Her Savior

Chapter 7

Maelynn

It's been almost a week since I last saw Tremaine. I hid out in my apartment until my face finished healing. Now I was hobbling down the road to school. I bet you're wondering why I'm still hobbling. Well I fell and my twisted ankle hurts even more. I took it out of the boot and saw it was swollen again so I assumed I sprained it again. I can't afford to miss anymore school or work though. I really only have me to depend on so I have to go out there and make something work.

I sighed as the burning sensation in my foot increased. I tried ignoring it but it was so excruciating. I had to stop and completely lean off of it. It didn't help much. I tried continuing on my way but I couldn't. I sat on the ground and let tears roll down my face. I think there's something wrong but I can't do anything about it. I sniffed and wiped my tears. I heard a car speeding down the road and looked up. I was suddenly splashed with the dirty street water. I gasped and jumped up. I ended up putting too much weight on my foot and fell. I squeaked in surprise as I fell down.

"Whoops," a very familiar taunting voice said. I looked up at DJ and Angel smirking at me. "Didn't see the trash on the curb."

"Where'd you go fatty?" Angel hissed. "You missed all the fun."

"Probably stuffing that fat ass face of hers," DJ taunted. I just let the tears fall as they talked about me like I was less than human. "God fat people disgust me. Doesn't she look like a little dirty piggy?"

"The resemblance is uncanny," Angel taunted.

"S-Stop," I stuttered shaking uncontrollably.

"You think we can make her squeal all the way home?" DJ smirked getting out of his car. My eyes widen as they approached me. I tried crawling away but they caught me. "Where are you going Precious?" he laughed evilly. "It'll be fun."

"No! Stop! Stop! Help!" They dragged me to the car. I tried fighting but they wouldn't let me go. I was suddenly thrown into the trunk and locked inside. "Help me! Somebody help!" I banged on the trunk in hopes someone will set me free. I was so scared. I can't breathe. I was crying so hard. They sped off somewhere. I could hear them cackling in the front. They kept driving in pot holes causing me to jump around. I screamed out every time my injured foot moved. He suddenly slammed on brakes causing my body to jerk and me to scream in agonizing pain.

Why god? Why me? I heard a single door open and close. I then heard the trunk pop open. I quickly opened the door and tried climbing out. I ended up falling on the ground. My foot bounced off the cement causing me to hiss in pain. "Here you go fatty," DJ beamed with fake enthusiasm. "Since you were screaming for help we thought we'd help you out." I looked around and noticed we were in the more dangerous parts of the neighborhood. At least forty minutes from the school. "Have a good walk fatso."

"B-But I can't," I cried. "Please don't leave me." He just walked away laughing. "Stop! Please." He ignored my pleas. "What did I ever do to you?!" I screamed at them. He sped off. Something under his tire shot out and hit me in the face. I screamed when it pierced the skin causing blood to run down my face. I watched as they sped off. "What did I ever do to you?" I whispered. I sat there for a long time. I cried and huffed and questioned, why is my life like this? I mean, why me of all people?

After wallowing in my own misery for a while I slowly got to my feet. My ankle was in so much pain. I hopped slowly. I tried to keep as much weight off of it as possible. Each step I took was even more excruciating than the last. I would have to stop every few minutes to catch my breath. I just need to get by people. Someone will help me. Right?

As I was passing by a few abandoned buildings something shot out of the darkness and grabbed me. It took me by surprise and I ended up stumbling over my injured foot. I cried out and fell to the ground. I looked up at a dirty old man with torn clothing and yellowing teeth. There were scars running down his face. He had a long knife in his hand. My eyes got big and I let out a scream.

"Scream all ya want nobody is going to hear you darling," his gruffly voice came out.

"I-I don't have any money," I stuttered. "P-Please don't hurt me."

He smirked at me. He was missing a majority of his teeth and his gums looked black. One eye was gray and the other brown. He looked like an evil cartoon villain. "Oh I don't want ya money darlin’," he chuckled. He suddenly reached out and grabbed my hair and pulled me further into the alley. I screamed and kicked, ignoring the immense pain shooting through my foot. "Ya bigger than what I'm used to," he grunted. "But p***y is pussy."

"No stop!" I yelled fighting him off. He ripped my shirt and roughly grabbed my breasts. "Help me! Somebody help!" Tears ran down my face. I didn't want to be here. This isn't fair. Why do bad things keep happening to me?

I'm always in danger. Always fighting and always losing. Why can't I be safe? Why does everybody want to hurt me? Why mom? Why dad? Why peers? I only know one person in my life who never hurt me. And now I wish more than anything he was here to save me.

"Tremaine!"

Tremaine

"Nigga why the hell do you live here?" I said looking around his apartment. Kels lived in the slum of the hood.

"Nigga rent cheap," he called from the back.

"Nigga your roaches out here f*****g on the couch."

"Oh that's Roachard and his b***h Roachell. Don't just look at them nigga. He’s trying to get his d**k wet."

"Nigga you named the roaches?" I bust out laughing. This man is a fool.

"Well s**t it would be rude to just call the niggas roach." He finally came out. "Iight y'all I'm out. Don't forget to clean up after y'all selves and stay the f**k out my cereal. Y'all living here rent free and eating my damn cereal." He’s seriously having a conversation with the roaches. Man I don’t know what’s wrong with this dude like seriously.

"Nigga you really just fussed at a bunch of roaches?"

"What? They got to know who the boss is. Their ass need to get a job if they’re going to be eating up my shit."

I just shook my head and laughed. He's a fool for real. We hopped in my car and started driving. I came to pick this guy up for a ride. Dude always bumming a ride. He was telling me about this girl when I swore I heard screaming. "Aye shut up man," I slowed down a bit. "You heard that?"

"Heard what?"

"Sounded like someone was screaming."

"Ah don't worry about that. My neighbors are always screaming about something."

"You sure?" I asked. We waited for a bit but didn't hear anything else. "Iight I guess-"

"Stop!" I heard the faint screams again.

"Well they've never screamed that," he mumbled. I started driving towards the noise. It wasn't until I heard help me that I sped up. "Aye turn down here," he pointed to the abandoned street. I did and started speeding down the road.

"Tremaine!" I slammed on brakes. I hopped out the car with my gun and started running towards the screaming. I know that voice. I cut the corner and saw a man hovering over someone with a bloody knife. "P-Please," someone cried.

"What the f**k?" The guy turned to me and I got a glimpse of who it was begging. I glared at the man and rushed him. He was caught off guard and dropped his weapon. I pointed the gun to his head.

"D-Don't hurt me man," he begged.

"Ain't that's what the f**k she begged you? Huh?" I didn't waste any time in shooting his ass. I let his body dropped and stepped back.

"T-Tremaine?" I turned to Maelynn who was covered in blood. I quickly went to her.

"You okay Mae?" I checked her and saw she had a deep gash above her eye and some cuts on her body. Her clothes were ripped leaving her exposed.

"No," she said shakily. She started crying again and I pulled her into my chest.

"Shush," I soothed. "Everything is going to be alright."

"You came for me," she sobbed.

"And I always will. I promise okay? Come on. Let’s get you to the hospital."

She sniffed and wiped her face. "I can't walk," she mumbled. "My foot hurts worse than before."

I nodded. "Alright." I put my arms under the back of her knees and around her waist. I hoisted her up and she wrapped her arms around my neck. Kels pulled up in my truck.

"Nigga you jumped out the car so quick I was telling you we can just drive-" he stopped when he saw Mae in my arms. "Awe damn, is she alright?"

"We're going to the hospital to find out," I said. She wouldn't let me go so I sat in the back with her. We pulled into the hospital and I carried her inside where nurses immediately took her away.

"So who was that?" Kels asked as we sat down in the waiting area.

"Maelynn," I sighed. I know I wanted to find her but not in worse conditions than before. I started thinking about what that guy would've done to her and started getting angry. I should've shot his ass in the leg and left him there to die slowly.

"Oh that's the girl," he said. "I thought you were looking for a Chinese girl. Thought you were trying to get some international pussy."

"Kels shut the f**k up," I chuckled.

"So how do you know her?"

"We met...under similar circumstances."

"Well damn," he mumbled.

We sat in the waiting room for hours waiting on a doctor or something. One finally came out and headed straight for us. I noticed it was the same doctor from the last time we were here. "Aye do me a favor and go and get Marcel and Chas from school. Drop em off at Donna's place."

"Donna rude ass." He dapped me up before leaving. I met the doctor halfway.

"What's up doc?"

"Mr. Gadsden," he shook my hand. "I would say it's good to see you again but I think under these conditions it's inappropriate."

"Right." I nodded. "So what’s up with her? Is she alright?"

"As alright as she can be. Her sprained ankle is now fractured so we had to put a cast on it. The gash on her face was deep so we had to give her ten stitches. We also found asphalt particles in the wound suggesting she was struck with an object. She had a few cuts on her chest, stomach, and arms. Most of which were not deep enough for stitches."

"Damn," I mumbled. "She was assaulted. Did the guy...you know?"

He looked confused before his face showed understanding. "Her pants and underwear were still on. Her shirt was the only thing ripped so from what we can tell the assault didn't go that far."

I nodded. "Alright. When can she leave?"

"She can leave tomorrow. We want to make sure that blow to the head didn't give her a concussion. But considering this is the second time she’s been in here for such a severe case we’re obligated to get the police involved."

I nodded. Considering she’s all alone that might pose as a problem for her. "The man who did this was just some homeless dude who ran away when I caught him. Is it really necessary?”

“Yes because it’s obvious he wasn’t the one who assaulted her last time. I know it can be problematic for kids such as herself to be involved with the police but we’re doing this for her safety. These assailants, whoever they are, they could’ve killed her.”

My jaw ticked in irritation. They really could’ve done it. If I hadn’t found her both times, she wouldn’t be here today. “Okay I understand. Can I see her?"

"Yes but I’m sure the detectives are already with her." He showed me the way to her room. "Here you are. Good luck." He walked away quickly.

I walked in and she was lying on the bed playing with her fingers. Two detectives stood in the room asking her questions I guess. When she saw me a look of relief washed over her face. They all turned to look at me. “You are?” one of the detectives said.

“I’m her…older cousin. Also the one that found her,” I said.

“Well then maybe you can give us more details. Can you describe the man that assaulted her?” I gave vague details and made sure to add in he looked like a homeless c***k head. “Miss, where are your parents?”

“Uh…um-”

“They travel for work a lot,” I said. “Hard times and all. They ask me to look out for her.”

“So you’re the one who’s taking care of her? Good. As long as there is someone who can keep an eye on her. This assailant might come back.” Yeah I doubt it. After answering a few more pointless questions they finally left. Not like they were going to do s**t anyways.

"Thank you," she muttered. "Again."

"No problem beautiful." I took a seat by her bed. "But my kindness comes at a price. No more lying. I want the truth." She looked panicked for a second before putting her head down and nodding.

"I didn't lie to you," she mumbled. She didn't look at me when she said that though.

"Yes the hell you did. And from the looks of it you know exactly what I'm talking about. Speak Maelynn."

She sighed and shifted uncomfortably. "Okay," she mumbled. "The reason I...disappeared last week is because...I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"You. Finding out the truth. The reason my parents weren't there for me in the hospital isn't because they were working. I didn't want you asking questions."

"I know," I said. She looked shocked. "It wasn’t a hard thing to pick up on. You didn’t have anybody on file. Besides, no parent leaves their child alone in a hospital. The least they would do is call and check on you. You didn't have to lie to me Mae."

"I know," she mumbled. "I'm sorry."

"It’s okay. I wouldn’t tell a stranger my business either. I’m going to assume you’re not ready to tell me why you’re living by yourself?” She shook her head. Figured that much. “That’s fine. So how'd you get over there? You live in that area?"

She looked around nervously. "Uh no. I live the neighborhood over."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Then how'd you get over there on a fractured ankle?" She didn't say anything for a long time. "Maelynn, who's been abusing you?"

"Bullies," she mumbled.

I sighed. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. You're safe now." I got a text from Kels saying we're wanted back at the trap. I sighed. "I have to go."

"Oh," she said getting sad. "Will you be back?"

"Yes. I have to handle some business and then I'll be back. Get some rest."

"Okay."

I got up and headed out. Damn she's been through a lot of s**t. To be abandoned by her parents and now being abused by her peers. That’s a lot of s**t she has to soak up. I made it outside and got inside of my truck. This need to protect her took over me like some disease. I can’t stand to see her in such a negative environment.

"How is she?" Kels asked.

"Doing better than I expected," I answered honestly. "She's getting beat up on by some people from her school."

"What the f**k?" He looked at me crazy. "What the hell for?"

"I don't know," I gritted tightening my hold on the steering wheel. "But I intend to find out. I'm taking her away from all that bull shit."

"I think you should think about that one dude. You two barely know each other.”

“I know that she needs help.”

“Did she ask for help? Does she have the slightest idea on what you do?" That made me quiet. "Dude you're about to take on a big responsibility in a few weeks. It's going to take up a lot of your time. Even though our operation is small doesn't mean there aren’t any dangers in it. This is something you should tell her about and let her make the final decision. I mean it is her life."

"Yeah and her life is in f*****g danger."

"And you think she'll be any better mixed up with you without knowing what she's getting mixed up with? Dude you're about to run a very dangerous business. You should at least give her some kind of choice before barging into her life."

I huffed. Out of all the times this nigga could've made some sense he chooses now to be Kels the Guru. But I can't be mad at him for speaking the truth. I can't be the mediator in Mae's life. Especially when she has no idea what I'm about. We are basically strangers to one another. "So I'm just supposed to let her keep getting beat on every day?"

"I'm not saying that. You don’t have to barge into her life to make it more comfortable. You should get her to trust you before you start doing drastic things. Give her some type of reassurance. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't appreciate someone she barely knows trying to run her life. And if she trusts you enough when you do tell her she'll probably accept it and move on."

"Nigga when did you get so wise?" I side eyed him.

"Don Roachello likes Dr. Phil," he said like it was nothing. I looked at him and then back at the road. I can't. I really can't.