“That’s great. Are you coming by tonight?” I know without him saying anything that he is going to stay with his mom.
“I think it’s best if I just stay here tonight. Are you alright with that, because if not, I’ll be right over.” How could he be any more perfect?
“No, you stay. I’m just going through clothes anyway. Is Connie staying tonight too?”
“I think so, but I’m not totally sure. Are you going to be all right home alone? I don’t think I like that idea. Why don’t you come here?” I laugh and make my way to the kitchen to figure out what I’m going to make for dinner.
“I’m fine, I promise. I’m a big girl. It’s not the first time I’ve been home alone. You be with your family tonight. I’ve taken up so much of the family time already.” We talk for a while longer, but he hangs up when their dinner is ready. I pull my microwave dinner out of the microwave and make my way to the couch. I flip on the TV and eat.
I wake up when I hear someone at the door. I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep on the couch. I guess Connie decided to come home after all. I get up to answer it, and the door flies open, causing me to scream. A man with a black mask covering his face slams the door shut before methodically making his way toward me. I turn to run, and my head is jerked back by my hair. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going? I’ve got some business I need to take care of.” Tears are rolling down my face. I thought the accident was scary, but that was nothing compared to the fear I feel right now. He has one arm around my waist, holding me close to him, and the other arm around my neck, making it difficult to breathe.
“Please don’t hurt me,” I squeak. He laughs without humor.
“Maybe that’s something you should have thought about before you started drawing.” I close my eyes, bring my hands up to his arm around my neck, and try scratching at him. He lets go of my waist and grabs both hands. “A fighter, I like that.” I try to kick back, but he must sense it because he pushes me forward, causing me to fall. I try my hardest to climb back to my feet, but he grabs my legs, and I smack my head on the wooden floor. I still have tears streaming down my face, and I begin to sob when he smacks me. He hits me over and over in the face and stomach. “Shut the fuck up. You had this coming.” He has me totally overpowered, even though I keep trying to push him off, but his hits are getting harder. He rams a knee into my chest, knocking the wind out of me, and grabs one of my hands. “Let’s see how talented you are when I do this.” I never could have anticipated the pain that was going to come; he slowly begins breaking my fingers. I am screaming in agony. It hurts so badly, I feel bile coming up my throat. After breaking three of my fingers, he drops my hand to the floor and leans on it with all his weight. I scream again, and he punches me so hard in my face, I taste blood. The pain is too much to take. I feel my body starting to shut down, and I’m willing it to. I can’t take anymore. “We are just getting started, Mel.” That’s the last thing I remember before he hits my face again.
We are watching TV, and I am trying to get a hold of Mel for the tenth time. I put my phone on my lap and blow out a breath. “If you are that worried, go check on her.” I look up at my mom, and she smiles at me. “I’m fine. You go check on your girl. Call me in the morning, and we will work on the rest of what needs to be done.” I jump off the couch and hug her.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m sure she’s just sleeping, but I’d like to be sure.” I wouldn’t leave, but the girls are there for my mom, and I just need to make sure Mel is all right. I’m sure to most people I would seem like an overprotective, worrying boyfriend, but it’s the cop in me. Not only that, it’s my nature to make sure those I love are safe. I climb into my mom’s car, and for some reason, I check the glove box. I am blown away when I see my mom has a gun in there. Where the fuck did she get that, and why? Is she that terrified of my father? I slam it closed and figure I’ll talk to her about it tomorrow, but right now, I just need to hold Mel in my arms. I start the car and slowly pull out of the driveway. I seriously hate this damn car; my mom needs a new one. I’m so grateful that Mel only lives a few minutes away. The closer I get to the house though, the more anxious I am getting. I pull up in front of the house and notice the lights are still on. I turn off the headlights and see a truck down the road, a truck that looks very similar to Jenson’s. I reach over to the glove box, grab my mom’s gun, and tuck it into my pants. I quickly get out of the car and make my way to the front door. I twist the handle slowly, and it opens. I put one hand on the handle of the gun and carefully push open the door. Never would I expect to see the scene in front of me. A man is on top of the love of my life, hitting her over and over. I’m having trouble disconnecting my feelings from this and just being a cop. I pull the gun out of my pants and cock the hammer back. I walk up behind him and push the gun against his head. “Get the fuck off of her before I blow your fucking brains across the room.” He stops hitting her and tries to turn his attack on me. I take my knee and ram it into his stomach. When he doubles over, I hit him in the face with the butt of the gun. He falls to the ground, but I can’t stop. I pull his mask off, and I’m surprised to see that it isn’t Jenson, but it does nothing to stop me. I continue to hit him over and over, watching blood start to drip down his face. I grab his hair and hold the gun to his temple. “You fucking asshole, I should kill you right now. You have five seconds to tell me why the fuck you did this, because I promise you, I have no problem killing you right now.” I look over at Mel and choke back my vomit. She is unrecognizable, covered in blood, and already starting to swell.
“Jenson.” I turn my attention back to this fuck. I pull my cell phone out and call 911.
“I’m Officer Dickson. I need police and an ambulance at 19 Dogwood Drive right now. My girlfriend has been attacked. I’ve got the attacker, but he’s fighting me, and I may need to shoot.” The guy looks at me with wide eyes. “There is a truck down the block that is involved, but I’m sure he has left.” I push the gun harder into his temple. “He’s fighting me. You may need to send two ambulances.” I hang up and drop the phone.
“No, don’t, please. She drew a sketch that put my buddy away for an extra twenty years. Jenson and him came up with this plan. I wasn’t going to kill her; they wanted me to kill her.” My rage is boiling.
“Where the fuck is Jenson?” He just looks at me with fear in his eyes, and I force my knee into his groin and push the gun into his temple.
“I don’t know. He dropped me off, said he would be down the street.” I climb off him, still pointing the gun at him, and rush over to Mel. I gently run my knuckles down her cheek.
“Mel, I’m here, sweetheart. You’re safe now. Open your eyes and look at me.” She doesn’t move at all, just lies there completely still. I push my lips to hers and feel the tears run down my cheeks. “I’m here now.” I lift my head quickly when I hear a noise and see her attacker trying to move. “Freeze, asshole.” He looks at me but moves again. I take aim and pull the trigger, shooting him in the leg.
“Fuck!” He grabs his leg and screams in pain.
“I told you not to move. Do it again, and I’ll fucking kill you.” I hear the sirens at that moment and turn my attention back to Mel. “Help is here. Stay with me.” I don’t want to move her and cause more problems, so I just sit next to her, stroking her hair over and over. I’m damn near sobbing when the EMTs and cops get into the house. It all happens so quickly. Her attacker is cuffed and put on a stretcher, and I’m pushed aside so they can get to Mel and assess her injuries. A cop pulls the gun from my hand and helps me stand.
“I’m going to need you to tell me exactly what happened.” I’m not looking at him. I’m staring at my girl, lifeless and being placed on a stretcher.
“I wish I’d killed him. I had the fucking chance, and I didn’t do it.” They start wheeling her across the living room, and I run over to her. “Mel! I’m right here. Mel! Mel! Melissa!” I scream her name with unstoppable tears running down my face. The cop stands in front of
me and blocks me from following her.
“I need you to stay here. She’s in good hands.” I look at him and see pity in his eyes.
“I can’t, I need to be with her. I wasn’t here tonight to protect her. I need to be with her now.”
“Listen, the faster you give me your statement, the faster you can get to her. I need you to tell me exactly what happened.” Suddenly, I’m thinking of all the calls I’ve been on where the husband, wife, brother, sister, or someone was crying and trying to rush to the hospital, yet I was the one holding them back. I was the one needing the information. The only way this guy and Jenson are going to pay is for me to tell this cop everything. I look up at him and once again become a cop. I tell him everything, every detail, everything that piece of shit told me. He is franticly writing as I continue to speak. When I tell him about Jenson, he looks at me with wide eyes.
“No shit. As cops, we are brothers, that piece of shit has never been. He was parked down the block when I pulled up, and I thought he was in here, so I didn’t bother checking the truck. I’m sure he took off the second I made it to the door. I don’t give a shit how you find him, but I’m letting you know now, you better find him before I do. I’ll kill that son of a bitch and regret nothing.” He nods but doesn’t say anything. He knows how fucking serious I am.
After another twenty minutes of non-stop questions, they finally tell me I can leave. I run to the car and jump in. I throw it into drive and head toward the hospital. I decide I better call Connie. The phone rings twice before she answers it, sounding half-asleep. “Connie, I’m on my way to the hospital. Mel was attacked, and I’m not going to lie, it’s bad. You guys need to get to the hospital, and if you have her parents’ number, could you please contact them.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Keith?” I’m trying to drive quickly, and I’m passing everyone who is in my way.
“I just told you. Get to the hospital, and I’ll explain everything. I need to drive.” I hear her rushing around.
“We’ll be right there. Keith, I love you, big brother.” I can’t even respond. The tears run down my face, and I nod my head before hanging up. I’m overcome with emotions at this point. I don’t care about my job, my safety, my own life. I just want her to be all right. I don’t even bother parking the car. I pull up outside the emergency room entrance and jump out. I run in and up to the desk.
“Melissa Thompson. She was brought in by ambulance not long ago.” She begins typing and looks up at me.
“She’s in surgery, sir. If you’ll come with me, I’ll show you to the waiting room.” Surgery? What the fuck. I start following.
“What is she in surgery for?” She gives me a smile.
“Sir, I don’t know. I’m just reading what is on the computer.” My girlfriend is in surgery, and she doesn’t know why.
“Listen, I know you deal with shit like this all the time, but that woman in there is the love of my life. I need some fucking answers, now.” She’s taken back by my outburst, but I don’t give a shit at this point. She pushes open a door to the surgery waiting room, and we walk in.
“I’ll do my best to see what I can find out for you. In the meantime, what is your name and relationship to the patient so I can inform the doctor?” I’m looking around the room, and it looks eerily similar to the waiting room we were in for Kenz. Why the fuck does this shit keep happening?
“Keith, Keith Dickson. I’m her boyfriend.” She gives me a tight smile and leaves the room. That’s it, nothing more. I don’t know whether I want to punch a wall or break down and cry. I look around again and see there are several people in here. Some cry quietly and hold each other, some flip through a magazine, and others just softly talk. I fall back into a chair, hold my head in my hands, and let myself just break down.
I feel someone wrap their arms around me, so I look up. It’s my mom. She has tears running down her face, and I wrap my arms around her waist and bury my head in her stomach. “Oh, sweet boy, it’s going to be alright. I promise you that.” I’m always so put together, always the one in charge, but this time I can’t be. It is impossible for me to let that happen. I feel broken, gutted, destroyed.
I finally pull away from my mom and take notice of Connie and Karen. They are both crying as hard as I am. “She was attacked, right in the house. Some asshole who was paid to do it because her sketch added time for someone. He was supposed to kill her. He fucking told me that.” Connie covers her face, and my mom moves to console her. Karen sits beside me and rests her head on my shoulder.
“You saved her. You’ve been saving everyone your entire life, Keith.” I hold in a sob, thinking I didn’t actually save her in time. She was beaten so horribly, and it makes me physically ill when I think about the pain she was in. I should have been there. I should have protected her completely. That son of a bitch waited until she was alone; he knew exactly what he was doing.
“Keith, have you heard anything?” I look at my mom and shake my head. Where the fuck is that receptionist? “No one keeps my baby in the dark. I’ll be right back.” She stalks out of the room, and for the first time in my life, I can see my mom taking charge. It’s actually a beautiful moment among all this pain.
“Big brother?” Connie sits next to me and rests her head on my other shoulder. “I know you. I know you are blaming yourself. Don’t do that shit. You had no idea what was going to happen, and you know damn well if you even had an idea, you would have been there. No one protects the ones he loves like you.” I put my arms around both of them.
“I love you guys. I just want this nightmare to be over.” My mom comes walking back in the room with a nurse trailing closely behind. If I weren’t in such a bad place right now, I’d actually find it funny.
“Keith, Nurse Penny has some information for you.” She turns to look at the nurse, and she pulls a seat up in front of me and sits down. Connie and Karen both sit up, and we all stare at her and wait.
“Hi Keith, I’m Penny. I found out some information on Miss Thompson. She is still in surgery, but it seems it won’t be much longer. They needed to get her in there because her hand had been badly broken and they needed to possibly set some pins in it. As far as any head trauma, last I heard, she didn’t have any. She has bad lacerations, swelling and bruising on her face, and possibly a few broken ribs, but nothing life threatening.” The second she says nothing life threatening, it is like my heart starts to beat again. I stick out my hand to shake hers.
“Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you finding that all out for me.” She shakes my hand and stands.
“Glad I could help. I also told the surgeon to come talk to you when he is done.” She leaves, and I look up at my mom standing there with a small smile on her face.
“Thank you, Mom.” She hugs me and whispers in my ear.
“It’s my turn to take care of you.” She kisses my cheek and stands up. “I need some coffee. Anyone else?” I can’t stomach anything right now. Even though the nurse said it isn’t life threatening, I can’t get the images out of my head. Connie and Karen both say they would like some, so Karen goes off with my mom.
After about a half hour of sitting in silence, I look over at Connie. “Did you call Mel’s parents?” She nods her head.
“They said they would be on the first flight out.” Fucking ironic. Campbell met John the same way. I sure as hell hope her parents are as cool as John. “Don’t worry, they asked what happened, and I told them you saved her.” I lean over and kiss her cheek, silently thanking her for being there for me.
“Keith Dickson?” I jump up and rush over to the doctor.
“I’m Keith. How is she?” He smiles at me, which I take as a good sign.
“The surgery went extremely well. I was able to repair all the damage done to her hand. She has a cast on, but she should have a complete recovery.” It’s a bit of a relief, but not completely.
“She’s an artist. Will she be able to draw still?” He reaches o
ver and rests his hand on my shoulder.
“Yes, she will definitely be able to draw. It may take some physical therapy because she’ll be in the cast for a few weeks, but I have no doubt. She also has a few broken ribs, which we taped. Luckily, the injuries aren’t as bad as she looks. She has a lot of swelling and bruising, but nothing else is broken or damaged. She was lucky that you got there when you did.”
“When can I see her?” He looks at his watch before looking back at me. I’ll come get you in about a half hour. She is still heavily sedated and in recovery.” I nod.
“Thank you, Doctor?” He chuckles.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Baker.”
“Thank you, Dr. Baker.” He leaves, and the four of us sit back down.
“Keith, you couldn’t ask for better news. She’s going to be fine.” I still can’t force myself to smile, so I just look at my mom.
“I know. I just need to see her now. I need to know for myself she is alright.” The next half hour is the longest of my life. My mom forced me to sip some coffee, and the girls are trying to talk about everything and anything to occupy my mind, but I just keep looking at the clock. I’ve watched that second hand tick by so slowly, minute after minute.
“Keith?” I practically knock my chair over rushing to the nurse.
“I’m Keith. Can I see her now?”
“Yes, you can. Please follow me.” I turn to look at my family, my mom nods her head in understanding, and I quickly follow after the nurse. On the walk to her room, I can’t stop thinking about Campbell. He went through the same thing. Never in a million years when Kenz was attacked did I think I would be walking in his shoes one day. I need to call him tonight. He’ll be the only one to understand exactly how I’m feeling. After taking the elevator and making our way down a few hallways, she stops outside a door. “Here she is.”
“Is she awake?” She smiles at me.
“She is. She was actually asking for you.” My heart starts to slam in my chest. I try to keep my emotions under control. The last thing she needs to see is me crying.
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