Accepting Fate - (Slums to Riches, Book one)

Chapter 16

She could not have misinterpreted her dream that badly. Bob's sneering face and threat replayed behind her closed lids. That triggered other memories; small details she ignored.

At breakfast, he had enough time to spray the drug at her, but he stalled long enough for her to notice the can. He did not push the glass of slime at her as he did previously, and only became angry when she insulted him. However, he had paid more attention to her breasts, so she dismissed it. Then he lied to Thomas on the phone while he stared straight at her.

Andrew would not have hurt Michael, yet she had to confirm it.

"Who?" No other words made it passed the constriction in her throat. She wrapped her arms around her cramping stomach. She never ate since she got sick at Mama's diner, unless they force fed her while she slept. It seemed an atrocity to ruin the pretty, light-blue carpet she sat on. She owned nothing as comfortable; not even her two-year-old towel.

"Bob," Andrew finally answered. "I think I killed him, Ann. I hit him with the bat we kept by the door, but it broke in half. Then I stabbed him to make him stop. He never got up again."

She covered her mouth to silence her relieved sobs. For a few seconds she couldn't utter a word, but then she took a deep breath and asked, "Where's Mickey?"

"Ann, I'm scared. I don't know what to do."

"Andrew, where is Michael?" she shouted.

"Here. He's here, but his bleeding. They won't let me call an ambulance for him. I think I should call the cops."

That statement brought her to her senses and to her feet. "Where are you?"

"I borrowed a truck from Hank, but he said to go to The Grill. Mrs. Garcia said to bring them to Mama's Fast Foods in the west. She said we will be safe here. Ann, Mickey needs help. I have to call—"

"No. Don't call anyone. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"But, it's bad Ann. You didn't see what he did to him."

"Listen to me! You are not calling anyone. Is that clear?"

"'kay, but what must I do? His back... He's going to bleed out."

"Ask Mama for some towels. Wrap it as tight as you can around his back. Stack some under him as well, but keep his head level with his body and his legs raised. Go do that and put Jenny on the phone."

"Ann, please hurry," he said, before Jenny's soft sobs echoed through the phone.

"Jenny-bean, it's Annie."

"Ann—Annie," Jenny sobbed.

"It's me baby. Hush now. Annie's coming to get you. I need you to be a big girl." She swallowed her tears before speaking again. "Can you do that for me? Just for a little longer."

"Annie come."

She stared up at the high ceiling, blinking away the tears gathering in her eyes. "I'm coming right now, baby. I promise. This time I'll bring you with me. I won't leave you ever again."

"Annie, not blue. Jenny needs purple."

She wiped her eyes and huffed softly. "Blue what baby-girl?"

"Dress. Not blue."

Mama took the phone from her and explained a customer brought a baby-blue dress for Jenny, because she was still in her nightgown and appeared to have wet herself.

"She can't wear blue. I'll try to get her a purple dress on the way."

"Can't or won't?"

"It's a long story. One I can't get into right now."