Saving Her Lost Soul

Chapter 37

I sit on the bus on the way home, it's dark and cold. My coat smells a bit but I don't care. I flick through my phone and look at the photos of Miley. Tears fall from my eyes knowing I left her there alone. I've never been the one to care for someone else. It's always been someone looking after me. I think I did okay at looking after her.
My phone battery flashes red at me and I frown. A few text messages come through and missed calls. Did I not have a signal there?
FLYNN- Where the fuck are you, Ri?
TYLER- Sis, call me.
MOM- Tyler can't find you, I'm worried. X
FLYNN- So help me Riley!
TYLER- Lee where are you? Tell me you're safe.
MOM- Honey, I will call the police soon. X
ME- Ty I'm fine. I'm on my way home.
TYLER- Where have you been? Come to the frat house. X
My phone dies before I can send anymore text messages. I think it's about 7.15 pm. Once I'm off the bus I track down a taxi. It's warmer in the back of the taxi than it was on the bus but I'm still shivering. I can't be doing this every day despite wanting to see her everyday. If I make this a regular thing I may have to try get over my fear of driving.
When I finally pull up at the frat house I jump out the Taxi. "Twenty dollars," he says flatly.
"Do you take card?"
"No, cash only."
"Will you wait? I need to get cash off my brother."
"Sure but I'm leaving the meter running." I roll my eyes at his twatish behaviour. I run into the house and scan the room. I can't see Tyler or Flynn anywhere. I find Nathan and I walk towards him and he smiles at me.
"Hey, Riley."
"Hey, listen. I need to pay the taxi driver but he's being an arse. Will you lend me money, I don't have cash and he won't accept my card."
He pulls his wallet out, "Sure how much do you need?"
"Well it was twenty but he left the meter running, so fuck knows." He passes me twenty five and I kiss his cheek dashing out the house to pay the grumpy taxi. He's beeping his horn for me to hurry up. I make sure he sees me and I slow right down just to piss him off. I was hurrying for him but now I take longer. He beeps over and over at me, I shove the money through the window. "Keep the change arsehole!"
He beeps long and hard as he speeds out of the driveway. "Riley?" Tyler says and I turn to face him. "Why was he beeping his horn at you?"
"Because he's a dickhead!" I yell swearing at the driver hoping he can see me as he drives away.
"Where have you been? I was so worried about you, I thought. . ." he shuts his eyes and sighs.
"I'm fine bro, honest. I need to speak to Flynn, where is he?" he opens his eyes and frowns.
"Why? He's with Regan." Fucking Ariel.
"I just need to, it's important."
He rolls his eyes, "He was by the stairs when I last saw him." I hug him quickly and walk briskly to the house. Will Flynn be mad at me because I didn't tell him straight away? I search the house as I walk in. I notice him by the stairs as Tyler said. As I get closer I notice he has Ariel pinned against the wall.
He kisses her with more force and passion than I'd like but it's just kissing so I can't get too emotional about. He breaks the kiss and I hold still. "You want to take this upstairs, babe?" he asks kissing her neck. She nods and he holds her hand pulling her up the stairs. I run to the kitchen sink and I puke over and over. What the hell?
Has he been playing me all this time? He said he'd never sleep with anyone again. I rinse my mouth once I've finished puking. I look around the kitchen and I grab the vodka bottle. I bring it to my lips, "Just like I have faith you'll stay sober." His voice echos in my head.
"Fuck you, you lied." I answer back aloud. I tip the vodka back into my mouth and it spills down my neck. Fuck, that's strong, I never used to notice. I drink another gulp. Nathan walks into the kitchen and he frowns as I glug down the vodka.
"Riley, you can't." He walks towards me and tries to grab the bottle but I push him away from me.
"Don't touch me!" I growl.
"You told me to not let you drink under any circumstances. You told me to stop you, your heart, Riley." I bring the bottle to my lips and drink. It spills again as he snatches it away from me.
"Well now I'm telling you to mind your fucking business." I leave the room and I walk towards the kegs. "Who wants to go against me," I yell.
"Me, I want a rematch again, Blake." Tristan jumps up from the chair he's sat on. I grin and he lifts me up and kisses me. I respond to his kiss with the alcohol coursing through my veins. He sets me on my feet. "Yo, give us a hand," he gestures to people behind me.
I nod at the guy behind me. He nods holding his hands out, I handstand and he holds my legs. I look at Tristan and he grins. "Third time lucky?" I smile, he might get lucky. I've been sober for a while. They place the tube in my mouth and we start. I suck as quick and I swallow.
"Riley, what the hell are you doing?" Tyler yells at me over the thumping music. I continue to suck on the tube. He steps closer to me and pushes the guy out the way and pushes me down. He pulls the tube out my mouth and I push him away from me. "Nath came to find me, I didn't believe it but look at you."
"Stay the hell away from me, Tyler."
"You were sober just twenty minutes ago. What the hell happened?" I push him further away from me and I find a tequila bottle on the floor. I check it for fag butts before I neck it. Tyler grabs the bottle from me.
"Stop it, I'm not doing this with you!" I shove him out the way but he stays close behind me as I try to find more alcohol.
"Yes you are. I want to know what has you resorting in drink when it could kill you."
I turn to face him, "You want to know? Flynn is up there fucking the redhead. How could he do that to me?" I yell in his face.
"She's his girlfriend why wouldn't he? It's not the first and it won't be the last. You need to get over him, Riley." I punch him in the face and he holds his nose shocked.
"Clearly! I'm nothing and no one. . . I'm done. So fucking done," I push away from him. I see him climbing the stairs. I grab a bottle of whisky, I cringe as I taste it.
"Hey," I turn to see a black haired guy I've never seen before. Green eyes, medium build. My vision is already impared so I'm unsure of his true features. "I'm Max," I smile at him.
"Riley," I say necking the bottle again.
"Oh, I know who you are." He grins at me. "You are the talk of the frat house," I roll my eyes. He pushes me up against the wall. "You want to go upstairs, I don't care for small talk." I haven't drunk that much yet. He grabs my wrist and pulls me with him.
I neck some more whisky, I glance at the room and my eyes lock with Nathan. He frowns at me but he doesn't come to my aid as Flynn would. Hell, I put myself in an awful situation. He continues to pull me upstairs and opens the room to my old room. It's empty and looks unoccupied.
My mind is cloudy, my vision is impaired and my body is feeling heavy. He pushes me on the bed and I bounce. He locks the door behind him and I frown. He stands over me and kneels on the bed and kisses me. I follow his lips half heartedly. There's a knock at the door and I frown again. He gets up and opens the door a crack to see who it is.
He opens the door for another guy to come in, "I didn't think you could do it," the stranger says.
"Ye of little faith," Max goades.
"Well, she's still wearing too many clothes," The stranger says. I try sitting up but he pushes me back down.
"We have plenty of time, mate. We need to take it slow, enjoy this." Max comes towards me and sits me up and slides my coat off. He pulls the bottle from my hand. He offers me more drink and I happily oblige. "They say she's a real wild one."
The stranger slides his hand over my breasts and squeezes. "Definitely has the body for it." I want to push him off me but I know I'm too far gone.
Together they pull my dress off and they stand back to admire my body. As they start to touch my body only then do I realise this isn't what I want. Even if Flynn doesn't want me, I don't want this. He's happy fucking his red head but I'm not okay with this. I start to struggle but they hold me down. "Flynn," I beg.
"Who's Flynn, her boyfriend?" The stranger asks.
"No fucking clue, I don't give a fuck who he is." I start thrashing around but they pin me down. "Here, have a drink. Relax." He pours the drink in my mouth and it spills out my mouth causing me to choke on it.
Max climbs on top of me and I now know that he's naked on his bottom half. He slides on a condom and I call out. The stranger holds my mouth muffling my screams as James did. He rips my panties away from me and I clamp my legs shut. No, No, only Flynn.
Max chuckles and prizes my legs apart. "Ew, I wished I'd known she was on her period. Oh well, I'm here now." He pulls my tampon out and he's inside me before I know it. No! I want to scream.
"Sis, are you in there?" Tyler calls through the door. I try to scream but he continues to hold me down. I thrash around and I manage to knock the lamp off the table. "Riley?" he calls. He tries opening the door but it's locked. I bite the guys hand and he curses. I manage to get a scream out before he holds me down again. Tyler starts pounding the door in and then I hear the door slam open. I call out to him but it's just muffled screams.
"The hell, man? It's occupied." The stranger says.
"Get the fuck off my sister," Tyler turns to face Nathan who I didn't see in the doorway. "Go get Flynn. Now!" he growls. Nathan runs out the room. Tyler tackles Max off me but the stranger continues to pin me down.
I scream through his hand, I try to bite him but he's grown wiser now. He climbs on top of me trying to keep me in place. My eyes hurt with the tears that are flowing from my eyes. I hear punches from the floor but I can't move. "Flynn," I mumble through his hand.
It feels like hours since Nathan left but I know it's only been minutes. I feel pressure at my sex as he pushes into me. No, I try to shout but nothing comes out. The door pushes open again, "Ri! Tyler?" Flynn's voice cuts deep inside me. I scream through the strangers hand and he tackles him to the ground.
I sit up and look at them both. Flynn and Tyler seem to be winning. I grab my coat and shrug it on. I do it up and start clumsily walking out of my old bedroom. I can't breathe, I need to get out. The walls are spinning. Nathan grabs me in the hallway and I push him away continuing to find the exit. I stumble down the stairs. I trip on the last few steps and hands grab me. I push them all off me unable to deal with people touching me.
My heart is beating at an irregular rhythym. I get up and make my way to front of the house. I fall into the wall, man I haven't been this intoxicated in a long time. Once I'm out in the cold air I shiver. I puke in the flowers violently, I guess it's a good thing to let it all out. Once I stop puking I make my way home.
My head hurts, my stomach hurts, I'm dizzy as shit and I can't see two feet in front of my face. I'm so tired. I stumble and I land on my hands and knees. I try crawling but it's too much effort. "Riley!" A voice calls and I try crawling away again but I don't get far. I push myself onto my feet again and I sway and fall over again.
"Ri!" I push myself up again and I feel too fucking dizzy. I trip over but I'm caught before I fall. I push the hands off me but they don't budge.
"Don't touch me," I scream but the hands don't release me.
"What do we do?" he asks.
"My Mom would want us to call the police. I'll ring them now," I'm lifted into the arms and I whine protesting but I feel like dead weight. "Police please," I groan and push against the body. "Some guys assualted my sister." No, No, No.
"Calm down, Ri. It's okay."
"We are going to take her to the hospital." No, No.
"Ri, stop." I continue to push against him. "Why is she being so volatile tonight? Why was she drinking?"
"She saw you and Regan."
"What do you mean she saw us?"
"She started screaming at me saying you went upstairs to fuck the redhead. I told her she should get over it, it won't be the last time."
"I didn't, I mean. Fuck. . ."
"Miley. . ." I whisper.
"Miley? Why are you are saying my sisters name?" he shakes me. "Riley?" I try push him away from me. I hear an engine start in the distance. "Where was she today?"
"She never told me, I just saw her coming back in a taxi shouting at the driver." I smell him around me but it doesn't calm me like it once would.
"My heart," I whisper. I want to touch it and slow it the hell down but I can't even move my hand.
"Is your heart hurting, Ri?"
"Fast," I respond.
"Did you take your meds today?"
"Dunno." I can't remember. "Miley," I cry.
"Why the fuck does she keep calling for my sister? She doesn't even know her," Flynn snaps. "Why are you doing this Tyler? Is it not enough that your sister was raped because she was hurting?"
"What the hell are you asking me, Flynn? She could be talking about someone else. She's fucking intoxicated."
"Are you really willing to risk her killing herself? Because that's what you're doing you know? The sea incident, the bath and now this. How much more are you going to keep this up? I've done what you asked but it's pushing her further away."
"You haven't given it enough time! She will get over you. You're around her too much for her to get over you."
"If she suceeds in killing herself I will never forgive you." I try pushing the hands away from my body. "Calm down, Ri." He says again. I'm lifted up, I don't know where I am or what is going on.
"Mom? Yeah, she's with me. We are just going into the hospital." Hospital? I groan, "She. . . She got drunk. Some guys, they. They. . . raped her." No, No, No. "She's out of it Mom. I'm taking her to the hospital. She's complained about her heart. I'll call you when I know more."
"Oh my, what do we have here?" Someone says. "I need a gurney!" She yells and I want to hold my ears.
"This is my sister, Riley Blake. She's drunk, she was assaulted by some guys. I'm worried about her heart. She's complained that it's too fast, she has heart disease. She's been sober for so long."
"Okay, put her on the gurney. We will take her from here. You'll need to wait here."
"She doesn't like being touched," Flynn says. No, No, No.
"Flynn," I try moving my hand but I don't know if I suceeded.
"It's okay baby, they will look after you," his burning hand squeezes my hand and then it's gone. I flutter my eyes open and the light hurts my eyes so I shut them again. When did I even shut them in the first place?
I try get off the moving bed but hands push me down, "Calm down Riley. We are going to look after you." The new voice says.
"No, No, No." I move against the new hands. "Flynn," I fight harder against the hands around me. Too many hands.
"Someone get this Flynn so I can do my work." The voice says again. I hear beeping on a monitor and I thrash around. "Calm down, Riley. Your heart is dangerously high."
"It's pounding," I whine.
"Yes, I'm sure it is. You need to relax," I can't. "Are you Flynn?" Flynn? "Good, hold her hand. Keep her calm, she's at risk of having a heart attack. Her heart is at 180, it's dangerous to be that high prolonged." I thrash my body and his burning hand is placed in mine.
"Ri, calm down. Please, you're safe, I'm here."
"No touching," I beg but he doesn't let go of my hand.
"Everyone stop what they are doing. Lift your hands," the voice says and I stop fighting. The burning stops and I cry. "Flynn," the voice says. The burning starts again and the panic fades. "Now no one touch her unless you have to. If you do need to make yourself known."
"I'm going to insert a tube to help her breathe. Has she consumed a lot of alcohol?" The voice asks.
"I don't know. I guess so, she found out two months or so about her heart disease due to alcohol abuse. She's been sober for most of that. I guess if she started again it would be high volume."
"I think she's got alcohol poisoning, has she vomited?"
"I don't know but I believe so, it smelled like it."
"I need an IV bag inserted and a catheter." I feel a slight pinch on my hand. "I'm going to give her a sedative so I can do a more thorough exam. I need to insert a catheter and I doubt she will let us in this state."
Too many humans rushing around me. My mouth is opened and a tube is pushed into my throat and I want to cough but I begin to relax. A fog is clouding everything. Everything is fading, the beeping, the voices, the burning touch and my awareness.
As I come around everything hurts. "What the hell happened?" The voice asks. I can't move, I can't respond. I hear continuous beeping, I feel the burn but I can't locate what part of my body.
"I don't know, Mom. She arrived in a taxi, she was screaming at the driver. She asked me where Flynn was. The next thing I know Nathan found me and said Riley was drinking. He tried stopping her but she freaked out. I found her upside down doing the kegg challenge. I pulled her away from it and she screamed at me.
"I wanted to know why she was killing herself and she said she was done. So, done. She saw Flynn go upstairs to have sex with Regan and she freaked out. She kept finding drink laying around and I kept taking it off her. I told her she needed to get over it. She punched me, she actually punched me! I went to find Flynn and then Nathan came to find me a while later to say that Riley went upstairs with this sketchy looking guy.
"I went to look for her, I went to her old room and she didn't answer the door. I was about to leave when I heard something smash. I tried to open the door but it was locked. I know she doesn't like people in her room but I had to know she was okay. I heard her scream so I kicked the door in. There were two guys in her room. . .
"One on top of her the other holding her down gagging her. I tackled the guy on top of her and told Nathan to get Flynn. I couldn't hold them both off and I wasn't sure how far Nathan would go to protect her. The other guy took his place and I couldn't do anything whilst I was taking the first guy down. Flynn arrived and took the other guy down. When we knocked them out she was gone.
"Nathan said she passed him in the hallway but she pushed him off her. We found her stumbling in the street. She tried to get away but she was too out of it. She kept falling, she didn't want us to touch her but we had to to get her here. She rambled a load of shit, said her heart was beating too fast."
"Have you tried her phone honey? Maybe that will hold some clues?" My phone? Miley. . .
"It's dead, I need to find a charger," I fall deep into unconciousness again.
When I wake my head is a lot clear, I open my eyes and cough. "Ri, calm down." His eyes hover over me and I try to relax with panicked eyes. I cough again, "Ri I swear to god. Listen to me," I grab the tube but his hands pull mine away from the tube. "I'll call the nurse, just calm down."
He holds my hands at my side but continues to hover over me so I can see him, "She's awake, she wants the tube out." Flynn says.
"Okay, move out the way. I'll remove it," he slowly releases my hands and moves away. I try follow his eyes but they are too far out of my view. "Riley? My name is Dr Sambi, I'm going to remove your tube, you need to relax okay?" I nod gently. She starts removing the tube and I cough. "Just breathe normally Riley," she encourages.
Once it's out I find Flynn's face and I relax a bit more. "What. . . " I choke. I can't find my word. "Time is it?" I hope it's still Tuesday.
"Midday," the nurse confirms.
"My phone," I choke out.
"It's charging over there, Ri. Forget about the poxy phone for a minute." How could I be so stupid? She's relying on me and I let her down on the first hurdle. "They will be back in a minute. Why did you need to speak to me yesterday?"
"It doesn't matter now," I whisper.
"God, you're so frustrating. You really fucking annoy me you know?"
"Annoy you? Everything you said was a lie and you call me annoying?" his mouth falls open and then he closes it scowling at me.
"What are you talking about? I never lied to you?"
"You did, you fucked her. You said you never would but you did! I saw you, I saw the way you kissed her. You called her babe!"
"I didn't fucking sleep with her. I told you I never would. It was just a cover up for Tyler's sake. I didn't know you were there!"
"I don't believe you! I'm done playing your stupid games!" I yell and then Tyler walks in and frowns at our fight.
"Fuck, I guess I'm done too. This is too much hard work. Too many people to keep fucking happy. I can't win," he looks at Tyler. "Are you happy now?" Flynn doesn't wait for an answer and storms out the room.
"You're awake?" Tyler says to me. "How are you feeling?"
"I ache and I hurt." I admit.
"Mom is beside herself with worry. How could you put yourself in that situation? It was so stupid!"
"I know," I cringe recalling the memories. "I was stupid. Being apart from Flynn makes me do stupid shit but I know I can never do that again."
The nurse lifts my bed up into sitting position, "I'll get the doctor to check on. The police are waiting to speak to you once the Doctor has seen you. You'll be discharged later," I nod. Yes, that's good. She leaves the room.
"My phone, Ty." I beg and he walks to take it off charge. I unlock the phone and see a missed call. I hope that was the doctor and not Miley. I listen to the voicemail.
"Hi, this is Doctor Faye. If you could call me back when convient to discuss Miley's case." I frown, I'll call her later when I'm alone. I keep the phone in my hand incase she rings.
"Where were you yesterday Riley? You went awol." I frown at him. I can't tell him before Flynn and I'm not prepared to tell him yet.
"What does it matter?" I snap. He sighs and sits on the chair next to me. I look at my phone 12.28 pm.
My family come and go, the Doctor gives me the all clear to go home. The officers asks me what I remember about the two guys and they are in custody. Well Flynn's guy is in hospital but they aren't pursuing it further. He was acting in my defense to a serious crime.
My phone rings and I answer it, "Hello?" I answer softly.
"Angel?" The voice asks.
"Yes sweetheart, it's your Angel." I glance at the room and Tyler is watching me wondering who the hell I'm talking to. "Did you sleep okay?"
"No, I don't sleep well. I get nightmares," I frown. Me too sweetheart me too.
"What are your nightmares about?"
"Mostly the accident. The bad people in the house."
"What bad people baby?"
"The people who used to look after me. When are you coming to see me again?"
"Soon honey, I'll come as soon as I can." I promise. "Did you get the pictures." She squeals and I giggle.
"Yes, they are by my bed. My Angel watches over me when I sleep. And my horse Flynn looks after me too." I laugh again that she name him Flynn.
"I'm glad baby," I see Flynn walking back into the room and he frowns when I'm on the phone. "Have you eaten today?"
She giggles, "I like eating the way you do. I had porridge for breakfast and sandwich for lunch. Miss Poppy told me off for eating like that but I told her that everybody else eats weird not me."
I laugh again, "That's my baby." I hear someone in the background telling her her times nearly up.
"No! Im talking to my Angel! I'm not finished!" She screams.
"Hey it's okay sweetheart. Remember what I said about being good until I return?" She's quiet now listening to me. "Call me tomorrow, I'll be here waiting for your call."
"Wait, I saw Dr Faye today."
"How did that go Honey?"
"Well, I told her about you. I told her my Angel is going to save me." I frown thinking about how she thinks she needs saving. I bite my cheek fighting the tears. "You're going to take me far away one day. And I'll see my brother again and I'll be happy."
"Oh honey," A tear escapes my eye and Flynn hastily moves to wipe it before it falls too far. "You will, I promise. I'll see you real soon okay?"
"I love you Angel!" She hangs up before I get to respond.
"I love you," I whisper. I clutch the phone to my chest.
"Who was that, Ri?" he seems concerned.
"No one," I mumble. She loves me so soon? She can't can she? Is this some child projection thing? Is she so broken she will clutch to anyone? She wants me to take her far away? Can I do that? Will the law allow that? Am I what she needs?