Chapter 18

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Vincent POV
I'm awoken from sleep when I hear a pounding outside in the hallway "what the hell" I groan throwing the pillow over my face and trying to mute the sound

The pounding is still there and I frown looking at my clock, it's two am "seriously" I growl running a hand through my hair and turning over

I check my phone to see any text messages from Adeline but the screen is blank, this deepens my frown. When I get up from my bed I plan to go out to whoever it is outside and tell them to shut the fuck up. I walk over to the door, not caring that I'm only in my boxers. When I reach my door the pounding stops and I listen carefully against the wood to hear sobbing. I tilt my head at the sound, wondering why someone would be crying in the middle of a hallway at this hour, it could be my new neighbours, I haven't met them yet and have no interest to anyways.

I shrug and open my door scanning the hall, when I don't see anyone I lower my gaze to see a blonde girl curled up leaning on the door, her hair covers her face, her small body is covered by a pink satin robe and her frail arms are holding something. I look at her for a moment, am I dreaming? I rub my eyes and blink a couple of times, am I sleep walking? Because it can't be who I think it is.

"Adeline?" I say quietly just in case it isn't

The girl lifts her head and my eyes widen when I see her face, it is Adeline. Her face is drenched with tears, her lips and eyes swollen, left cheek bright red, her blue eyes are clouded with tears and bloodshot, as I look down her body I see blood sliding down her leg.

I look back up to her eyes, wondering if this is some horrible nightmare, her eyes widen and look me over "Vincent?" She asks, her voice is so horse and cracked

I stand there a moment still shocked, she cries harder looking at me and try's to stand and move away from me. She falls on her knees and I rush over to her. My breathing is fast and my brain is running a mile a minute trying to figure out what's happening. I pick her up bridle style, she drops the thing in her hands and I pick it up for her to find that it's a book, and a set of car keys, her body lays tense in my arms as I carry her over to my room. She clutches to my neck and her whole body shakes like a earthquake.

I walk swiftly in the door, closing it behind me and walk over to my couch. I pass by the kitchen counter and put down the keys. Setting her down softly on the white sofa I put the book on the table, my heart pounds as I look at her, I crouch down next to her "Adeline" I whisper

She doesn't answer, she keeps her eyes screwed shut and her lip quivers "Adeline what's going on?" I ask pleading her to calm down, I run my thumb across her cheeks rubbing the black streaks away

What is she doing here and why is she crying? is she hurt? Did Theo do something? How did she get here? Who was she going to? Did she know I lived here? A million more questions run through my mind, my whole focus on figuring out what happened.

My heart breaks seeing her like this, it's a horrible feeling, a feeling I've never felt. It feels like someones grabbing my heart and twisting it in their hands or poison is being pumped through my veins, spreading an icy feeling of hopelessness through me. I can hardly breath, my hands begin to shake as I lay them on her "please Adeline, breath" I beg as her chest raises and falls over and over, too quickly to be normal

I hug her to me, caressing her soft hair "please Adeline, you're killing me" I beg as she shakes in my arms, I clutch her tighter hoping to hold her together

"He-" she begins to say but she weeps harder before she can finish, her words being swallowed by sobs

I coo in her ear, relaxing her "it's ok" I whisper but she shakes her head vigorously

"Rape" she whispers, not being able to form a sentence

I freeze, my whole body rigid with anger "who" I growl after a pause

She sobs out her answer "Theo"

I clutch her body laying my head in the crook of her neck as her tears fall on my naked shoulder "his touch-" she shivers and the thought sets me on fire

"I won't let him touch you again" I growl against her, making my promise

After we sit there for a couple minutes her grasp on me never loosens, she holds me like she's afraid I'll disappear "Adeline you're safe now" I tell her, I pick her up again and lead her into the bathroom

Her body's shaking has lessened and I set her down on the granite counter next to the sink of my bathroom. She looks up at me as I rest my hand on her hip, her feet dangle next to my knees and I hold her cheek "I'll be right back" I tell her nodding and quickly walking out of the bathroom and into the kitchen

I push through the cabinets, searching for a first aid kit "come on" the least my father could do was put a first aid kit in here

I finally find the small white box with the red cross and walk swiftly back into the bathroom. Adeline's still seated on the counter, her robe is opened over her leg and I see scratch marks. I walk over to her and set the box down beside her, I open it and scramble looking for a washcloth to wash away the blood.

When I look back over to her she looks pale and irritated, like she wants to scratch her skin off "what's wrong?" I ask walking back over to her and placing my hands on her legs making sure not to touch the scratch, it's not very deep, only one out of the three scratches drew blood.

She shutters and closes her eyes, clutching the robe close to her "I still feel him on me" she whispers

I sigh and hug her, what do I do to make it better?

She starts to shake with anger "I should have kicked harder! Why did I let him do this!" She cries "I should have pushed him away! What if-!"

I cut her off and hold her arms as they frail around "Hey, hey" I say trying to calm her down "this isn't your fault" I tell her forcing her to look at me and hopefully believe me

She takes deep breaths and I pick her up again, her body still shakes and her tears still pour over from her outburst. I set her down on her shaky legs and let her lay on me for a second, making sure she doesn't fall. I turn on the jacossi like bathtub and make sure it's warm enough, but not to hot.

"Take a bath" I tell her "it will make you feel better" I say quietly

She stands there looking at the water with dead eyes, I stare at her wanting nothing more than to take away the pain. I begin to walk slowly out of the bathroom and into my room, I turn back to see her still standing there. I almost go back in there to beg her to tell me what to do to make it better but I close the door and sit on my bed.

I sit still like this for five minutes, shaking my leg with anxiety with crosses arms. I've tried to listen to any sound that may alert me but all I hear is the water running "screw it" I say and stand up walking back over to the bathroom door and peaking in

Adeline is still there where I left her, I sigh and frown looking at her. The golden light of the room shines on her making her small body look unusually pale, her skin usually glowing like an angel. I walk up over to her slowly, I turn to her and her eyes are glazed over and looking in the distance "Adeline?" I say wrapping my arm around her

She blinks shaking her head "sorry...I was just thinking" she says, her voice composed for the first time tonight

"It's ok" I say softly

I sigh and look at her, shaking my head I grab the collar of her robe and slowly pull it down her shoulders. She doesn't stop me but stays very still, I let the pink satin fall to the ground and her creamy skin covers with chill bumps. I take deep breaths not allowing myself to think about anything but helping her.

I walk over to the tub and turn off the water, that is close to over flowing. I turn back to her, she covers her body and wipes her tears, her writs are red and a light purple, small bruises cover her body from where he pressed against her, the thought makes me ball my fists in anger but I shake my head. I can't be angry right now, no matter how badly I want to go to Theo's house and literally kill him, I have to stay here for Adeline.

I walk over to her and pick her up again, laying her down in the warm water slowly as she shivers. I kiss her forehead and grab a washcloth, I inspect her leg and wipe away the blood lightly, the water turning just a little pinker in that area. She doesn't say anything as I run the washcloth down her arms and legs, she sits still, her breathing slow and back to normal, her eyes no longer wet with tears.

If someone told me this is how my night would end after the concert I would have laughed in there face... and then probably punched them. I use my body wash and pour a little in the washcloth, praying to god this gets the feeling of his hands off of her.

"I'm so sorry Vincent" she says quietly pulling her legs up to her chest making the water splash around her

I wipe her cheek with my thumb and smile "you have nothing to apologise for" I tell her honestly

"No I do, I didn't mean to trouble you with this...I didn't even know you lived here" she says looking away ashamed

"Who's door were you banging on then?" I ask tilting my head

"You know how I told you my parents were staying in a hotel while there house gets renovated? This is that hotel" she says and I nod

Thank god, I don't know who's looking out for me up there but someone is, I can't even imagine her going to her parents, what would they do? Probably force her to go back to him. My breathing becomes uneven at the horrible thought "why didn't you call me? or come to me?"

She sighs and a pause breaks out between us "I- I just didn't want to bother you with all of this" she motions around her and at her self "we had such a great night..." She trails off looking down at her naked body that I force my eyes to look away from and focus on her face and eyes "I didn't want to ruin it...and I didn't know if you would hate me"

I sigh and shake my head massaging my temples "Adeline, I don't think you get it" I tell her "I want you to call me, text me, even fucking email me if anything ever happens, even if it's to tell me your having a shitty day I want to know...I don't know what you've done to me but all I know is I care more about you than I've ever cared about anyone. It kills me seeing you like this and it kills me knowing that asshole touched you" she winces at the last part "never think for a second that you shouldn't bother me with something, I'm here, I want to be here for you" I pour my soul out and I'm almost shocked to hear the words come out of my mouth

She stares at me with wide red rimed eyes and nods "ok" she says softly

I nod and stand, I walk over to the closet and grab a white plush towel. I hand it to her, without a word and turn around knowing I can't help myself any longer if I keep looking at her.

She clears her throat and I turn around to see the towel covering her beautiful skin, she rings out her damp hair that the water seeped on and turned the blond locks a shade darker. She goes to step out but her legs still wobble, I take one long step over to her and grab her waist and her arm lays over my shoulder.

I put a bandaid on her cut that bleed some after she got out of the water. I told her I'd get some Advil for the bruises. I help her walk into my bedroom and she quickly surveys each aspect of the dark space.

"Do you want to sleep?" I ask, she looks a little frightened at my suggestion but nods slowly "do you have anything to wear?" I ask knowing she only came in a robe, she shakes her head

Without another thought I quickly walk over to my dresser where a black T-shirt, the one I wore today to the concert, is folded. I search through more drawers and grab a pair of boxers "hopefully these fit" I say and she takes them from my hands

I turn around again and let her change, I'm still close and I tell her to say my name if she feels faint "um...here" she says, I turn back around to see her handing me the folded towel, her eyes are cast down and her hair is damp on her shoulders, framing her face

I've never let a girl wear my clothes, it just felt to personal, but seeing her in my simple black shirt, that comes down to her mid thigh, and rolled up boxers that are hardly visible under the shirt, my heart pounds with adoration and another emotion I'm not quite ready to admit to myself "right" I say and set it on my dresser, pulling my eyes from her

"I'll go get you some medicine" I tell her and walk out, not really wanting to leave her alone for long

I walk quickly into the kitchen reaching into a draw and grabbing the bottle of Advil, I take two pills and a glass of water. As I walk back into the bedroom I pass by the living-room and the book on the table catches my eye. I stop and look at it for a moment, I set the drink down on the table next to the pills and inspect the book.

I'd know this book from anywhere, even with its burnt cover and charred pages I recognise the book without a second glance. Why is it like this? What happened tonight that made him-I ball my fists- made him touch her the way he did? Did he find out about us and about this book so he burned it? Did he just go batshit crazy?

I want to get every detail of what he did to Adeline's just so I know how much I have to torture him when I get the chance. But I know I can't, not now anyways.

"I had to save it" I hear a soft voice say "I couldn't let him burn it with the rest" she whispers

I turn, still holding my mothers copy of The Great Gatsby, to see Adeline leaning in the doorway of my bedroom, her face is dark from shadows but the outline of her body shined with light, like an angel.

"I would have rather and let it burn if it would have saved you from him" I tell her, I could have done without the book, of course it means a lot to me due to my mother being connected...but her at this point I don't know if I can do without

I set the book down and pick up the glass and pills, I bring them over to her and she outstretches her hand. The two pills fall in her soft dainty hands and she takes the water with the other, it only shaking a little now. She takes a sip of the water and downs the pills.

I lead her into the bedroom and she sets the glass on my nightstand, she sits down softly on the edge of the bed, her eyes heavy with sleep.

"I was praying someone would come" she says in such a soft and sad tone, her words breaking along with my heart

I walk over to her and sit next to her "I'd give anything to be there to save you" I pull her to my naked chest hugging her small frame close knowing if I let her go she'll cry again and I can't see her like that...not again "if I knew-" I stop feeling my anger raise "can you tell me what happened?" I ask pulling back and looking down at her

She sighs and takes a deep breath "I'll try" she says and I nod pulling her legs up over my lap and hugging her to me "I walked in and Sofia, she's pretty much my ladies maid, came running over to me and was freaking out, I calmed her down and told her to go to her room and not come out once I saw Theo. It was obvious he was drunk...he threw his scotch glass at us and it shattered" she says as I try to remain calm "Sofia was going to call the police but I told her not to" she sighs and I know she wish she had "I went to sit by Theo and he was telling me how one of his investors or producers backed out...I didn't understand and kept asking questions, which he didn't like" she sighs

I wonder if he was talking about his secret business, the one he tried to get me invested in "anyways, long story short he was throwing my books in the fire, when I told him to stop drinking and broke the bottle he threw Pride and Prejudice and the Great Gatsby into the fire" she sighs again "I saved your book...I could never let that burn" she tells me, her head lifting and eyes meeting mine "he dragged me up the stairs and into his bedroom-" she winces "you can guess the rest"

I pull her to me, hugging her small body "I would give anything to take that memory away" I whisper against her hair

"Being here helps" she says against my chest, her breath fanning over my skin

We stay like this for a moment, her breathing evens out and soon I hear soft, hardly audible snores. smiling I pick up her frail sleeping body, I pull back the plush thick covers of my large king size bed, I lay her down on the pillow and pull the covers over her beautiful body. I smile down at her, but stop abruptly when I realise what I'm doing, I clear my throat and shake my head, Vincent King is no love struck puppy.

I walk to the door but stop when I hear my name from the angel behind me "Vincent, don't leave me" she begs

My back straightens and I turn to look at her, the moon light from the window hitting her face and honestly making her look like she glows. Her blue crystal eyes match the moonlight and reminds me of stars "I wouldn't dream of it" I smile and my heart swells, screw it I'm a love struck puppy

Walking back over to her in three steps I crawl over the bed, careful not to crush her. I slip under the covers and instantly feel her heat, she turns to face me and I hold her to me, Adeline lays her head and hand on my chest and I hold her waist. She falls asleep soon after, and I'm just hoping, praying, that by laying here with me she forgets about the hell she's experience. She clutches to me and I stay up staring at the sleeping girl who has changed me in every way I thought impossible. She changed me without trying and I couldn't imagine being any other way.

A/N
Hey guys! So happy chapter right? Kind of? Well Glad I got to connect one thing, see what I did there with the hotel ;) anyways more connections to be made soon! And I know you'll all like next chapter ;) ;) (wink wink) anyways hope you guys are enjoying!
PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT :)
-Madi

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