Fallen

Chapter 8

Fallen

- 8 -

A/N: it's uneventful and boring and a filler and I apologize...

"What?" I asked a little too innocently.

Louis gave me a 'I can see right through your bullshit' look and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Didn't I tell you not to open the door?" He asked, still glaring at me.

I wanted to argue but I knew he was right. I opened my mouth but closed it again.

"Clayton Waters is the scum of this earth," he continued. "He went to prison for raping seven woman. Damn it, Eleanor! Why can't you just listen to me?

I rocked back and forth on my heels.

"Then how's he out? Of prison?" I asked.

Louis looked at me and chuckled, darkly and without humor.

"There are ways," he said, "to get out of prison. You just have to have to right connections, on the inside."

I let my eyes fall to the floor.

Remembering the look in Clayton's eye, I felt a chill go down my spine. Tears brimmed in my eyes but I blinked them back.

I had endured similar things from Adam so why shouldn't I be able to handle this?

I took a deep breath.

'You're fine,' I told myself, harshly. 'Get over it, you're fine.'

Louis stared at me for another minute. He still looked angry.

"Get dressed," he said. "The guys will be here soon."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.

-

"We've gotta get you some more clothes," Louis observed when I stepped out of the bathroom.

I didn't say anything as I pulled my boots on.

"Eleanor," he sighed. I looked up. "Are you okay?" He asked me.

"Yeah," I breathed. "I'm fine."

I ran my fingers through my hair and tried to give him a convincing smile.

Then I realized that made no sense. Who would anyone be smiling in this situation? When they had been next to their abusive boyfriend when he was shot in the head, they had been kidnapped and nearly raped. On top of that they were about to meet the most feared gang of all time. My attempt to seem completely normal only made it obvious that I wasn't.

Louis looked at me, disbelief clouding his blue eyes.

"Sit," he ordered.

I bit my lip, hesitating.

I walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Take off your jumper," he said.

My head snapped up.

He knew good and well that I wasn't wearing a shirt under my hoodie.

"Louis, I'm not going to-"

"Yes, you are." He approached me. "I'm not giving you a choice. Now take it off, Calder."

I looked up at him, my cheeks burning. I grabbed the bottom hem of my jacket and pulled it over my head.

Louis reached out his hand and I went to give him my jacket. He shook his head and gently grabbed my elbow, pulling my arm towards him.

I looked down and saw that my bicep was a gross purple color.

"Is this all he did to you?" He asked and I nodded. "If you're lying..."

"I'm not," I said. "I'm fine."

"El, you're not fine," he said. "It's okay to not be okay."

I just shook my head, feeling the tears again.

"Eleanor..."

There was a knock on the door and I jumped.

Louis looked down at me, an unreadable expression on his face. He tossed me my hoodie and went to answer the door.