“Are you okay?” Chris asks, concerned.
“Yeah… Just please come get me. I’m sorry.” Her voice cracks, almost breaking down into tears.
“It’s okay, where are you?” He asks in his house as he begins to put on his jacket.
“Just down my street. On the corner of Castle and Moxham.” She says, sniffling a little.
“I’ll be right there. Don’t move.” Chris says and then leaves hastily.
Emmy stands there waiting, eager for him to come pick her up. She looks worried as she sees a couple of older drunk guys stumbling their way down the street. She stands on the edge of the sidewalk, looking ahead and folding her arms, hoping they ignore her. They walk past and instantly take notice. “Hey baby, what you doing out here all alone?” One of them slurs arrogantly.
“Mmm, look at that.” The other hisses while staring directly at her ass.
“You wanna party tonight?” The first one asks.
“Leave me alone please.” She says while beginning to walk away.
“Oh, come on baby. Don’t be like that. You’re breakin’ my heart.” One of them chuckles while walking towards her. “Come on and hang with us, we’ll treat you right.” He says in an insincere tone and getting closer to her. They remind her of Derek and Tyler.
Emmy walks faster. “I said leave me alone.” She says louder. She’s not used to talking back to guys.
“I don’t take orders from some bitch.” He says angrily. Emmy is relieved when he sees Chris’s car pull up to the sidewalk. She looks at him with desperation and fear.
He gets out of the car quickly, noticing the two adult men. “Keep walking or I’ll bust your teeth in.” He says sternly and loudly while flashing his badge as he approaches them. They heed his warning and continue walking down the street. “Are you alright?” He grabs her shoulders gently and looks down at her, into her eyes.
“Yeah. They just said some things to me.” Emmy replies, visibly shaken.
“Okay, let’s get you to my place and we’ll discuss it there.” He puts his hand on her back and leads her to the car. He shuts her door and gets in and drives off.
They’re in his kitchen sitting down. He made her some hot cocoa. “What’s that on your neck?” He asks curiously, noticing the marks and bruising around her neck.
“Oh… Umm…” She stammers, realizing that despite zipping her jacket up all the way the marks are still visible.
Chris’s mouth drops as he begins to get upset. “Did Ray fuckin’ do this?” He asks, ready to flip his lid.
“No, no… No, he didn’t touch me.” She says, looking down.
“Are you sure? Don’t be afraid to tell me anything, Emmy. I’m a cop and I’m your uncle and I love you.” He says, holding her hand gently as she smiles a little and then looks back down.
She gulps. “There’s a lot I have to tell you…” She begins. Emmy tells him about Keith and how she first got involved with him in that way a few years ago. While fighting back tears she tells him about how he raped her, used her and manipulated her but she doesn’t tell him the full truth. Emmy only tells Chris that it happened a few dozen times over the past few years. She tells him that he choked her tonight and she couldn’t take it anymore. It’s also difficult for her as she still feels a twisted obligation to Keith and a need for his abuse.
Suddenly a lot of things about his niece begin to make sense to Chris, along with the abandonment by her father. “Emmy… Why didn’t you come to me sooner?” He says with sullen eyebrows, sitting closer to her as he holds her hand. He practices restraint as inside he’s boiling with anger and rage just hearing about this. He wants to kill Keith.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.” She breaks down into tears, crying hysterically.
“Oh, baby. No, no, no. It’s not your fault. You were manipulated and used by a predator. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He reassures her but she doesn’t believe that. “Come here.” Chris says before putting his arms around her and holding her head into his chest while she cries. “It’s going to be okay, shh…” He says softly while holding her tight and stroking the hair on the back of her head. “It’s over now. It’s all over. We’ll get through this.” He whispers lovingly. Emmy buries her face into his sturdy chest, feeling true safety and comfort for the first time in a long time.
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