Redemption (The Restoration Series Book 1) (17 page)

 “What was that all about?”

 “Nothing. He saved me from an angry bull earlier and brought me back. We were just talking.”

 “Bull? What happened? Are you okay?” Her questions fired out rapidly, causing a slight grin to lift on my face.

 “I’m fine. Everything worked out.” Evie fell
to the couch beside me, seriousness coming over her once again.

 “How’s the sleeping going?”

 “Horribly. You?”

 She rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. “Same. I just keep seeing all of them. I think I’m going through it all over again, and then I wake up screaming. My mom won’t leave my room.”

 “Mom and Dad are doing the same thing with me.”

 She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed, grabbing my hand in hers and threading our fingers together.

 “Do you think it’ll get better, Nova? Will we ever be normal again?”

 “I hope so.”

 Voices floated in the air as the screen door opened and in walked Davis with my parents. Evie’s mom followed in behind them and walked over and bent to kiss me on the forehead.

 “Hey, sweet girl.”

 “Hey, Momma.”

 My mother stepped closer to us. “Should we eat first?” She asked, glancing around the room. Everyone was here, and my heart began to race nervously at what I was about to say. Unsure if I could relive the horror of events that happened, I nodded in agreement, putting off my conversation for later.

 We all moved to the kitchen and took seats around the table. Dad and Mom took the end
seats, while Evie’s mom sat next to Davis on one side, and Evie and I sat on the other.

 We spent the next hour eating the homemade chicken pot pies. The steam from the pastries wafted in the air above us and my stomach grumbled as I reached for a second serving.

 When we finished I stood to clear the dishes, gently stacking them in my hands and walking them over to the sink. My mother followed me and leaned close to me as I braced against the porcelain sink until my knuckles turned white, and my breathing became more labored as the nerves of what was about to take place wracked through me.

 “You okay?” She whispered, grabbing the scrubbing sponge from the shelf above us, preparing to wash dishes.

 “I just need a minute.” She nodded and pried my fingers from the edge, opening my palm to set the sponge gently inside.

 “Why don’t you stay in here and wash the
dishes, while I move everyone to the living room?”

 Relief flooded me and I dipped my hands in the hot sudsy water that now filled the square basin. The warmth seeping into my skin gave me a sense of calm. I scrubbed at the dishes as I heard the others talking in the living room.

 I can do this. I am safe. Everyone in there has my trust. They will not hurt me, they will protect me.

 When I felt ready, I drained the sink and pulled a hand towel from the side drawer to dry my wrinkled hands. Slipping the towel to hang on the handle of the oven, I then stepped across the room and through the archway leading
toward the moment of truth.

 I walked in and saw everyone in various seats around the room. Evie and my mother were sitting on the couch, allowing me space to sit beside them. Dad was standing in the corner, sipping his glass of iced tea and leaning against the wall with guarded eyes.

 Evie’s mom and Davis took the two sitting chairs on the far side of the room.

 I slipped between mom and Evie and took a deep breath. Everyone was silent and waiting, wondering what I was going to say. Other than my parents, no one understood what was happening here. My eyes caught Davis’ as I looked
up, and held his gaze. His eyes shone brightly as I took him in, and he nodded for me to continue, supporting me in the silent way that he had done over the last week.

 Breaking his gaze, I let my eyes take in each person. I gripped Evie’s hand for support and leaned into her slightly.

 “So I met with a therapist this week, and I was asked a simple question by her. She asked me to list
ofthe names of people that I trusted, and so I did. Each one of you made that list.” I took my time looking carefully at each and every one of them before continuing.

 “Once I gave her the list of names, she asked me to do something. Even I don’t know if I’m ready for this, but she said I have to let you know what happened to me, so that you can better understand why I am reacting in certain ways to many of our encounters.”

 My hand tightened around Evie’s and she leaned into me. “Are you sure, Nova? I don’t think….” Her eyes welled up and she turned her face away.

 “Evie, if you can’t listen to this, I understand. We can talk later if you want?”

 She glanced back at me, tears rolling down her soft cheeks. “I’m sorry, Nova. I wish I could, but…” She wiped at her tears. “I’m just not ready to relive that. Please understand.”

 I nodded, fully understanding her position. I wasn’t even sure I was ready for it, but I was determined to get through it for my sake, and for my family’s sake.

 “It’s fine. I get it. You should head home and I’ll come see you later this week. Okay?”

 She nodded and leaned over, pulling me into her arms, squeezing me tightly. Her mother stood and walked over to me.

 “I love you,
mija. Call me later this week.” She bent to kiss my cheek.

 “Yes, ma’am. Love you, too.”

 I waited for them to walk out the door before turning to face my parents and Davis again. He stayed in his seat, glancing nervously at my father, who moved to sit in the chair across from me.

 “All right then, I guess I should start.” My mind jumbled together images of Demon’s face and I pulled into myself as I began to tell them the details of how we were taken.

* * *

ONE WEEK AGO

(Sydney, Australia- South Bay Resort)

NOVA

 
Perry pulled up to the curb and slipped out of the blue cab as we made our way out of the heavy double glass doors of the resort.

 
“You girls look gorgeous. I know the perfect place for you.” A tiny smirk appeared on his lips, as if he was reminded of an inside joke. It was brief before he turned a full smile in our direction and holding open the back door to the taxi.

 
“I hope so.” Evie flirted, brushing her hand against his arm.

 
He caught her hand and brought her fingers up to his lips, kissing them softly. “It’ll be worth every minute of your time.”

 
When we were belted in our seats, he pulled away from the curb and began driving across town. The further he drove, the more anxious I became. We passed all the well-traveled areas of town as he pulled into a much darker neighborhood. The streets were dingy and there were very few people milling about, most of them looking like the kind of people we’d want to avoid.

 
“Perry, are you sure this is where you meant to take us?” I asked, glancing out the window.

 
“Of course. There’s a great little restaurant just around the corner. There’s music and dancing. Just what you asked for.” He glanced nervously at me through his rearview mirror.

 
I watched as he picked up his phone at the next stoplight, sending a quick text message before continuing on through the intersection and pulling off to the side of the road. We had stopped in front of a large industrial building on the right side of the street. Evie gripped my hand, and all of a sudden fear rippled through me. Alarm screamed for me to run for my life.

 
It happened in an instant. Two thickly muscled men in flannel shirts and jeans came up to the sides of the car and flung open each door. Evie screamed as the man on her side reached in and gripped her hair, pulling her out of the vehicle. That’s when I felt my own pain. I looked up into the eyes of evil. Demon, although I had not named him at this point, was grabbing me by the ankles and pulling me across the seat and out the door, letting my tailbone hit the concrete below me.

 
I swung my fists as hard as I could, but he pinned me down. The next thing I felt was searing pain across my jaw as the world became dizzy. Moments later I fell into the darkness. I don’t know how I got to the cell, but the next thing I knew, I was being woken up with a bucket of ice cold water.

* * *

PRESENT DAY

NOVA

 My eyes were squeezed tightly closed and I balled myself up into the couch. My mother tried to reach for me, but I winced away from her and whimpered. I briefly heard my name being called, but the blood in my head was rushing and everything sounded distorted.

 A moment later I felt a soft touch on my foot, ever so gently it rested there, testing my reaction before slowly moving in circles to provide some sort of comfort.

 “Nova. You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” I heard a male voice say. Despite my innate fear of men, this voice was familiar, calm, reassuring. I cracked open my eyes and saw Davis sitting on the coffee table in front of me, hand reached out to my foot. We kept our eyes glued to each other as I felt the breath come back into my lungs.

 “Use your phrases, Nova,” he instructed me gently.

 “I’m safe. My parents are right here. I’m home. No one will hurt me. I’m safe, I don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

 “Good girl. Now take a few more deep breaths.”

 I did as he asked, letting the air fill my chest and blowing it out slowly. It took a few minutes before the calm began to take over again. Davis never looked away. He stayed there in front of me, guarding and protecting, making sure I was okay.

 “Thank you,” I whispered when I knew I could speak again.

 He nodded and then released our contact, moving again to his seat, eyes careful and watching, waiting to see if I would need him to talk me down again.

 “I think I’ll just go make some tea.” Mom’s voice cracked as she stood from the couch, moving toward the doorway.

 “Can you continue?” Dad asked me, and I nodded.

 “I need to get this out, or I’ll never do it.” I nodded in the direction of the kitchen and we stood, both men waiting for me to lead the way.

 We soon found ourselves seated around the table, Mom and Dad at one end, Dad comforting her as best he could with his arm around her shoulders and tightly holding her to his chest. I sat on the other end,
scooting slightly closer to Davis so that in the event I needed another quick reality check, he’d be there.

 My cup was a ceramic mug that I had made for my mother when I was twelve. It was a bit lumpy, but I loved it. The hot bitter tea filled my mouth and I sighed with contentment.

 Setting the mug back in front of me, I pulled my hands into my lap and locked my fingers together, letting my mind go back to that day. The day everything changed for good.

* * *

A WEEK AGO

(Sydney, Australia)

NOVA

 
I was gasping for air. Freezing cold water was rushing over my face in a waterfall that stole my breath away. My eyes flew open and I pushed myself up, screaming. A quick flash of pain seared my cheek as the rest of the water was poured out across my body.

 
My vision was blurry, but I heard multiple voices around me. I was in a narrow, tiny room I would soon know as my cell. The small mattress rested beneath me, bare and soiled. I heard a scream coming through the wall and I wanted to match it and cry out, too. To let whoever was over there know that they were not alone, and I was here with them.

 
Demon looked down at me and snickered. “It’s time.” He motioned to a few men behind him. They quickly pushed inside the circle of men and reached down, each one holding an arm.

 
Within minutes, everything was over. I was screaming tortured sounds as each of the men claimed me and tried to break me into submission. I tried to fight. I tried, but eventually I was knocked unconscious.

 * * *

PRESENT DAY

(Jamestown, Texas)

NOVA

 “You can imagine what happened from then on. Pretty much every day was the same, but different men, sometimes one, sometimes more than one.” I reached up to wipe my face, trying to clear away the hatred that poured from my eyes. I felt Davis’ foot nudge mine beneath the table, not pushing but just offering me some sort of contact in hopes it would give me some form of comfort. Strangely, it did.

 My mom lost it, then. She turned her face into my father’s chest and began to weep loudly. My father’s eyes were red and wet, tears streaming down his hard face as he just stared in fright at my words. Not knowing what to say or do, he just wrapped his arm around my mother and held her to him, never taking his eyes off me.

 Noticing my discomfort, Davis stood. “Let’s take a walk,” he said as he offered me his hand, waiting to see if I would take it. I didn’t, but I stood and moved toward the door. Stopping by my mother and father, I bent to kiss my dad on his cheek.

 “I love you. I’m sorry.” I whispered before pushing open the screen door and walking out to the creaking porch. Davis followed closely behind as I turned the corner and headed
toward the swing. Sitting down, I waited for Davis to take a seat and then pushed my toes into the boards below me, setting us into motion. Davis kept the rhythm so I wouldn’t have to use my energy to keep both of us moving.

 “Thank you for trusting me, Nova.”

 I nodded and looked out at the pasture. “I don’t know why I do. You scare me a little, but I know without a doubt you’d never hurt me on purpose. It’s pretty obvious you just want to see me safe and out of harm’s way.”

 I watch as he nodded briefly, tucking his chin to his chest and fidgeting with his hands.

 “You can’t avoid people forever. Eventually, you’re going to have to get used to
the touch of other people.”

 I knew he was right, but that thought made fear bristle down my skin.

 “What if you just started with a few people, then work your way up? It seems as if your mom and Evie are good. You feel safe enough to touch them. Even Evie’s mom.”