THE HIDDEN ENEMY

Chapter 10

The fever.

Christy was still in deep pain and feeling funny due to the d**g that Eric gave her and she was not aware of what was happening around her as the effect of the drugs is yet to wear off. Antonia was afraid for her friend because she never expected this to happen to her because no one ever thought Eric was a s*x maniac as such she did not suspect any of such things could happen. If Kingsley had not been on the lookout for her, she wondered what could have happened to her. Antonia feels she would not have forgiven herself if anything bad happened to Christy.

Christy is so dear to her and the few months they have been together as friends showed her that Christy is someone decent and not a bad person. She has come to like her and taken her to be part of her family as such she has been very protective of her. Looking at her groaning with desire due to the drugs gave her a lot of concern but all she could do was follow the instructions given by the doctor.

The doctor had given her an injection that could help her sleep but in a little dose because he felt it met affect her negatively due to the d**g Eric gave her.

She took off her clothes and put her in the bathtub with a lot of water to help cool her and then give her water to drink so that the pill will be flushed out of her system.

Antonia has not been able to inform Christy's parents yet because she doesn't know how they are going to take the information about their daughter's a***e but only calls to say Christy will be staying in her house for the night and will be coming back home, the following day.

She was deep in thought and never realised Christy stood up and was going out of the bathtub without clothes on. She came back to her senses when she felt moved by the door and thinking it was someone else coming into her room raised her eyes to see who it was only for her to see Christy going out of the bathroom

"Come back here, you can't leave the bath because your body temperature needs to be out in check. Christy, please try not to make this difficult for me."

Antonia almost in a tears rushed to take her back into the bathing tub. The injection the doctor gave her did not take effect immediately because of the effect of the d**g Eric gave her

"Leave me alone, I feel like flying high like a bird."

I softly talked to her, trying to calm her down so I could put her in the tub with no struggle at all

"I know you want to fly but you need to wash your body first and get dressed before we can go flying"

She soothing spoke to her leading her into the bath. Christy obediently enters the bath happy that she will be going flying after her bath.

"Hippie! Yes flying we go, I will take my bath mommy don't worry and I will be a good girl I promise you, mom"

Antonia just sat by the bathing tub crying silently as she saw the trauma her friend was going through. She couldn't believe people can be so cruel when she remembered the situation they found her in when they got there with the armed men. Her body was all bruised from the whipped she received from Eric and there was blood on the floor, also the bed too was soaked with blood. He was on the verge of r*p*ing her when they got there. She just laid there lifeless like someone dead and that scared the s**t out of her. She thought she has lost a friend but was relieved when she spoke to ask for someone to help her out. Her voice was very faint and it was difficult to hear her at first but she letter summoned up the courage to shout for help. Tears rolled down Antonia's eyes as she quickly use the sheet on the bed to cover her almost n***d body. She shivered as she thought about the scene she just witnessed some hour ago. She was deep in thought and never realise Christy was not making any sound again. When she turns to take a look at her, she discovered she has slept off, she gently took her out of the bathing tub so as not to hurt her bruised body. She laid her face down on the bed and covered her body to prevent her from catching a cold.

Eric and his g**g were beaten by the armed men before they took them to the police station and Kingsley promised that he will use his to make sure he rots in Jail.

While sitting down thinking about the incident Kingsley called to find out how Christy was doing.

"Hello, Tonia how is she?" Kingsley asked

" She is sleeping now but her body is all bruised, some of her skin is broken and I know by morning if I don't take her to the hospital the pain would be unbearable for her to bear." She explains to Kingsley who felt bad for not having gotten there much faster.

"Is it that bad that you have to take her to the hospital?" He inquired

" The doctor feels it better so he can examine her better, Kings you need to see what that monster did to her, this is going to traumatise her for the rest of her life, you know how delicate her heart is." Antonia expresses to him.

" We just have to ensure she gets over it by helping her through the whole ordeal," Kingsley advise as he too knew it won't be easy for her.

They both chatted for some time before he hung up and Tonia took out a camp bed from her closet and lay it down ready to go to sleep. She heard Christy mumbling and went close to her and realise she was having a traumatic attack, she help calm her before giving her water to drink as the doctor had told her to do so the d**g can wear off from her system.

She then went to lay down, she took her phone to set an alarm for the next water therapy she was going to give to Christy. She then relaxed and slept off.

The next day Antonia went to the kitchen to prepare something for Christy to eat. On getting to the kitchen she met her parents in the dining room eating, breakfast.

"Good morning Mom, good morning Dad.'

She greeted as she made her way to the cookstove to start preparing something for herself and her friend. But her mother observed she was having a dark circle under her eyes, also looking sad and she inquired to know why she didn't sleep and with a sad face which is very unlike her.

"Honey, what is wrong with you, it seemed you didn't sleep a wink last night. What seems to bother you, you look so sad."

Mother asked her while still observing for her to see if there was something wrong. Antonia couldn't help but burst into tears as she remembered what happened to her friend, her mother stood up and went closer to comfort her by holding her in a hug and patting her on her back to help calm her.

"Hey! Honey, what is the matter? Please talk to me. Did anyone hurt you at the party yesterday? Or do you have a fever? Why are you sad?"

She asked while placing her hands on her forehead to see if her temperature was high.

"It's not... Me, mother, Christy was assaulted yesterday and was almost r*p*.

She told her mother while trying to control the flow of tears in her eyes. Her father couldn't believe what he heard and spoke up

"What! How did that happen? Who is the p*****t that did that to her? How is she now?"

Antonia's father who has been waiting to see the cause of her daughter's sad face and tears was very furious to hear such a demeaning thing.

"We never suspected anything when he came to ask her to be his date for the Prom because he has always been a good student ever since we knew him but was shocked yesterday when we heard he was a p*****t that se*****l assaulted a woman with his group of friends. He tricked her into believing that he liked her and made her feel she was special without us suspecting he was up to something bad. Dad, you can't imagine the state we met her in yesterday when we went to rescue her from him. Her whole body was all bruised and there was blood everywhere. He tore her clothes and underwear too, had it not been for our timely intervention he would have broken her completely. He drugged her and I had to make sure the drugs wear off of her body a bit before I could sleep. I don't dare to tell her parents but only told them that she was going to spend the night at my place and she would have called herself but her phone got lost. Daddy, it was a horrible scene. The doctor came and gave her an injection that helped her sleep but says I have to give her water to drain the d**g from her system. I need to give her something to eat so I can prepare her for the hospital."

Antonia tearfully explained to her parents who listened to every detail of what she described to them. There was a surprised look on both of their faces because they found it hard to believe that such a person could be among the students.

"So what happened to the no-good son of a b*t*h, has he been arrested? I am going to see that he rot in a jail cell. "

Her father said furiously with rage in his voice as he reflected on what his daughter told him.

"Is it that serious that she needs to go to the hospital? But her parents need to know too, so they can also take legal action against him?"

She explained to her daughter as she pacifies her to calm her down, she was a bit shaken by what she just heard as such she trembles as she thought of what Christy must have gone through in the of the p*****t.

"I need to ensure she is okay so as not to make her father panic when he sees all the bruises on her because it is a horrible sight to behold. You can imagine the sight of it. The doctor asked me to come to the hospital with her"

"Notwithstanding they still need to know what happened to their daughter, I will give them a call to let them know what happened, Meanwhile try getting her something to eat and make sure she is okay. I take you both to see the doctor and give a general check-up to ensure there are no broken ribs."

Her daddy told her while picking up his phone to make a call through to Christy's dad. After about the second ring Christy's dad picked up the call.

"Hello Mr carter, how was your night.? Mr Brown greeted Christy's father

Antonia heard her father greeting him while she starts preparing breakfast.

Hello, I had a great night. how are you and everyone over there? Thanks for having my daughter over at your house." Mr carter responds to the greeting.

Christy's dad responded to Mr Brown while wondering what the call might be for because it is very rare for him to get a call from him.

"We are all okay. I don't know if you can make it to my house this morning, we need to discuss something and I don't think it will be appropriate to discuss it on phone."

This gave Christy's dad a cause for concern as this was the first time he asked to seek an audience with him though they have attended some parties to which he invited his family they barely have much to discuss as they are both very busy men.

"I hope it's not something serious that you asked to see me early this morning."

Carter said with his voice sounding worried. To make him less worried he thought of a way to present the issue without getting him worried.

"It's not something serious I just want to see you over some issues which I will make known to you. And please I will love it if you can come as quick as possible as I will be leaving the house soon."

He tried his best to make Carter less worried.

"I hope it is not about Christy. I will try to be there in an hour, will that be okay with you."

Carter asked as he starts getting set to go over to Brown's house.

"That will be fine with me."

Brown replies while evading his question about Christy.

Antonia finish cooking and set the food on the tray preparing to go give it to Christy. She thanked her father for helping her out with Christy's father while heading upstairs to give Christy the food she prepared.

"It's no big deal, my princess. Just make sure you take care of her, her father will be coming soon. Meanwhile, I will speak with my lawyer to seek his option on the issue."

Antonia's father said as he stood up heading towards the office he uses the time he wants to stay at home to work when he is not in the mood of going out or when there is no important matter to tend to in his office.

Antonia entered her room and was ready to ask Christy to eat breakfast when she realized Christy's cheeks were flushed and she was breathing rapidly with a layer of sweat on her forehead, seeing that she was, unconscious Antonia touched her forehead, and she could tell that her temperature was very high.

Antonia frowned and called out to her but she didn't respond to her call.

"Hey Girlie, Christy"

She continued to call out to her but she did not respond at all. She became worried and immediately picked up her phone to call the family doctor who took care of her yesterday when she brought her to her house after she was rescued

" Hello". Please, Sir, come over to my house, the patient you treated yesterday is having a high fever and I don't know how to handle it and I don't think we can come to the hospital now so as not to get her parents worried" She explained to the doctor

She glanced at Christy on the bed and her eyes flashed a bit with anxiety. " Please be quick Sir".

The doctor immediately said, " What happened? Are you sure you gave her the water according to how I asked you to do? Please tell me the main symptoms so I can make some preparation before coming".

Antonia: The temperature seems to be rising and she seems to be going in and out of an unconscious state.

This was an indication that the d**g is still in her system, I wonder about the number of doses he gave her. The doctor said to himself

"I will be there immediately. You can make a natural cooling with an ice towel, it is best to let her down flat, do not allow her to move and pay close attention to her pulse rate at all times.

Antonia was afraid for her friend because of the bruises that were obvious on her body.

"Okay, Doc, but make it here fast as I can't bear to see her like this.

Hanging up the phone, Antonia took a towel and soaked it in cold water. She gently wiped Christy's face and forehead according to the doctor's instructions. When she put the icy towel on Christy's hot skin, she shivered and open her eyes in a daze, muttering" please don't hurt me, Eric." She said with tears drop coming out of her eyes.

She was still thinking of the trauma f the previous night, Antonia wiping tears off of her face trying to comfort her.

" Shhhh you are safe now, it's me, Antonia, don't worry he will not touch you again.

Christy was still dizzy with a fever and when she heard her friend's word she relaxed, Antonia then carefully wiped her face, neck and arms too with an icy towel to cool her temperature.

Antonia ran to the kitchen to get the ice cubes that she will put in water to help cool off Christy's temperature after she had made sure that she was calm. She hurried back to her room and pit the ice cubes in the water and then put a towel in the water to help cool off Christy's temperature, Christy continue to mumble words that Antonia can not understand or comprehend. She was able to help her temperature cool down before the doctor came to check on her.