Awakening (The Magic of the Black Forest Book 2) (26 page)

“How could you do this to your son? How could you? Don’t you love him at all?” His lips were on my breasts again. “Get off OF ME,” I screamed.

He rubbed the tip of his shaft between my thighs. I fought and struggled to no avail. I would rather die than live through this. I spit in his face. He took his free hand and backhanded me again.

“I promise you, Natalia, my son has never made you feel the way I’m going to make you feel.”

“Just promise me one thing,” I asked looking him right in the eye.

“Anything, Natalia.” The sick pervert promised lustfully.

“Kill me when you’re done, save me from doing it myself. I’d rather be dead then live with the fact that you raped me.” Again I spit into his face.

“Enough!” He roared.

Using his body he stretched my legs farther apart. He pressed the tip of his shaft at my opening. I begged and pleaded for him to stop. He started pushing, trying to get inside me. He smiled wickedly, showing me his long pointy fangs. I cried out as he leaned down to bite my breast.

His eyes went wide with shock as someone lifted his body from mine and threw him over the boulders.

Jumping up I ran frantically into the woods. Pass a huge tree, I hid behind it and curled up into the fetal position.

There were voices yelling, seemingly all at the same time, before Colleen or Cheryl I wasn’t sure who, screamed out. Covering my ears with the palms of my hands, I tried to silence the desperate cries for help, but it didn’t work, it only muffled the horrific sounds that surrounded me.

A familiar male voice screamed out in agony, rooting me to the ground.

Frozen-stiff, I lay silent when someone approached me slowly, covering me with a light blanket. When I lifted my head and turned, no one was there.

There was a lot of cussing and more screaming but I couldn’t make out the voices until I heard Dave yell, “Take him back into the house and throw him into the fireplace.”

Then suddenly everything fell silent.

Frozen with fear, my mind and magic failed me once again; I didn’t know what to do. Scanning my surroundings I saw a small crawlspace to hide in at the bottom of a hollowed tree just a few feet away. Quickly, and as quiet as possible, I scurried over to it. Using magic I tried to cover up my scent. Too afraid to cry, for fear I might be heard, I just lay there curled up in a ball, praying for it all to end.

Chapter 12

For the longest time, there wasn’t a sound, nothing, not even a chirp from the crickets. When you’re afraid, fearing for your life, silence is the worst thing to experience.

One tear then two slipped over the rim of my eyes, sliding down my cheeks, at the sound of footsteps approaching. Casting spell after spell, I tried hiding myself, my scent; I tried anything and everything to make myself disappear. Hiding my face, squeezing my eyes shut, pressing my fists to the sides of my head, hoping that whoever it was couldn’t find me. But, it didn’t work.

Someone grabbed both my upper arms and pulled me from my hiding place. I screamed, “NO!” Lashing out, kicking and crying, trying to escape their grip. They released me and I bolted, running away, trying to find another hole to crawl into. Finding another hollowed tree, I crumpled, sinking into the ground.

Moments later, the footsteps returned. Too scared and tired to fight or run I cried, blubbering, pleading them to leave me alone.

“Natalia, please, let me get you dressed.”

“B-Br-Bradley?” I sobbed almost relieved but unable to trust myself.

“Yes, my love.” Crying, I crawled to him repeating his name over and over again. Lifting me up into his arms I grabbed onto him, terrified, refusing to let him go. “Colleen, please cover her with that blanket.” A cold blanket covered my body. I wanted to wrap it around my entire body, curl into the fetal position and hide from the rest of the world.

“Brad, take her back into the house and to the bedroom. I’ll be right in,” Colleen said.

“Coll, are you o-okay?” I had no idea what I was saying. My body and mind were too numb for rational thinking.

“Everyone is fine, even Seager. Don’t worry about us, Nat.” She kissed my cheek before Bradley carried me off into the house as Colleen had instructed.

For the longest time I laid there crying. The image of Andrew on top of me, trying to force himself into me played in my head over and over again. I tried to jump up but couldn’t. Someone prevented me from doing so. I screamed to be let go and I swung in the darkness. The restraints were released and I threw myself onto the floor into the corner. I tried to focus. Looking down at myself I realized someone had dressed me.

Hidden by the darkness I heard Bradley say, “Natalia, please don’t be frightened. Andrew can’t hurt us anymore.”

“Bradley… where are you? Please don’t leave me again, please.” Before I finished the word ‘leave’ he knelt down in front of me. I threw myself into his arms.

“Are you okay?” I searched every part of him to ensure he didn’t get hurt.

“I’m fine, Natalia.
Are you okay?
I’m so sorry.” Disgust spewed through his teeth.

The room started to spin. My body broke out in a sweat, my stomach performing somersaults. “I’m not feeling so good, Bradley. I think I need to go to the bathroom.” I ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

Leaning over the sink, I heaved and vomited. My skin was clammy and cold yet I felt like I was burning up. Sweat poured off of me, running down my face, drenching my hair. Brushing my gums, tongue and teeth, I desperately try to rid his kiss and saliva from my mouth. As I did so, an image of the devil himself, Andrew, formed in my mind. He was on top, penetrating and kissing me. Again I threw up, this time into the sink. Shaking my head, trying to rid my mind of the sadistic bastard, I turned on the hot water, letting it get so hot steam started rising from the sink. Rinsing and burning my mouth, I repeated the scrubbing process. The entire time I disinfected my mouth I could hear Bradley, Jess and Colleen talking about me.

I heard Colleen say, “Just give her some time, Brad. I would be doing the same thing.”

“You didn’t see what I saw Coll. He was on top of her. She was terrified and he was on top of her…” Bradley sounded horrified and disgusted.

Not wanting to hear anymore, I got into the shower to block out their voices. The scolding hot water washed over me, scorching my skin. Once the water started to cool I scrubbed my lips and breasts until they hurt then moved to my thighs and other private areas, scrubbing my entire body until it became painfully raw. As the water became hotter again I sat down in the tub, directly under the shower to let it burn him off of me. Holding my knees tight to my chest I sat there rocking back and forth, crying.

There was a light tap on the door.

“I’m in the shower,” I managed to say.

“I’m just checking on you, Nat. You’ve been in here for over two hours.” I looked up and Colleen was standing right outside the shower. I hadn’t even heard her enter the room. “We’ll be out there waiting for you. Take your time.”

“C-Coll…” Not realizing how long I’d been in the shower, I turned off the water. “Will you get me a change of clothes, preferably my sweat shirt and pants?”

“Sure. Here’s a towel.” She reached her arm behind the curtain, handing me the towel.

I quickly dried off and wrapped the wet towel tightly around me. Standing in front of the mirror I saw a huge bruise that ran along my jawbone. There were also bruises on my neck, shoulders, and wrists. To get a look at the rest of my body I let the towel drop to the floor. My breasts and thighs were black and blue, too.

Again Colleen entered the room without knocking. “Oh, Nat... What did he do to you?” She helped me get dressed into oversized clothes. It’s exactly what I wanted even though they weren’t mine.

“Where did this outfit come from?”

“It’s one of Dave’s. How about you heal yourself?”

“I tried but it didn’t work. It’s not like I can heal myself mentally anyway.” I looked up at her. My vision blurred by the tears still trapped in my eyes. “Can I go home now? I really want to go home.”

“Okay, I’ll get Brad to take you home…”

Panicked I reached out and grabbed her arm, digging my fingers into her skin, whispering, “No… you. Please?”

She hugged me and I stiffened. Letting go, she reassured me with, “I’ll come with you when Brad takes you home.”

“Can you stay tonight? Please?” I sobbed.

Fear controlled my mind. I couldn’t think or make sense of what I wanted to say. I don’t know why I didn’t want to be alone with Bradley, I trusted him. For some reason I only wanted him at arm’s length and no closer. Colleen went out first to talk to Bradley and Jess. Although I couldn’t make out the words I could definitely hear the disgust in his voice.

When I came out of the bathroom Bradley was standing on the other side of the room. He looked heartbroken. Without looking him in the eye I said, “I’d really like to go home now. And I’d really like it if Colleen spent the night.” Not waiting for him to agree I turned and walked out of the room.

There was blood all over the living room. Horrified I covered my face with my hands muttering, “No,” over and over again.

“Come on, Nat. Keep your eyes covered and I’ll lead you through the room. You don’t need to see this.”

I did as Colleen suggested and let her blindly guide me outside.

“Okay you can open your eyes now.”

“Where’s my truck,” I asked frantically confused how we were going to get home.

“It’s down the mountain. Nat, Brad will need to carry you to the truck.” Fear shot throughout my body. Peering at him through the corner of my eyes I saw him wince, feeling my fear of him.

“Okay.” Slowly I walked towards him without making eye contact.

“Natalia, I won’t hurt you, I promise.” He bent down to look into my eyes but I wouldn’t let him, instead I turned away.

“I know,” I said in an unconvincingly shaky voice, telling myself he wouldn’t hurt me. “How do you want to carry me?” I tried to fight back the tears but couldn’t.

When he lifted me into his arms, I turned away so that I couldn’t see how disgusted he would be from touching me. Bradley ran super fast. The wind felt good on my face. After a few seconds I leaned my head against his chest. Listening to his steady shallow breathing, I wanted him to hold me tightly until I no longer felt Andrew’s hands on me. Even though I knew we’d be to the truck shortly, I gave in. Wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, I hid my face in the hollow of his shoulder, sobbing.

When we got to the truck Colleen asked Bradley, “Why don’t you give her to me and you can sit up front with Jess?”

Like Colleen, he thought I wanted him to let go. I held on tighter mumbling, “No.” I heard Bradley sigh with relief. Colleen laughed softly as Bradley climbed in without effort and slid into the backseat with me in his arms.

On his lap and securely in his arms I felt safe and drifted off into a light sleep. That night continued to race through my mind. There were so many things I could have done differently. Like why didn’t I use my magic? I just froze and let fear get the best of me.

Seeing Andrew’s face, feeling his hands on me, freaked me out and I jumped. Snapping my eyes open I cried out loud, “Get off of me!”

Bradley cautiously placed me on the far side of the back seat before sliding back over to the other side. Sagging against the passenger door I was relieved to be in the truck, heading towards home. Turning my head slightly I noticed Bradley quietly staring out the window. Needing his comfort, the security of his arms, I slid over to his side, moved his arms and straddled his lap, leaning my head on his chest.

Privately I whispered,
“I know I disgust you but please…”
He wrapped his arms around me and held me again.
“Don’t leave me. I’m s-so s-s-sorry.”
Disgusted and disappointed with myself, I covered my face, hiding my shame.
“I know I could have done something but I was so scared… I don’t know why but I couldn’t use my magic. Please forgive me.”

Bradley pulled me in tighter to him then said the three words I so desperately needed to hear,
“I love you.”
Hearing those words made it easier for me to fall asleep.

***

I could hear the three of them; Bradley, Jess and Colleen, talking softly as I felt myself being lifted up and carried from the truck. I’m not sure how long I was asleep, but my first thoughts after waking were of Seager. “Seager…”

“He’s with us, Natalia, he’s okay.” Bradley said his voice reassuring. “Do you want me to put you into your bed?”

All I really heard was ‘your bed’, not ‘our bed’.

“No I don’t want to sleep.” I was exhausted but didn’t want him to leave nor did I want to be alone with him yet. Plus, I knew if I slept I would have nightmares. “Please put me down.” As requested, he set me in my feet.

I walked into the kitchen and got myself a drink. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until I started drinking. I must’ve drunk three bottles of water. Before walking back into the living room I grabbed another bottle.

When I walked into the living room all three of them looked up at me, making me feel uncomfortable so instead of sitting on the sofa, I headed to the bedroom to grab a change of clothes. After grabbing some loose clothing I went into the bathroom and once again I got into a hot shower to scrub Andrew off of me.

Colleen walked into the bathroom, “Another shower, Nat?”

“I can’t get him off of me.” I got out and the look on her face made me ask, “What?”

Shaking her head she muttered, “You have even more bruises than the last time.” Pressing her hands against her stomach, her face blanched before turning away from me. I’m not sure, but I could’ve sworn there was disgust in her eyes.

“Please don’t be disgusted with me Colleen. First Bradley, now you… I just can’t take disappointing anyone else.” I quickly got dressed into my most comfortable pajamas hoping they would help get him off of me.

“I’m not disgusted with you, Nat. I hate what he did to you.” Her shocked expression changed to confusion. “You think Brad is disgusted?”

“I know he is. I heard it in his voice.” Grabbing my toothbrush, I scrubbed my teeth.

She grabbed my hand and took my bloody toothbrush away. Rinsing it she said, “He’s disgusted with himself because he didn’t make it in time. He thinks he failed you. Nat, you need to stop cleaning yourself like this.” She gently took hold of my arm to show me what I did to myself. I had scratch marks all over my body, especially my breasts and thighs, from trying to scrub him off of me.

“I can’t get him off of me.” I whispered hugging myself, shrinking away with disgust.

Putting her hands on my shoulder, she said sympathetically, “Natty, he raped you. It will take you a while to feel clean again.”

Offering a watery smile, I took a step back, giving myself room to breathe. “Almost. Had Bradley not pulled him off of me, Andrew would have... He was about to Coll, but thankfully he didn’t. If he had raped me, I would have begged for someone to kill me.” I shook my head and covered my ears with my hands, trying to get rid of the sound of his voice and images in my head. “It’s my fault. I panicked and couldn’t use my magic. I just froze with fear.”

My mind replaying, in agonizing detail, what happened, over and over again, left me feeling unclean. My skin crawling had me getting undressed again. “Colleen, I need to get in the shower again. I’ll be out in a little bit,” I said stepping back into the shower.