Close My Eyes

 
 
 Chapter 1
 
Chicago
 
Basement of an apartment building.
 
 
She lay, scared, her body shaking. She’d been here for weeks now. He had taken her. She couldn’t believe it. She had rejected him. Explained that she was gay, he had laughed and joked about it. That had been months ago. Now she was locked in this basement. Scared and so alone. He had taken her in the night. She’d only come back from university for the weekend to see her father and a few friends. It was cold. Her naked body shivering. She was tied to a metal bed. The thin mattress hard under her. She knew she was still bleeding from wounds to her back, her butt, and the backs of her legs. He had cut her every time he had raped her. He had hurt her so much. She was now giving up hope of ever being found. She was so cold.
 
            "BETTE!" A voice she knew so well rang out. A voice that she now thought she was making up in her head. She suddenly hoped that the darkness was not playing tricks and that someone really was coming for her. Bryon had left her here first thing this morning bleeding and so very alone.
 
            "BETTE! PLEASE ANSWER ME. PLEASE." Bette listened to her cousin’s voice. She knew that she wasn’t thinking it. It was real. Jake’s voice rang out. She tried to move but the pain was too great. She tried to yell however she was gagged. The small door to the basement opened a blonde woman slowly came down the stairs.
 
"She’s in here Jake!" The blonde cop yelled running towards her and immediately untying her. Jake appeared at the doorway instantly and ran to his cousin. He looked a lot like Bette when it came to facial features but his skin was dark rather then light. He was a huge man and when he knelt beside the blonde cop who was untying Bette’s bonds he towered over both of them.
 
"Oh Bette thank God!" Jake said kissing her temple gently. Bette flinched as images of the attack flooded her brain.
 
"Don’t touch her she’s traumatized," The blonde said.
 
"Okay," he said. He turned around and yelled out, "Carolyn we’re down here! Bring the first aid kit!" Carolyn, Jake’s wife, ran down the stairs holding her first aid kit. She was the best paramedic in the field and she immediately knew what to do. Jake turned to Bette and refrained from touching her as he said, "everything is gonna be alright baby cousin, my partner here captured Bryon and he’s in prison now."
 
"And I’ll make sure he rots there," Jake’s partner said untying the last of the rope.
 
"Alright let me take a look," Carolyn said, "Jake tell them to bring a stretcher."
 
"Yes," Jake said running up the stairs.
 
Bette looked at her blonde savior who was hovering close to her. Her vision focused slightly as her circulation started running again. She could have gasped. The blonde was absolutely gorgeous with that short, silky blonde hair, and dazzling hazel eyes.
 
The blonde smiled sympathetically at her and said, "I’m Sergeant Tina Kennard. Jake’s partner."
 
"T-thank you," Bette managed to say. Her voice was so hoarse from all the screaming she had done.
 
"There’s no need to thank me Bette," Tina said smiling kindly.
 
"Your shoulder is dislocated and your knee is completely shattered," Carolyn said, "you’re gonna need immediate surgery. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to walk right again."
 
Carolyn looked angry.
 
"It’s not your fault Carolyn, we couldn’t find her any sooner," Tina said as Jake and two paramedics ran in with the stretcher.
 
"Wait, let me pop her shoulder back in or she’ll get worse," Carolyn said. "Bette, grab Tina’s hand, this is gonna hurt."
 
Bette lifted her hand grimacing in pain, and Tina gripped it gently. Carolyn gripped the shoulder tightly then with one hard push popped it back into place.
 
"AHHHHH!" Bette screamed as pain ripped through her body. She gripped Tina’s hand so tightly she could have broken her bone.
 
"Oh God," Jake breathed, "is she alright?"
 
"Yes," Carolyn said turning to the other two paramedics. "Take her boys."
 
The paramedics gently carried Bette onto the stretcher then lifted it up. Bette immediately reached for Tina and said, "wait don’t leave me!"
 
Tina rushed to her side and said, "I’m right here! I’m right here!"
 
"She just had a traumatic experience and you’re the one who made it end," Carolyn whispered to Tina as she followed the stretcher out of the room. "She feels safe around you."
 
"Tina do you mind staying with her for a while?" Jake asked worriedly.
 
"No of course not," Tina said, "I’ll stay by her as long as she needs."

TBC?