified her.

Every part of her ached, there was not one part she could touch. Sleeping had becoming almost non-existent; never being able to get comfortable and the only solace the moments when consciousness evaded her.

What had he done to her. What was he doing now?

Promising herself not to scream this time; sensing he liked that, but as the knife parted her skin, digging deeper inside, the wetness soaking her skin, the screams escaped her lips of their own accord.

***

"Georgia, can you tell me again what happened?" Avery passed the woman a warm cup of tea, the steam drifted until it dissipated into the air all but forgotten. The act of condensation seemed to mesmerize the woman who sat hunched over on the couch completely absorbed by the drink in her hand.

Avery shared a worried glance with her mother who sat opposite her in an over sized arm chair.

"Georgia dear?" It was Avery's mothers turn to reach her friend. The words came out as a soft breeze disturbing the quiet.

"I'm sorry, what did you say? Oh wait, where are my manners can I get you a spot of tea? I should make a fresh pot, Anders will be here any moment. He must be so..."

Georgia's thoughts trailed off as she rose to make her way to the kitchen, mumbling to herself as she went leaving the two women in her wake with growing concern.

"Georgia, don't worry about us we are fine and Anders will most likely not be back until tomorrow. He went to the police station with that nice officer, and anyways I think he will forgive you your manners this once."

Avery's mother chased after her friend, ushering her back to the couch, scooping up a blanket and wrapping it around Georgia's shoulders. The woman shook her head in agreement, however, Avery was uncertain a single thing they were saying was sinking in.

She had forgotten all about her shift at the pub when Georgia had called her. The woman was frantic on the phone, speaking in broken sentences between sobbing and sniffling. Her first instinct had been that something had happened to her mother, so Avery had turned on her heels forgetting the pain in her feet and sprinted all the way back to the condo. When she had arrived she found a cruiser sitting out front and she forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat as she took the stairs twice at a time.

Bursting through the doors her lungs in pain as she breathed through her mouth she found her mother standing in the hallway talking to a young man in uniform. Anders, Cassie's fiance was also in attendance, his head nodding in agreement to the explanation they were being given. Avery was confused when she approached the small group.

The lump in her throat soon returned as she listened to the officer explain what had transpired at the mall and Georgia's account. Avery had asked if they should take Georgia to the hospital considering her agitated state but the officer had assured her that a paramedic had examined her at the scene and physically she was fine. They had administered a mild sedative and that explained the catatonic stare.

Avery recalled the brief conversation she had with the police officer when Anders and her mother had gone to assist Georgia into the condo. "She tells us you two are close - you and Cassie?"

Avery had nodded her head in agreement, her eyes following the two mothers in her life, half listening to the officer.

"Did you guys ever talk about her life? Relationships? Was she close with her mother? How were things with her fiance? Did she ever talk to you about any issues they were having?" His notebook seemed to magically appear from his chest pocket. As Avery was about to open her mouth, she was aware every word would be recorded, as the policeman stood poised with his pencil in readiness. She shut her mouth quickly, being wary to choose her next words.

"She was close with her mother. Cassie was happy. Excited about getting married. Exactly what are you getting at?" Avery could hear the defensive tone in her voice and instantly regretted taking that approach.

Sensing her hesitation, he put the notebook away and reached into his pocket for a business card instead, adding, "Why don't you think about anything that could help us find your friend. Maybe you come down and see me tomorrow. I will be on shift at one. I'm not trying to catch you out miss, I'm just trying to find your friend and see if I can come up with an explanation to this."

"Thanks." Avery took the card and saw him to the elevator.

"You sure it might not just be a case of cold feet? We get things like this happen all the time?" the Officer pushed a little more.

While she was sure he meant the comment to ease their concerns, all it had done was make Avery lose faith. Every relationship had their issues, but Cassie was not the type of person to run away from her problems. She would have faced them head on - slamming her hand against a closing door to demand her voice be heard.

Avery had not bothered to make that argument as she was sure he heard those kinds of rationalizations often.

"No, I'm sure that isn't the case, far from it," Avery said with conviction.

Appearing to believe that he had left something amiss, as the doors started to close he paused, "Even something small might point us in the right direction. Ring me anytime if there is anything you think might be important, no matter how small, you have my number," he said as his eyes pointedly looked at the card threaded between her fingers. As the doors closed, Avery nodded her head waving to the officer as he disappeared from view. Promptly she stuffed the card into her jacket pocket making it bend in two. Pivoting.on her heels, she turned her back on the elevator, a long sigh escaping her dry lips, as she returned to the group.

Avery dug out her cell phone, there were no new notifications on her screen. She palmed the phone, unnerved that she had heard nothing. Walking into the room with her head down she bumped into Anders, sending her phone bouncing across the tiled floor.

"Shit," Avery got on all fours chasing after it.

"Here let me get it. Sorry about that. Hey where did he go?" Anders crouched down, retrieving the device and handing it back to Avery.

A little sheepishly Avery explained her conversation to Anders, keeping it light and omitting the way the officer had leaned towards a run-away-bride scenario. The blood drained from his face and Anders set off chasing after the officer promising to be back in the morning. Closing the door behind him the three women were alone.

Avery smiled as her mother helped Georgia back down onto the couch. The interaction was almost normal until her mother dropped to the ground. 

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