It's My Life (Filming Rhiannon. Book 1) (21 page)

“I was always told if I wanted something, I should try and get it, or live in regret. I couldn’t have you think I hate you, because that’s the total opposite. I saw hurt in your eyes every time you looked at me, and I couldn’t handle the thought I was hurting you.”

“But this isn’t fair on me Kaleb.”

“I know, and I am so sorry, but you had to know Rhi.”

“What am I supposed to say to Jase? He is really mad with me right now because I won’t tell him what you said.”

“Rhiannon, I didn’t mean to do this to you, I really didn’t, but I hated seeing you with him.”

“But I was happy with him, surly that is better than this?” I ask him.

“You said was, does that mean you're not anymore?”

“I don’t know.” I say sadly, but honestly.

“We have to work this out Rhiannon, because we can't pretend tonight didn't happen. You are going to have to go to the police about what happened."

Panic starts to rise in me, "I can't go to the police." then Kaleb will find out about Len, which will lead to the discovery of Pippa. I can’t risk him finding out about my past.

"Rhiannon, if you don't go to the police he might try it again, and the next person might not be so lucky."

"I understand that, but I'm scared." Not so much for other people as Len sent him, more for myself. Len is relentless, and he will not stop. If I go to the police, he will like it, and continue. I don’t know what to expect next.

He hugs me closer to him.

"I'll be here with you. But we have to do it." he says as the car comes to a stop.

"Now." he says as he opens the car door.

"What do you mean now? I can't do this now." I say panicking so much, breathing is becoming difficult.

"Rhiannon, calm down and breath. I promise I will stay with you." he says lifting me out the car.

He sets me on my feet, and manages to catch me before I fall. He helps me stand, and slowly guides me in to the police station, with his hand securely round my waist.

He places me in an empty chair while he talks to the officer behind the counter.

He is gone a few minutes before he returns to me.

"Rhiannon they're going to get an officer to come talk to you in a minute okay?" he asks. I just can't respond. I feel empty and scared right now.

He just takes a seat beside me and grabs my hand in support. His fingers just run up and down my palm.

After a few minutes of silence, a female officer comes over to me.

"Are you Rhiannon Addison?" she kindly asks as she kneels in front of me.

When I don't respond Kaleb answers, "Yes."

"Okay, would you like to come through?" she asks me.

I wrap my arms around myself and look towards Kaleb. He nods his head at me, while I shake my head no.

"I promise you will be fine." Kaleb speaks up.

"Off course, Rhiannon we promise to take care of you." the officer says.

"Please let me go home." I beg as tears fill my eyes.

"Rhiannon, would you be comfortably giving a statement tomorrow instead?" asks the lady.

"Surely you can't leave this." Kaleb says shocked.

"Sir, she is in no fit state to talk tonight. Emotionally she's not here right now. Have you had her seen by anyone?" she asks.

"What do you mean?" Kaleb asks for clarification.

"You said she passed out in the bar as the alleged suspect tried dragging her out. If so, she needs medical attention, and soon." the officer says standing up.

"I would advise getting her medical attention, and we can get an officer to talk to her tomorrow. We will check out CCTV tonight. Is that okay Rhiannon?" she asks me.

I nod a silent agreement, anything to get away from here.

"Take her to the hospital, and an officer will ring you tomorrow for a statement." she says to Kaleb as she walks away.

Kaleb helps me stand, keeping his hands on my shoulders, supporting me.

*****

He walks us back to the car in silence.

Once we're fastened in and on the go, I start to speak,

"Can I go home now?" I ask him feeling emotionally drained.

"You heard that officer, we have to get you checked out." he says apologetically.

"I just want to go home, I'm tired, and this dress is annoying me." I say picking at the material on the dress. I loved it when I put it on, now I hate it, and I want it gone. I also want to shower this hideous night away, and sleep for a week at least.

"When we are done here, you can sleep. As for the dress I can't help with that right now."

"How long are we going to be at the hospital?" I ask, hoping he will give me a short time frame.

"I don't know till we get there." he says sadly.

I just want a shower, and my bed. Why is he dragging this out? I don’t want the hospital, I don’t want the police, I just want to forget about it, and hope Len will leave me the fuck alone. I have paid my debt, more than once. I just want to move forward. It’s being over ten bloody years. I thought I was free from him.

That's the end of our conversation till we arrive at the hospital.

The driver drops us of at the entrance, and Kaleb helps me walk to the emergency department.

He tries to book me in, but with little knowledge he has of me he can't.

"Rhiannon, you need to fill this out." he says walking back to me holding a clipboard.

I take it from him, and start writing my name, but I'm shaking that much it's not turning out to be my name. It looks like a scribble done by a child in pre-school.

"Would you like me to do that?" he asks as he rests his hand over mine, trying to subdue my shaking.

He smiles at me and takes everything out of my hands.

Once I have answered questions about my date of birth, Doctors address, my address, any allergies, and every other question you could imagine, he hands it back to the lady on reception.

*****

We are sat in a waiting room with about fifty other people. The noise is loud, and the smell is horrendous. It’s a weekend, and the strong smell of alcohol is hurting my nose, and I am slightly intoxicated. I don’t know how the staff handle this.

There are people with blood down their face, people throwing up, and some are sleeping.

I can’t sit here all night with these people. The smell is making me want to vomit.

After we have been waiting for about thirty minutes, Kaleb starts getting agitated and bored. His hands are messing up his blonde locks, his eyes are darting back and forth, and his knee is bouncing.

"I'm going to see how long the wait is." he says as he gets up.

He comes back a few minutes later, not looking very impressed.

"Come on." he says grabbing my hand, and helps me to my feet.

"I can go home?" I ask feeling relieved. I told you I didn’t need to come; I think as I get my hopes up.

"Not yet. We're being moved. You're going to the private suite."

My hopes go straight back down again, before realization sets in.

"I don't have the money for that."

"I've sorted the cost. I can't sit with all these drunk people." he says in disgust.

"Then just take me home." I moan at him.

"I will as soon as we're done here.”

He grabs my hands, and slowly escorts me up to a private suite.

Once we get there, he walks over to reception and talks to the nurse. I am seated in the waiting area waiting for him to come back.

Once he returns, he is with a male nurse, in blue scrubs.

"Rhiannon, we're going to a room." Kaleb says as he reaches me.

*****

Once we get in to a private room, there is a big hospital bed. The nurse asks me to take a seat, but I don't opt for the bed. I chose to sit on the sofa that is adjacent to the bed.

The nurse doesn't object to me taking the sofa. He just smiles and leaves the room.

"Are you feeling better?" Kaleb asks me as he sits beside me.

"I'm fine. I just want to go home to sleep. Don't you think you're over-reacting?" I ask him.

"No. You could have concussion or something else. Come on Rhiannon, just lay here and sleep for a bit." he tries encouraging me.

I just look at him, feeling extremely tired.

All I can see on his face is concern and worry.

He wraps his arm around me, and pulls me down so my hand is resting on his knees.

I try to pull back, but he doesn't let me.

"Just try to sleep." he says calmly.

Deciding not to put up a fight, because my body just can't handle it, I rest my head back on his knees and close my eyes.

He softly runs his hands through my hair, soothing and relaxing me enough to sleep.

I finally fall into a restless sleep.

When I wake up, a female nurse is stood in the room whispering to Kaleb, who is still supporting my sleeping form.

"We need her awake to examine her." she whispers.

I lay there for a few moments with my eyes closed listening to his reply.

"Okay, I'll wake her up." he responds just as quietly, his hand stroking through my hair again.

"We need her on the bed too." she adds.

“Alright, I'll wake her and move her.” he informs the nurse.

“Thank you.” she says as I hear her footsteps moving to the other side of the room.

He slowly and carefully lifts me up. At this point I open my eyes, and notice he has covered me over with his jacket.

"It's okay," he reassures me, "the nurse just needs you on the bed." he explains.

"I know, I heard." I say trying to persuade my eyes to stay open. I don’t succeed, so I just keep my arms wrapped around his neck as he carefully takes me to the bed.

"How long have you been awake?" he asks with a little humor.

"Just as the nurse walked in, I think. I only heard her tell you she needs me awake." I reply as he places me on the bed.

“Yeah, she had just walked in.” he informs me.

Once I am out of his arms I feel cold. I automatically pull his jacket tighter around me. I don’t know if it will do anything, because I think the cold is coming from inside me, and has nothing to do with the temperature in the room.

He sits on the bed beside me, and grabs my hand, as the nurse walks over.

"Okay Rhiannon, we're going to check you over for concussion, but if you hurt anywhere else you have to tell us. Okay?" she asks as she stands beside the bed. I nod my head in response.

*****

After running all the correct tests, she comes to the conclusion I don't have concussion, nor do I have anything else medically wrong with me.

"Can I go home then?" I ask hopeful. I told Kaleb he was over-reacting, now I am excited to get out of here, and in to my own bed. For the first time since my night was turned on its head, I smile a genuine smile.

"I'm afraid not. You have consumed quite a bit to drink, so we would like to keep you in till the morning, hopefully the alcohol will be out of your system and we won't have any delayed injuries then. For tonight though we would like to put you on a drip. You're slightly dehydrated and could use some fluids. Is that okay?" she asks.

"Okay," I mutter not having the energy to give a shit. My smile has faded, and I can feel tears brimming my eyes. I refuse to let them fall. I have cried enough tonight. I don’t have the energy to cry no more.

"So everything is okay?" Kaleb asks for clarification.

"Yes sir. Everything is looking okay. It's just a precaution."

"Is it normal for her to be this cold too?" he asks noticing that I'm clutching to his jacket tightly, making sure no air can get past to make me colder. All the while still shaking, not just small shaking, but teeth chattering shaking.

"That is down to shock. Once she's had a good night sleep, she should be okay." she explains with a kind smile.

"You can get under the duvet if you want." she says smiling at me.

"Anything else you need?" she asks.

I shake my head. Honestly the only thing I want is to get to my own bed to sleep, but now that’s not going to happen tonight.

"I will be back in soon with some fluids. Till then try and sleep." she encourages us both.

Once she leaves the room, I climb under the duvet in an attempt to warm up.

"Are you okay?" Kaleb asks, as he makes sure the duvet is tucked in all around the bed.

"Yeah, just cold and tired." I say past a very unladylike yawn.

"You try sleep again. I'll wait for the nurse." he offers.

"You should try getting some sleep. Why don't you go home? I'm not going anywhere." I say trying to persuade him.

"I'll be okay on here." he says pointing to the sofa.

"You shouldn't." I feel bad for keeping him here. If I would have just done as I said I would, we wouldn’t be in this mess. This is all my doing, and I swamped with guilt.

"I should, and I am. Get some sleep." he says as he steps down off the bed.

"If you need anything, just call me over." he says as he parks his ass on the sofa.

Once he is settled on the sofa, my eyes start to drift. Soon enough I'm asleep, but it’s far from peaceful.

I'm in a bar, but I don't recognize this bar. It's not one I've been to before.

I look around and I don't even recognize anyone. Feeling pumped from the alcohol I brazen it out on the dance floor.

It's not very crowded so I can easily move about. I am on the dance floor in no time at all. As my body sways to the music, I feel hands on my hips.

I turn around and see him - the bold old man. He is smirking at me.

"Hello again. Still the same affect." he whispers in my ear as he grinds himself against me.

I push, and I pull, but don't manage to break out of his grasp.

"No escaping this time." he laughs at me.

He grabs me by the back of the neck, applying enough pressure to hurt me, and he guides me out of the club.

He drags me down a side alley and throws me against a brick wall. The impact sending me dizzy. That mixed with my fear is the worst feeling ever. I feel my heart leap from my chest, as my life flashes before my eyes. I wish I was dead; death has got to be better that the torture he is just about to force upon me.