Angels

Chapter 14: Mike

It had been a few weeks since the tour and the studio was working on sending us on the second leg across the other half of America and parts of Canada. Ashley and Matt were moving in together so I had moved into a new apartment near Colin and Doris, using the money from my first royalty check from the production company. We had all made over $70,000 from this first leg once the company had taken its share from covering the expenses of production and their share of profit. We were all proud.

I'd just got in from work and had poured myself a beer while I waited for Colin to come over for us to work on some new material for the next album together. There was a knock on my door. Colin must have got off work early today. I answer the door and instantly I'm greeted with a swift punch to the eye. What the hell?! I stagger backward and a heavy boot collides with my stomach and I'm slapped so hard across the face I'm knocked to the ground. Another kick connects with my stomach and I roll over to see...Mike? What was Mike doing here?!

He looked furious. He was calling me a slut. A harlot. That he turned away for a while and saw that I was parading myself on the internet as a wannabe rock-star. He slapped me several times in a row across the face. I struggled and tried to defend myself but it was no use. I felt my lip burst and I could taste blood in my mouth. I went numb from shock. He was about to punch me once again but he was ripped away from me by someone. I heard shouting and cursing. The sound of things being broken and sirens outside.

Colin. Colin's here. So are the police. He approaches me and helps me to my feet, hugging me tightly.

"Devin!" he says, his voice a hoarse whisper, "Thank God I got here in time!"

I finally break out of my stupor and choke out, "Colin!" and hug him back, clinging to him for dear life. I started sobbing furiously and he cradled me gently until I had calmed down enough for the police to ask me questions. I explained to them that Mike was my abusive, cheating ex-boyfriend and that we'd split several months ago because I had caught him red-handed. Colin's jaw tensed up at the story, and even more so when he saw the full extent of my injuries as the police took photos.

Once the police had left Colin seemed furious, "I could have killed that bastard! If I'd known what he'd been doing to you this whole time, he'd have been dead long before this ever happened!"

"Colin, enough," I sob quietly, "it's over now..."

"You don't understand Devin," he said, kneeling down before me, "I've been going to work at Carter corp with that guy for the past 3 years! I work on the same floor as him!"

I stared at him blankly. I knew what he was getting at. I understood, but I was so tired. Colin stroked my cheek and proceeded to clean me up, clean up the mess Mike had made and helped me to bed.

"Stay with me," I  say quietly, holding his hand.

He hesitates before nodding and curling up in bed next to me. I snuggle with him and after a while, I fall into a restless sleep. I have a nightmare about the incident. Mike, standing above me furious. He's beating me to a pulp. No one comes for me. I'm alone. I die alone. Cold and alone. I fight a losing battle, alone. I start shaking. Someone is calling my name.

"Devin...Devin!"

I wake up with a gasp. Colin is above me, shaking me awake.

"Devin! It's fine! It's over!" he soothed, stroking my hair.

I'm struggling for air but Colin just holds me until I calm down again.

"It's over, Devin. I'm here." he keeps saying.

I start sobbing into his chest and he holds onto me until I fall asleep.

Colin's Perspective:

Devin had finally gone back to sleep. I reached over the nightstand and grabbed my notebook where I was working on some song lyrics. She looked so peaceful as she slept. I kissed her forehead and she smiled a little and rolled over. I smiled and settled down next to her, playing with a few strands of hair. I couldn't help but admire this young woman as she slept before falling asleep next to her...