What Happens Next

When I'm Done

Morning made itself known in my bedroom. The brightness of the sun shined through the lids of my eyes as I slowly opened them. I looked at the ceiling taking deep breaths. I remembered every second of last night, every sound, every movement, they were still flashing through my mind.

My body felt numb, my face, every inch of my skin. I struggled finding energy to pull myself up to be able to sit. I looked down at myself, my naked body. I went to grab my blanket or the nearby towel, but they were pulled back by something rough. When I looked at my wrists, I saw they were tied back with some old rope. I leaned over and bit down on it untying one wrist and then used my trembling fingers and teeth to untie the other.

Afterwards I reached over from the towel putting it against my body as I went to the dresser grabbing a T-shirt and some jeans. I went to the bathroom as I removed the towel looking at my body and face. My body was covered in bruises along with some cuts, even some on my face, they would make me scared to see anyone for the next couple of days.

I turned around and turned the shower water on and got in after the water warmed up. I felt the warm water drip down my body and against some of the cuts. I hissed in pain feeling the water touch them. When I looked down at the fallen water, I saw some blood along with more dripping down my legs.

After my shower, I got out getting dressed in my jeans and in my T-shirt. I went into my room and grabbed a thin jacket putting it on and went back to the bathroom. I looked at my face seeing my bottom was swelled up and some cuts on my cheek, there was no way to hide them like I wanted to.

Glenn came to mind, he should've been back by now. I went into my room putting my socks and shoes on. I got up and went outside, "hey beautiful," Lucas's voice came from the chair to my left on my porch as I looked to him. I saw him get up going to me and he pulled my face up placing his lips against mine for a second when he pulled away, "where you going?" He asked, "seeing if the others are back yet," I say softly looking to him. He nodded as he pulled me into another kiss, this one longer than the last. When I pulled away I gave him a small smile and walked away.

I walked over to the gates keeping my face low. I looked up ever so slightly to see Gabriel still on the wall, "they haven't come back yet have they?" I ask barely looking up to Gabriel, "not yet, they should be back soon though," he says looking back down to me. I thanked him and walked away. I walked around alone looking forward and stayed quiet as I still trembled, "Jessica..!" I heard someone call out to me.

I looked back to see Carl, 'shit' is all that passed through my mind, I didn't want him to see me the way I was, he came over to me and the first thing he did was pull my head up gently seeing my face, "what the hell did he do to you?!" He said loudly looking at me.
"Carl, I'm fine."
"Fine?! Your face is all cut up and your lip is swelling! Is that really fine?!" He was yelling, and I understood why, he cared about me, and I was hurt by someone who I thought cared about me. "You're not stopping me this time Jessica." His voice was stern as he started running to my house, "Carl!" I yelled running after him.

He got to my porch going up to Lucas putting a gun to his gun and cocked it, "give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you?" Carl says staring down at Lucas. I got to the house and saw his gun aimed at Lucas, "Carl, not now," I say softly as I go to him and look to him, "no Jessica, I'm going to, you can't stop me," he says glaring down at Lucas. "Carl I know, but not yet.." I say softly looking at him, "when then Jessica?! After he rapes and tries to kill you?!" He yelled looking at me. I became quiet looking at him taking a deep breath. He saw my face as he looked at me and then back to Lucas, "and you want to spare him?!" He yelled as a crowd stared forming.

I looked around at the crowd and whispered to Carl, "that's why I'm saying not yet, so there wont be a scene," I say softly, "you're worried about a damn scene, I'm worried about making sure you don't get rapped again!" He yelled. I took a deep breath looking at him, "they're back," someone says. I looked back to see if they were when I heard the gun go off. I looked to Carl as he lowered the gun and put it in his holster and then turned to me and gently grabbed my face, "I don't ever want you hurt like that again. You understand?" He asked, his voice suddenly more gentle. I nodded slowly looking into his eye, he wiped under my eye right when he saw a tear slip out as he pulled me into a hug and held me close.

I heard mine and Carl's name being called for, by Glenn and Rick. I didn't want to leave Carl's arms, I felt protected. Carl looked to my brother and his father not letting me go. I slightly looked at Glenn's face as he was obviously scared about what happened. "Go to Glenn, tell him what's happened," Carl says softly looking down at me. I nodded slowly pulling away from Carl, "take her to the infirmary to make sure she's ok." Was the last thing I heard Carl say as Glenn looked at him and then to me as he took me into his arms and walked me to the infirmary.