Greyson (Lightening Series Book One)

Chapter Twenty Four

I woke up to darkness and the cold kitchen tiles beneath my cheek. It took me a few seconds to get my bearings of the situation at hand, fearing that Charlie could still possibly be in this house, I quickly sat up and immediately regretted it.

Pain shot up my abdomen and long my ribs taking my breath away. My face was sticky from my dried tears and my cheek throbbing.

"Charlie?" I called out, bringing my knees to my chest in a protective manner fearing if he called back.

Luckily there was nothing but absolute silence. I grabbed the edge of the kitchen work top and pulled myself up, I hunched over with a gasp of pain hugging my stomach.

I needed to find a bathroom immediately to find out how bad I looked, I couldn't let anyone know of this and I didn't plan to.

I made my way out into the hallway and found the door for the nearest bathroom, I switched on the light coming face to face with the mirror and I wanted to scream at the sight looking back at me.

I was pale. A dark bruise had started to form on my cheek and my right eye was slightly puffy. There was a cut on my lip but thankfully it was to the inside...I could easily cover it with make up. I won't panic and I would give the satisfaction of it. I'm ok, I'm here and I'm safe.

I lifted up my top, almost gasping at how cold my hands were against my warm skin before turning in the mirror slightly to see a large black and blue bruise forming, it started from my rib cage on the left side towards the middle of my tummy. It was huge, there was no way I would be able to cover it.

I should go to hospital but in this state I couldn't drive, I couldn't trust anyone to take me there without demanding that I speak to the police. I knew this wasn't Charlie. He was acting out of anger for something that I never did, I didn't know that he had lost his job neither had I caused it.

What if somethings broken?

I looked in the mirror, rolling my eyes with a sigh before reaching into my pocket for my phone. I quickly scrolled down my contacts before settling on the number and letting it ring.

"Ems?" A cheery voice rang through the speaker, "Where have you been? I tried texting the other day and you didn't reply back." Kate scolded.

Just hearing her voice made me cave, I was here and I was ok. I could hear my best friends voice and she could hear me. I was safe. I was ok.

"Kate.." I almost sobbed out trying to regain myself.

"Emily what's happened?" She demanded, all playfulness gone from her tone.

"I need your help." I breathed out. Jesus, why the hell was it hurting to talk?

"Text me the address, I'm on my way." She demanded before causing a commotion in the background with what sounded like her car keys.

"Ok." I told her before hanging up and quickly texting the address.

I found Emily outside the gates to the house almost five minutes later, she leaned across and opened the door for me as I struggled to climb into her black SUV.

"Fuck." I groaned with a deep breath as I climbed into the seat, "Kate can you lean across and close the door? I can't." I almost begged as I turned to her.

She looked at my face, tears filling up her eyes and shock displaying clearly.

"Emily...did someone do this to you?" She asked lowly as I shook my head.

I couldn't tell her the truth, Kate cares too much and I know that she will contact the police almost immediately. I didn't want that. If Charlie meant what he said earlier about watching over me, I couldn't risk anything happening to her. This was my mess and I would fix it, no one not even Grey will become involved in it.