THE HIDDEN ENEMY

Chapter Twelve

I Survived

I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in a room that was not my own. I tried to find out where I was, but my eyes were still blurry as it was adjusting to the bright lights of the room I tried to sit but I couldn't my body as it felt like I was hit by a car, my head was pounding. What happened to me?

Once my eyes adjusted, I knew I was in a hospital bed. At that point, I started recollecting what happen to me, I shiver with fear when I remembered how Eric attacked me and assaulted me in that room where he tired me to the bed and how he was using his belt to hit me, I thought that was the end of my life, but come to think of it how did I survive it? who found me? How was I rescued? I thought he was going to kill me after he was done r"ping me? Did he change his mind and dump my body where they can find me? I had these questions swimming in my head, but all it was doing was making my headache the more.

I could see a whiteboard across from the bed that shows Tuesday 2nd of August and the clock above it reads 4:30 pm. Have I had been out for four days, I felt tears build up in my eyes and slide down my face. I'm so glad I survived Eric's assault, he definitely will be rotting in a jail cell when I get better because I will report him to the authorities and make sure he is jailed

I lay in the bed for a few seconds, trying to get my head wrapped around everything that is going on when I heard light snoring. I turned my head to the right and found both Tonia and my dad there. My dad was sleeping in a chair in the corner even though my dad was asleep I could see the pure exhaustion on his face and how worn out his body was worrying. I felt more tears fall because I knew he would have blamed himself for allowing me to go to the prom. My dad's past time is worrying about me, he isn't an overly protective father since he raised me to be free and less dependent on anyone but it doesn't stop him from worrying about me constantly. Tonia was sitting in the chair next to him, typing away on her laptop, I'm not sure what she was doing, maybe homework or browsing the web for the latest in the fashion world I do not know. But what I do know is that it seemed like she was carrying the world on her shoulders. Her eyes were red and puffy and she looked like she was drained. This friend of mine who is full of energy looks like she was running on an empty stomach because of me I wouldn't be surprised if Tonia has been up the entire time I have been here.

I felt so guilty for being the cause of the stressful state both of them were in now. But right now that doesn't matter, what matters is that I am alive and well and get to see my family and friends again. That p*****t will be dealt with so I need to b grateful that I am laying here and have survived the attack

" Tonia" I whispered in her direction because I didn't have the strength to say it any louder.

Her eyes shot up and locked with mine as she threw her laptop next to her " Uncle James! Uncle James! Wake up" she yelled while shaking my dad awake, never taking her eyes from me.

" What Tonia... Oh my G*d, Christy" my dad exclaimed before jumping out of his chair to go get a nurse.

" Girl, I am sorry I didn't notice he was sick in the head." Tonia cried while holding my hands with tears rolling down her eyes.

" I thought I was going to lose you, you had everyone scared with the way you were going and coming out of unconsciousness." She continued.

Before I could respond to her a nurse was in the room checking on my vital to make sure I was okay. After the nurse finally left the room, I was able to talk to Tonia and my father.

" Sorry I put you both in this state, I never suspected he was sick in the head, I innocently followed him out to the school garden thinking we were only going to talk and breathe in some fresh air as the hall was stuffy and we needed fresh air, I never knew he had a different reason asking me out to the garden."

I explained how he tied me up and forced a pill into my mouth, then forced it in, I explained how he took out his belt and started beating me mercilessly. That he tore my clothes and continued his assault on my body. I also said his plans were to r*p* and kill me so no one will know and that since Sara fought with me and threatened me, she will be the prime suspect and nothing will be linked to him. As I spoke tears were flowing freely from my eyes.

"Is...is that where all the bruises on your chest and body came from? " My dad stuttered out completely shocked. I nodded while I watch anger grow on his face. " I can't believe that ba*t*rd did this to you, to know he has been doing this for a long time and no one noticed or suspected this," he growled while bringing his fist down hard into my bed. He looked furious like he wanted to kill every p*****t in the world. It was a look I have never seen on him as my dad is not a violent person.

Tonia looked from my dad to me and pleaded with my dad to calm down because he was scaring me.

" Uncle please calm down, you are scaring her, you know all that she passed through these past days she has spent in the hospital and we don't want a repeat of it." Tonia pleaded with him.

She then turns her attention to me and moved a piece of my hair out of my eye before asking, " Christy, why didn't you scream or alert someone while they were taking you away?" She asked me.

I bit down on my lower lip, trying not to cry more before uttering any word. " I was going to scream when four guys came out from nowhere and forcefully carried me, but my mouth was covered with clothes and I was not able to scream. I was taken to a van waiting not far from the school gate and was injected with something that made me lose consciousness, a few minutes later I found myself in a room with my legs and hands tied to the bed."

My dad I can see was trying to control his anger, Tonia moved toward me and hugged me but was careful not to hurt the wounds on my body.

" I am sorry I was not by your side when this happened, you must be tasty, let me get you something to drink." She grabbed herself and me something to drink.

I only nodded because I was pressing my lips so hard together to keep myself from crying again. After passing me my drink, she sat next to me and stroked my face while I drank it.

I looked around remembering I was in a hospital because of what Eric did to me, I began to wonder how I can survive it all, like who found me? I looked up and asked "so I don't want to be that person....but..um...how did I survive the attack? Like who found me and saved me from Eric's assault."

My father looked toward Tonia and said what I never knew was the reason I am alive today.

" My dear you need to thank your friends, they are the ones who located your whereabouts and rescue you on time before he carried out his evil plans." My father explains as he looked appreciatively toward Tonia.

Tonia started chuckling which only made me more confused. Not sure what was funny but why?

" You remember the wristwatch you refuse to wear for the party that night?" She asked with a smirk on her face.

" Hum, but what has it got to do about my being alive?" I wonder what the watch has to do, but Tonia's next words made me understand why I should appreciate the fact that it was on me on that day.

" The wristwatch Kings gave us for the party wAs what saved your life I think you were reluctant to put it on for the party because it was too flashy and it ended up saving your life." She explains to me.

" Wait, what? Are you saying what I am thinking? I asked her

" Yeah, you probably remembered him asking us to put it on for the party?" She reminded me.

" Yeah....?

" Well, when Kingsley observed that you didn't return, he went out in search of Eric and you to ensure you were both okay because of Sara's threat but was worried when he didn't see you, so he tried calling your line but it keeps going to voicemail, he became very worried and call me to find out if you had returned inside the hall, I told him, no, so he uses his connection to track you with the tracker in the wristwatch he gave you. When he got your location, he contacted some of his friends in the military to come and rescue you. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the state you were in. Eric is sick in the head, the drugs and other stuff he takes in have made him insane. We found various drugs in the cave where he took hostage." As she explains I saw tears flowing down her face, I was moved because I have never seen Tonia in this state before she was a strong person and not a crying baby.

Oh my fish, I am alive because of a gift Kingsley gave me...wasn't expecting to hear that. So Kingsley is so caring, I am happy I had friends who cared for me.

After Tonia briefed me on how I was rescued, we talk a little bit longer, I discovered Eric and his friends are already in a police cell and that they will be charged in court next week as the case has been registered before a Judge. I was happy to hear that because he won't get to hurt others again and didn't get away with his crime as he planned it.

However, I found myself drifting off and decided we would finish this conversation later on so I could go back to sleep and my dad can go back home while Tonia stay behind to keep me company. I was not surprised that my mother wasn't there when I gain consciousness because I know she was always busy.

I have been in the hospital, now for Five days.... two days awake. I am supposed to be leaving to go home by the end of the week. They had to make sure I was no longer in danger, which is understandable. This has also given them time to prescribe me medication for my anxiety as I still get scared when I remember what brought me to the hospital in the first place and time to meet with a therapist before I start outpatient therapy for six months when I get out of here.

Gosh, hospitals are so boring and the food sucks because they have to be strict with my diet. I need meals that will help me heal quickly. The five days have been on a liquid diet.... yummy.

Wel Tonia has been very helpful these past days as she always comes over to sleep, and brings me school work so I do not lack behind. I can do my assignment and follow up on school work. Kingsley too comes to visit when he is not busy and he always sneaks some chocolate to me. Jenny and my mother have come to visit me too but only stayed for ten minutes and I am sure it was my father and Jenny's insistence that made her come. My brothers wanted to come over when they heard of the assault but my father fave the assurance that everything has been resolved and that I am recovering fast.

My dad has always been by my side too, he makes time in his busy schedule to visit and stay during day time while Tonia was still in school.

Today seems to be boring as there was no one to chat with so I guess I need to figure out how to pass the time, maybe some Tv will help me.

Yes, luckily, I found a channel that is playing a movie I loved, one of my favourite shows' Coming to America ' Just when the true identity of the Prince was about to be revealed, I heard someone cough and I look up to see Kingsley and Tonia by the door holding flowers. I am happy to see them and it means another chance to eat chocolate again.

" Hey, Chris" Kings and Tonia said in unison trying to sound chipper.

" Hey, guys come in," I said as I make good for Tonia to sit beside me on the bed while Kingsley took a seat and sat on it close to the bed.

Kingsley gave me the flower and also the chocolate he bought for me and I thanked him.

We discussed school work for a few minutes and some school gossip about who is dating who and who is celebrating one thing and another in the school. Then Kingsley came up with an idea that took me by surprise.

" Tonia, Christy, I have something I would like to suggest something to both of you because of the incident that happened at the party and I know it will help both of you. You don't have to give me an answer now but when Christy is fully recovered you can let me know what you think about it." He says while Tonia and Look at one another wondering what he had in his mind.

" What is it that you want to suggest?" Tonia asked Kingsley while I was also waiting to hear him.

" I want to get you both registered in a martial training program that will help you with skills to defend yourself and boost your self-confidence." He explained to us and we both look at him like he was speaking in a strange language.

" What did you say? I exclaimed because I don't think I have that energy for such training, I was never a fan of physical activity and here he was suggesting it.

" It is not a bad idea when we come to think about it. if you had that training before, those b*st"rd won't have succeeded in k********g you and you won't be here in the hospital." Tonia reasoned with me.

" It will only take a little sacrifice and it will help make you stronger." Kingsley further said in to try and convince me to accept his offer.

" I will need to think this through because you know I hate physical education so give me some time," I explain to him.

Tonia was already happy that she gets to learn how to defend herself and hope to encourage me to join her for the training.

They stayed on for a bit and watched the movie with me, and then Kingsley decided he was leaving and Tonia like always decided to stay the night with me.