Dawn

Loud banging noises and yelling woke me up sometime later. Everything was dark and I was extremely tired. I didn’t want to move. My entire body was sore. I didn't know where the pain started and where it stopped.

Morgan had come back in and taken me as I lay there, almost lasting for what seemed liked forever. His cum coated my inner thigh, running down my core and cooling. It felt sticky as I kept my body still. My body was light and weak as he blew more smoke into my airways by kissing me. I didn’t fight, didn’t cry. I only hoped for freedom. Or death. I’d gladly take either one.

The banging continued and I groaned, trying to bury myself in the mattress and thin blanket covering me.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I heard Morgan shout at what sounded like the front door being kicked in.

I went to pull the covers closer to me, and I noticed that my phone was in my hands, dead.

I’d tried to call Kaleb, and I couldn’t remember if it had gone through. I didn’t think I’d survive here much longer.

I wouldn’t see Elijah again, or Lizzy. I hadn’t fought hard enough.

My heartbeat began to race and my eyes were clouded by tears.

The bedroom door was opened with a squeak, and I tried to hide under the cover, as small as I possibly could. I shook, unable to hide my fear or my panic. My body shivered violently.

As hurried footsteps came closer to me, I began to cry, tucking my chin into my chest further. I didn’t want to be touched. Elijah had promised me he’d never let me get hurt, but he did. I wanted Elijah.

“Don’t,” I heard someone say right before the blanket was pulled back from me, and I couldn’t help another huge shiver. The voice was hard and stern.

Footsteps retreated but someone was still in the room with me.

From the living room, I could hear Morgan yelling, crying almost. It wasn’t clear what he was saying, and I didn’t necessarily care.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I heard the male voice say softly as he kneeled next to me. The voice sounded familiar. “You’re safe now.”

Unable to respond, I shook my head, crying out more than I already was. I was hyperventilating.

“Dawn,” the voice said, closer, but calmly. There was no hint of anger or lust in his voice. “Please, can I help you?”

"Joan!” I heard Morgan yell out, shocked.

“I’m . . . sorry,” I sobbed out, unable to comprehend what he wanted. Was he here to put me out of my pain?

“I’m going to touch you to wrap the blanket around you, alright? We need to get you out of here,” he said in an urgent voice.

When I didn’t move more than I already had, he gently wrapped my form in the blanket, covering me the best he could. I jerked at his touch but he was careful, never touching my skin.

“I’m going to pick you up now, alright Dawn? I won’t hurt you, I promise,” he said. With a cry, afraid he was going to drop me since I was still in a ball, I wrapped my arms around his neck, hanging on for dear life. I kept my eyes clenched shut, my body tight.

“You’re safe,” he kept repeating as he began to walk, first out of the room, and then out of the house. I could smell smoke.

“I’ll take her,” said another voice as fire truck sirens came racing towards wherever I was. The person holding me tightened his grip.

“She won’t be going anywhere without me,” the one holding me said sternly. I cringed against him.

I felt him step up into a vehicle, then take a seat. I couldn’t get my arms to loosen their grip around his neck. “It’s okay, I got you, Dawn,” he said in a whisper as he ran his hand down my back.

“Kaleb, we need her arm to start fluids,” said another person, this one female. Her voice was calm and quiet.

Kaleb? He came?

“Dawn, can this nice lady start an IV in your arm?” the man—Kaleb—asked as he leaned his head on my own.

I shook, not knowing what to do. I heard him mumble something before another blanket was placed on me in a rush. It was warm, and the warmth soaked into my skin, into my bones.

“Kaleb?” I whispered, keeping my eyes closed. I could feel the vehicle we were in start to move and I clenched onto him tighter, if it were possible.

“I’m here, sweet girl,” he said calmly. “You need to relax for me.”

“I can’t,” I cried out, fearing this was just a dream. I was light headed. “Elijah?”

“He’s safe,” Kaleb said. And that’s all I needed to hear to allow my body descend into darkness.

* * *

I felt a heaviness in all my limbs and I couldn’t seem to move anything but my fingers. When I did, something warm and strong squeezed back on both sides. My eyes were closed, but I could feel the warmth of the sun across my body.

The beeping of a machine reached my ears in the quietness of the room. I could hear muted voices from somewhere, but wasn’t sure if they were nearby or miles away.

“She’ll have a full recovery, but she needs an OBGYN as soon as she’s up to it,” said a voice from somewhere. Were they talking about me? “I did a rape kit, and it came back positive. According to the files from the doctor she saw just a few weeks ago, she is able to have kids, but it’s low risk for her to get pregnant since she hasn’t had a normal menstrual cycle for years. She needs to get on the pill to help re-start it. I can give her the Plan B pill to make sure she didn’t get pregnant.

“The accident broke one of her ribs, so there is bruising around that area, and they will be longer lasting than the others. The swelling on her face will slowly go down, but ice it a few times a day if needed,” the doctor said quietly. “She could benefit from seeing a psychologist, possibly long term. Overall, she seems to be in pretty decent shape.”

“Thank you,” I heard Kaleb say quietly from beside me.

“And you, Elijah, need to get some rest. You really aren’t in much better shape,” the doctor said lightly.

“Yeah, yeah,” Elijah said from the other side of me.

“Take care,” the doctor said, before leaving.

I was just about to doze off again when Kaleb spoke up. “How are you holding up?” He sounded tired himself.

“Don’t even try, Kaleb,” Elijah said, just as tiredly. His voice was coarse and sounded worn out.

“I’m only asking,” Kaleb replied calmly.

I wanted to open my eyes, to move, to grunt something. My heart soared at the thought that Elijah was safe, and alive. I wanted to dance if I could just get my body to move, but it wouldn’t cooperate.

Breathing in and out, I let sleep claim me again.

* * *

“Please, Dawn, wake up for me, sweetheart,” I heard Elijah beg as I felt his head against my arm.

“She’ll wake up when she’s ready,” Kaleb sighed as he moved into a more comfortable position. “And she may not want you touchin’ her when she does.”

“Don’t you dare,” Elijah said, and I could feel the tension between the two sweep over me

“Stop,” I managed to get out. I wasn’t sure it came out clear, but I squeezed Elijah’s hand as tightly as I could.

“Oh, Dawn. Thank God,” Elijah said, near tears.

I slowly forced my eyes open, glad there was no bright light above me. Blinking, I looked over at Elijah first, seeing how tired he looked. His forehead had a few stitches. His eyes were sunken in, and I had to wonder what had happened to him, before remembering we were in the same car accident.

I turned to Kaleb, who looked just as tired, but not as banged up. “You came.” My voice was no more than a whisper, but I was in awe. He had saved me.

“Of course, little sis,” Kaleb smiled at me. His smile was filled with love, and I truly felt like he was my big brother.

“When can I go home?” I asked, looking between both of them. I wanted to be held and never let go. I wanted to see my daughter.

“Probably tomorrow afternoon,” Elijah said, giving Kaleb a look that said to get lost.

“And that’s my queue to make those phone calls,” Kaleb said, standing up. “Just yell if you need me, Dawn.”

“Thanks, Kaleb,” I replied, taking a deep breath and letting go of his hand.

“Do you remember what happened?” Elijah asked once Kaleb had closed the door behind him.

“Most of it. I remember the crash, then waking up wherever Morgan took me, and almost everything he did. He drugged me, trying to lessen my pain, but it backfired and made me sick. Then he got me high off pot smoke. He raped me, Elijah,” I answered in tears. “I was able to hide my phone but wasn’t able to call anyone until after I knew it was safe to do it. I was so scared.”

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe now, Dawn,” Elijah soothed me. He touched my face gently, and I let his warmth soak into me.

“Joan set the house on fire when she heard the sirens, and Kaleb got there just in time,” he went on. “You wouldn’t let the firefighters touch you, or even get near you. They were all trying to get you out first, knowing you were missing.

“The house was a total loss, due to water and smoke damage. Of course, it wasn’t worth saving, anyway. Joan was high when she started the fire. She didn’t make it.”

“Morgan?” I asked, needing to know what happened to him.

“He’s in jail, without bail, on twenty-four-hour watch,” he answered. “The court date won’t be set for some time, but with all the evidence against him, he’ll never make it out alive.”

* * *

“Dawn Ellis, correct?” Said a woman as she entered the room. Her blond hair was neatly pulled back into a ponytail. Elijah slowly moved back, so it wouldn’t seem like he was overwhelming me.

“Uh . . .” I said, drawing a blank.

“What can I help you with, Dr?” Elijah asked, sitting up straighter so he wasn’t lying near my arm.

“I’d like to talk to Dawn alone for a moment,’ she answered.

“No,” I said, instantly alert. No one was going to take him away again. They couldn’t. “Please, no.”

“Okay, he can stay, but I still need to talk to you. I’m Dr. Mai,” she said soothingly, taking the chair Kaleb had sat in and moving it away from the bed a few feet. “I only want to talk.”

At my nod, she began. “Anything you say is just between us, and will not leave this room. I understand you have been through a great deal, and it must have taken its toll on you and the ones you love. I am here to listen if you ever need to talk.”

“I have Elijah, and Kaleb, and our family,” I replied. Everyone who mattered knew what I had been through.

“Well, this is what I do, so if you change your mind, just give me a call anytime. Here’s my card,” she said, laying it on the food tray before making her way out of the room.

“Are you okay?” Elijah asked, scooting back as close as he possibly could.

“I will be,” I said tiredly. “Hold me?”

“Always,” he said as I scooted over on the little bed, making enough room for him. I wrapped my body around him, not caring how much pain I was in.

"Do you want to take a precaution against being pregnant from Morgan?” Elijah asked.

“There’s no point. He can’t have any kids,” I sighed, closing my eyes. “I love you, Elijah. Forever.”