Steal the Show •On Hold•

Chapter Seventeen

Artemis couldn't help but cry as Cam screamed obscenities at her and repeatedly kicked her in the gut. She could see a painting propped up against the table.

"I cannot believe that you would be a big enough b**** to sing that!" He kicked her with every word, not caring that Artemis was now coughing up blood. "Don't even try to play dumb, that first song was about me and we both know it! So that last song was for that West boy, wasn't it? B****! You cheating on me?!"

"No," Artemis choked out.

"Then why did you have your hands all over him, you sl**ty little h*e?" (Not exactly bad words, but I'd get grounded if I said them.)

"I didn't! It-it was j-just a hug!" She spluttered. "And I'm not a sl**ty h*e!"

Cam rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He stopped kicking her. He yanked her to her feet and slapped her in the face. "DON'T be a smart aleck." He walked behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist. He slammed his hand up between her legs. She flinched. "This is mine. No one else gets to touch it. Got it, Crock?"

Artemis nodded her head weakly.

Cam shook her. "What was that?!"

"Yes."

He shook her again. "Yes what?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good girl." He threw her to the bed. "Now, I'm hungry."

Artemis got up and went to the kitchen area, pulling out stuff for spaghetti. She quickly had it ready and set it on the table for him. She was hungry, but since the incident the other day, she and her mother had both been banned from eating. She just looked forlornly at Cam eating.

"Your own fault, Arty. You were bad."

"I highly doubt that," An unrecognizable voice said. The couple spun around to see cops. Two of them cuffed Cam and lead him out the door. Another grabbed the painting from the floor.

"I guess we found the thief, too." One of the men said.

"And I'd bet that that Crock fellow is behind it, too. We found several paintings in his room, all that have gone missing. You might want to check this room out, too." The first person, a woman with Murray sewn into her uniform, said.

Someone took Artemis' hand. "C'mon, sweetie." The African-Greek woman gently pulled Artemis to the bedroom, followed by Officer Murray.

"I'm Officer Papadopulous, and this is Officer Murray. I know you're in shock sweetheart, but I need you to cooperate."

Artemis was pretty much frozen.

"Do you want me to get your mother?" Officer Murray asked.

Artemis nodded numbly. A couple minutes later, the woman returned with Paula. Artemis hadn't even noticed that the officer left. Paula was in shock too, but not quite as badly as her daughter, for the time being. "It's ok, Baby Girl. You're safe now." Paula breathed a sigh of relief. "You're really safe."

"Yes, she is." Officer Papadopulous assured the Asian woman. "Now I know that this is probably pretty uncomfortable, but we need you guys to take your clothes off, ok?"

Paula nodded, not caring. But Artemis shook her head, backing up against the bed. Suddenly the door burst open. "Sorry to interrupt," Wally said.

"Wally?" Artemis said quietly.

"Yeah. Arty, are you ok?"

"Sweetheart, I love that you came to check on your friend, but you need to leave."

"Why- oh. Ok, I'm going." He gave Artemis a tight hug. When he tried to pull away though, she wouldn't let go. She just tightened the hold she had on his t-shirt.

"Don't go, Wally!"

"Artemis, I-"

"Don't go!"

"I'm not going anywhere, I'm not leaving."

Artemis relaxed a little.

Officer Papadopulous shook her head. "I guess you're staying. If she wants to stay with you, see if you can convince her to take her clothes off."

"Yeah, of course," Wally said sheepishly. He lead her to a corner of the bedroom. "Hey, Arty. I know you're uncomfortable, but you gotta show them proof that you were abused, ok? Hurry up and take your clothes off, and it'll be over faster."

"But I'm so ugly that-"

"Artemis you're not ugly! You're gorgeous, I swear to God, you are the most gorgeous girl I've ever seen. You don't have to feel insecure. I'm gonna leave the room so you'll feel more comfortable-"

"Don't leave!" Her grip tightened again.

"Ok, ok!"

"Can you help me?" Artemis asked him in a quiet voice. "It hurts to lift my arms."

"Of course, Arty." He helped her out of her dress. His face went completely red when he realized that she wasn't wearing a bra under it.

Artemis crossed her arms over her chest, looking down. Officer Papadopulous walked over. She gently uncrossed Artemis' arms. The second she let them go, the blonde crossed them again. The officer quickly pulled down Artemis' underwear, making the teen jerk back.

"Hey, hey, it's ok, Missy," Wally reassured her. He felt seriously uncomfortable being in the room, but Artemis didn't want him to leave.

It was over after another minute. Artemis had started sobbing when the woman touched her, and hadn't stopped.

The officer looked sadly at Wally. "I hate this part of the job."

"I'm sure," Wally said.

The cops left, telling Wally to make sure that both Artemis and Paula went to the hospital, and Artemis got redressed with help from Paula and Wally, as she was still crying. Wally sat on the bed. Artemis crawled into his lap and continued crying, holding his shirt tightly. He wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm so sorry, Wally," She sniffled. "You probably hate me now."

"I could never hate you, Arty." He held her tightly. He knew she needed to go to the doctor, but he waited until she fell asleep before loading her and Paula into his rental car.