Rise (Colton Dixon)

Chapter 28

Colton

I gently lead Alexis over to where an ambulance and two squad cars just parked.

One young policeman is the first to reach us. "We were called by a woman named Moriah about child sex abuse?" he asks.

I nod slowly. "That's Moriah back there..." I point her out to him. "And this is Alexis. Her parents were being paid by men to..." I can't finish the sentence. "You know..."

He nods gravely, a gentle look coming onto his face as he looks at Lexi before turning back to me.

"Are her parents still here?"

I glance back at the trailer. "As far as we know. We shut her father and the man who paid them in a bedroom, and her mother was passed out on the couch."

He nods briefly, motioning two other cops inside, as they obviously overheard the report. And he looks back to the girl shaking at my side, leaning down to her level.

"Hey, Alexis," he says quietly. "I'm Jason, and I'm here to help you. You don't need to be afraid of us, alright?"

She nods, obviously unable to speak.

"Okay, good." Slowly, he reaches out and takes her hand. She winces at the touch, but forces herself to relax. "Now," he continues after a long moment. "can you tell me how long your parents have been selling you?"

"Since January," she whispers.

"And was that the first time this has happened to you?"

"No."

I feel tears leap to my eyes at the reminder.

Jason nods sadly. "What happened before then?"

"My mom's boyfriends used to do it." Her voice is barely audible. "And my dad did it the night they got back from getting remarried."

"Okay, good job," he says, gently squeezing her hand before releasing it and looking at me. "And your name is Colton, right? Colton Dixon?"

I manage a small smile at the fact that he recognized me and thus is likely a Christian.

"Yeah. I mean, Michael Dixon really, but only if you need my real name."

He nods, obviously making a mental note of it. "Thanks. I'm gonna need you all to come with me."

And a realization hits me. Moriah didn't know when she called.

"Right, of course," I say uncertainly. "But there's something more urgent."

Jason raises an eyebrow for me to continue, and I pull him a few steps to the side of where Alexis is standing.

"We found out after Moriah called you," I explain quietly, feeling tears beginning to press at me again. "Alexis overdosed on painkillers before we got here. She's already getting dizzy."

Jason's eyes widen, and he looks back at Lexi with concern mixed sadness.

"Okay. I'm sorry."

And he walks back over to her, once more bending down to her level.

"Okay, Alexis," he begins gently. "I know why you did what you did, but everything your parents have been putting you through ends tonight, okay? And we're gonna give you the help you need. I'm gonna entrust you to our paramedic team over here, and you're gonna me alright."

She's still shaking, but she follows as he guides her over the ambulance. He steps forward to explain to them, and I take his place at her side.

Warily, aware that what she's been through will make her sensitive to touch, I place a hand on her shoulder. She leans into me, and I switch it to wrap around her, pulling her closer.

Jason looks back and beckons us forward, so I lead her to obey.

He looks at Lexi. "Would it help at all if he came with you?"

He hesitates, but nods wordlessly. "Okay, then he definitely can."

I nod to him, and start forward as one of the paramedics waves us that way. But, just as she takes the first step, Alexis's legs give out under her, and I'm catching her for the second time tonight.