Chapter 14
2045words
Hey sis. Loki told me what happened. I am on my way home. See you in a few. X
Adam
You sleep like the dead. I swear if the world ended, you would of slept through it. We will talk later. X
Adam
Don't bother coming to school. You have been suspended for two weeks. Text me when you get this x
Adam
Are you seriously not awake yet! It’s like midday. Loki said you hadn't visited Storm yet. Please make sure you do. She needs you. Text me back, please! X
Storm
Hey, are you coming over? xoxox
Unknown
Hey Scar. I know you probably don't want to talk to me. I get that. I'm sorry. If you don't want to see or speak to me ever again, I will respect that. But please, can you at least check in with Storm. And let Adam know you’re okay. Thanks. Xx
I was worried about what Loki had told Adam but knew he wouldn't betray me like that. It would come back to bite him on the arse worse than for me. I didn't let myself think about the last message. My head was still sore and the anger too raw to think about, so I only replied to the other two.
Me to Adam
At least I don't snore! Anyway, I'm awake now, heading over to see Storm in a few. I will probably go to the studio after that. Please don't rage at me too much, DAD! I have a massive headache and am already in a fantastic mood. See you later x
Me to Storm
Sorry, Sweetie. I'll be over in a few. Love ya xoxox
I finished eating my breakfast. Then head upstairs to pack my gym bag. When I was done, I grabbed my keys off the stairs, locking up the house before going next door.
The smell of freshly baked cookies filling the air as soon as I walk in the front door. I moan out loud, following my nose to the kitchen. Storm thankfully was up and about, baking. It was one of the things I loved most about her. She stress-baked. And I was more than happy to eat all her amazing baked goodies.
“Hey”, I greet her as I enter the kitchen. She had cake batter smeared across her cheek and flower covering her pinafore. Storm when to hug me, but I quickly stepped back.
“Flour”, I laugh. Eyeing her.
“Oh right, sorry!” She giggled. Grabbing a cloth off the kitchen sink, and started wiping herself off. I take a seat on the breakfast bar and start munching on the cookies she had laid out.
“Where's your mum?” I ask. Usually, she would appear in 5 second flat when I entered the house, ready to hug me and ask 1000 questions.
“She had to go back to work, had some important meets. But she only left about an hour ago,” Storm explains. I nod. Karen was some big shot lawyer for corporate companies. She was constantly being requested by name. “Heard anything from your dad?” I ask, taking another cookie.
“Yeah, he called me and will be home later tonight,” Storm informed me, leaning over the counter. A look in her eye that said I was in for a lecture.
“Oh god. What is it?” I groan.
“You know what!” She squeals, “I can’t believe you got yourself suspended!” I knew she felt guilty that I had gotten suspended protecting her from Barbie and Co, which I had. But it wasn't her they had been messing with. It was me. Storm was merely targeted as the easiest way to get to me.
“Storm, I had to,” I roll my eyes. “Barbie wasn't going to stop. She did it for a reason. She wasn't targeting you for fun,” I admit, sighing dramatically.
“Why else? Do you know what she did to me?” Storm huffed, her eyes tearing up. I stood up, coming round the counter and pulled her into a hug. She hugged me back, her tears falling hot and fast.
“She cornered me in the bathroom! They sed ducktape to bind my hands and feet. My mouth too, so I couldn't scream or run away. They put something over my eyes so I couldn't even see!” She sucked in a breath. Her next words coming out in a whimper, “She told me she a bunch of the guys were coming to...to,” She sobbed, unable to finish the sentence.
I hugged her tighter, letting her tears soak into my top. I knew exactly what she was going to say. Barbie was going to let them do whatever they wanted to. Fuck her if they wanted...my sweet innocent Storm. Rage bubbled through me like I was going to explode. That bitch had not suffered enough, not for what she had done. She is a girl; she should have known better than to cross that line. What she had done was unspeakable. I didn't give a fuck. There was no excuses. Rape. Sexual abuse. It was no joke. It was worse than death.
“I was there for so long,” Storm cried, her breathing difficult, her body visibly trembling. “Every noise, every tiny little sound, had me shaking so hard. I thought I would vomit,” She whispered, her voice barely audible “I wet myself.” Tears blurred my vision as I held her tightly to me, a sob working its way out my own chest.
“Even a full-grown man would have pissed himself in the same situation,” I comfort. I wished with every fibre in my body that I could take away her pain. If I could have swapped places with her, I would have done it in a heartbeat.
Storm. My beautiful innocent best friend was loving and kind. She deserved better than this. She had been broken. There was no going back after enduring something like that. She would never be the same again. So we held each other and sobbed.
I cried for the girl who would forevermore have a fear of public bathrooms. For the girl that would forever bear the weight of invisible scars. Hold the secrets so dark they took away her light. Her happiness.
I remembered another girl, bearing into her girlhood. The man who was supposed to be her father. A face that still haunted me years later. I closed my eyes and forced the images to wash away. To instead be replaced by a happy memory of playing with my true family Adam, Storm and Loki.
Once, we had both had a good cry. I managed to recover enough to escort Storm to the living room. I tucked her in with a blanket, teddy bear and hot water bottle. Even though it wasn't cold, I knew it helped. Then chucking on an old Disney classic, Monsters Ink.
But I couldn't suppress the burning rage inside my heart; heading to the bathroom, I pulled my phone out. Clicking on Loki's number, and I started typing.
I didn't answer his last message, and I didn’t mention us. I wasn't doing it for me. There was only one other person that loved and protected Storm the way I did. Tears started streaming down my face as I wrote. Forcing me to have to wipe the screen several times.
Me to Loki
Storm told me what happened. It was so much worse than we thought. I can’t even it into words. Barbie didn't suffer enough; she will never suffer enough for this. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry that we failed her.
I press send. Putting my phone in my pocket before taking a shaky breath. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My makeup was everywhere; my eyes were so smugged and puffy. I scrub at my face with warm water, cleaning myself up before making two mugs of hot chocolate with mounds of whipped cream and marshmallows on top. Finally, settling in under the blankets with Storm.
We were halfway through the film, and Storm seemed at least a be a little less stressed. Though I knew she was probably still a mess under the surface. You didn't just get over this kind of thing. I was actually thankful to have been suspended. It meant I could be here for my best friend without worrying about school. I was sure If I ever ran into Barbie again, I would probably get sent to prison for murder.
My phone buzzed. I hadn't expected a reply. But when the phone kept buzzing, I quickly realised it wasn't a text but a phone call. I get to my feet, seeing Adams number on the screen. I slipping into the kitchen and close the door behind me.
“Hello?” I inquire into the receiver. There was a long silence. I was about to say hello again when they suddenly started speaking.
“Hey... It's me,” called a familiar voice, though the speaker. I frown.
“Loki? Why do you have Adam's phone?” I ask, suddenly worried.
“I knew you wouldn't pick up if you saw my number,” He admitted. “I also smashed the screen of my phone.”
“Well... what do you want?” I mutter.
“I got your message... about my sister,” He remarked. The emotion in his voice, making my heartache. “How is she?”
“She's alive. Breathing. Currently, she's tucked up in front of the TV, watching Monsters Ink. Drinking hot chocolate.”
“Thank you for taking care of her. She's really lucky to have a friend like you,” he praises, his voice softly. I couldn't help it. I started sobbing. He shouldn't be nice to me because she wasn't lucky to have a friend like me. If it hadn't been for me, none of this would have happened. I poked the bear. “Scarlett?” Loki probed, concern filling his deep voice. I hear someone in the background asking him what's wrong, but he must have shooed them away. “Scar?” He demands again.
“I'm sorry”, I mummer, opening and closing the back door, trying to keep my crying away from Storm. She was going through enough all on her own.
“Don't apologise. You never have to apologise to me,” He reassured. “Please talk to me, baby” I was too upset to care that he had called me baby. I lean ageist the railing and take a shaky breath.
“I'm just dealing with a lot right now,” I admit before focusing back on what really mattered. The reason I had reached out to him in the first place. The reason he was calling me. It wasn't about me right now. “Loki, what happened to Storm....” I pause, taking another deep breath. “It's a violation. She won't get over this,” my words coming out broken. He does say anything for a long time. But I knew he was still there; I could still hear his breathing on the other side. I didn't need to see his face to know exactly what he was thinking. “Loki. No. Don't you fucking dare do anything stupid!” I commend.
“What the fuck did you expect me to do?” He growls, “You messaged me. You knew how I would react?” it’s true. I knew he would do what needed to be done to protect Storm. But I had to keep him in check. He couldn't go off the rails.
“She needs you, Loki. I can't do this without you. I'm not strong enough; it’s too close to home,” I admit. But it was probably the only thing that would make him believe me. To keep him from fucking his life up and ours with it.
“You’re the strongest person I know,” Loki argues. “You figure it out.” Then the line when dead. My tears had turned to anger, and now I was fuming. Loki was literally the bane of my existence. I had trusted him with this, given him just enough to protect Storm. If he fucked up, It would be my fault. I was so mad. He had gotten under my skin again! I should never have kissed his stupid pretty face. He was Satan made flesh. Yet I had kissed him. You don't make a deal with the devil and expect to have no consequences. There was nobody to blame but me. I had royally fucked up.
