Nine: silence as your answer

Alec

As I step into my room, I immediately notice Temperance under the sheets of my bed. I keep my gaze on her fragile body. I take a step forward, her eyes are closed and her cheeks are red.

She is asleep, but droplets of sorrow dry on her delicate face.

My knuckles gently touch her cheek as I attempt to push a hair out of her face. She opens her eyes and slaps my hand away, terrified.

"What's wrong?" Utter shock flows through me from her reaction. She doesn't dare look at me as she shakes her head now.

Is there a book on how to deal with girls?

***********

Temperance

My heart is desperate to talk to this man. It forms sentences that don't arise past my rib cage. The words die in my throat.

I want to talk to him but my lips stay locked together, not daring to open.

"Did you take a shower?" He asks me. I shake my head no. He goes silent, thinking. "Go take a bath. I'll get you a towel and some clothes."

He is so sweet to me. Someone disgusting like me doesn't deserve that.

I stand up. Still burning. From my peripheral vision I see his body vanish into the hall. I take a breath before deciding I should go to the bathroom before he gets back.

I painfully make my way down the bathroom. I avoid looking at myself in the mirror.

I don't want to see myself.

I hear Alec's gentle knock at the door and I grab my clothes. He spends no time closing the door back, letting me have peace.

I place everything on the counter. There is a bathtub the size of a jacuzzi with jets in the side.

I peel off my clothes and avoid looking down at my naked body.

I set the water on hot and adjust it so it wouldn't burn me. I step in and place my foot against one of the jets.

The air that shoots from the jets tickle the bottom of my foot. I let myself be incased in the liquid, the sounds of nothing fill my head.

Bubbles escape my lips and as my chest starts to burn I lift head out of the water, taking in a breath of air.

I stay in the bath for thirty minutes before finally washing myself.

My skin is raw as I continue to scrub it with the loofa.

I can still feel his touch.

I get out and wrap the towel around me, drying off. I keep my back turned towards the mirror. I can't bear to see the brokenness of my body.

"You ok in there, Flower?" Alec's muffled voice comes through the door. I don't answer as I put on underwear and my shirt.

"Ok, then one knock for no and two for yes. Are you ok?"

I put on my shorts and walk over to the door. I contemplate on how many knocks I should do before making up my mind.

I knock twice, letting him think I am ok.

With those two knocks I deceive this man that's done nothing but help me. With those two knocks I let the man that hurt me get away.

I step out of the bathroom with my hair in a wet messy bun. Alec looks at me with a smile.

What's there to smile about?

I want to slap the smile off his face.

Why am I thinking like that?

I look down at my open hand and turn it into a fist, scolding my own body part in my head.

I try to walk normal but it's obvious I have a limp.

"What's wrong?" He asks. I bite my lip, my heart rate picking up. How am I going to get out of this?

"Is it your knee?"

When I don't answer he continues naming other body parts. He receives silence for each one.


"Did... is it... did someone...?" I glance into his eyes as he speaks. Chaos reins in his head from disbelief.

I look away from him, knowing he's caught on. I can't seem to cry anymore so I stand in silence. The weight of guilt and frustration threatening to make me buckle under the weight.

"Who was it?!" He asks, he's desperate for answers. I bet he's thinking it's someone in the mansion. Maybe he knows who it is? He sent a doctor for me, maybe he's smart enough to realize it's him.

My ears twitch at the sound of a gun cocking. I spin around on my heel to stop him but he's already gone.

I bite my lip, contemplating on if I should go after him.

Ah what the hell, let's go stop the idiot with a gun.

*********

Alec

I fly down the stairs, almost stumbling on the last step before making a B line to the meeting room.

I burst into the door, letting it hit the wall.

Now eyes are on me.

"W-whats going on?" Rea stands to her feet as she sees my gun.

"Who the fuck raped her?" I'm ready to shoot any of them in this moment.

I receive no response, only eyes glued on me.

"Who?" Drake speaks up.

"Someone hurt Temperance." I state. Only realizing that I've just spewed out her business to people she doesn't know. I know that if she wanted to tell them, then she would. But now she doesn't have the chance because I robbed her of that.

I can't feel guilty about that now. All I need is the monster who did it.

"Is she ok?" Worry twists Zander's otherwise unfazed face. I can't help but glare at his stupid question.

"No... no, she's not. She won't even fucking talk. She can't even walk right." I feel like I'm radiating fire. I know my anger is only in my head but I feel the rage in my eyes.

Someone hurt her in the worst way possible. Not only that but it happened under this roof, where I told her nothing would happen to her. It happened here, all because I let my guard down.

"We have been with you all day," Connor reminds me.

Before I can think of an answer to say I feel hands on my back. I stumble forward, catching myself before turning around.

The anger I had from being pushed dies down, realizing it was Temperance. Her body collapses onto the ground and a whimper escapes from her busted lip.

She probably started running after me as soon as I left the room. "S-s-s-stop A-Alec. Don't h...hurt them." No tears leave her eyes as she trembles.

I place myself on my knees, collecting her broken body into my arms. The least I can do is try to console her.

She tenses up at my touch, causing me to have second thoughts about picking her up. No, it's ok. I need to help her up. I can apologize later.

I bring her to her feet, my arms wrapping around her to keep her standing as her knees threaten to bring her to the floor again. She holds onto my shirt tightly, crinkling it in her fists.

"I am so sorry, Temperance." Zander reaches out for her before assessing what he's doing. He pauses before bringing his hand back to his side.

I expect her to speak after her outburst but she only stays silent.

"Where is Ella?!" I ask, knowing she was watching Temperance earlier.

"She should be in the kitchen."

"Tell her to come here," I demand, my voice stern as I feel Temperance shaking in my arms. Damien runs out of the room.

"Who would do that to her?" Guilt is displayed on Ethan's face, making him look like he's about to cry.

Does he look like that because he did it or because he is upset it happened to her? No, he wouldn't ever do that, don't be a bitch and continue blaming everyone.

Everyone in the room seems conflicted with the news. Guilt is portrayed on their expressions as if they think they could've stopped it. Lidia is the only one that seems pleased with the situation. Is she the cause of the assault?

"Yes, sir?" Ella rushes into the room after Damien.

"You were with Temp all day?"

"Yes, sir."

"Was there anyone else around temperance aside from you and Emaline?"

"The doctor."

I remember him—creepy ass guy. My eyes widen as I feel a lightbulb go off in my head.

"Tell me more," I demand as Temperance puts her face in my shirt to hide it from the onlookers.

"He told Emaline and me to leave so he could check her wounds."

"That's when he did it..." I heard Emaline whisper as her eyes go wide, the situation clear to her. Tears brim in her eyes as her hands fly to her mouth.

"Did he tell you, anything Temp? I know you don't want to talk, but this is important." I look down at the girl in my arms.

"He told me he enjoyed it." She chokes out in a crying fit. I hold onto her tighter.

I look at my members, they don't have to know her on a personal level to have sympathy for her.

Their faces all show sympathy for her. Their thoughts are the same as mine. Why would anyone hurt someone so fragile? She has nothing to do with the underbelly of society like we do yet she's the one that got hurt.

Everyone wants to kill a rapist, not matter who they are, no matter what situation.

"Connor, go look up where he lives. Zander, get the guns. Justin, pull the car around." After I finish my sentence they disperse, doing what I've ordered.

Temperance and I walk out of the room, and she stops me. "Let m-me g-go with you." She doesn't look at me as she untangles herself from me.

"No Temp. I can't let you go." I reply.

She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. "He raped ME, not YOU. I can handle it. I'm stronger than you think!" She glares at me with a fire in her eyes.

"I KNOW WHAT HE DID TO YOU. THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T GO!" I yell at her. She flinches as if she's waiting for my fist to fly at her. She steps away from me, watching my movements closely.

I scared her.

I look away as she walks up the stairs, using the railing for support. I scold myself for yelling, taking a deep breath as I run my hands through my hair.

Maybe the best option is to run up there, telling her how sorry I am as I help her up the stairs. I ponder on it before shaking my head, turning away from her. I'm not sorry for not letting her come.

I don't want her to witness a murder.

"Come on, boss." I hear Zander call for me.