He sighed and sank down next to her. She didn’t even notice. She appeared to be in her own World. Slowly, he reached a hand out and rubbed her shoulder.
Celeste jumped and let out a small shriek. She pulled away from Nick.
“Oh God, Celeste, I’m sorry.” Nick quickly apologized. He reached out and pulled the trembling girl into his arms. “Baby, shhhh..” He rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.
Finally, after her body had stopped its tremors, he pulled her back. “Honey, you wanna go get some more of your things?” He smoothed the hair away from her face. He had decided that he wasn’t ready to let her go back to her own apartment. And she wasn’t ready either.
She nodded and moved off the sofa, pulling away from him.
“Alright, let’s go then.” He rose and reached out, grabbing her hand into his. Then he led her out of the room and towards his front door, grabbing his keys, sunglasses, and wallet on the way.
Soon, they were in his Durango, speeding towards her place in Orlando.
Nick parked the car in her parking lot, and they climbed out. They headed into the building and to her apartment. She reached out and gripped his hand as they neared the door.
Nick pulled her closer to him as he stuck the key in the lock and opened the door. Cautiously he stuck his head in and looked around. Seemed safe to him. He pushed the door open wider and let her move in first. “It’s okay Celeste.”
She entered her apartment and wrapped her arms around herself.
Nick came in behind her and together they moved to her room to pack up more belongings.
They quickly managed to pack two bags, and Celeste was working on a third. Nick didn’t really care how much she brought with her, cuz it meant the less they had to come back here. “Baby,” he called to her as he grabbed the two bags, one in each hand. “I’m gonna go throw these in my Durango, then go grab your mail. I’ll be right back.”
She just nodded and continued to fold some shirts.
Nick moved out of her room and down the hallway. He passed through the kitchen and managed to pull the door open. Stepping out in the hallway, he shut it securely behind him and moved down the hallway and out to his vehicle.
After tossing the bags in the back he entered the building again, and grabbed her mail out of her little box. As he neared her door, he sorted through what she’d received. “Junk, junk, magazine, bill….save that.” He tucked it in his shirt pocket. “Bill…that too.” That one went in also. “Junk.” He grabbed the door handle and swung the door open, only to be greeted with Celeste’s screams.
Nick didn’t even hesitate. He dropped the mail onto the counter and bolted down the hallway, skidding to a stop in her room. Celeste lay thrown on the bed, her shirt ripped open, her pants haphazardly tugged on. A flash in the corner of his eye caught Nick’s attention and he turned to see a blur of blue escaping out the sliding door in Celeste’s room.
Without a second thought, Nick bolted for the door, pushing it all the way open and racing after the perpetrator. He spotted a flash of blue round the corner to the apartments and he pushed his legs in that direction. Nick could feel his blood boiling as he ran. He was gonna kill this guy. That’s the only thought that raced through his mind. This guy was dead.
Nick rounded the corner and spotted the guy nearing the passanger side of a black Ford Ranger. He raced down the small incline and to the parking lot. His heart beating against his lungs. He’d never pushed himself so hard before, ever. He was so close. He could see the guy flinging the door open.
He made it to the lot as the truck backed out and skidded off, leaving a cloud of exhaust, right in Nick’s face. He coughed and tried to make out the license plate. Anything he could give the police. But they were already too far away.
Defeated, he hung his head and kicked at some loose stones, yelling out curses. Damnit, damnit, damnit. That had probably been the same idiot who had raped her in the first place. What the hell had he been doing there? Lying in wait for her to show up so he could do it again? Then he remembered Celeste. Shit. And he bolted back into the building and to her apartment.
He found her curled into a ball on her bed, her arms wrapped tight around her legs, her head buried in her knees. Her shoulders racked as she sobbed.
Slowly he kneeled down next to her bed. “Celeste?” He was afraid to reach out and touch her. He didn’t want her freaking out again. “Baby, it’s okay. He’s gone.”
She didn’t move.
Nick sighed. His eyes scanned the room. He spotted something in the corner by the bathroom. Getting to his feet, he made his way over to investigate. He immediately recognized the items and pulled his cell phone out. Time to get the police involved once again. The sick fuck had left rope, masking tape, candles, handkerchiefs, and a long black box of some kind. He didn’t want to touch it and find out what was inside. He didn’t want to mess up the evidence.
What the hell had he been intending to do? Wait, Nick knew that answer. But how had he known they were gonna be stopping by today? What had he been doing? Living there, waiting for them? He didn’t think so. Strange.
His eyes roamed back over to Celeste. She still lay in the fetal position. His heart went out to her. Poor girl, it just kept getting worse. He didn’t know what to do, what to say. He just wanted to pull her into his arms and make it all better.
The 911 dispatcher answered the phone, pulling Nick out of his thoughts. He quickly relayed the information and hung up. The police were once again on their way. And this time, they’d better damn well figure something out.
He stuck his phone back into his pocket and moved back to the bed. This time when he sank down on the edge, Celeste pulled herself up and wrapped her arms around him. She clung tightly to him, pressing her face into his side.
Nick wrapped his arms around her. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. Celeste, his poor Celeste. He just wanted to take all her pain away. He was kicking himself for not getting a better look at the guy. For not being quicker and running faster, for not catching the guy and wrapping his arms around his neck, slowly squeezing the life out of them.
‘Nick, stop, don’t think that.’ He scolded himself. He kissed the top of Celeste’s head. They’d figure out who it was. They just had to. And once they did…Nick was going to make sure this guy got a piece of his mind. Oh yeah, that was gonna be nice.