I Hear You

Part 14: Involved

It figured the second I get back to my office, Lauren is already there sotting on my couch as I enter. She has her right crossed over her left and her hands clasp the top of her knee. She has a smile on her face, but we both know I don't believe it.

"How can I help?" I ask Lauren, who tosses me the Clindamycin IV bag. I just barely catch it as I sit down in my arm chair across from her.

"Got you that. Figured you'd be needing since you didn't stick around for Casey to bring it to you." Her voice is full of anger, but she tries to mask it with concern.

"Thank you. I just had to take a phone call."

"Bullshit. What's really going on?" Damn her nose for gossip.

"Nothing. I choked on scotch last night a d now my lungs are killing me."

"Then why are you shaking? Why are you all wobbly and weak kneed?" Her eyebrows raise a little and her tone dips low. She's not taking any prisoners today.

"I don't know. But if I find an answer- I'll let you know."

"Here, the needle, the tube and the rack. All for you. Better start you treatment now- so the infection doesn't grow." I look at her a d the equipment beside the end table. She's waiting. She too is immovable. A stubborn arse. "So go on. Put it in."

"Can you leave?"

"Why? We haven't talked in a while. You've been held up and contained very well with Cassian Shin. Can't you spare me some time?" Swallowing hard, I know I can't get rid of her. Standing up, she grabs the IV rack, the needle and the tube. She sets it all up and comes over to me. I watch her cautiously.

Please don't. Lauren just leave.

"Which arm?"

They're all bruised and bitten.

Sighing, I roll up my right sleeve and watch as her eyes widen at the sight of the dark purple bruises and the deep scaring bite marks. She says nothing though. She simply finds my vein and puts in the IV. Taping it down, she goes back and sits across from me. Raising her left leg over her right and crossing her arms.

"You gonna tell me? Or do I have to guess?" She pissed. Really pissed. I can't tell her though. He'd just continue doing what he's doing and lying perfectly about it.

"Lauren, don't."

"Don't what? My friend is acting erratic and strange and is obviously hurt and scared. Covered in bruises and bite marks. And you don't want me to do what, exactly? Ask? Demand? Helen, you were up my ass about my drug problems- why would you even suspect that I wouldn't be up yours about this?" Closing my eyes momentarily, I don't want to do this. I can't. What if he hurts her? What if he's willing to hurt anyone who intervenes? What then? It's all my fault. All of it. All of it. "I'm waiting."

"You can wait all day. I'm not telling you anything. Because there's nothing to tell." Clenching her jaw, she nods a bit. Taking in my words and fueling her fire.

"You know, I thought you were very smart. I've always thought you were an inspiration to look up too. But the longer I sit here and the more you lie to me. All of it. All my admiration and hope and love for you- goes out the window a bit more." Her eyes are tearing up, she sniffs back some tears and wipes her eyes. "I want to help, Helen. The way you helped me. I want to help you. But you can't let me in. If you can't even tell me. Then why should I care? Hmm? Why should care if he's beating the shit out of you? If you don't care?"

Casting my eyes towards the carpet, I feel my heart breaking.

"You don't know anything, Lauren. You don't." I cry a bit and wipe my eyes. She sucks in her bottom lip and then lets it out- a small smacking sound coming off of it.

"Then why don't you enlighten me?" I shake my head.

"I can't." It barely comes out of my mouth. I can't say it. I can't say anything. "I can't."

"Well, then. Have fun. Hopefully you don't end up in my morgue." Her tears erupt from her face and she leaves, slamming my door behind her. My own tears rise to the surface and I feel so lost and alone. If she knew, she would tell. Or she would be stupid enough to confront him. He would kill her. Instantly. He snaps in a matter of seconds like a Venus Fly Trap. He pulls you in with sweet words and a charming smile and then he consumes you. He is the devil. He is beyond the ethereal plain.

I'm going to die.

He will never give me up until he gets bored. However, he will always do this and get away with it. He will always hurt and manipulate people and torture them. How many other women has he done this too? How many other women has he hurt beyond repair? Has he killed anyone? Has he ever gone too far? Last night was pretty far if you ask me. He was borderline psychotic. There wasn't even a hesitation. He just flipped a switch and went after me. He always just flips a switch and goes after me.

"Hey! Babe!"

Fuck.

I remain quiet. I just stare at him and I feel my heart beat sinking and almost stopping. He comes in the room and leans against my filing cabinet.

"I heard the door slam from down the hall. Everything okay?" I look up at him and smile as much as I can.

"Just a patient- over reacting." I state and he comes over towards the IV rack. He looks at the bag.

"Clindamycin. Used to treat aspiration pneumonia. Hmm, why do you need this?" I shake my head.

"I choked on some scotch last night..." He nods and pulls the IV from my arm. He looks down and sees his nite marks and his bruises he left.

"Did you now? Maybe you shouldn't drink so much, Babe. Wobbly gait, bruises, choking on your drink. You sound like an alcoholic to me." I stand up and I've had enough. I went more than half the day fearing this man. What is he going to do at work? With everyone around?

"I'm not an alcoholic."

"I think you are. If the board hears about this, you could get in big trouble. You could lose your job. Your titles. Your status. You better be careful babe."

"You better be careful. Don't threaten me, you sadistic prick. I'm done taking your abuse." Shaking his head, he sucks in his lips and clicks them when he releases. Before I can do anything, he shuts the door and turns to me.

"Helen, you know you did that to yourself right? You're the one you begged me to do that to you. It's not my fault you like to feel pain for your pleasure." He takes a steps towards me and I back up, but I'm too close to my desk. He stalks me like a tiger in the jungle.

"Get away from me, Cassian."

"I'm gonna hurt you Helen. That's ridiculous. Just let me hold you and tell you what's gonna happen next." He gets close to me and I try to move passed him and before I know it, he has me by my throat and he shoves my face down into my desk. He has my left hand behind my back- twisting my whole arm. The same arm I dislocated in the accident. He pulls it from it's socket and he is on top of me, pinning me down. I try and scream for help my my voice is still raspy and barely audible. Grabbing my phone cord, he wraps it around my throat and pulls tight, twisting it tighter and cutting off the air in my lungs. I buck underneath him and try to break free. He just keeps pushing down and I try using my right arm to claw at his face. I get him one and he pauses just long enough for me to shift as much body weight as I can to get him off of me. Getting up, I unwrap the cord and I try getting to the door, but he grabs my shoulders and throws and slams me back on the edge of the desk. I scream out in pain and he takes both my wrists behind my back and starts tugging at my skirt. I push against him and try to kick him, but he has my legs separated. Putting his upper body down on mine, he has my trapped under him as he removes her pants and pushes into me quickly. I scream out in pain and he just holds my face down and continues violating me. Biting at his hand, i get him and he just pushing into me harder. I release my mouth off of his hand- having drawn blood from in between his thumb and his pointer finger. I cry out in pain and try to thrash from underneath him.

"I told you, I would get you feeling again. I told you. Huhh, you feel so good." He continues and then suddenly the pain stops. The pressure on my body stops. His grasp on my stops.

Then the room becomes loud and I hear glass breaking. I can't get up fully. Not yet. There's no strength left in me.

What on Earth is happening?