Everything moved in slow motion.
The priest started to run, knowing what he was doing was wrong, but Peter just stood there. He took a step in front of me as if he was covering me from someone dangerous.
The noises got louder as they broke the door and stormed into the house. I felt my heart race as the sounds of heavy footsteps came closer to the room we were in.
"Help! Please help!" I screamed causing the footsteps to move closer and the door to swing open.
"Hands up!" The officer said as Peter stared them down. "Is there a problem, officer?" He asked so calmly that it sent a chill down my spine. "You're under arrest for the kidnapping of Violet Richards." The officer said and held the gun up as two more cops came in.
"She wants to be here." Peter said as I shook my head. "That's not true! Please help me. Please." I begged as they slowly started to box him in.
"Put your hands up." The officer said calmly as they walked slowly. "She wants to be here." Peter repeated. One of the officers then made the move and lunged for him, tackling him to the ground as another officer crouched in front of me.
"Are you okay?" He asked as I nodded. "Please arrest him." I begged as they cuffed him. "We are. You're safe now. You're okay." The officer comforted as he freed my hands from the cuffs that were cutting into my skin.
As soon as my hands were free I hugged the officer in front of me, thanking god that they found me and that I was going to get out of here.
I was going to be okay.
I watched as they dragged Peter out of the house and wheeled a gurney in so I could go to the hospital. I knew I wasn't severely injured physically but mentally it was another story.
I was wrecked mentally.
"How long was I gone?" I whispered to the EMT as he put me in the ambulance. "6 days." He said and started taking my vitals. "Shit." I whispered and closed my eyes as he got an IV going.
"Did he give you any substances that we should know about?" He asked as I shook my head slowly. "Just the drugs he used to take me in the first place." I mumbled as he nodded then wrote some stuff down.
I tried to relax on the way to the hospital but I was still so hyper aware of everything around me. I knew in my mind that I was going to be okay but the dread was still sitting in my chest.
I couldn't believe any of this happened to me.
When we got to the hospital they wheeled me into the ER where Sophia was waiting. "Thank god." She said as I disassociated from reality. I could hear Sophia talking to the EMT but I couldn't for the life of me realize what they were saying.
For the first time in 6 days I was able to let my guard down. I was able to not be at my most present. And I wasn't.
I was numb.
"Violet sweetie, can you hear me?" Sophia asked as I blinked slowly. "Mhmm." I mumbled then looked up at her. "I'm so sorry this happened to you." She said quietly and brushed my hair from my face as Aisha came in with a fresh pair of clothes.
Colby's clothes.
"Where's Colby?" I asked and looked around frantically. "Woah, he's in the waiting room with your friends. You can see him later, but we have to go over some other things first and get you cleaned up." Sophia explained softly as Aisha came over.
"Okay." I said then laid back. "You don't seem to have any major injuries, other than bruises which is good." She said and took my hand, holding it gently. "You're gonna be okay." She said as I shook my head.
"It doesn't feel like it." I said as a police officer and a guy in a suit came into the room. "Violet?" The man asked as I nodded. "Yes." I said as Aisha and Sophia started treating my wounds.
"My name is John Stewart and I've been working on your case..how are you feeling?" He asked as I shook my head. "I don't know." I said as he nodded.
"Understandable. We wanted to go over just a couple of things to give you a little bit of a piece of mind." John said and sat beside me.
"Peter has been taken into custody. He's been arrested for kidnapping and stalking. We're working with the best team of lawyers to get him behind bars for good." He explained as I nodded.
"Are we married?" I whispered as he looked at me with confusion. "What?" He asked as Sophia and Aisha stopped what they were doing. "T-the ceremony." I mumbled as they looked at me with even more confusion.
"Can you explain?" The detective said as I looked at the officer, hoping he would help. "When we walked into the house she was handcuffed to the bed wearing the white dress she's wearing now and a veil. He was wearing a tuxedo...I think he forced marriage upon her." The office explained as I started to cry.
"Oh, Violet..." Sophia whispered as Aisha pulled me into a hug. "Are we m-m-married?" I asked as the detective patted my leg gently.
"We're gonna look into it. I doubt that there was any legal paperwork linked to the so-called marriage." He explained as Aisha ran her fingers through my matted hair. "I would try to not worry about it for the time being, whatever happens we'll take care of, you just work on getting yourself back to health, okay?" He asked as I nodded.
After a couple more questions both of the men left, leaving just me, Aisha, and Sophia.
"Let's get you cleaned up, then you'll be okay to go home. Sound good?" Sophia asked as I nodded and swung my legs over the end of the bed.
My body was weaker than I thought it would be but I guess I shouldn't have been surprised since I have been chained to a bed for the past week.
Aisha guided me to the little bathroom so that I could shower off all of the grime and sweat that was coating my body.
"Are you gonna be, V?" She asked and set the fresh clothes onto the counter. "I don't know." I whispered then sighed. "I'm gonna have to be." I said then smiled slightly at her.
"I'm so glad you're alive...I thought you were dead." She said as I shook my head. "You can't get rid me." I said then turned the shower on.
"Colby's been dying to see you..he's been worried sick." She said as I nodded. "I bet. I'm dying to see him...but I'm scared." I admitted as she frowned. "He would never hurt you, V." She said as I nodded.
"I know but...I don't know. I don't want this to change my perspective on people. I just want to go back to normal." I said as she nodded. "I understand...he's gonna help you through it. We all will." She said as I nodded and wiped my cheeks.
"Thank you." I whispered as she nodded. "No problem. Take your time, I'll be out here when you're done." She said then left the room.
When I got in the shower I let out a sigh of relief, knowing I was finally washing the disgusting feeling off of my skin. I tried to keep myself together but the paranoia was setting in.
I felt like I was being watched.
I trembled and looked around, pulling the shower curtain back and examining the whole room. I did this for probably ten minutes before my brain decided to calm down enough to let me finish my shower.
I felt a little better as soon as I was dressed in Colby's clothes. I couldn't wait to just be in his arms so I could feel safe but I understood why they wouldn't let me see him right away.
"How are you feeling?" Aisha asked as I walked into the room. "I'm okay." I said and nodded as she nodded back. "Ready to go home?" She asked as I nodded again.
As we walked down the hallways people would give me sympathetic looks. I knew people were concerned because of what happened but I didn't like feeling like a victim. I knew I technically was one but that didn't mean I had to be treated like one.
I was going to live.
We walked to the end of the hallway before I stopped in front of the doors that would lead me to the waiting room where everyone was. I felt my chest caving in slightly but I was excited to see them all.
I took a deep breath then opened the door. Everyone looked up and smiled as I nervously scanned the room with my eyes.
All of the nerves went away though when my eyes landed on the beautiful set of blue ones that I loved so much.
"Violet." Colby said then ran to me, collecting me in his arms and pulling me as close as humanly possible. I wrapped my arms around his neck and inhaled deeply, trying to take all the comfort I could get. He scratched my back gently and just held me as I sobbed into his chest.
For the first time in what felt like forever I felt safe.