Chapter 99

Ciara’s fingers punched the quick dial for the umpteenth time since.

“Pleasseeee Richie answer your phone...pllleeaassseee?!”

“Hi this is Richie....”

”Aarrrghhh dammit!” She slipped her phone into her demin pocket.

She was so ready to call a doctor it wasn’t even funny. Only Ksenia’s insistence that Richie will be able to help her kept her from dialling 911.

The sound of a lock been turned in the door, had her at a flat run.

“Richie! Oh thank God!”

She was ready to kiss his feet at that moment. His huge brown eyes shone friendly.

“Wooooaaa sweetie!”

His hands steadied her before she crashed into him.

“Ciara? What’s up girl?” Her pale expression cemented his feet to the floor.

“It’s Ksenia. She is sick and I tried to take her to the hospital but she wouldn’t....”

“Fuck! Not again!” He manoeuvred around her, rushing for the bedroom.

Ciara somehow kept up with his huge strides and stared at the scene before her.

“ Baby! When did this start again?”

“Huh? I....” her eyelids shuttered.

“She is so feverish! It started this morning and progressed quickly throughout the day. She doesn’t want any doctors, said that you or Jon would be the only people that can help. What can I do to help?”

“We need to get her into the bath. We have to cool her down.”

Ciara was already moving.

“Let me get that.”

Richie’s gentle voice whispered across the room, turning around for a quick glimpse she saw his huge palms stroking the small face.

Minutes later Ciara entered the room, what she saw before her almost brought her heart to a standstill. Ksenia was thrashing around, her fevered cries were pitiful, her hands groping the air as if to keep an unseen enemy from attacking.

Richie’s eyes met hers.

“We gotta get her into the bath. Could you please help me to undress her?”

“Yes...of course!”

Richie held firmly onto the squirming girl, coaxing her tenderly he nodded at Ciara.

Undressing an unwilling patient was worse than she imagined and she huffed as she undid the last button. Slipping the material from her, Ciara felt the world sway as she focused on the girl’s pale skin. Her gaze snapped up just to be caught by Richie’s. His grim expression told her to keep going, there was no time for questions.

Vicious lacerations marred the girl’s pearly skin. Long thick scars mapped her tiny back. What in God’s name did this...Who did this? Ciara swallowed at the nausea build in her stomach.

“Ciara...”

Her head whipped up.

“I’m sorry...lets get her to the bath.”

They lowered her burning frame slowly into the cool water. Strength seemed to invade the tiny girl and she screamed, her bodying snapping into a tight rope as she tried to avoid the shocking coldness.

“Ssshhh....honey we have to cool you down. Your fever is out of control.”

Delirious eyes begged at them.

“Please not the water. I’ll be ok. I need to sleep.”

“I’m sorry Sweetheart.” Richie’s eyes shone with unshed tears, his hands pressed into her, submerging her completely.

Minutes later the fight blew right out of her. Her body relaxed, her breathing slowed considerably.

“We can dry her now. Please hand me the towel.”

Ciara sniffed as she handed the towel.

Never in her life had she experienced something so heart wrenching in her life! What kind of life did this girl have? Her body was scarred for life, telling the tale of horrendous torture. Ciara couldn’t stop the tears from rushing down her face. What kind of animal could treat a human being like that?

“Why don’t you take a breather and let me dry her? You have done so much for her.”

Richie dropped the towel reluctantly.

“Yeah...ok. I have to get her meds too.” His tall frame appeared unsteady as he walked away.

Ciara rubbed lightly over the skinny arms of the girl. Ciara frowned as she bowed closer towards Ksenia’s skin. Tiny circular scars were stamped all over her arms, her stomach, her breasts! It almost seemed like...

She touched the tiny marks in her neck.

No, she was just imagining things. She was sure! Anything could have made marks like that, couldn’t it?

Ciara gritted her teeth as she went on with her task. Never in her life had she seen something like this! How could someone even survive torture like this?

Ciara rubbed gently while her tears fell into the towel, soaking up her heartache she felt for this girl.

“She is a tough girl, you know.”

Ciara fisted at the uncontrollable tears running down her face.

Richie was standing next to her, a strange looking bottle dwarfed in his hands.

“What went wrong in her life?” Ciara mustered a whisper.

“Not for me to tell, sorry Ciara. If Ksenia choose to share it with you, she will.” His voice was gentle but to the point.

“I understand. Its so horrible!” Ciara’s focus turned back to Ksenia when she suddenly tugged at the towel.

“No, I don’t want this...”

Ciara pulled the towel away from her.

“Does this happen often?”

Richie nodded, crouching closer, he spoke softly.

“Honey, you have to take you meds now. Its the only thing that will make you feel better soon.”

Glassy eyes flitted open and struggled to focus on the face so close to hers.

“Richie?”

“I’m right here and look, here is Ciara. We are worried about you. Please drink this?”

“I don’t wanna. It tastes bad.” Her voice was that of a young girl.

“I know, but I want you better, for me please?”

He supported her slight frame. She eyed the concoction suspiciously. Taking a quick swallow she gagged.

“That’s a girl. Now you sleep.”

She nodded compliantly; sagging back into the mattress she pulled the sheets up to her throat.

Ciara turned to walk out but Ksenia’s tiny voice stopped her.

“Ciara, please don’t leave?”

Ksenia’s hand reached for her and she closed the space between them, taking the bony fingers in her hand.

“I’ll be right here but you have to rest now ok?”

“’K.” Her eyes drifted close but her hand didn’t let up on its grip.