Isolated Hearts

Chapter 3

I squinted as a bright light was shined in my eyes. A muffled voice was coming from besides me but a slam knocked me back to my senses. Two faces were next to me, one was Braydon but I couldn’t tell who the other one was.
“You can go to school if you want now she is awake.” Braydon hinted but clearly it wasn’t picked up on by the other guy.
“Nah, I will just go with you in a bit, no harm done.” The slightly tanned boy replied, the boy had black fringed hair and a lip piercing with hazel eyes, he looked roughly 17 but I wasn’t sure. Braydon flashed the boy a look of anger but quickly went back to normal.
“Hey Aisling. You are, and have been for a week in the hospital. This is Cal, he is my closest friend.” Cal smiled at me but I just pulled a face of horror. Cal made up some excuse to wait outside as he noticed the awkward tension between everyone. Once he had left, Braydon made sure all the curtains were closed so no one would see; he gripped my chin and pulled me forward as if he was trying to strangle me.
“I have lots of things to say to you, how dare you tell your friends that we abuse you, how dare you collapse and be unconscious for a week and don’t think we are letting you off easily.” Braydon spat in my face before shoving his tongue in my mouth, not allowing me to breathe, until he run out of breath. I could see Cal witnessing all of this happen, through the window of the door, he looked normal until he saw my tears.
“Hey Braydon leave her alone. I thought you were pretty cool until you do this to Aisling, your girlfriend, who is also in hospital and has only just woken from a coma. You are sick in the head.” Cal protested as he stormed in. Braydon span round in surprise and laughed.
“Oh this isn’t that bad, what we do at my house is better.”He smirked at Cal trying to show off.
“Anyway, what are you going to do to stop me? Huh? Nothing.” My head span again but not as violently. Cal was trying to stick up for him and me but it was obvious he was terrified of Braydon.
“I can call the police. What you are doing is wrong. Its sexual abuse especially the rape.” I cringed as he said the word rape but it didn’t affect Braydon, he lost his grin when Cal threatened him.
“Sam will stop you. He is friends with the police force that’s why we avoided being arrested when Sophie and Jasmine told them. You have nothing on us.” Cal pulled a furious face.
“So Sam hurts Aisling as well? The two of you both gang up on this beautiful teenage girl and sexually abuse her.”
“No Sam couldn’t do that to his own daughter; he just calls her names and hits her...” Cal interrupts him.
“Just? There is no ‘just’ in abuse. It’s wrong.” Braydon punches Cal on his chin. Cal holds his chin where it is now bleeding and just glares at Braydon.
“Look Cal if you think about telling a soul Aisling will get killed and it will be your fault.” Braydon smugly declared; Cal looked at me with a face of horror but I didn’t return the look as I would rather be dead then go through more days of being beaten. Cal nods as he looks at the ground; Braydon smiles then leaves the room.
“I’m sorry Cal; you shouldn’t have been dragged into this.” I comforted him.
“No I’m sorry I should’ve known by the way Braydon acted and from his scratches up his arms where you must of fought back.” I nodded.
“It’s not just me being hurt though, its Bailey as well.” He looked up at me, almost crying.
“You mean your step mum? Braydon talks about you a lot.” Cal claimed. I nodded before the silence descended. After a little while I got bored and turned on the hospital’s television, the news was on. I let out a gasp at the sight of Sophie and Jasmine being on there.
“Oh yeah those two girls went missing nearly a week ago.” He piped up but then quietened down as he saw my sobs.
“They’re Sophie Quinn and Jasmine Johnson, my best friends...” Sam strolled in and demanded that Cal left immediately. Cal waited in the doorway outside with Braydon who was already there. Before any words could be said he hit me round the face as hard as he could.
“Do you know what I have had to do because of you? Well tomorrow you are being discharged from here and we can have a proper conversation.” He laughed at me and left.
“Are you ok? Did he hurt you?” Cal rushed in as soon as possible. I grabbed the sick bowl next to my bed and threw up until no solids were left inside of me, Cal rubbed my back.
“I’m used to the pain so don’t worry. I just want to sleep.” Cal nodded, sat down and held my hand as I drifted off to sleep.
It was 10 at night when I woke up; emotions were flooding my body leaving me feeling nauseous. Cal was still asleep in the chair next to my bed, I was surprised that the hospital would let him stay after visiting hours but I overlooked it. Barely standing I hobbled over to the window to see where I was, it was Rose Garden Hospital in the centre of Ilfracombe in Devon, and this is the same hospital I was born in.
“Mum I’m sorry... I failed.” I croaked through my tears. A few hours later Cal awoke, his eyes were puffy. I looked at him and then at the window. He sat up and put his hand on top of mine.
“Please don’t cry. Stay strong I will go with you and stay by your side the whole time, okay?” He consoled me. I nodded