Not As Different As They Thought

Chapter 11

Riley's POV

After Beck dropped me off, I layed around for a while until like midnight. I started to feel restless and anxious for some reason so I decided to go on a quick walk around my neighborhood and clear my head. Even though I wasn't necessarily thinking about anything.

Little did I know though, that was an awful mistake.

I left a note for my mom so she wouldn't worry if she woke up and saw I was gone. About 5 minutes into my walk, I thought I heard footsteps behind me so I quick looked back but it was too dark to see anything or anyone. Why did this one area not have to be lit by streetlamps? I continued walking, a little faster now because I started to get more anxious, and now, scared. I eventually got to an area where there were lights, and I turned around again, only to see probably my worst hell walking towards me.

Rick, Allan, Will, and Branden

"Don't have your precious little bodyguard protecting you now, mute kid, huh?"

Shit.

Immediately I turned around and bolted away. I got maybe 10 feet when someone tackled me from behind. My head bounced off of the sidewalk and the wind was knocked out of me. I was flipped over on my back and I saw Branden on top of me.

"You have no one protecting you. I doubt anyone knows where you even are right now. We can do anything we want and no one will ever know."

I quickly looked around and the other boys were smiling, almost evilly.

This can't be good.

I suddenly opened my mouth and tried screaming, but all that came out was a semi-loud wease.

They all laughed and Allan got up in my face, "Still can't even scream? Ha, pathetic. This is why no one will care after we beat you to a pulp."

I slowly brought my hands up, and signed something.

I'm defeated. There's nothing I can do. I'm outnumbered, and they're right.. I can't even scream for help. This is just what God wants apparently.

'Bring it on.'

The next 30 minutes was a blur. I just felt pains all throughout my body, in 4 different places at a time. My head was pounding, I felt like throwing up, I want my back to be broken just so I can't feel anything.

Finally though, they stopped. And Branden came up to my body laying on the floor.

He bent down and whispered, "Now, so you can't tell anyone what happened and so you can't talk to your precious family and friend.."

He lead off his sentence and snapped, signalling for the other guys to come closer. Two of them held my arms down on the floor, and the other ones went to grab my hands. I knew their plan. And no way was I gonna let them ruin my life again, not without a fight. I struggled the best I could. I moved my whole body, I waved my arms as much as possible, but it wasn't enough.

The two guys got hold of my hands and..

*SNAP*

I opened my mouth and let out a silent scream of pain. The guys got off of me, laughing. They said something but I couldn't hear. There was a violent ringing in my ears and I thought it'd never go away. Then I blacked out.

I woke up, I don't even know how much later but it was still dark. So I wasn't out for long. I was still laying on the sidewalk too. I slowly stood up, ignoring my body screaming at me to stop moving, and I limped home.

Once I got home I opened the door, with a lot of struggle because most of my fingers are broken, and I fell to the floor. I screamed as much as I could to get the attention of someone in the house, but it only came out as a very hoarse "heeeelp" and it didn't even really sound like a word.

I got lucky though. I heard a door open and someone walking down the stairs, only to pause for a second and then run to where I was laying.

"Oh my God! Riley! Are you okay?"

It was Rachel. I'm honestly surprised at how concerned she sounds, but I'll deal with these feelings later.

I slowly shook my head as a way to say no and she screamed for mom.

"Mom! Come down here now! Hurry!"

I heard another door open and slam and my mom came running downstairs. She gasped and collapsed next to me.

"Riley, baby, are you okay?"

"He's been hurt really bad mom. We need an ambulance."

Before I could tell what happened next, I blacked out again.

I woke up in a hospital room. My mom and sister were both sitting on a couch across the room, nervously on their phones.

My mom suddenly looked up and when she saw I was awake, she started crying and ran towards me. She was careful when hugging me, but she still held on for dear life.

This was when I took time to realize my state. I had casts on both my hands/fingers, but my pointer and thumb were free, I could feel bandages on my face and stomach, and I knew I had some stitches. I was a mess.

Finally, my mom let go of me and I saw my sister was standing next to her. She didn't make a move to hug me though.

"Honey, do you remember what happened?"

I nodded my head.

"Clearly?"

I nodded again.

She sighed and another tear slipped down her cheek, "I'm so sorry this happened to you Riley. I texted Beck. He's on his way. I thought you'd might want to see him."

Shit. What will he say when he sees me like this? What will he do? Oh no..

A tear slipped down my cheek but I smiled slightly, as a way to say thank you.

She hugged me again lightly and told me that her and Rachel were going to go get food. She put my phone within my reach and they both left.

Maybe a half an hour later, I heard a small knock at the door and I was prepared for the worst case scenario.. even though I wasn't sure what that was.

But when I saw Beck walk into the room, I saw the heartbreak in his eyes and I started bawling.

He ran over to me and hugged me lightly, leaned my head into the crook of his neck and I just sobbed and sobbed.

I felt so idiotic.. but letting it out felt good. And I felt safe in Beck's arms..

But I know this can't last..