Josh listened in silence, not knowing what to say or to believe. Well, he had to believe it. His fiancee was in the hospital shot, raped, and badly beaten up. Leo came in and comforted her as if he had been listening, then walked out as the police showed up. The officer at the door was, at the moment surprisingly, his father, and they locked eyes. Josh looked as she took off the ring and placed it next to her heart, her words breaking his heart. She stood, hovering over him for a moment before he stood as well, his knees cracking quietly from the slow movement. It seemed like his entire body was heavy with sorrow. He gently grabbed the ring from her and turned it over in his hand, his voice a whisper. "I propose to you because I loved you. I loved you because you meant the world to me," he said, closing his fist over it for a moment. He looked down at Evangeline and locked eyes with her, his face washed of all emotion. Then, almost like the light at the end of a very dark tunnel, he smiled. Small. "And now you mean more than the world to me. And I love you still. And my proposal is still on the table. Or, on your finger rather." He held his hand out to her to take the ring back and leaned down to kiss her on the lips.
Josh's father came in then and coughed softly. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we need a statement, Evangeline," he said, holding his hand in his hands in front of his body. "When you're ready." With that he stepped out. It was just a gentle reminder that Josh wasn't the only one interested in hearing the story now.
Evangeline closed her eyes for a small moment before locking eyes with Josh, hearing the words she had hoped for but did not expect. She placed his hand in his as he kissed her, feeling warmth and comfort overcome her being. As the kiss broke, her eyes looked at her soon to be father in law with a soft but serious look. She would have to give names and numerous reports would have to be filed since this was a shooting, rape, and kidnapping case. Once he left she looked at Josh once more before taking the ring and sliding it on her finger. "You surprise me more and more each day....Once the police take my statement....you can ask me any question...and I will answer honestly..." Feeling slightly dizzy she sat down and sighed. "I hope I get a change of clothes out of this..." she grumbled crossing her arms. She hated looking a wreck and Josh knew that all too well.
"I love you Josh..." she said with a small smile on her face as she noticed Josh's father enter once more. As Josh left Eva sat on the edge of the bed eyeing the man that captured her parents. "Didn't think this case would come back to haunt you did it?" she said with a small smile. "Where would like me to start? The first time my parents contacted me before they died or just from the part where I was shot and kidnapped?" She relaxed in the bed as more officers entered with the rape kit, ready to swab for evidence. "The group that kidnapped me....my parents corresponded with and even owe a debt. They are bigger than just two serial killers with a daughter who is being expected by this said group to carry on their legacy." She grimaced as the examination and questioning began.
The singer told Josh's father most everything she could. She left out minor details about her protecting him and his family and some of the killings, but warned that they would be targets in the days to come. She told him of Drake and Max and seeing their faces. She didn't know of any other familiar face but assumed there were more. She couldn't give too many details because most of it was a haze to her. "That's all I can give....if I find out more or know of anything then I will give you a call..." she whispered, her eyes filled with tears after the ordeal. A knock on the door and Leo entered with folded clothes. "I just brought these for her. I knew she would want to be more comfortable." Evangeline smiled and took the clothes...waiting for the police to exit so she could change...though she knew she would probably need help considering she had limited movement with her shoulder for now.
Reentering a moment after his father left, Josh walked over to the bed and took the clothes from Leo. He nodded in thanks and helped Eva out of her clothes and into hers, which consisted of her loose yoga pants and a loose shirt, by orders of the doctor: no restricting clothing. After that, he went into the bathroom and pulled a brush from a cabinet and offered to brush her hair for her. It was something he liked to do, giving him a chance to touch her long, soft hair. Which wasn't very soft anymore. "How do you feel now?" he asked, sitting behind her and running the brush through her hair gently.
Seeing Josh take the clothes from Leo she sighed and let him help her, grimacing at the scars that would be left on her skin from the kidnapping. Her black yoga pants with intricate swirls going up and down the left leg as well as a long sleeve black t-shirt with "Music on" printed on the front in white lettering and "World off" printed on the back in white lettering felt soft against her skin. As she settled back into the hospital bed Josh disappeared into the bathroom and came back out with a brush. Evangeline couldn't help but smile. He liked brushing her hair more so than she liked taking care of it herself. As Josh offered she nodded, feeling him begin to work on the many knots her hair possessed.
Evangeline sighed softly as he asked how she felt. "Tired, sore, scared, wanting to beat a couple faces into the pavement....but...really thankful that you are here..." she finished as she closed her eyes. She wished she was by her piano right now so she could sing or do something. Reaching over to the radio she flicked it on, hearing a few of her songs as she did so. As she flicked through, she heard one of her most recent songs and sang along softly, feeling comforted little by little. As the song faded away she sighed to herself. "When am I allowed to leave this place? I still stand by the fact that we aren't safe here..." she muttered as the lights began to flicker. Yeah....here...not safe...
Josh looked up as the lights flickered, then shook his head. Just a coincidence. A scary coincidence. "When you're able to walk without feeling dizzy or falling over. Especially since they're prescribing you heavy painkillers for your gun wounds," he said, getting the final knot out of her hair. The brush went smoothly through her hair, glossy in the bright light of the hospital fixtures. "What debt do your parents owe?" He put the brush down on the table beside the bed and rested his hands ever so gently on his fiancee's shoulders.
The female sighed and crossed her arms. "I don't need the medicine...I will be just fine without it," she grumbled. She hated taking medicine. It clouded her judgement and abilities and right now...those needed to be in top form. She was just dizzy from the blood loss...and once she had enough blood, she would be walking out that front door and hiding from the world for a good long while. Well...not really hide just be careful. The lights flickered once more, the female biting her lip and feeling her hands tremble. She didn't want to go back there...she didn't want Drake to...rape her again...
Feeling hands on her shoulders, Josh's voice flowing into her ears the female bit her lip. "The organization....handles most of the affairs of the black market and murders. When they found out about my parents...they threatened them. If they didn't work for them they would make sure I knew nothing but pain and sadness. They cleaned up after my parents...and because of that...my parents owed them their services. Because my parents were captured...that debt now falls to me. This debt...is not about money but only about what you can offer. For me...I have knowledge of my parents targets and can defend myself...." Not to mention she was famous now...they could use her status to their advantage. "These are all things they want. They will do whatever it takes...they don't mind getting their hands dirty..." She turned to Josh and embraced him close to her. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you and your family...especially...since you all are now going to be mixed up in this mess....I'm so sorry..." she whispered, tears stinging her eyes.
He listened, as calmly as he always does, then chuckled. "I'm sorry. It's just...in the movies, it's usually the other way around: the guy is the one apologizing and saying that he'll protect the girl. We've got this all twisted," he said and stroked her hair, trying to soothe her. So there was an organization using Evangeline for their own gain, and they didn't mind getting their hands dirty. Did that mean he was a possible target? He had to be, considering that his fiancee was sobbing in his arms and saying she was going to protect him and his family. Great! It was like a mafia movie. A couple thoughts came to his mind then, as he thought how related this was to a gangster movie. They'd probably get Evangeline again, and use him as a weapon to get something, then kill one of them. s**t! This didn't look good at all. What were they going to do?
Evangeline heard the chuckle and blinked. Didn't he realize the danger he was in? As he spoke she sighed and did her best to dry her tears. He was right...this was a little twisted wasn't it. Feeling him stroke her hair did soothe her some what....but when the lights flickered off, the female felt her heart race. She needed to find a weapon or something she could use in case this was what she thought it was....maybe she was just being paranoid...she hoped so.
The door opened and she jumped in front of Josh, limping slightly due to the healing wound in her calf. Flashlights blinded her as she heard Josh's father enter. At least it was the cops. She relaxed and sank to her knees, trembling. She hated not being able to protect herself...this...feeling of being helpless was one she had felt few times. That feeling she didn't want to feel anymore. Her head spun, her body still weak. "Please tell me this is just a power outage and not something else...." she moaned. She knew she wouldn't be able to really fight in her state. Give her a day or two then...maybe it would be possible.
Josh sank to his knees next to his love, holding her as the flashlights came in and his father sank down next to them. "We have to get her out of here. Someone cut the power, it's not a power outage," he said and lifted her up, heading towards the door. Josh followed close behind, as did the force of five other police officers, all armed and alert...
Evangeline felt herself being lifted up and being moved. This was bad. She shook her head and sighed as all the officers and Josh began to follow close behind. She wanted to do something...anything...but...she was supposed to be useless. She could at least throw knives but hand to hand combat would render her useless. She could barely stand as it was. As the officers made their way down the hallway, the female bit her lip, hearing grunts and screams in front of them. The officers stopped and Evangeline pushed herself out of Josh's fathers arms, giving him a reasurring look. "I know what we are dealing with...please...let me help you for now."
The grunts stopped as Evangeline landed gracefully on her feet. A knife was thrown directly at her, the female catching the hilt of it before it hurt anyone. "I will take point....don't argue. You don't quite know what you are dealing with..." Slowly the female crept forward and crouched as Leo appeared, panting. "I got most of them...Eva..but more are coming..." She stood and searched his eyes. "I knew I wouldn't be safe for long...but still.." Leo smiled and ushered her back to the officers. "They are waiting at the front entrance for her to emerge...so if you know of another way out...that might be best." Leo said as Evangeline went to Josh. He wasn't armed and she didn't want him to get hurt. She would protect him as best she could. Her eyes were tired but her movements suggested she was sharp and wide awake. "I will do what I can to clear your path but the rest is up to you. Get her out of here..." With that said, Leo ran ahead, Evangeline knowing that he would be just fine.
The female turned to Josh and the other, keeping the knife firm in her hand and ready to use at any moment. "Is there a different way we could get out...a way that isn't known to the public or an obvious entrance?" she ask as she leaned against her love for a small moment. She wasn't familiar with the hospital so she didn't know much about it. If someone else did...it would the perfect time to speak now or...well...forever hold their peace.
Phoebe Majere Community Member 
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