I could hear the sound of his belt. I could taste the blood in my mouth. The fear was climbing in my throat and I couldn’t stop the strangled screams coming from my mouth as I struggled to breathe. I shook my head trying to rid the memories from my mind.
I couldn’t close my eyes. I wanted to, but I was too afraid of what would come next.
“Jesus,” Kyle hissed. He grabbed his hair with both hands.
“What the fuck Kyle?” Cam shouted, as she ran over to where I was crouched. “Are you hurt Lee?” she asked. Dropping to the floor, Cam put her arms around me and squeezed. I sobbed loudly, I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t catch my breath. “Shh, Lee it’s okay, you’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. Breathe.” I was too scared to breathe. I panted and gasped. Cam checked me over and blanched when she saw my wrist. “Uh, you stupid fuck, look at what you did. Look at her fucking hand Kyle.”
I looked down at my hand and sure enough there was purple Kyle shaped fingerprints on my wrist.
“Lee I’m sorry,” Kyle said in desperate voice. He moved towards me as if to hold me. I scrambled away and backed up closer to Cam. She wrapped her arms around me protectively, rubbing my back in slow steady circles. Kyle’s whole body shuddered. “Jesus, I’m so fucking sorry.”
I calmed slightly at the sight of his torn expression. I nodded and covered my wrist with my other hand.
“Get him out of here,” Cam growled as she held me tighter. When they didn’t move, she screamed; “Get him out of here Derek. NOW.”
Derek grabbed Kyle’s shoulders and walked him from the room.
“Shh just breathe Lee. Breathe,” Cam whispered, as the shudders rolled over me and I finally caught my breath.
Kyle
“What the fuck was that?” Derek was speaking to me, but I couldn’t answer him. I couldn’t breathe. The sight of Lee huddled on the floor terrified of me. Her hand… I was the lowest of the low. There were no words to describe the kind of bastard I was.
Derek pushed me down on the couch and paced the room. “Dude what the hell just happened? What was that?” I looked at him blankly, hoping he could tell me.
The door opened and Cam closed it quietly behind her. I stood up as she strode towards me and grabbed my shirt. “Listen to me dipshit, if you ever lay so much as a finger on that girl again, I will rip your fucking heart out.”
“Cam, I didn’t…” I stopped. I didn’t know what to say. I had no excuses. “I didn’t realize I had gripped her that hard, I’ve been drinking.” Pitiful excuse, but it was the truth.
I honest to god hadn’t realized her wrist was in my hand. I’d been so caught up in what she was saying.
Cam exhaled sharply. “She came here to get away from one abusive bastard, not to find another.” My heart stopped.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Who had Lee come here to get away from? Abusive bastard? “Cam, you better start talking,” I warned.
“Don’t go there Carter. I keep enough of your secrets. This is not my story to tell.” She growled, then sighed. “Maybe you should have asked Lee why she moved here before you went all Rocky Balboa on her and scared the life out of her. I mean are you that stupid Kyle? I told you she was fragile. I warned you to stay away from her. You better fucking pray that she doesn’t run again. Because if she goes back; she’s finished. Believe it or not Kyle, that girl has lived through more horror than you could dream up. What Lee has suffered would make you pray for death. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s not here tomorrow, god knows I’d be gone if I were her.” Cam said before storming out of the room.
Derek, who had been standing quietly behind me, sighed. “Dude what the fuck was that?” I had no idea.
But I was going to find out.
Lee
Cam lay on my bed facing me. I didn’t remember climbing the stairs or getting into bed.
She looked sad.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
She sniffed and wiped a tear from her eye. “I love you Lee. You know that don’t you?” I nodded. I knew Cam loved me. She was the only person in the world who did. “So I’m going to ask you some questions and if you can’t say the answers out loud, then just shake or nod your head okay?” I nodded, smiling at the old game she was playing with me. This was how Cam had talked to me as a child, when I couldn’t talk, when I’d been too afraid to.
“Did it stop? After I left? Did he stop?” I quivered and shook my head. Tears well from both our eyes as Cam wrapped her fingers around mine. “Did it get worse? More violent?” I nodded slowly.