No Longer Afraid (Complete)

The Trail

          She was heaving and grunting as she struggled. Tears began to swell up in her eyes when she saw Anrian. He noticed that she had some bruises on her face. He was quickly running over to her when he has punched in the face by William. Anrian stumbled slightly but quickly recovered. Anrian’s parents stood beside Anrian with their guns at the ready. “Well, isn’t this something? We have guests.”, he spoke mischievously. Sadie’s eyes stared at the scene before her in suspense and fear. Anrian stepped closer to William who stepped back behind Sadie and kissed her temple. Sadie started to cry as he stroked her arms and nuzzled her neck. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my Sadie, now, so why don’t you and your...parents, I’m assuming?...drop your weapons.”, he spoke gently. Suddenly, six guards appeared and took their weapons. William chuckled deeply. “Good, good. I’m so glad we’ve reached a consensus. Now, what I want to know is why are you people here? Especially, you, Anrian. I mean, you got knocked out and still you’re here trying to take Sadie from me.”, he spoke with a grin. Anrian gritted his teeth. “She doesn’t belong to you, William, nor does she love you. Get over it, man. You’re her past and there isn’t a future in it.”, Anrian spoke dignifiedly. William tightened his jaw and looked down at Sadie. She looked up at him and laughed at him through her gag. William’s anger started to grow and burn. Then, he reared his hand back and punched Sadie as hard as he could in her face. Sadie grunted slightly at William’s force. Anrian rushed with rage as he tackled William to the floor and started beating him. Anrian’s parents then started to fight the guards to hold then off from intervening. Sadie was passed out in her chair with a swollen cheek. Anrian gripped William’s throat tightly and stared into his eyes as he struggled for breath. He saw fear in William’s eyes as his light started to steadily dwindle. After Anrian’s parents had beaten all of the guards, Anrian’s father ran over to him while Melissa ran over to Sadie. Anrian father then began to speak gently to his son. “Anrian, let him go. Come on, son, let him go. You’re not a murder. You’re a good man. I know because your mother and I raised you. We raised you to protect, not to murder.”, he said in a whisper. Anrian felt tears start to stream from his eyes. “What if he comes for her again? What if he tries to hurt her again?”, Anrian asked. Anrian’s father sighed. “Then you’ll be there to protect her. We all will but, son, if you do this you will not be the Anrian that Sadie fell in love with.”, Anrian’s father said. Anrian looked over at his father, then back at William, and let go of William’s throat. Anrian’s father quickly apprehended William who was choking madly. Anrian’s father patted him on the back, then dragged William back to their boat. Melissa had managed to untie Sadie and was holding her in her arms. Sadie laid in her arms very disoriented, sobbing softly. “Anrian...Anrian...where are you?”, she managed to say. Anrian quickly dropped to his knees before his mother and Sadie, looking at Sadie’s swollen face. “I’m here, darling. I’m here.”, he spoke gently. Sadie smiled slightly and tried to sit up with help from Melissa. Melissa smile and quickly left the room to check the perimeter. Sadie scooched closer over into Anrian’s chest and leaned her head up against him. “You found me.”, she whispered. Anrian hugged her tightly to himself. “I’ll always find you.”, he smiled. She smiled and snuggled up close to his chest.

          Anrian sat in a chair next to Sadie’s hospital bed. She was sleeping soundly and the last thing Anrian wanted was to wake her up. He stared deeply at her face, studying the bruises around her chin and the bruise on the side of her face. He wondered what William had done to her. Had he r***d her again? Did he torture her? Did he starve her? What happened on that island before he had gotten to her? Then again, did it matter? She was home again with him. He sighed aloud and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Anrian.”, he heard a voice say. He looked up and saw Sadie smiling weakly at him. “Hey love bug.”, he said as he sat on her bed next to her. She giggled. “New nickname?”, she asked. He nodded and gently kissed her forehead. There was a silence between them before Sadie spoke up. “I’m so sorry, Anrian.”, she said. Anrian frowned at her. “I’m so sorry that William hurt you because of me. This...this is all my fault.”, she said with tears in her eyes. Anrian shook his head and planted a gentle kiss on her lip. “Don’t you dare take responsibility for that psycho's actions. You had nothing to do with his messed up personality, Sadie. You just happened to be the person of most interest to him. Not that I blame him, you are pretty hot.”, Anrian joked a little at the end. Sadie shook her head with a giggle. Anrian smiled at her and took her hand in his. “I’m just glad you’re home, babe. I miss you so much it hurt. I hated myself for letting him take you. If only I were stronger, this would’ve never happened.”, Anrian said. Sadie shook her head and cupped Anrian’s cheek in her hand. “If I can’t take responsibility for that psycho’s actions, neither can you. Let’s just move on from this...together.”, Sadie said with a smile. Anrian nodded as he wrapped Sadie up in his arms. After a few moments, they fell fast asleep.

          Sadie sat quietly in the courtroom with her jaw clenched tightly as William, in an orange jumpsuit and shackles, was escorted in by the bailiff. There was this sickly faint smile on his face. No fear, no nervousness, he was oddly relaxed and confident. He looked around the courtroom as the bailiff adjusted his shackles. When his eyes fell on Sadie, his grin widened. He blew a kiss at her and mouthed “I love you”. Sadie glared daggers at him as he sat down in his chair. She sat back with a trembling hand to her lips. She then felt Anrian squeeze her hand reassuringly. She looked over at him and gave him a stressed smile. “All rise.”, the bailiff said as he announced the arrival of the judge. Sadie leaned on Anrian for support as she shakily stood. “You may be seated.”, the judge said.