Down the Wrong Road - Amber Riel (online e reader .TXT) 📗

for a moment?” Officer Trescott asked.         

I nodded.  I walked out onto the porch with the two cops.         

“Look it’s clear that she’s a mess after what had happened to her and we think that you should try to be careful around her.  I mean you have to watch what you say or do,” Officer Trescott began to explain.  “She’s probably afraid of men right now so you really need to watch yourself around her.”         

I nodded.         

“I’m not saying that you’re going to harm her or anything at least not purposely but she might not see it that way.”         

“We see this all the time with rape victims,” Officer Petty replied, “so her behavior is normal.  If she shies away from you, don’t take it too personally.  If you have any other questions, you can call us at this number.”  He pulled out a pen and pad then wrote something down.  He ripped out the piece of paper and handed it to me.  “We’ll be back to check up on you two and a few days from now we should be moving you two to another place.”         

“Wait… we’re not staying here?” I asked, confused.         

“Of course not… it’s just in case you two were followed by any of her attackers.  This isn’t a permit place to stay.  Besides, we need to have it open for other people who are in trouble like she is.”         

I nodded slightly.         

“Well, we better get going.  It was nice to meet you,” Officer Petty replied while he shook my hand.         

“Nice to meet you two too,” I answered then wondered if I had worded that right.  I watched as the two officers left without another word. 

The Nightmare

After super I had went to jump into the shower but Baylee had beat me to the bathroom. I took a deep breath and turned toward the room I was staying in instead. I figured that she wouldn’t want me kicking her out of the bathroom considering all that she had been through. It must have been tough for her. I couldn’t imagine the thoughts that kept popping into her mind. She’d lost her sister and had been a victim of rape. The world she had known was gone and now she was stuck with me, a strange man who she had met after all of this had taken place. I couldn’t blame her if she was afraid of me but I wanted to help her somehow.

I sat down on the bed and stared at the clock. I watched the hands move slowly. It had only been 6:30 pm and I was already for bed. I had a long day and a long night but I needed to shower before I did anything else. I leaned back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

“Jesse,” Baylee’s soft voice broke my thoughts and she knocked lightly on the door to let me know she was there.

I sat up on the bed and looked over at her. I hadn’t even realized that she had gotten out of the bathroom. She had her hair wrapped up in a towel and she wore a white fleece housecoat to keep herself worm. I couldn’t help but stare at her. She looked beautiful. I needed to say something but I couldn’t think of anything.

“I’m done in the bathroom,” she told me, “if you need to get in.”

I closed my eyes for a moment so I could speak.  “Yeah, thanks for letting me know.”

She nodded and began to leave the room.

“Oh and I forgot to tell you but you know that this place is only temporary right?”

“Yeah I know.  The cop told me last night.”

“Also I’m sorry about last night and earlier today.  I-”

She smiled. “I can tell that you’re not like other guys.” With that she left the room.

A smile grew on my face at her words.

 

 

I had just closed my eyes and went to sleep when someone began screaming. I sat up on my bed and looked at the clock. It was a little after ten. The screaming only grew louder and louder. It took me a minute when I realized that the screaming was coming from Baylee’s room. I quickly jumped out of bed and hurried into her room. I turned on the little light on the nightstand and looked around the room. There was no evidence that someone else had been in there but the screaming continued. I turned my attention toward Baylee who was still sleeping but her body was twisting and turning. She opened her mouth to let out more screams. That was when it hit me that she must have been having a nightmare.

“Baylee,” I spoke softly so I wouldn’t frighten her even more, “wake up. Baylee, it’s okay.” I lightly touched her and barely shook her in order to help her wake up from the dream. “Baylee, it’s okay. You’re safe.”

Her eyes opened and she looked at me, trying to figure out who I was. Her breathing was harsh but she slowly started to relax. Tears rolled down her tanned cheeks. “That guy… that guy with a cowboy hat…”

“What?” I asked, surprised that she would even mention anything about a cowboy after. That was when everything started making sense. “What did the guy look like?”

“I could barely see him but I seen his stupid hat and he was dressed like he came from a rodeo or something,” she continued. “There were two other guys with him.”

“Were they wearing cowboy hats too?” I asked.

“No,” she answered, quietly. “One was dressed like a male stripper… he didn’t have much on except for a vest and some kind of underwear that revealed most of his….” She didn’t have to finish for me to get the picture.

“What about the third guy?” I asked.

“He was dressed like a rich man. He had proper clothing on but he spoke using profanities. I had never heard so much foul language in my life. It was horrible. I and Anna tried to get away from them but they kept following us. Eventually they caught up and before we had the chance to escape they cornered us.” She locked eyes with me. “Please don’t let them get me?” she pleaded.

“I won’t,” I told her. “Was Anna you’re sister?”

She nodded.

“Which one killed her?” I asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” More tears fell from her beautiful dark brown eyes.

“Okay. We don’t have to,” I reassured her. I figured that when she was ready she would talk but it was best to let her be until then.

“Jesse,” she whispered.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Thank you for saving me yesterday.”

“You’re welcome.” I stood up and went to turn the light off when her right hand grabbed my arm.

“Please keep it on?”

I nodded and removed my hand from the lamp. “I will.”

 

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Publication Date: 10-10-2014

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