Before You Found Me

I walked down the concrete, enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face and the wind braiding my hair. It was a beautiful day. Moments like that, in the bright daylight, surrounded by the sky...it was easy to forget. Then I'd walk through the door, and it would hit me.
...HE would hit me.
The sun seemed to darken with my mood as I remembered that my father would be home waiting for me. I'd been out a little longer than I'd intended. He'd be angry. He was always angry. I didn't wanna walk through the door anymore, but I knew that the longer I stayed out, the worse he'd get. So I took a deep breathe and turned the knob...

I was met with a voice with all the force of a hurricane. I was lashed at, whipped around, thrown to the ground. Daemon walked away--the eye of the storm. But it wouldn't last forever. I lay still on the carpet, hoping he'd go back to his bottle and leave me. A swift kick in the stomach proved that my hoping was all for naught. Hope was worthless anyway--it left me with my breath as he continued to beat me senseless on the floor. I blacked out, the darkness overcame me, the world closed in...

I woke up hours later when Lorne got home and tried to move me. My vision was blurry, but I could see red everywhere. Red everywhere. Red everywhere... I could hear Lorne crying. I tried to comfort him, but my words were all gargled and messed up.
"Shhh," he quieted me. "Don't worry. Don't try to speak. Daemon is gone, but I need you to be alive when he gets back. I need you—I need you..." Sobs racked his body. I don't know how long we sat like that before Lorne quieted and carried me to his car. I passed in and out of consciousness--one minute in the car; one minute moving, white walls flying around me; one minute perfectly still, muffled voices from above; one minute...silence. It took effort to open my eyes, like they were begging me to keep them shut, like I could pretend it was all some kind of dream that never really happened. If I don't open my eyes, it won't be real... But I managed to open them anyway, the world stark and bright and moving, like I've been swimming and I just never came up for air.
I heard movement, a fluttering noise, and then hands were holding mine and there was motion everywhere. My eyes adjusted, and the pain hit me. I must have cried out, because Arela's relieved face was replaced with one of great concern. I tried to understand what she was saying, but everything was muffled and strange. It looked like Arela was shouting, and two women in scrubs ran in with needles. Soon, I was drifting away again on a noiseless sea of navy and black...

"But what can I do?"
"Lorne, we can't let him keep hurting her. We just can't."
" I know, but-"
"Let her come live with me. Daemon won't hurt you, and you can come over as often as you like. But can you really allow her to stay in that house knowing that the next time he hurts her...she might never wake up?"
I could hear Lorne crying again. I tried to move, but my body wasn't as aware as my mind was.
"She'll never leave you alone, Lorne. You know just as well as I do that she will stay and protect you no matter what. She'll stick around 'til it kills her. YOU need to be the one who lets her go."
And just like that, I was gone again, floating through the emptiness.

The next time I woke, a great deal of time must have passed because I could feel the light coming in slanted patterns through the shades to fall across my face.
This time I could open my eyes. "Lorne?"
He was at my side. "Hey, sis." I could see dark circles under his eyes and wondered how long it had been since he slept.
"You need to rest."
"That coming from the girl in a hospital gown." Lorne tried to smile, but his attempt at levity fell short. It was a valiant effort, but there was no light in his eyes.
I HATED that there was no light in his eyes.
"So," I breathed," how long have a been in this place?"
"About 36 hours."
"Well, that's not bad."
A sort of gray dotted his features. He seemed so much older, but still so small and helpless. "Please don't act like this is normal."
I tried to sit myself up. "But it IS normal."
"Well, it shouldn't be," Lorne said darkly, pushing me back down.

Notes

Hey, y'all! Told ya it would get darker! In this chapter, we introduced a topic which is a real and saddening problem--abuse. So many innocent individuals are victims of domestic abuse, and it never ends well, no matter what the circumstances. It leads to physical and emotional scarring, depression, and even death. As I continue this story, you'll get a look at how domestic abuse has changed the lives of these characters forever. THIS ISN'T JUST DRAMA; this is reality.
And don't worry. I know we haven't seen a whole lot of a certain "Harry" Brit yet, but he'll be back next chapter. He's an important part of this story, too! And he's got problems of his own...
Until next time! Have a wonderful weekend, Lovies.

--Lalagirl1995 <3