That Night

Chapter two

Alessa scooted closer to Jessamine, and removed her hands from her sides, noticing the cringe that her sister gave.

“What did he do to you?”

“He didn't do anything to me.”

Alessa raised her eyebrow, and pursed her lips. “You’re lying to me. What did he do to you?”

“He kicked me repeatedly. My ribs feel like molten lava inside of my side.”

“Did he really?” She looked mad.

“Alessa, we cant get into anymore fights! We promised Dad!”

“Correction. You’ve gotten beat up, I’ve gotten into too many fights.”

Jessamine didn't know what to say to that. Her sister was telling the truth. She hadn’t gotten into any fights, she just had been kicked like an abused puppy that no one wanted. 

“Look, Jess, if it’ll help you relax a little, I’ll tell dad, and I’ll take the blame.”

“There is no way that i am letting you take the punishment for this.” She went rigid.

“Relax. Here, remember our old lullaby?”

Jessamine thought a minute, then nodded.

Alessa started singing.

“Hush now my story, 

Close your eyes and sleep

Waltzing the waves

Diving the deep

Stars are shining bright

The wind is on the rise

Whispering words of long lost lullabies...”

Alessa kept singing, and bit by bit, Jessamine relaxed, just laying on the blacktop, trying to ignore the ache in her side.

Verse by verse, word for word, rhythm perfect, she carried her voice gently on. Alessa needed no music, her voice had that for her. She didn't want her sister to stop, but the school secretary came out and waved them in. Their teacher helped Jess stand, and they slowly began their way into the school. 

When they got to the principals office, her fathers and Mr. Henry waited for them. The school nurse took one look at Jessamine, and tisked, taking her back into the nurses office. Alessa entered the principals office, and stood there. 

“Ms. Winglock. Thank you for joining us. Please sit down.”

“I’d rather not,” she said simply.

“Alessa Eden!” Her father said in a brisk tone. “Sit down. Right now.”

“But-“

“No buts! Young lady, this is the fourth time in two days that we have been called here.”

“It’s not my fault! It’s Dylans fault! He’s beating the s**t out of Jess! Just earlier today, he repeatedly kicked her and kicked her until he broke her ribs. Then he smashed her face in the blacktop. I couldn’t just stand there. No one dares mess with Dylan!” 

“That doesn’t excuse the fact that this is more than offensive. You, by yourself, have caused two fights a day!”

“But dad! you haven’t seen Jessamine yet! She could barely walk, and her face! It was black and blue! I cant let this keep happening! Dad, one of these times, he is going to kill her!”

The principal sighed. “Dylan is a regular in here for picking on other students, but never for beating up a student. How did this all start?”

Alessa tensed. She was about to tell her fathers something that wasn’t supposed to be mentioned. 

“Um... Dylan had been eyeing her for awhile. Like, looking at her body. And he would look at it like he was hungry..... eventually the creep had the nerve to ask my sister out, and at first she refused. But he threatened her, and she caved. When she told us that she was going to a friends house, really she had been bullied and threatened into going over to Dylans house for his pleasure. Jess was too scared to tell an adult, and she was very reluctant to even tell me!”

“That’s.... interesting,” muttered her father. “And you’re telling me that he has been harassing her and threatening her?”

“Yes dad! But that’s not all. Eventually, she stopped going over there to entertain his fantasies, and that was when he started trying to kill her.”

The principal frowned deeply. He then turned to his computer and started typing. Once he found what he was looking for, he picked up the phone and dialed a number. 

It was silent then, “Hello. Is Mr. or Mrs. Knight home?”

Again, he stopped talking, then started to talk in a low voice that was hard to interpret what he was saying. Her fathers seemed to be looking her over, satisfied that he had not hurt her. 

The principal hung up, and then typed in a couple numbers. “Dylan Knight, please report to the office immediately.”

In the following long, quiet minutes, Jessamine was brought in. Both of her parents jumped and went to her. Despite the bruising, her face started to flush red.

Even the principal was concerned. He stood, and went to Jess. “Was this Dylan?”

Alessa watched her sister start shaking like a leaf. She moved her mouth, but nothing came out. 

“It’s okay Jessamine. This is not your fault, I assure you.”

She started to cry. Alessa moved closer. 

“Jess, c’mon sis, tell him. He cant help you if you don't tell him what happened.”

“I’m scared,” Jess whispered. “I’m afraid of Dylan.”

“It will be okay. Tell him everything.”

“Jessamine, if it will help you, I can ask for your fathers and sister to leave the room.”

She looked to her fathers, then to Alessa, then she stared at the ground. She seemed to struggle with the thought of asking everyone to leave. Instead of answering, she sank to the ground, and wrapped her arms around her knees.

After a few moments of sitting in silence, she said, “Yes. It would help greatly.”

Her family nodded in understanding. They stood and quietly left. The principal helped her stand up and directed her the chair Alessa had just barely occupied.

“Now, Jess, I need you to tell me everything. We cannot help you, or cannot get you help, until we know what is going on. Please be honest, and dont sugar coat anything, okay?” Mr. Henry sat in his chair behind the desk.

“Okay.”

“Alright, now i need to ask you a few questions, and you need to answer them honestly. First one. Does Dylan bother you daily?”

“Yes.”

“What does he say to you?”

Jessamine swallowed hard. “H-he tells me what I can and cannot do. He tells me that i am ugly, and that I am worthless without him.”

Mr. Henry leaned back in his chair. “Do you believe him?”

“Absolutely not!” She said, bolting upright in her chair. “I do very well without him. He hurt me! He’s r***d me, hit me, bruised me, all for his sick little pleasure! And there is nothing that I can do about it! He’s already threatened to kill me!”

“Jess,” he said quietly. “What did you just say?”

Her heart started to hammer. What had she just said? In her moment of anger, she had spilled the very truth that Dylan forbid her to tell. 

“I said nothing!” She replied, curling in on herself. She was not going to repeat it again.

“He’s r***d you, hit you, and threatened you?”

She groaned quietly. Dylan was going to kill her for this.

“Yes,” she replied. 

“Why didn't you report this?”

“Because I’m scared, okay? I’m scared that he was going to find out, and he was going to hurt me more! Would you be able to tell everyone what was going on if you were me?”

Mr. Henry sat quietly for a few minutes. “I suppose I wouldn’t.”

“Then you see my exact problem.”

“But your family-“

“Wouldn’t be able to protect me,” she finished. “If Dylan wants me dead, or wants to hurt me, he’d do anything to make sure it was done.”

“I see,” the principal said. “I want you to go home, Jessamine, and don't worry about Dylan. I’ll be handling him quite well.”

Jessamine just stared. Her heart raced faster. “No! Please don't punish him, it’ll only make it worse!”

“I have no choice Ms. Winglock. Now please, go home.”