Vindicated

The Great Escape

**warning graphic and abusive material. Read at your discretion** 

I opened the door to the suite, tip toeing as quietly as I could. I opened the door to my room and closed it quietly behind me.  As soon as I turned around I knew I wasn’t alone.

“You’re little boy toy paid me a visit.”

Fuck. f**k. f**k. I’m in for it now. 

“He’s not my boy toy,” I said. I probably shouldn’t have. Mitch grabbed me by my throat. I swear I heard him growl like the f*****g demon he is.

“He wants you. And it’s interfering with my business. I don’t know what the f**k you told him. But it seems like I have no choice but to share you for a year.  And the next time you tell my desert that she’s tasting that sweet p***y of yours, I’ll kill you” I couldn’t breathe. I wish he’d just kill me right now. And what the f**k does he mean share me. So what knight in shining armor thinks he’s gonna take a piece of me too. f**k that non sense. I’m so sick of men taking parts of me and destroying them. Mitch has such a tight hold on my throat it cuts out my thought process.  I can’t think. I can’t breathe. I feel like this is the end. Everything turns black. 

I wake up to the sun shining in my eyes. It burns. My head is killing me, my throat is killing me. My whole body aches. I look around and I'm on the floor. He f*****g tried to kill me. I can’t let this happen again. I quickly stand up and look in the mirror. My whole neck is bruised. My eyes are bloodshot. I have dried blood coming out of my nose. He’s gonna kill me. I can’t stay here. I need to get away. I start tip-toeing around the room gathering all my clothes in a bag. I didn’t care if I left with nothing. Living on the streets would be heaven compared to the hell I’m living. No amount of money could make me stay. I opened the door to my room and looked around. I didn’t see any sign of him. This was my chance. But something stopped me. I heard crying. God damnit. Stella is crying. Was he doing to her what he did to me? Should I save her and risk my life or just run like a bat out of hell. I went against my better judgment and ran towards Mitch’s room.

“Please stop Mitch! It hurts,” I hear Stella screaming. 

“Shut the f**k up slut. You wanted this. You wanted this life with me. You are nothing but a slut and you’re gonna take your punishment. Classy girls don’t go after taken men. You knew what you were getting into. Now shut the f**k up and take it. If I can’t have Mariah for the next year, you are f*****g mine.” 

Stella is screaming at this point. I burst open the door. Mitch is on top of her hitting her and violating her. I ran to push him off of her. He pushed me away and I fell against the dresser. 

“Mind your f*****g busines b***h. You’re next,” Mitch hissed. 

I looked around and found an empty bottle of wine. I grabbed it and smashed it over Mitch’s head. He fell on top of Stella. It took everything in me to pull him off of her. She was crying hysterically. I quickly grabbed her hand. I pulled a dress out of my bag and put it on her. She was shaking. I dragged her out of the hotel room. We ran to the elevator.

“Get back here you f*****g sluts. You know I’ll f*****g find you Mariah. And Stella I will f*****g destroy you when I do.” thankfully the elevator closed before he got close enough. I hugged Stella. I didn’t like her at first but she didn’t deserve this either.

“I--I’mm so---so-rr-yy M-Ma-r-iah,” Stella cried. 

“Shh it’s okay, we are safe. Don’t apologize to me. You don’t deserve what happened to you. Mitch is a good pretender.. We don’t have to talk about this now.  Let’s just get somewhere safe”

She nodded. The elevator opened and we ran. When we got to the entrance I saw him again. God he was so beautiful. He quickly ushered both of us to his car. 

“What the f**k happened!” he said. 

“Well, ugh, he almost killed me last night, so I went to umm- escape and I heard Stella- crying. I had to umm- save her. I ss-saved her. He w-w-wass doing the s-s-same thing to her Derek.”

“I’m going to f*****g kill him Mariah. Don’t you f*****g worry. He will never hurt either of you again. What a f*****g piece of s**t. How dare he hurt my beautiful warrior” Derek said almost spitting after every sentence. His knuckles were white gripping the steering wheel. 

“We need to go to the hospital. We need to get Stella to the hospital. H-he r-r-aped her.We need to get looked at. We need the police. We need to end him once and for all.”

Stella couldn’t speak, all that fell were tears. I held onto her the whole time not letting her go. I’m glad she had me in this moment. We would be bonded for life. I had no one not, until now.  

We pulled up to the hospital and I helped Stella to the entrance. Derek called security to make sure Mitch didn’t step foot in this hospital. So he couldn’t hurt us again.  

I told the nurses  she was my cousin. I didn’t want to leave her. I couldn’t leave her. I know what it’s like to be violated. To be ruined. Mitch ruined me. He ruined Stella. I wish I could have warned her.

“Good morning ladies. I’m Dr. Roberts. I know this is very hard for you. But I need to know everything. I need to examine you both. You are very lucky girls to have gotten away.” said this beautiful middle aged woman. She had long brown hair. She reminded me of my mother. 

“I--it’s okay Stella. I’ll stay by your side, the whole time. I’ll hold your hand. You aren’t alone.”

“Why are you being so nice to me? I was so mean to you. I had an affair with that monster. I hurt you.”

“No, you didn’t hurt me. He did this. He doesn’t get to hurt us anymore. I know what it’s like. It happens to me almost daily. It’s okay. We are gonna get through this.”

She squeezed my hand. The doctor finished her exam. The police came in to take her statement. 

I left the room cause the doctor wanted to examine me. Derek was waiting outside. 

"If it's okay, I'd like to come in and hold your hand. This can't be easy for you," Derek said to me. I needed someone. I was terrified even if I wasn't showing it. 

I nodded and took his hand.  The nurses gave me a gown to change into. Derek turned his head. I quickly undressed and put on the gown. I sat on the hospital bed waiting for Dr. Roberts to come in. I'm so nervous. I've never told anyone my story before. I started chewing my nails. Derek noticed and grabbed my hand. 

"It's okay. You're safe now. He can't hurt you anymore Mariah."

"I know, but it's just I've never told anyone my story. I don't know if I can..."

"It's okay just go at your pace. I'm right here, I'm not leaving your side.

I let out a small smile. He kissed my hand. I felt the butterflies in my stomach. What did I do to deserve such a caring person beside me. I heard a knock at the door, it was Dr. Roberts. 

"Good to see you again Mariah. You are so brave. You most know that. Not many woman would save their abusers mistress. Now I'm gonna do a full exam. If you are uncomfortable with anyone being in the room I can ask them to leave."

"No, it's okay. I don't want to be alone."

"okay I'm gonna open your gown and look at your wounds, okay?"

I nodded. I closed my eyes. I heard Derek gasp and squeeze my hand. Tears started flowing. 

"Mariah,  your wounds look pretty severe. Your neck is very concerning. So are your ribs. I'm gonna have the nurses do some blood work and run some xrays. Once we do all that, I'll let the police come in and take your statement." 

I nodded again. I was absolutely terrified. Dr. Roberts walked out of the room. Derek leaned over and kissed my cheek

"I will kill him Mariah. Just say the words and he's gone. I'm so sorry you had to go through this my beautiful warrior."

"No, let the police handle it. I'll be okay just a few bruises. I need to check on Stella."

"Sweetheart you aren't going anywhere, let them do what they need to and then you can see Stella."

I nodded. I feel like a victim you see on TV. I don't want to be a victim. I want out of here. All I wanted was for Stella to be okay.  

***************************************************************************************

After X-rays, blood work, and embarrassing exams, I'm waiting for the results. This is torture to make me relive the moments I've tried so hard to forget. I just want to see Stella and make sure she is okay. 

"Ms. Evermore, I'm detective Lisa Marks and this is my partner Peter Diego. I would like to ask you a few questions about what happened in the past 48 hours. I know this isn't easy but we need all details. I promise you we do everything in our power to make sure we put this man behind bars. We just need all the evidence we can get."

"Oo-kkayy," I said nervously. I gulped. I wasn't ready for this but it was the all way Stella would get justice. The only way I could ensure that Mitch would never hurt us again. I started telling the tale of the past 48 hours. I explained that he had almost killed me and when I was attempting to escape I heard Stella. I couldn't leave her behind knowing he would do the same to her as he did to me maybe even worse. I was lucky to make it out alive. 

"Ms. Evermore"

"Mariah,"

"Mariah, you are brave. What you did was courageous and very dangerous. I'm glad you are okay. I have everything I need statement wise. But I wanted to ask your permission for the nurses to take pictures for evidence."

"Of course. Anything to help"

The nurses came in had me stand against the wall. This was just as violating as what I went through. When they were finished Dr. Roberts came in. 

"Mariah, it seems that you have some broken bones. Some old ones and some new ones. I'm gonna wrap your ribs. Give you something for the pain and I'm gonna give you something to help calm you down so you can sleep. After I treat your hear I'm gonna discharge you. Do you have a safe place you can go? I know some programs that have great shelter for women like you."

"She's staying with me," Derek said sternly. 

"W-what about Stella?I can't leave Stella," I asked

He started rubbing his neck. "Stella can stay with us too, if it means you will stay safe. I have security guards. I can keep you both safe."

"Okay, then I have a safe place for now Doc, thank you! Can you take me to Stella after you are done, I need to check on her."

"Of course, Mariah."  she smiled at me. 

After a half hour of getting bandaged up, the nurses wheeled me to Stella.  

"Stella! Are you okay? I've been so worried!," I exclaimed

I turned my head to see Derek talking to Dr. Roberts

"Mr. Sky, may I have a word with you?," she said.  

He kissed my cheek and walked outside. 

At that moment I didn't care. I was by Stella's side.

"Yes, I think so. I don't know what I'm gonna do, What if he comes after me? What if he comes after you?" she said crying

"Shhh..don't worry. Mr. Sky said we can stay with him. He has security guards. He can keep us safe. It's going to be okay. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

"Really? What am I gonna do about work? How will people perceive me. My life is ruined. I can't burden you or him with this. I don't deserve your friendship. I was so awful to you.'

"Stop it. If you don't stay there, then I'm not staying there. I want you to be safe. Stop worrying. Derek will handle it.  He will keep this discreet. No one will have to know. Mitch thinks we don't deserve anything. But we do. You do. I don't care what happened before. We both experienced the same thing. Whether we like it or not we are bonded for life. Let's start over. My names Mariah and I am a warrior."

Stella smiles," I'd like that. My name is Stella and I too am a warrior." We hugged. 

She's my survivor sister for life. We are gonna make it out of this alive. I can't let Mitch ruin my life anymore. Even if he comes back for me, I am gonna fight. I will fight until I cannot breathe. I hope that time doesn't ever come but unfortunately I know how this story ends..

Thank you reading so far!! I'll try to update as much as possible!!