Healing Hands

by Hoy, E. S

  Chapter 15 The boat house was just a really big wooden shed but with a jetty in the middle so the boats can be worked on under shelter, Jasper placed her on a work bench that was set in the middle he used some rope that was underneath the bench to tie Sophie’s ankles so her legs were splayed apart, she was used to this he liked her helpless he left her hands free as there was no more rope, he did a quick check to make sure she was secure. She watched his face as he worked on the knots he had changed since she last saw him he looked thinner more lined and had dark circles under his eyes, the way he kept sniffing made her think his drug habit had got worse.

  “Sophie Sophie did you really think I would not return to finish the job? Strangulation was obviously not the death for you, this time I will take you apart so that Doc of yours has nothing left to bury” he smirked at her showing his yellowed teeth

  “you stopped getting your teeth whitened then Jazz and your tan has faded, its not like you to let yourself go!”

  he snarled at her, “you are back as a ginger I see!” he was a vain man and didn't take criticism well especially about his looks, she knew she was asking for more pain goading him like this and she soon took her first punishment when he took a large knife from his pocket and slashed her running shorts off her body, she held her breath and watched as he took the point of the blade and dragged it down her thigh creating a nice neat cut, it hurt like hell so it must be deep, she screamed out and lashed at him with her hands catching her arms on the blade and causing herself more damage. She whimpered softly, more scars didn't matter if she was dead but the pain was making it hard for her to concentrate and she needed to think, as he carried on removing her panties and top with the blade she noticed a wrench to her right hidden under a tarpaulin just beyond her reach but with some effort she may just be able to grab it as long as he was distracted. “you are having fun Jazz but I have had a real man lately so nothing you have to show me or do to me will be as impressive, and he gives me orgasms you could only dream of” Jasper slapped her across the face “I will show you bitch I get the orgasms not you the pleasure was all for me and only me I bet his cock can't rip you apart like mine can”

  Sophie watched as he unzipped his fly his erection sprang out she now realised all the pain and damage he had done inside her was because he didn't arouse her beforehand so she would be dry on penetration. It looked like he was just going straight for it and he placed the tip of his cock at her opening dug his fingers into her cuts and rammed himself home, Sophie bit down on her lip to block the pain she knew he didn't last long and when he was done he would kill her quickly so it was now or never, his eyes closed and he worked himself harder into her she stretched her arm back as far as it would go her muscles splitting with the tricky angle she had to reach, the tip of her fingers brushed the end of the wrench, just enough to dislodge it and make it easier to grab, she checked on Jasper and he was still lost in his pace she scratched at him with her other hand screaming out so he wouldn't check what she was doing just as he was about to ejaculate she grabbed the wrench swung as hard as she could and smashed it into the side of his skull. There was a loud crack and his eyes flew open in horror the blood poured out of his head he immediately dropped like a stone dragging out of her as he fell, she sat up and started to try and free herself but the cuts down her legs were bleeding so much she couldn't get a grip on the knots she was terrified he was going to get back up, she didn't know if the blow had killed him or just knocked him out, she freed one leg and was just about to free the second when she heard him groan she managed to scramble free grabbed the wrench and got down to him “you will never ever touch me again you worthless peace of crap I hate you I hate you so much”

  he stared at her shocked as she swung the wrench back and smacked it into his temple again and again and again she was battering at him lost in the frenzy when she felt gentle hands pull on her waist a jacket was placed around her shoulders and she was pulled backwards away from the disgusting remains in front of her and was led outside.

  Sophie looked up at the kind face of Samuel, Barbee was stood at his side frantically talking on the phone Samuel picked her up carefully like she was a child and carried her back to the house with Barbee following still on the phone, it was farther than she remembered and she was shaking hard by the time they got back to the living room he placed her on the settee Barbee fetched a blanket and sat next to her holding her hand and rubbing her back “its OK Sophie an ambulance is coming Marcus is on his way back he will be here in a minute its OK he's dead honey he won't hurt you now”

  Chapter 16 The next few hours went in a blurr Marcus arrived just before the ambulance he went straight to her and held her against him kissing her hair sobbing hard apologising for leaving her alone begging forgiveness he didn't let her go until the paramedics took over and he insisted on carrying her himself and travelling in the ambulance with her, the police had arrived and were in talks with Don, forensics and had gone to check out the body. Marcus was concerned that as yet Sophie had not said a word in fact hardly blinked, she was just shivering and pale, the paramedics decided to sedate her as when she got to hospital the first thing they had to do was to examine her wounds and take swabs, Marcus had no idea what injuries she had as she would not let go of the blanket he could see blood seeping through and it made him shudder at how close she had come to death and how he had almost lost her he couldn't believe how stupid he had been leaving her, they knew something was wrong when he got her text about Jasper being at the stables yesterday, he had known where she was when the meeting was arranged he had deliberately got them out of the way so he could get to her. They turned back straight away but were too late, the fact he had arrived in a boat meant he had checked the place out, if she had just stayed in the main house she may have stood a chance, she walked straight into his clutches without even knowing. Marcus was furious and needed someone to blame, he was mad at his mum, mad at Samuel but mostly mad at himself.

  When Sophie saw the needle she grabbed at Marcus “no please don't make me sleep I can't shut my eyes I'm scared of what will be in my dreams she held back a sob, he raped me Marcus he raped me you won't want me now I'm spoilt I'm so sorry I had to let him I had no choice I'm so sorry” the damn she had been holding back burst and she sobbed hysterically whilst he held her gently and whispered sweet words of reassurance “no baby no I will always want you please don't shut me out baby I'm here I won't leave you please baby don't cry”

  Sophie was taken straight into the women’s trauma examination room, the enormity of what she had been through struck her and she looked at her angel holding her hand soothing her, nausea rose in her stomach she retched Marcus grabbed a metal basin and held it in front her while she threw up she emptied herself all the while being stroked and held, a kind faced nurse entered the room concern flooding her face she wasn't much older than Sophie herself there was something about her that made Sophie feel she could trust her, and that she was on her side, she took away the tray from Marcus and wiped her face for her then helped her to have a drink of cool water. “you know this examination is necessary after a rape don't you Sophie? We need to prove you had no option but to kill that bastard OK?” she looked at Marcus who was pleasantly surprised by her attitude “Dr Taylor maybe this is a good time for you to wait outside, you can read the reports after, Sophie and I need to do this together alone some things we discuss may upset you and she needs calm plus we need to move fast I can tell some of these wounds need stitching so the sooner I can do the yucky parts the sooner we can get her cleaned up, resting and then you can sit with her again.”

  Marcus looked at Sophie she nodded her agreement she was safe here, he lent over her and kissed her forehead tenderly then turned to the nurse “Sally you take care of her or I will give you hell when I am back at work “she nodded at him her promise given.

  Sally was wonderful she was so gentle but Sophie could see horror in her eyes as she pulled away the blanket and Samuels jacket from her naked body, she
wrote notes took measurements and swabs took photos and all the time talking about trivia to distract Sophie from looking at herself, Sally had never worked on such a violent rape case before and she had seen many, the knife wounds were deep and malicious the bruising around her vagina was purple and black she could make out old cigarette burns there too but didn't pry just made a note of all the prior injuries she could see amongst the new ones, her back shocked her the most but Sally maintained her professional composure

  “Sophie did you report these old wounds honey I may need to check back”

  “Not the burns or cane marks but I did have to visit Trafford General a few times for broken wrists a broken jaw and a couple of concussions, they are on record but not as an assault just accidental injuries”

  Sally made notes to obtain these as when this file was done Miss Merchant would be a miracle survivor and justified in her actions tonight, no court in the land would prosecute after they saw these files and photo's. When Sophie was settled in a private room and comfortable Marcus arranged a friend of his who was a plastic surgeon to tend her cuts so she could avoid extra scarring, Raj was wonderful he looked at her old scars too and reassured her they would fade to almost nothing, he prescribed a cream that would help fade the scarring if she used it daily, then he requested a small dose of anaesthetic to put Sophie to sleep briefly for stitching as he didn't feel her strong enough to cope with more pain, he smiled at her as she counted down from 10 to 1. When she awoke she was hooked up to a drip she smelt clean and was wearing a fresh pair of pyjamas that Barbee had brought in for her, she felt both her hands being squeezed, one side had Marcus and the other her mother “mum oh mum I am so pleased to see you, I killed him mum I am so sorry I couldn't stop hitting him mum” the tears began again.

  “Sophie sweetheart you did what any one would have done and no one holds you responsible including the police and the press are very supportive, don't worry honey everything is OK now” she smiled over at Marcus, of course they had only just met each other she looked between them trying to work out if he had met with her approval she seemed as entranced with him as she was so she relaxed a little, Marcus leant towards her

  “How do you feel baby do you need anything at all? everyone has been in checking on you Charlotte has been sat outside crying desperate to ask you for forgiveness I had to send her home she was disturbing the other patients! I promised her you would call when you were up to it” “How long have I been asleep then?” Sophie was disorientated

  “12 hours baby your body just needed to rest to recover we knew it was the best thing for you” Diane stood up “I am going to stretch my legs make a few calls and then I will be back you rest Marcus don't leave her side please” she winked at him kissed Sophie’s cheek and left the room Sophie stared at Marcus and as he smiled at her she knew he said more with his eyes in that look than he could say in words, he still loved her that was obvious but Sophie wasn't sure he could really handle what had happened

  “What happened with the files and photos? Are they all over the papers?”

  “no honey Mr Proctor hadn't known what his client was capable of and basically stepped back and gave us everything, his lap top has been recovered and house searched so we think everything is under lock and key and I have had a cast iron guarantee from the police there won't be any mention of them to the press so relax baby its all sorted”

  Sophie visibly sagged into the covers, at least that was one thing she could put behind her. “Duncan flew back last night he came straight here we had a talk and sorted things out he is desperate to see you and apologise in person if he had thought you would end up in mortal danger he would never have done it, I have finally forgiven him for Livvy, but we won't be best friends any time soon, Beatrice has phoned every half hour from her honeymoon they send their love and can't wait to come over for the weekend when you are home”

  Home a word she never thought would mean so much to her but she couldn't imagine normal life resuming for her any time soon, weekends with family meals out, all seemed impossible to think about after her trauma, how can you move on after caving someone’s brains in, she retched suddenly at the image of his head smashed in before her, Marcus jumped up to help her but she pushed him away “I'm fine my stomach is empty nothing to bring up please its fine, I'm tired I think I will have another sleep if that's OK, you go get a shower mum will be back in a minute I will be fine”

  He looked at her pale face and wanted to bury himself in her breasts and sob for her, a shower would be good but he didn't want to leave her, Diane walked in the room and saw Sophie’s face she read what was there, “Marcus go honey you need a break you have sat there long enough she will be here when you get back “He kissed her gently and reluctantly left her as instructed.

  Chapter 17 August The days passed slowly and after a week the Dr felt Sophie was strong enough to go home. Marcus had been back in work but had dropped in to see her at every opportunity he brought her a kindle and filled it with trashy novels; she had filled her hours with books and rediscovered her love of reading. Charlotte had visited a few times, the first time she had sobbed all over her so distressed that she had led Jasper to her, Sophie managed to convince her she was totally forgiven and not at all accountable, and now the friendship was back to normal. Charlotte was hoping to move to the farm to live with Sam her dreamy farmer she was very excited, Sophie was jealous of her exuberance, she had been feeling empty ever since she bashed Jaspers skull in, she couldn't ever imagine a normal existence after that it was the first thing she saw when she closed her eyes at night, sleeping pills were the only thing that made it go away. Sophie felt drained she could go home but couldn't bear the thought of returning to Marcus house, it was still too raw, she knew he would be hurt though if she went back to her own little cottage, she still had a couple of weeks left on the lease, she needed an alternative. She did a lot of thinking, her mum had come back from London today as she had booked the weekend off to help settle Sophie back in at Marcus's, but Sophie had other ideas and as soon as Diane sat next to her bed she told her what she wanted. “mum I want to go to France for a while and stay in your villa, I know Marcus will hate the idea but I need to think and to get over this on my own without sympathetic looks and overly concerned housekeepers I won't be given a minutes peace to dwell on things, I know they will be trying to do their best for me but that's exactly what I need to do I need to dwell on it and work out if I can ever come back from this. Will you help sneak me away first thing tomorrow? Marcus will have gone home for a sleep after his shift so we would have time”

  “Sophie he loves you and you love him are you sure this is what you want? I can't imagine his pain if you left him”

  Sophie flinched imagining his face when he found her gone “it’s not forever mum just a week or so I will write him a letter and phone him every day, please I need to do this, I can't go back to that house so soon he will understand and he will know it’s for the best after what happened and at this moment I cannot imagine after what I did he could still love me”

  “honey try talking to him first please, he and I have gotten pretty close since last week and I think you misjudge him, he definitely has dealt with what you did, in fact he is a little proud of you darling, showing that much determination and strength has only made him love you more ” Sophie shook her head disagreeing with her.

  “Sophie you know he will be devastated I know what happened to his first wife, I don't think he could survive losing you too, Barbee said he was like an empty shell until he met you, his family love you too, you could be so happy with him”

  “Mum stop! it’s not about him this is what I need, I can't be an object of pity and I can't be normal or feel normal after smashing someone’s brains in”

  Sophie started shaking and struggling for breath Diane grabbed her hand “OK OK I will arrange the flights Sophie, I am going to the house later to fetch some clothes for you to wear for coming home so I will grab extra and your toiletries too
while I'm there, it’s fine don't get yourself worked up, I will do this as long as I can spend the first couple of days with you so I can be sure you will take care of yourself, I will organise the local cleaner to ready the house for us and stock the fridge, leave it with me I will see you in the morning”

  Diane had a feeling her daughter would regret leaving Marcus she never seemed to feel worthy of anyone’s love and she thought this man deserved better than that, he loved her that was clear and Sophie could be so happy maybe time away would help her realise this but knowing the low selfesteem her daughter had she wasn't so sure. Sophie watched her mum leave, the tears she had been holding back began to fall as it sank in she would be leaving Marcus tomorrow and possibly forever.

  The next morning Marcus had popped in to see her when his shift ended, Sophie felt dreadful when she took in his excited mood, he was thrilled to be having her back home, and in his eyes it would be forever, she knew that this would hurt him and she knew she was a coward for not talking to him now and telling him face to face, but she needed to do this to set him free so he didn't feel obligated to look after her especially now he had seen all she was capable of. He kissed her hesitantly but the kiss was full of love, Sophie felt the tears flow, Marcus mistook her reaction for fear of his touch and he drew back “baby its fine please no more tears you will be home soon”

  Sophie held his face in her hands “Marcus these past few weeks have been the best of my life, thank you for loving me and for making me feel alive, I wish I could be happy like that forever” “Sophie you will be happy like that again I promise but please give yourself time your wounds are healing but your soul is going to take longer to recover, stop expecting so much of yourself” “Sorry Marcus sorry I love you so much I'm just...sorry”