Charlotte's Scars

Chapter 34 - Christian

Tearing off my shirt, I wrapped it tightly around her bleeding thigh before pulling her up into my arms. She was sobbing at this point—I wasn't sure if it was in pain or relief. It tore at my heart, and I had to hold myself together. I was damned close to tears myself. "Charlie, I'm here. I'm here," I said comfortingly, and she clung onto me like her life depended on it.

Kale, Adrian, and Nate were standing in the room, ready to intervene if need be. Karla didn't let up until Mack was knocked unconscious.

Charlie's sobs began to quiet, but when she spoke, her voice was hoarse and barely recognizable, "A-are you really here? Am I dreaming?"

Cupping her face in my hands, I gently kissed the top of her head. "I'm really here, Charlie. I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner. I should've walked you to the door. I never-"

"What the fuck?" Kale growled.

He was holding a curved dagger and looking at an old camcorder. Adrian was pulling tapes out of a box sitting next to a metal chair. He started listing off names on the tape - Sandra, Vivian, Monica, and Jasmine. The last being the name of the girl who used to live at Hillside House. 

Charlotte paled and said barely above a whisper, "I-I wasn't their first victim."

Kale's grip tightened as he watched what was on the camcorder.

"What is it - let me see!"

He gave me a long look but slowly walked over and handed it to me.

I rewound the tape and pressed play...

Charlie was sitting in the metal chair, ropes tied around her arms, waist, and legs. Mack, twisting a thick rope between her hands, stalked in front of Charlie.

"Please," Charlie begged. "No more - please!"

"I ain't even close ta bein' done yet!" Mack wrapped the rope around Charlie's neck and pulled the ends. A sadistic smirk stretched across her face while she watched Charlie choking and gasping for air.

I could feel my muscles tightening as I watched. "Fucking Christ..." I said, voice trailing off.

Charlie's head fell limp, and Mack grabbed her by the hair and plunged her face into a big bucket of water. Charlie snapped awake and started thrashing.

Unable to watch anymore, I slammed the camcorder closed and jumped to my feet. Seething with rage, I glared at Mack's unconscious body, resentful that Karla denied me the revenge I so desperately sought. I turned my fury toward Danny. In a flash, I was over there shoving Rayden out of my way and driving my fist into Danny's face.

That was all it took. He flopped to the floor unconscious.

And then the police charged in.

They scanned the scene. Mack was lying unconscious with Karla sitting on top of her with bloodied fists. Charlie was slouched on the ground, bloodied and beaten, with Kale standing over her with the long, curved dagger. I loomed over Danny's body, and not too far from me stood Rayden, gun in hand, aiming it at Danny.

Chaos ensued.

The police pulled out their guns. "Down on the ground!" One of them shouted.

Rayden turned toward them, but he forgot to lower his arm. "No, you have the wrong-"

Without a second thought, I tackled Rayden to the ground as a bang echoed through the room.

Everyone froze.

"H-he was pointing it at me - you saw!" One of the officers stuttered, dropping his gun to the floor as if throwing it away could take back what he'd done. He looked from one partner to the next. "He pointed the gun at me! I had to!"

Rayden rolled out from under me. At first, I didn't know what happened. I reached up to my lower shoulder and felt wetness there. And then the pain hit. It was a hot, burning feeling like I was jabbed in the shoulder with a hot poker. I groaned in pain, clenching at my shoulder with blood-soaked hands.

Charlie, ignoring the police who still had guns pointed at us, rushed over to me within seconds. "No, Christian, please."

My eyes were heavy, and I let them close. I just needed to rest them for a second.

But Charlie grabbed me. "Stay with me, Christian. Help! Someone get help!"

Forcing my eyes open, I saw we were surrounded by Paramedics. The police must've brought them. Charlie still clung to me, screaming for someone to help even as they tried to tear her away. She fought to get back—she looked delirious, so I reached out and grabbed her hand. Squeezing it reassuringly, I managed to choke out, "Don't w-worry, my little n-nerd. You c-can't get rid of me that easily."

"Why?" She asked, tears flooding her face. "Why did you protect Rayden?"

I chuckled but then groaned in pain.

Wasn't it obvious?

Rayden was like a brother to Charlie. She lost enough family—I wasn't going to let her lose anymore.

The paramedics transferred me onto a stretcher. As they were rolling me away, I said, "It wasn't for Rayden."

NOTE:
Oh my Gosh! I cannot believe I am finally here! Almost at the end of this story. It has taken me so many years to complete this book - so many life distractions. Falling in love, starting a family of my own, starting a new career. But through it all, I never forgot about this book, or all of you, my amazingly patient readers. <3

I am so sorry it took so long, but here it is. The end of "Charlotte's Scars" aka Player and the Geek.

I do plan to have a little epilogue - I'm sure many of you would like that. So I will do that very soon.

I also plan to write spin off books with the other characters like Karla, Adrian, Nate, Kale, and Rayden, but I think I am going to keep those books as drafts until they are completed. Its not fair to you guys to leave half finished books sitting around for months without updates.