Muted

Chapter 15

I got released the next day, but only after receiving four prescriptions (three for my mental health and one for my slowly healing injuries) and signing my life away. My mom was ‘overjoyed’ to have me home. She said that Casey is home as well. “He’ll be on dialysis until we can find a donor though. He’s happy to be home.” I walked inside the house for the first time in two weeks and smiled. “Sadie, you’re home.” I hugged my little brother. “I love you guys.” I said. “Sadie, talked!” Casey exclaimed. My mom hugged me. “Sadie, I haven’t heard you talk in a while.”

Monroe came over a little bit later. He picked me up in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re home.” He gave me a kiss. “Monroe, I-” I stopped. I saw the group, including Ian/Ren and Randy, walking up to my door. I shook my head. “Sadie, what’s wrong?” I didn’t respond. “Oh, so this is the way it’s going again.” He said. I began to cry. “What’s going on? Monroe, you didn’t pressure her to speak or anything, did you?” Riley asked. “No, he didn’t.” I said, summoning all my courage. Everyone looked at me. ‘Be careful, Sadie. He will kill you in front of your friends.’ I took a deep breath. “Time for my story.” I got myself a bottle of water as I locked the door behind me. “So, I came from Presque Isle. In the years before,  I have not had a pleasant experience with life. I was put in a foster care program for a few years. I moved around. My mom eventually gained custody of me when I turned twelve. We relocated to Presque Isle when Casey was born. My freshman year started off great. I was popular and involved in so much. Then, I met this guy named Ren." "Can I go to the bathroom?" Ian asked. I looked him dead in the eye. 'Keep breathing, you can do this.' "No. Ren was the local bad boy. He was a year older than me and had a tattoo on his chest, you know, the stereotypical bad boy. One night, we went to a party. He got really drunk and became possessive of me. He kidnapped me. He put me in his car and took me to an uninhabited basement. He would pull over on the way there and rape me. I remember alcohol on his breath and the cologne he used to wear. He was completely drunk and at one point, he had me drive the car while he placed a gun to my head. He kept me there for five days. He put me in a little cell and kept me there. To him I was his sex doll and it was sex all the time. He held a knife to my throat before he let me go. He said 'tell anyone and I'll kill you. I will follow you until you die at my hands.' He then cut me until I was faint with blood loss. That's why I had the scars I had. I was his masterpiece. For years his threats worked. He fucked up my social life. Three years as a pathetic, silent, whore. He said I wouldn't sleep with him and spread the rumour around. I was ruined. My mom finally decided to get the hell out of there. We moved here. I planned to keep a low profile and blend in. I never planned on making friends. I never really had friends before you guys. I thought it was going well. Monroe became my boyfriend and friend. You guys all bonded with me." "Why is Ian here?" Dan asked. I wiped away my tears. "I'll get there. Prom night came. Monroe wanted to sleep with me, I could tell. I guess his plans were foiled. Sorry, babe, but someone had other plans. I heard the noises, thinking it was a dog or cat, or even the wind. I was wrong. It was him. He kidnapped me again. This time, I escaped. He still raped me, but this time, he used me for financial gain. I was a sex slave under his control. Well, frankly, I've had it with his control. He silenced me for almost four years. He ruined my body and my social life. You ruined my brain." I looked at Ian. I picked up my water and walked towards him. I dumped the water on his head. "Fuck you Ian or should I say Ren?" His dye was dripping down his shirt. Some got in his eye and he had to take his contact out. I heard a gasp. "I can't believe you." He got up quickly. I felt his arm move and I tried to run, but he had already made his mark. I felt blood dripping down my body. He spat on me. "You already did." I collapsed on the floor. Monroe tackled Ian. "You hurt my girlfriend,  I hurt you." Dan and Randy picked Ren up and held his hands behind his back. "I should have gotten you first. Then I would have received my prize. She would be in my arms if you had just died when I attacked you." I was starting to lose consciousness. I remember Monroe and Daniel tackling Ian/Ren and Riley pulling out her phone. I heard fragments of her 9-1-1 call. “My friend just- yeah, we’re at- okay, stay with-.”

I wake up and see Monroe sleeping next to my bed. I'm groggy and feel funny. He senses my movement and wakes up. "Hey, fighter. I'm glad you're okay. He only punctured your spleen and you've lost a lot of blood. You'll live." He grabbed my hand. He was warm. I tried to move but I felt the pain in my side. "Don't move. You need to wait for the stitches to heal." "Monroe? " "Yes, dear?" "I love you." "I love you, too." He kissed the top of my head. "I'm just glad you're alive." He rubbed his hand over my arm. "I can't believe that it was Ian who tried to kill me and hurt you. He was our friend for a while. I guess that you never really know a person.  I'm also glad that you spoke. That must have been so hard for you." "It was. I had to say something. You guys all told me about your battles and I thought that you needed to hear mine." He rubbed his hand up and down my back. "Why don't you get some rest?" I nodded. Eventually, I fell asleep holding his hand.  

I was awakened by a nurse who gave me lunch or dinner. I couldn’t tell, nor did I want to. The police came in to interrogate me as well. Monroe stayed by my side the whole time. “Ms. Dilon, we have a few questions for you.” I nodded and felt Monroe squeeze my hand. “We know that we can convict Ren Nherdu or Ian Michael as you knew him as, for two counts of attempted murder. We are trying to convict him on sexual abuse charges. There is no evidence against him. The charges may be dropped. "The knife." I said. "They have the knife in evidence." "No, he used a different pocket knife. He has one with a ship on it." "We will look into it. Anything else you need us to know." "What about the shirt I was found in? His name is in it. I got it from his drawer.” “We have that too Ms. Dilon and we are taking that into account, but for now, we have to use what we have and convict him for attempted murder, not sexual abuse. You may have to testify. I strongly suggest a lawyer.” "What about the rape kit?" Monroe asked. "No DNA remember?" "Dammit." Monroe said. I was ready to cry.

After the police officer left, Dr. Allen came in. “Hello, Sadie, I wanted to see how you are doing.” “I’ve definitely been better, but then again, I also been worst. I was just thinking, if I hadn’t sucked up the pain and escaped, I’d still be there, mute as I was before. I can’t fathom that. I’m glad that I escaped." Monroe squeezed my hand. "I'm glad that you're out of that hell as well. I'd be one lover short of happiness." He kissed my head.

I got out of the hospital three days later. I had stitches and pain in my side, but that was expected of a knife wound to the hip. I returned to school just in time for the week before finals. I was still pretty quiet, but I did talk a bit. I noticed that a lot of things were different. The play posters were down and Mr. Halone wasn’t in. “Laine, where’s Mr. Halone?” She was starting to show her condition under her shirt. She sighed. “He quit. He wanted to be in a relationship with me and in order to do that, he had to quit.” I nodded. “Did you tell your parents?” She shook her head. “I can’t do that yet. We will end up risking way too much. He already quit his job. I don’t want to get disowned. I’m hoping I can keep my child on the down low until I leave in three weeks.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “Laine, I think you have to tell them. It’s hard to conceal a growing bump and the symptoms that follow: morning sickness, weird cravings, mood swings, Elaine, you need someone who’s been there before.” Riley said. “I’ll just ask Hannah. She had Torie very young and she still goes to school.” “That’s not what I meant, Laine. I meant your mother. She had you and she knows what it’s like.” She shook her head. “Sadie, Riley, it’s too risky to tell her. I need to find Hannah.” She walked out and left me seriously questioning authority.