Victimized

I couldn't sleep at all that night. A lot of things had happened to me that day and I was still trying to wrap my head around it, I couldn't accept it.

The door flew open and my heart almost got out of my chest. This men terrified me, especially Gerard, and I didn't want anything to do with them. I wanted to leave me alone, but I stayed quiet. I couldn't let it happen again. I was never going to forget it.

"Good morning," Oh, it was the guy from yesterday. The one with the hair called Ray. He was carrying a tray with food, just like the day before.

I didn't answer, just averted my eyes away from him. He approach me and I instinctively backed away on the bed, now pressed against the headboard. It made my body hurt even more, but I couldn't help it. I didn't want them to hurt me anymore.

"No, no. I'm not gonna hurt you." His voice was gentle and his eyes were understanding. But it was bullshit. He couldn't comprehend what I went through last night, and he never would. "Listen," He hesitated. "Gerard can be... harsh sometimes, I know, but that's just him. I'm sorry and I'm glad you're okay. I just wanted to warn you; don't make him mad. He can be dangerous when his angry and he can't control himself sometimes." Ray waited for a respond and I just nodded, looking down at my hands placed carefully on my lap, not knowing what else to do.
"Okay, um, here's your breakfast. Gerard told me to give it to you."

I wasn't hungry, I had lost my appetite but I couldn't refuse it. God knows what they would do if I made them waste their time by feeding me and I refused it.

Ray came closer and I bit my lip, a little scared. I think he was nice, but I couldn't trust him. He put the tray down on the bed and offered me a small smile.

"See you later, I hope you're feeling better." And he left the room.

-

I forced myself to eat all the food, even though now I felt like throwing it all up. I finished and sat there for a few minutes, until the door opened. My heart immediately started beating faster when Gerard let himself in.

"Sleep well?" Was the first thing he asked.

"Yeah." I lied, but I couldn't care less. I was too busy trying to not hyperventilate out of fear.

"Then get up."

"W-"

"I told you to get up."

"But I can't." I said desperately. My body hurt too much to even change positions on the bed, and he expected me to get up?

"And why do you think I care?" I was starting to believe this guy was not human. It seemed like he had no emotions at all, besides being angry or cocky.

"I can't move." I begged, hoping I would convince him instead of making this worse. Once again, I was wrong.

He didn't even say anything else. He came over to where I was sitting and pulled me by the arm, dragging me out of bed and I let out a shrill scream of pain.

"Please!" Tears were spilling from my eyes and I couldn't do anything to ease the pain, he was making it hurt more by every second that went by. He ignored my pleas and kept pulling me, making me fall to the floor. He didn't stop, however; and I didn't stop hurting either. The pain just increased. It didn't stop. I just wanted it to stop.

"Help!" Maybe someone could hear me. "Help me!" I kept shouting as more and more tears fell down my red cheeks. "Somebody help me, please." My voice shook almost uncontrollably.
My head was pounding hard, trying to concentrate on Gerard's orders so I could end my misery but it was not easy.

"What the hell is going on here?" I heard another voice. I tried to focus my eyes and through the tears I saw a man I haven't met yet.

"Go away." Gerard grumbled, still holding onto my arm.

"Fuck, Gerard. Let the kid go."

"Shut up. Mind your own business."

"Um, sorry but I believe this is my business too. I mean, since I'm dating your brother and all." I heard the guy chuckling. "Seriously, let him go."

"I'm not doing anything, he's fine, Pete."

"Yeah, whatever." I heard footsteps approach me and I saw the man crouching down in front of me. "Is he hurting you?" He asked in a gentle tone. I just looked up at Gerard but didn't dare to say anything. He was going to get mad. "Are you okay?" He asked in the same tone. I looked back at him and slowly shook my head.

"Alright." He stood up. "Gerard, let go of his arm." Gerard sighed heavily and did what this guy Pete told him. I wrapped my arms around myself in an useless attempt of feeling safe and looked at the ground.

"Ray!" Pete screamed. "I need your help!"

"Coming!" I heard from outside the room.

Ray came in and looked at the scene in front of him with surprised and pitiful eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Well everything because you guys interrupted us-" Gerard was saying but Pete ignored him and started talking.

"Help me get the kid back on the bed, you're stronger than me and I don't want to hurt him."
Ray nodded and walked towards me and my chest tightened, and so did my arms around my body. It was going to hurt, maybe they should just leave me here.

He placed one of his arms on my back and the other one under my legs, carrying me the few steps towards the bed and placed me carefully on it. As soon as my lower back touched the bed a sharp pain shoot through my body, but it wasn't as bad as when Gerard was dragging me with him. I bit my lip to repress any sounds and covered my face with the palms of my hands.

"Let him rest, Gerard, he's had enough of what he didn't deserve."

"Pete-"

"Just leave him alone. At least for a while."

Then the sound of footsteps ran through the room, followed by the slam of the door. I slowly removed my hands from my face, letting myself see that Gerard was gone. Then my eyes landed on Pete and Ray, who were staring sadly at me. Pete was the first one to break the silence.

"I'm sorry, uh,"

"Frank." I whispered.

"I'm sorry, Frank. He crossed the line. I don't know what the heck is wrong with him." Pete sighed.

I looked at the ceiling and when I heard only silence my gaze returned back to them, to find them both staring at the sheets, that were slightly blood stained. My cheeks started burning even though I was sure they already knew what had happened last night.

"Please, just let me go home." I begged in a wavering voice.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we can't do that." Ray answered. "It doesn't matter if we're friends with Gerard. He can deal with us standing up to him, but he won't accept us helping you in that way. I'm so sorry. You're just too nice to be in a place like this. You know, if it depended on us, you would never have been here."

When Pete and Ray left, promising they'd do whatever they could to make this better for me, I tried to smile; of course I failed and only achieved to make more tears come out.

I stayed still so my body didn't get any more sore, and started thinking about all the things I was missing now. My family, over all. What if I didn't make it? I tried to not go there, I tried to stop over thinking everything but it was impossible. So I did my best to fall asleep, in hopes that any thought wandering through my mind would just stop and hoping that as soon as I woke up I would disappear.

Notes