Protecting Her Lost Soul

Chapter 13

We are all gathered in the living room ready to put up the tree. Flynn and Tyler work together to erect the tree. I sit on the sofa with my hand on my ribs. Miley is so excited waiting to decorate the tree. "Honey, why don't you try this?" Mom says entering the room with arnica gel and some painkillers with a water bottle.
"I'm good, thanks though," Flynn groans really loud and I roll my eyes.
"Why does your sister have to be so hard work?" Tyler laughs and Flynn punches his arm playfully.
"That's my sister for you, we love her some days, hate her the rest." I roll my eyes again and Dad takes over erecting the tree for Flynn. Flynn takes the gel and painkillers off Mom and he sits next to me. He slides the meds in my mouth and I groan. He passes me the bottle and I down the horrible tablets.
Flynn lifts his hoodie and my top and he starts rubbing the gel onto my ribs and I gasp. I glare at him but he doesn't look away from my side. I grit my teeth, "Ow," I growl. He looks into my eyes and I relax like he's healing me. His burning hand continues to rub in the cold gel.
"There, that wasn't too hard, was it?" he removes his soothing hand from my side and the hoodie falls down in place. I frown and he gets up and leaves the room. Great now I have to put up with my clothes sticking to my side. Mom helps pull the branches out so it looks normal. Flynn returns into the room and sits down next to me.
Mom and Miley start decorating the tree. "Thank you, Daddy," I say to Dad who's sat on the other sofa with Tyler. He looks at me and smiles.
"You're welcome, Princess. I'm so glad you got your wish before Christmas. It's amazing to watch you and her together."
Miley looks at me and smiles. "Would you like to put the Angel on the top of the tree, Miley?" Mom asks. "Riley normally does it but I'm sure she won't mind."
"Can I?" she asks me and I nod. I go to stand up but Flynn places his hand on my thigh and stands up in my place. He walks to Miley and lifts her up, Mom passes her the Angel and Flynn lifts her higher to place it on the top of the tree. She looks thoroughly pleased with her handiwork. I always used to insist on placing it on the tree. Tyler soon learned not to fight me on it.
We spend the day as a family. We put all the wrapped presents under the tree ready for tomorrow. Mom made lunch for us and I could only handle a little bit. It's still hard to swallow. We are all ready to go the Christmas Fair. Miley is in her new hat and gloves wrapped up warm.
Mom and Dad go together in their car and Tyler insisted on coming with us so he drove. It's like he doesn't trust Flynn around me or visa versa. The snow has laid on the ground but the roads are clear it's just the driveway to survive.
I watch the lights as Tyler drives to the green. The lights are so pretty and it looks so peaceful tonight. When we arrive we get out of the car and Miley holds my hand. We walk to the desk and Mom and Dad are waiting for us. "Riley, dear. It's nice to see you again." Our elderly neighbour says on the desk as she did for the last fair. "Who's this little one?"
Miley tugs my hand and I look at her. She wants me to pick her up so I do. "This is Miley, she's Flynn's sister."
"And my Mommy," Miley says timidly. She hides her face in my neck and our neighbour's mouth falls open.
"You'll need to update me, Abigail." My Mom smiles and nods and we walk into the fair.
"Can I carry you, Smiley?" Flynn asks trying to take care of me.
"No! I want Angel!" Flynn sighs and puts his arm around my hips. My feet crunch in the snow. My cheeks are flushed where it's so cold. We look around the stalls for an hour or so and Miley stays clinging to my neck with all the people.
"Abigail, Hayden," a woman's voice says and I recoil into Flynn and he frowns at me.
"Not now, Gail." My Dad warns.
"Why are you so uptight today? You are the one that brought your daughter here who killed my son!" she spits.
"Killed your son?" Dad growls. "He's still alive! Guess you don't mean that much to him if he hasn't got in contact with you."
She steps back as if my Dad punched her, "What did you say?"
"He's still alive, he assaulted my daughter a couple of days ago."
"Dad, don't," I beg. He looks at me but he's still pissed as hell. "Please," I don't want him losing a friend because of me and I don't want my shit spread across the town again!
"He wouldn't," she growls. "My son loved her! He would never hurt her or another woman for that matter. You're insane!"
Tyler walks towards me and pulls my hoodie up to reveal the bruises and goosebumps appear on my skin. He pulls the hood away from my neck and she gasps. "I saw him strangle my sister in front of me and it was all a game to him. So don't call my Dad a liar!"
I push Tyler's hand away and I walk away from them. I'm not dealing with this. "Angel?"
"I'm fine baby. Let's go on the carousel you'll enjoy that," she squeals and I make my way to the carousel. We don't have to wait long in the queue and I lift her onto a horse and slide the strap around her. I jump on the one next to her and someone jumps on the back and my heart pounds.
"I've missed you Riley Bear." He whispers in my ear. Oh hell! He wraps his arms around me and holds the pole. I look at Miley making sure she's safe and she's happy waiting for the ride to start. "Who's this little one?"
"Leave her out of this," I growl.
"Huh, have I hit a nerve? Don't worry kids aren't my thing. I'm more interested in you Riley bear. How could you leave me like that? I had to break into your apartment and I saw your note."
"I'm sorry, I'm always home for Christmas. You haven't told your Mom you're alive?" The ride starts and I'm trapped.
"You figured it out? Took you long enough, babe. No, I haven't."
"Why?"
"I left her behind. You are my life now, Riley bear. I accepted that." I keep my eyes on Miley as he continues to whisper in my ear.
"How did you do it? Fake your death?"
"It was easy really, I bribed the Doctor's. I forged a death certificate."
"Why would you fake your death?"
"I wanted to see how you were with time apart. You had to miss me for me to win you back. I like this new you. So beautiful with makeup."
"Angel, it's so pretty!" she says pointing at the lights. I muster up a smile for her, she's oblivious to my attacker.
"It is baby just like you," she smiles at me and frowns but looks back at the lights.
"Aren't you a natural? Maybe next time I won't use a condom." I cringe as he cups my neck and pulls my head around to kiss me.
"No!" Miley screams. I pull away and I look at her, "Only Flynn's." She screams.
"It's okay baby, calm down."
"The fuck is she talking about? You are mine."
"No, you belong to us!" Miley screams but I don't think she heard him.
"I belong to you baby, I promise." I say to Miley.
"Hey Kid, why do you say she belongs to Flynn?"
"Because she is marrying him. She has her ring now, no one can steal her. She kisses him and we sleep in his bed."
"The fuck?" He grips my side tightly and I grit my teeth trying to hide the pain from Miley.
"Look, JJ. It's just a cover, for her. I promise," I panic.
"Save it, Riley. I'm not interested in more lies." He pokes something into my side and I gasp. "Stay calm or I'll shoot her." I whimper but keep a straight face. The ride stops and he gets off the ride pulling me with him but continues to conceal the gun against my side. I help Miley off the ride but she clings to me. I look around for Flynn and my family and I spot the by the Ferris wheel.
"Honey, Flynn is over there by the wheel. I need you to go to him, it's important." I whisper in her ear and she frowns but nods. "Don't look back, be brave. I love you," I say as we step off the carousel and I place her on her feet and she runs to Flynn.
"Where the hell is she going?" James growls but I spin and face him and grab his wrist with the gun in.
"Please, you said you aren't interested in her. Please, JJ. I'll do what you ask, you know you don't need to do this." I reach up and stroke his cheek and he grabs my hand. I glance at Miley and she's made it to Flynn and I sigh. Flynn starts scanning the crowd for me.
James spins me around again and restrains my neck with his arm and gun at my side. Flynn's eyes lock with mine and he starts running towards us. James pulls me back from behind. He continues to pull me into the funhouse. We head through the large spinning wheel. He pushes me up the stairs and over the platform that moves up and down. I have to hold the rails so I don't fall.
We get to the next section that is like a treadmill going back and forth and I trip. He picks me back up by grabbing my hoodie and pushes me forward again. We reach the moving stairs and pushes me up and I trip trying to hurry my feet. He grabs my hoodie again and literally launches me up the steps. We get to the top section that looks out onto the fair. We aren't really high but high enough. He pushes me to the railings. "Looking for us?" James toys. He has to elevate his voice so they can hear over the noise around us.
Flynn and Tyler look up at us. "Let her go!" Flynn shouts.
"Let her go?" James pushes my top half over the railings.
"Wait!" Flynn calls. "He knows he's got the fucking higher ground," Flynn says to Tyler.
"JJ, don't do this, I will go wherever you want. Just don't this," he releases me but keeps the gun pointed on me.
"You want her? Come and get her," James says playfully.
They go to run into the funhouse, "Don't!" I scream and they do. "He has a gun, he will hurt you." They screw their faces up and James waves with the gun and then replaces it on my side.
I turn towards James and I stroke his cheek, he grabs my jaw and I call out in pain, "You don't have control here, Riley. The other day was an error in judgement on my part, it won't be happening again."
"James?" Mrs Webber calls and James looks down at his Mom. I can't see as he hasn't let me go. "What are you doing?" she cries.
"Stay out of this Mother. She's mine! No one is taking her from me," he yells down at them.
"There are other ways of getting her to be yours and this isn't the way."
He shakes his head, "She loves me."
"So don't ruin it, Jay. If she loves you, you should cherish her. Please, let her go, son."
He shakes his head and shoves me against the wall and I scream in pain, "She will leave me," he panics.
"JJ, I won't leave you. I told you, I will go anywhere with you."
He releases my jaw and he backhands me and I gasp. "Don't lie, you love him! You are engaged to him."
"I told you, it's all for show." I reach up to grab his face to calm him but he grabs my hair and pulls it back. He crushes my lips with and I whimper. He's hurting me, not only is he pulling my hair harshly he's pushing the gun into my bad ribs.
He bites my lip and I wipe it hoping he hasn't drawn blood this time. I look down at I can't see Flynn and Tyler anymore. No! "JJ, be careful, they are coming," he releases my hair and I stand in front of James protecting him.
"You're protecting me?" he says shocked.
"Flynn will kill you," I mumble. Well, James won't hesitate to kill him either. James grabs me from behind just as they come into view. "Please, go," I beg them. "He won't hurt me," I promise.
"Bullshit! He just fucking hurt you in front of me. I can't let that go!" Flynn growls. Fuck, I don't think I've seen him so angry. Tyler holds him back.
Flynn comes towards us and James moves the gun from my side to my head and I stop breathing. "Stay back or I'll shoot."
"Flynn, please!" I cry. I don't know what I'm begging for. I don't want Flynn getting hurt.
"I know baby, I know," he tries reassuring me. "Everything will be okay." He looks at James, "I'm trying so fucking hard not to kill you right now."
"Try it, see where it will get you. I'm in control and there's nothing you can do." James grabs my jaw tightly and kisses me again and Flynn launches but James pulls away and moves the gun an inch in warning. "See, I can do whatever I want and you can't do fuck all about it."
"You can force her to do it but just know she's not voluntarily doing it. Somewhere deep down she loves you but you have to restrain her each time to get what you want. You'll never make her feel what I make her feel."
"Flynn," Tyler warns.
"I make her feel!" he insists.
"Sorry to break it to you but you don't. I make her whole body catch fire whilst you freeze her. I make her scream my name!"
"Stop it!" James growls.
"I caused her first orgasm! I take credit for all her orgasms. All you caused is pain!"
"No! She enjoyed it," James panics.
"Don't kid yourself! She nearly killed herself because of you. She nearly drunk herself to death because of you! You made her feel dead, I make her feel alive!"
"Stop!" I protest.
"Dead? Well, we will see if you'll join me in death." He backs away and throws himself over the railing pulling me with him. I scream and quickly grab the railings. I feel his body resist mine but he lets go of me and I hear a thud on the metal underneath me.
My ribs hurt and I can't hold on for much longer. "Ri!" Flynn screams.
"Lee!" Tyler cries. They look over the railings expecting me to be on the floor with James. Flynn notices me dangling and climbs over the railings quickly and grabs my hand and pulls me up.
"I've got you, baby." Tyler reaches over the rails and holds his hand out to me. My wrist is really hurting. I manage to grab his Tyler's hand, this feels like the stupid wall all over again. They both pull me over. Once I'm over we all topple over. I cry on Flynn's chest as our breathing is rapid. "Shh, it's okay Ri."
Tyler turns on his side and strokes my back. "Fuck, I really thought he pulled you over with him." I shiver and continue to sob into Flynn's chest.
"Is he dead? Tell me. . . I didn't kill him. . . a second time." I whimper. Tyler gets to his feet and walks to the railings.
"Dad! What's the verdict?" Tyler calls down to him.
"Still alive, unconscious though." I sigh and Flynn sits me up. He cups my face accessing me for any injuries.
"Are you okay baby?"
"Everything hurts," I admit.
"Let's get you to your feet," I nod and he helps me stand and I call out in pain. "Fuck, you okay?" I nod. "You know what? I'm tying you to my bed from now on. You fucking scared me," I roll my eyes. Tyler is by my side and we walk towards the exit. "Can we not go back the way we came?" I look at the narrow slide.
"Her going down the moving stairs? I don't think so." Tyler shrugs. Flynn pushes me gently to the slide and he holds my elbows and helps me down. He pushes me down the slide and I get stuck at the bottom. I try get up but it hurts too much.
"Fuck, Ri!" Flynn panics as he slides behind me and knocks into me. I hold my ribs as the jolt hurts. He pushes the bottom of my back so I'm further out the slide. He pushes me over the edge and I fall on the plastic foam padding.
Flynn helps me to my feet as I can't get up on my own. Tyler comes down the slide and we walk towards the exit. I see people huddled around James on the floor and I freeze. His Mom is crying over his unconscious body. My Dad is comforting her, other people are staring and watching.
Gail looks up at me and she gets up and runs to me. "Riley, I'm so sorry," she tries to hug me but I hold my hand out so she can't. "Are you okay?"
"No, she's not okay!" Flynn growls. "Your son is a fucking psycho. She already had fractured ribs before this which your son had a part in! He could have killed her!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," she seems sincere. I hear sirens in the distance and I move to Flynn's side and he wraps his arm around me. She walks back to James who's still unconscious. Flynn kisses my forehead and I shiver.
"Miley," I whisper.
"Your Mom is looking after her," Flynn reassures me. Flynn sits me on the step to the funhouse, it's cold down here. Who even likes winter anyway? We wait until the sirens get closer. Two ambulances arrive and a police car. Flynn and Tyler leave me so they can inform the police of what happened.
I watch the fair, the lights, families having fun on Christmas eve. How did tonight turn out so wrong? A hand touches my shoulder and I recoil, "Miss?" I look up at the paramedic. "They said you were in the accident. Can I assess you?" he's a young male paramedic.
"I'm fine, I didn't. . . get hurt. . .this time."
"This time?"
"He assaulted me. . . a couple of days ago. I fractured some. . . ribs."
"Are you in pain now?" he asks.
"Yes," I really am.
"On a scale of one to ten?"
"Eight," I think. I'm not going back to hospital.
"Will you come to the ambulance so I can check you over?"
"I'm not going. . . back to hospital."
"Let me just check, please?" I clutch my side and stand and call out in pain. He tries to help me but I put my hand out to stop him. "I'm concerned with how much pain you are in."
"I'm fine," he escorts me to the ambulance and I struggle to get up the steps. I sit on a chair and groan.
"Can you get on the bed?"
"No, I can't." I protest.
"Shall I help you?" he asks. "I need you on the bed."
"Shall I help you lose your hands?" I growl. I look outside the ambulance and I see Tyler. "Tyler!" I yell and my voice hurts. He snaps his head around to face me, "Tell him. . . I don't need medical help."
He walks towards me and looks at the paramedic, "She didn't really get hurt, she was injured before."
"I was called to the scene. I need to do my checks to be sure."
"Is that really necessary?" Tyler counters.
"Yes, if I am to keep my job."
"Fine, what do you need?"
"I need her on the bed so I can examine her."
Tyler groans, "Hell, you'll need Flynn then. One sec," Tyler turns around and scans the area. "Flynn!" he yells. Flynn looks to us he's talking to my Dad. "I need you bro!"
Flynn says something to my Dad and then walks towards us. "What's going on?" he asks.
"He says he needs to examine her but he needs her on the bed. That's not in my power bro." I roll my eyes.
"Couldn't your parents have made a less stubborn child?" Flynn groans. He steps up on to the ambulance.
"I don't need to. . . be checked over." I protest. Flynn rolls his eyes and picks me up anyway. I grit my teeth and he gently places me on the bed. The woman paramedic shuts the back doors.
"Have you got any medical history?" he asks and I groan.
"She has heart disease, her heart rate his generally high." Flynn informs. The paramedic attaches me to machines.
"Are you allergic to anything?"
"Yes, bullshit."
"Ri, behave." I roll my eyes.
"What happened at the scene?"
"Her ex had her at gun point, he didn't really hurt her. Just restrained her, he pulled Riley over the railing and luckily she managed to grab the railing to stop her falling but I think it hurt her ribs even more."
He pushes the top of my hoodie further down and slides a stethoscope to my chest and listens. After a few seconds he moves it to the other side and listens again. He lifts my top up to assess my ribs and he pushes on them and I grit my teeth glaring at him. "I'm going to administer some pain relief. I don't think you've punctured your lung it sounds healthy. I would like you to go to the hopital though. Pain isn't good for your heart, especially if you have heart disease."
"No, I don't want it."
"Ri. . ." he sighs. "When he strangled her she struggles to swallow. She hates taking tablets."
"I can give them intravenously if need be."
"Well, there you go Ri. No excuse now."
"I want to go home," I moan.
"Good for you, Ri but you need to go to hospital and get your pain under control."
"Miley," I growl.
"She will be fine for a couple of hours. You are going," he insists and I groan. The paramedic straps me onto the bed and I try to break free but it's no use. "Calm down, Ri."
"I don't like being. . . trapped." I continue to thrash about and Flynn get's up from his chair and cups my face.
"I know baby, I'm here, calm down." I sigh and nod and he releases me. "Let me tell her brother quick." Flynn leaves me in the ambulance whilst the paramedic administers the painkillers.
"What's your name?"
"Nunyabusiness."
He laughs and doesn't take offence, "Come on love, I need your name for your file." Flynn climbs back in and sits down. "What's her name?"
Flynn frowns and me, "Riley Blake. Are you being difficult, Ri?" I smile innocently and he chuckles. "Your parents are going to take Miley home and Tyler will meet us at the hospital."
"Is she okay?"
"She will be fine, Ri." That's not even an answer though is it? The paramedic shuts the side door and talks to the driver.
"Okay belt up," the paramedic says to Flynn and he does as he says. I shut my eyes, I feel relief from the pain already. The oral shit didn't even touch the sides. The ambulance starts to move and go to my happy place.